Arnon - So we’re the ‘bad guys’?

Apr 29, 2024

Arnon, a former Israeli Air Force intelligence officer turned educator and eco-therapist, shares his profound journey from military service to peace advocacy. He reflects on the psychological toll of ethical dilemmas faced during operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Arnon discusses the normalized violence stemming from his Kibbutz upbringing and addresses the complexities of transitioning to civilian life. He emphasizes the importance of compassion in fostering coexistence and healing amidst ongoing conflict, highlighting personal stories of resilience and connection.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Growing Up in Secrecy: A Kibbutz Legacy

01:51 • 8min

Reflections of Service and Conflict

10:00 • 8min

Ethical Dilemmas in Military Operations

17:33 • 17min

Morality in the Matrix: Warfare and Technology

34:41 • 3min

Navigating the Transition from Soldier to Civilian

38:04 • 2min

Navigating Conflict and Coexistence

40:13 • 29min

Healing Through Connection: A Tale of Resilience

01:09:00 • 11min

Navigating Parenthood in a Militarized Context

01:20:23 • 3min

Arnon served in the Israeli Air Force intelligence unit which was operating in Gaza during the early 2000s. A few years later, once the war with Lebanon broke out, he decided to stop serving in the military. Throughout the years he was active in different joint initiatives with Palestinians and other groups, and today works as an educator in a kindergarten and as an eco-therapist. Arnon is constantly in search of ways to liberate himself and others from the many systems of oppression that are linked together for himself and for generations to come.

Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Yehavit

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A few important disclaimers:

This podcast is created and funded by me privately. I don’t belong to any organization, nor does it represent anyone other than myself.

Secondly, I don’t intend this content to provide a justification or excuse for the actions people interviewed did in their past, but rather to learn from their personal experiences and gain insight as to what the process of transformation looks like. Certain parts of the episode could be triggering for you, and I advise taking into consideration that some of the events discussed are morally and ethically challenging (to say the least).

And lastly:

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I work as the indigenous people of this country and pay my respects to their elders, past and emerging.

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Thank you Roy Geva for the soundtrack

You can contact me at @yehavit on Instagram (or write to yehavit@gmail if you’re not on Instagram).

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Stuff we mentioned:

Underground ammunition factory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayalon_Institute

The Hamas attack on the Park Hotel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_massacre

Operation Defensive Shield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Defensive_Shield

Combatants for Peace: https://cfpeace.org/

Uri Ben Eliezer: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=uri+ben+eliezer&btnG=

Satyam Community: for more details contact: talyaya@gmail.com

Podcast in Hebrew about the history of Gaza: https://www.parotk.com/category/%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A7%D7%90%D7%A1%D7%98-podcast/%D7%A2%D7%96%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%90-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%A8/

"I Shall Not Hate”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Shall_Not_Hate