Über Israel und Palästina sprechen

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 [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. 🙏🏻 ___________________________________________________________________ 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.

In this episode, I speak with Nadav Weiman, Executive Director of Breaking the Silence, a group of former Israeli soldiers exposing the inner workings of military occupation. Nadav once served as a sniper in the West Bank — now he speaks out about what he saw, did, and was ordered to do. We discuss his personal journey from soldier to whistleblower, how the events of October 7, 2023, have escalated violence in the West Bank, and what it means to hold onto moral clarity in a system built on denial. Nadav also reflects on the backlash — from politicians, the army, and society — and the moral courage required to keep going. As international scrutiny grows and civil space shrinks, Breaking the Silence is doubling down: collecting testimonies, speaking abroad, and building pressure for accountability. This episode is about the cost of complicity — and the power of truth, even when it’s inconvenient. Special thanks to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Jordi Kuragari (video), Simon Eichinger (post-production), and Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (editorial support). This podcast is a project by Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH and is funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Thanks for listening — subscribe and share! Guest: Nadav WeimanHost: Shai Hoffmann Links: Breaking the Silence – Official Site [https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/media/35381] Democracy Now Interview (2024) [https://www.democracynow.org/2024/4/10/breaking_the_silence_part_2] Haaretz: Why I Broke the Silence [https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2015-06-30/ty-article/.premium/why-i-broke-the-silence/0000017f-ef88-d497-a1ff-ef883c7a0000] Huck Magazine [https://www.huckmag.com/article/israeli-solders-breaking-silence-revealing-reality-occupied-palestine] YouTube: Nadav Weiman [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJh2kwtsOE] YouTube: Breaking the Silence Doc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoVentWipD8] Nadav Weiman war Scharfschütze in der israelischen Armee. Heute ist er Direktor von Breaking the Silence – einer Organisation ehemaliger Soldat*innen, die öffentlich über Menschenrechtsverletzungen in den besetzten Gebieten sprechen. Wir sprechen über sein persönliches Umdenken, den zunehmenden Druck auf Menschenrechtsarbeit seit dem 7. Oktober 2023 und den Mut, der nötig ist, um sich öffentlich gegen die Besatzung zu stellen. Ein besonderer Dank an OFEK, Jordi Kuragari, Simon Eichinger und Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas. Dieser Podcast ist ein Projekt der Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH und wird von der Robert Bosch Stiftung gefördert. Danke fürs Zuhören – abonniert und teilt gern!

In this episode, I speak with Sally Abed, a Palestinian activist, podcast host and a coalition partner of Haifa’s city council. Sally is part of the national leadership of Standing Together, Israel’s largest Jewish-Arab grassroots movement working for equality, peace, and social justice. We talk about the challenges and hopes of political participation for Palestinian citizens of Israel — especially in times of war, polarization, and censorship. In May 2025, Sally was dismissed from her role in Haifa’s city coalition for organizing a Nakba Day event and sharing a critical social media post. Critics accused her of "undermining coexistence." But Sally argues that true coexistence requires honesty, solidarity, and political courage. This conversation explores what grassroots organizing looks like in a shrinking democratic space, and what it means to keep hope alive when the risks of speaking out are high. We also reflect on the limits of formal politics, the power of municipal activism, and the vision of a shared society — not as a utopian dream, but as a political necessity. Sally’s voice is a reminder that change doesn’t come from silence — but from bold, collective action. Special thanks to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (editorial support), Jordi Kuragari (video) and Simon Eichinger (post-production). This podcast is a project by Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH and is funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Thanks for listening — subscribe and share! Guest: Sally AbedHost: Shai Hoffmann Links: Groundwork Podcast [https://groundworkpodcast.com/about/] Sally Abed on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Abed] Emerging Voices Profile [https://www.emergingvoices.co.uk/post/palestinian-voices-sally-abed] Progressive Israel Network [https://www.progressiveisraelnetwork.org/coming-together-as-a-movement-for-israels-75th-an-invitation-from-the-progressive-israel-network/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Moment Magazine Report [https://momentmag.com/israel-voices-and-visions/?srsltid=AfmBOorRDcB5uhn2GcXTDR3R-JC24_LS57zQiUmQjsVSheq8BAQAfaso&utm_source=chatgpt.com] In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Sally Abed, palästinensische Aktivistin, Podcasterin und bis vor Kurzem Stadträtin in Haifa. Sie ist Teil der nationalen Leitung der jüdisch-arabischen Bewegung Standing Together, die sich für Gerechtigkeit, Frieden und soziale Teilhabe einsetzt. Im Mai 2025 wurde Sally nach der Organisation einer Nakba-Gedenkveranstaltung aus der Stadtkoalition ausgeschlossen – ein politisch aufgeladener Schritt in einem ohnehin angespannten Klima. Wir sprechen über politische Teilhabe in Zeiten des Krieges, die Kraft lokaler Bewegungen und darüber, was es heißt, Hoffnung zu bewahren, wenn Repression und Polarisierung zunehmen. Ein eindrucksvolles Gespräch über Mut, gemeinsame Visionen – und die Notwendigkeit, laut zu bleiben. Ein besonderer Dank an OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (Redaktion), Jordi Kuragari (Video) und Simon Eichinger (Postproduktion). Dieser Podcast ist ein Projekt der Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH und wird von der Robert Bosch Stiftung gefördert. Danke fürs Zuhören – abonniert und teilt gern!

