On Feb. 6, 2017, Atalya Ben Abba refused to fulfill her service to the Israeli army. As a result, she was sentenced to 30 days in military detention. Abba claims that her decision is “grounded in reasons of conscience” that call for cooperation between Jewish settlers and Palestinian people. She states that in order to bring security to Israel, the government must end its occupation of Palestine.
Abba was raised to see Palestinian people as valued community members. She believes that her volunteer work in Occupied Palestinian Territories has shaped her perspective. Additionally, hearing the stories of her Palestinian peers informed her of the level of violence Israeli soldiers inflict on innocent Palestinian families. She urges other Jews to protect democracy by refusing to support the Israeli government’s suppression of basic human rights by objecting to military service.
