Militarization in Israel

Ruth Hiller of New Profile

Ruth Hiller, international coordinator of the New Profile NGO, came to Israel from California in 1972. She and her husband raised two daughters and four sons in a kibbutz. The daughters both did their required service in the army, but her oldest son decided he did not want to do it. Three "Conscience Tribunals" ruled he was not significantly pacifist but the family appealed to the Supreme Court, and the army let him off. His brothers also successfully fought to stay out of the military.

Ruth was in uncharted waters at the time, because there was no group to help conscientious objectors in Israel. But she found like-minded spirits, and they organized New Profile 15 years ago. It is illegal for them to advise young people not to serve in the military, but they can provide information on how the process works for those who wish to take that route. The group responds to an average of 100 requests for information every month, more during wartime.

I had heard Ruth's story last year when I was here with Interfaith Peace-Builders (see blog of October 30, 2012), but this time I gained a deeper understanding of the militarization of Israel. Ruth says the country spends a higher proportion of GDP on security than the United States, and more than it does on any other sector. The army is composed of young secular Jewish women and men, and 25% of high school graduates do not perform military service. (Muslims, Christians, and observant Jewish women are exempt.)

Israeli children fondling machine guns

Education in Israel is strongly influenced by the military. Children are taught to count military aircraft and tanks in kindergarten.  Playgrounds have army cannons to climb on.

New Profile is not allowed in the schools, but soldiers are. Female soldiers work as teacher aides, and there is compulsory orientation and preparation for military service in high school, even for Palestinians who will not serve. Every school has a marker in memory of graduates who have died in military service.

Ruth Hiller

Ruth Hiller says "There's no changing the military. You have to change the society." New Profile is composed of women and men volunteers aged 18 to 85, with a small rotating staff. They all work from their homes. Projects include youth groups, alternative summer camps, a counseling network, and a legal aid system. The group's website, www.newprofile.org, will soon be updated with links to related organizations.

As I walked to the cable car that would take me back to the Stella Maris Pilgrim Center I passed many armed soldiers at bus stops. Ruth said they have to carry their weapons at all times, even when off duty. I also passed large military vessels displayed by the Naval Institute. It seems like militarization is everywhere.

Military vessels in a Haifa park

Cable cars to Stella Maris from beach

Before heading from Haifa back to Jerusalem, I had a chance to forget about militarization with meditation on a stations-of-the-cross trail overlooking the sea above Stella Maris, and a visit to my friends the Hallouns in Issifiya.

Stations-of-the-cross trail

The Hallouns and their100+ year-old
asparagus plant

New family pet