In this episode, I speak with Yehuda Shaul, longtime activist and co-founder of Breaking the Silence. Yehuda has spent years challenging the Israeli occupation from within — gathering testimonies from soldiers, advocating for accountability, and speaking to international audiences about the moral cost of ongoing violence. Today, he co-directs Ofek: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, a progressive think tank committed to ending the occupation and promoting a political future based on equality and dignity for both peoples. We talk about what remains after October 7th — for activism, for democracy, and for Israelis and Palestinians who still believe in justice. Yehuda reflects on how Israel’s civic space has contracted, how his work has shifted, and why international pressure is more important than ever. He also shares what it means to be called a “traitor” by your own society, how he holds onto hope, and why giving up was never an option. 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! In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Yehuda Shaul, Mitgründer der Organisation Breaking the Silence. Seit Jahren setzt er sich für ein Ende der israelischen Besatzung ein und sammelt Zeugnisse von israelischen Soldat:innen. Heute leitet er die progressive Denkfabrik Ofek: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs. Wir sprechen über den Zustand von Israels Demokratie nach dem 7. Oktober, über die Rolle internationaler Akteur:innen, die Reaktionen auf seinen Aktivismus – und darüber, warum er nicht aufgibt. Guest: Yehuda Shaul Host: Shai Hoffmann Links:🔗 https://www.ofekcenter.org.il/eng/ [https://www.ofekcenter.org.il/eng/] 🔗 https://www.instagram.com/breakingthesilenceisrael [https://www.instagram.com/breakingthesilenceisrael]🔗 https://herzl.cuni.cz/HERZL-62.html [https://herzl.cuni.cz/HERZL-62.html]🔗 https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena-israelpalestine/246-stemming-israeli-settler-violence [https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena-israelpalestine/246-stemming-israeli-settler-violence]🔗 https://ngo-monitor.org/ngos/breaking_the_silence_shovirm_shtika_/ [https://ngo-monitor.org/ngos/breaking_the_silence_shovirm_shtika_/] Produced by Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Special thanks to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Simon Eichinger (post-production), Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (editorial support) and Jordi Kuragari (video),  🔗 Links * ⁠Haaretz (2018)⁠ [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-01-28/ty-article-magazine/.premium/for-top-israeli-human-rights-lawyer-winning-is-a-double-edged-sword/0000017f-e103-d804-ad7f-f1fb049d0000] * ⁠972Mag⁠ [https://www.972mag.com/michael-sfard-yesh-din-apartheid/] * ⁠Haaretz (2025)⁠ [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-03-29/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/human-rights-lawyer-michael-sfard-wants-to-expose-the-dark-side-of-israels-high-court/00000195-dfbb-d1f1-a7d5-fffff0e20000] * ⁠Jewish Voice for Labour⁠ [https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/in-gaza-israel-israel-racing-to-the-moral-abyss] ______________________________________

In this episode, I speak with Michael Sfard, one of Israel’s most prominent human rights lawyers. As legal advisor to groups like Yesh Din and Peace Now, he has spent decades challenging Israel’s occupation policies — from settlement expansion and land grabs to military practices — often through Israel’s own courts. He is the author of The Wall and the Gate, a groundbreaking book exploring how law can both resist and entrench occupation. For Sfard, legal tools are no silver bullet — but they can delay injustice, document abuses, and carry symbolic weight. Sfard reflects critically on Germany’s crackdown on Palestinian solidarity, including restrictions on speech and protest. He warns of the dangers when dissent is silenced — whether in Israel or abroad. Guest: Michael SfardHost: Shai HoffmannListen, share, and subscribe. Produced by Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Special thanks to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Simon Eichinger (post-production), Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (editorial support) and Jordi Kuragari (video),  🔗 Links * Haaretz (2018) [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-01-28/ty-article-magazine/.premium/for-top-israeli-human-rights-lawyer-winning-is-a-double-edged-sword/0000017f-e103-d804-ad7f-f1fb049d0000] * 972Mag [https://www.972mag.com/michael-sfard-yesh-din-apartheid/] * Haaretz (2025) [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-03-29/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/human-rights-lawyer-michael-sfard-wants-to-expose-the-dark-side-of-israels-high-court/00000195-dfbb-d1f1-a7d5-fffff0e20000] * Jewish Voice for Labour [https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/in-gaza-israel-israel-racing-to-the-moral-abyss] _________________________________________________________________________ In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Michael Sfard, einem der führenden Menschenrechtsanwälte Israels. Er berät NGOs wie Yesh Din und Peace Now und hat zahlreiche Fälle zu Siedlungen, Enteignungen und Militärrecht vor Gericht gebracht. Wir sprechen über Völkerrecht, internationale Gerichte, die schrumpfende Zivilgesellschaft in Israel und Deutschlands Umgang mit all dem. Sfard erklärt, warum juristische Arbeit trotz Rückschlägen weiter wichtig bleibt — und was ihm Hoffnung gibt. Mit Dank an OFEK, Jordi Kuragari, Simon Eichinger, Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas