This moving book is a first-time look at Israeli soldiers who have refused orders on moral grounds, earning the name of "Refusenik" along with a prison sentence. These are the stories of people who believe in their country, but not in its actions beyond its borders. Peretz Kidron, a long-time Israeli citizen, retells the stories of these "refuseniks" from the 1982 invasion of Lebanon up to the current situation with Palestine. The stories, experiences, viewpoints, and even poetry from a great spectrum of Israelis are presented--officers, ordinary foot-soldiers, men and women, from various ethnic backgrounds and classes. The book also reveals the cautious and embarrassed response of the authorities, and the wider implications of the philosophy of selective refusal for conscientious citizens in every country where conscription still exists.

Foreword - Susan Sontag
Introduction: Israel's Refusal Movement - Peretz Kidron

The Early Refuseniks
Balance - Yitzhak Laor
Saying 'no' loudly and clearly - Ishai Menuchin
An artist at Ansar - Zvi Goldstein
Discovering the Palestinians - Mike Levine
In solidarity with the almond trees - Peretz Kidron

The First Intifada
I'm no martyr - Hanoch Livneh
Whatever the price - Rami Hasson
The problem is in Jewish society - Menahem Hefetz
Refusal to Collaborate - Dudu Palma
I am an Arab Jew - Meir Amor
Father and son: refuseniks - Carlos and Amit Levinhoff
Spiral of evil - Stephen Langfur
The limit is human life - David Ovadia
The privilege of saying 'No!' - Adi Ofir
Silences that cry out - Doron Vilner
Benighted fanticism - Nitzan Levy
A typical 'NO' poem - Nathan Zach
A policy that demeans my country - Shaul Schwartz
The refusenik answers the writer - Mario Weinstein in correspondence with Yizhar Smilansky
On the festival of freedom I waive my freedom - Dubi Hayun
No to 'Always at Command' - Danny Zamir
'You don't have to do anything wicked' - Daniel Padnes
Decent people don't shoot children - Itamar Pitovsky
I owe my children at least one refusal - Dan Sagir

The Philosophy of Selective Refusal - Peretz Kidron

The Story of Yuval and Imad

The Second Intifada
Letter to the editor of Koteret Rashit from Dov Barak
Statements by Jailed Conscripts
Those who enlist and those who don't - Uri Yaakovi
Militarism and racism have reached a fascist level - Haggai Matar
I am a prisoner, yet free - David Haham- Herson
A violent and racist society - Itamar Shahar
Statements by Jailed Reservists
Vile injustice - David Enoch
The red line - Michael Sfard
Collaboration makes me a criminal - Ro'i Kozlovsky
A cause which is not mine - Alex Lyakas
An enormous 'black flag' - Avner Kochavi
A letter to the commander of Battalion 719 - Ehud Shem Tuv
I killed three innocent civilians - Idan Kaspari
The shattered dream - Omry Yeshurun
The IDF teaches that it's okay to molest an Arab - Ishai Sgi
Black Flag - Itai Haviv
The exercises in refusal - Itai Ryb
Why am I mad at the IDF? - Ron Gerlitz

Closing Statements
My reply to the General - Yigal Bronner
Israel today is like a prison - Martin Kaminar

List of Addresses