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.