Special: Refusing to Serve the IDF: Tal Mitnick and the Cost of Conscience

In this powerful last „SPECIAL“ episode of "Talking About Israel
and Palestine" from Israel und Palestine, we sit down with Tal
Mitnick, a 19-year-old activist from Tel Aviv who made
international headlines by refusing to serve in the Israeli
military after the October 7 attacks. Tal spent over six months
in military prison for his refusal and was officially exempted
from service in July 2024.


He speaks to us about what it means to resist militarization in a
society where refusal is often equated with betrayal, and why he
believes acts of conscience are essential to building a more just
and empathetic future. As a leading voice in the grassroots
network Mesarvot, Tal reflects on the rising risks of civil
resistance in Israel today — and the new generation that is
daring to say no.


We talk about:




Why Tal refused to enlist — and what personal and political
consequences he faced




How refusal has changed since October 7, 2023




The role of Mesarvot in supporting young refusers under
growing repression




Protest work inside Israel and the West Bank




What solidarity, accountability, and hope can look like even
now




This conversation was recorded in the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation
in Tel Aviv during our podcast journey through Israel and
Palestine. Thanks a lot to the staff.


More Infos about: 


https://www.instagram.com/mesarvot


For the last time, I bow in deep gratitude to all the partners
who made this important and deeply meaningful podcast journey
possible:


A special thank you to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public
Affairs! Thanks to Simon Eichinger for post-production, Jordi
Kuragari for video snippets, and Lea Volz and 365 Sherpas for
editorial support.


This podcast is a project of Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH, funded
by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.


Thanks for listening — please subscribe and share with your
friends and family.


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In der letzten Folge unserer Spezialreihe aus Israel und
Palästina sprechen wir mit Tal Mitnick, einem 19-jährigen
Aktivisten aus Tel Aviv, der nach dem 7. Oktober 2023 den Dienst
in der israelischen Armee verweigerte – eine Entscheidung, die
ihn zu einem Symbol des zivilen Widerstands machte. Für seine
Verweigerung saß er über sechs Monate im Militärgefängnis und
wurde im Juli 2024 offiziell vom Dienst befreit.


Tal erzählt uns, was es bedeutet, in einer zunehmend
militarisierten Gesellschaft Nein zu sagen – und warum
Gewissensentscheidungen entscheidend für eine gerechtere Zukunft
sind. Als Teil des Netzwerks Mesarvot spricht er über zivilen
Ungehorsam, neue Generationen von Verweiger:innen und Hoffnung in
schwierigen Zeiten.