I come from an Ashkenaz family, that means European Jews. … In 1997 my sister died in a bombing attack … In Israel there is the Organisation of Victims of Terror, funded by the government. They addressed us immediately, offered us pamphlets and help and social security and lots of stuff like that … My mother said, ‘In Israel, there are two sides: people who want peace, and people who want war, who profit from war. It’s not a psychological, evil thing. It’s about money. It’s about career, that is very clear.’ … I was a tank driver, and was supposed to do operational work in Lebanon. I was about to go there, when my mom used her right, as a bereaved parent, to refuse my entrance to Lebanon … I don’t think I could have lived with that very well if I had taken part in what was done there. …

Guy Elhanan, theatre studies student, born 1979, Israel
Guy Elhanan is an Israeli conscientious objector. He is a member of Courage to Refuse and also of the Parents Circle. Courage to Refuse was founded in 2002 by 50 officers and soldiers of the Israeli army. The members commit themselves to continue defending the security of their country, but declare their refusal to do service in the occupied territories … Today the group is one of the leading strengths in the struggle to end the occupation. In 2004 they were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Parents Circle is an organisation of hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost relatives through the conflict. They want to leave hatred and conflicts behind and work together for peace, reconciliation and tolerance.