Interview with Anat Matar, mother of Haggai Matar

Interviewed by Laurie Zimmerman, Refuser Solidarity Network

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and the work that you're doing on behalf of the refusers.

My name is Anat Matar, I'm 46, a philosophy lecturer at Tel Aviv University. I am married and have two sons, Haggai (19) and Oren (15). I was raised in a leftist family and was involved in the past in all sorts of political activities. For example, I was active in the movement "The 21st Year" (1988 - 92), "Open Doors" (later 90s, acting for the release of Palestinian administrative detainees) and now Taayush and The Campus is Not Silent.

A few months after Haggai was first jailed (actually, when Matan Kaminer, Shimri Tzameret, Adam Maor and Noam Bahat joined him in jail) we formed the Israeli COs Parents Forum. We hold weekly vigils in front of the military attorney general's home, we try hard to make our kids' deeds known to the public, we meet representatives from European embassies and
consulates, etc. Yesterday we put an ad in the newspaper Ha'aretz informing the public (which otherwise isn't informed) about the days each of our sons has spent until now in prison. We also, naturally, try to raise money for all these activities.

2. How did you get involved in this work?

Haggai started his series of imprisonments in October. In December, as I said, four more friends joined him and the others who already were in different stages on this journey. We felt that the usual behaviour of the army with COs has changed and that they don't intend to release the COs after three to four months in jail as they used to. So we decided to try to work together in order to make this affair known as widely as possible to the public, and also in order to help each other. The periods of imprisonment are quite hard on the families, and it's soothing to have co-travelers.

3. Could you give a little background to the court martial trials? Why do you think the IDF has put six young men, including your son, on trial for refusing to obey conscription?

At the end of February, the army decided to bring Yoni Ben Artzi, after having finished seven imprisonment periods, to court martial. Yoni is a pacifist, unrecognized as such by the army. A week later, when Haggai finished his own term of imprisonment and got back to the induction base, expecting the next term, he was told he would be taken to court martial as well. The other four joined him "voluntarily" since they understood that this was the procedure now and didn't want to reach it only after so many days in jail. There are two different trials since Yoni's case is based on the army's denial of his good faith, while in the case of "the five" the prosecutor declared he does believe their conscientious motivations.  However, he argues that these can't serve as a basis for exemption from the army according to the IDF decisions, being "political," rather than "private." This distinction we'll challenge in court.

This explains the IDF's reasons to put these boys to trial. It is true that the number of draft resisters is growing, partly as a result of the 12th Grader's letter, indeed, but mainly, of course, because the crimes of the IDF are beginning to penetrate to more and more minds, conscripts and others. The more brutal their behaviour is, the harsher they will be with their daring critics.

4. What do you see as the consequences of these trials, both positive and negative?

I'm not sure I can tell. I hope the affair will be widely covered by the press, but I do not delude myself too much. I hope this will entail the refusal of more conscripts. I also hope that our Palestinian allies will hear about the trials and will know that there is a dissenting voice inside Israel. But I'm not sure what will happen. I don't think there'll be severely negative consequences in terms of the refusal movement - on the contrary. But it's true, that a harsh punishment may intimidate some potential refuseniks. And of course, there is the trivial negative consequence that is possible - a long term of imprisonment for our sons, which, as I said, is a hard experience.

5. How do you feel about the risk that Haggai is taking?

Adding to the above, I'll only say I'm very proud of him. I don't believe the punishment will indeed be three years - I hope not. But I know he's doing the right thing, both because this is indeed the right thing to do and because it isfor him the right thing to do. I can't imagine him serving in this army, and it's not like him to get a release on a fake basis. It's simply not like him.  I'm not at all against people who choose this way of avoiding the army. But I do think that the Israeli army has reached such a stage that serving in it is immoral.

6. How would you suggest that American peace activists help the refuser movement to end the occupation?

Your support is extremely important. When Haggai started his imprisonment, his declaration on that day was spread widely, and he got wonderful supportive letters - that was great and helped a lot. Please help us spread the word as widely as possible - via internet, but not only - on radio talks, TV shows, documentaries, talks in schools, etc. Financial support is also welcome, of course.

As for ending the occupation itself, I'm far from being optimistic. But of course, pressure on the U.S. government, boycotting Israel in all sorts of ways - in short, making manifest the similarity between Israel and Apartheid South Africa - all these could perhaps change something. I'm not sure about the short run. But slowly, slowly this should be understood by more and more people.

7. Do you have anything that you want to convey to other mothers who also care deeply about the lives of their own children?

First and foremost, be critical and suspicious of any official position, warning, etc. Don't buy easily the slogans about "security measures" which are "needed" and then actually take more lives, in America, Israel, Iraq, everywhere. Secondly, expose your children to those who suffer, to the pain inflicted on them, to what our government does - don't hide these facts, fearing that your sensitive kid won't sleep well.

8. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?

Yes, that the voice of protest is essential even if it is not effective "pragmatically." Don't despair by the fact that you're ineffective. We live in a merciless period; who knows what will bring a change. But meanwhile, keeping alive the spirit of protest is vital! Don't let the crimes pass without even being pointed at.