UC Hastings, San Francisco, September 14, 2009 — For their first formal presentation on a national speaking tour, Maya Wind and Netta Mishly, two Israeli conscientious objectors, addressed an audience of about 80 in a classroom at UC Hastings School of Law. Using a Powerpoint presentation to show maps, slides and a brief video of an Israeli military TV ad, the two young war resisters also shared personal stories and updates on Israeli resistance to occupation, including the organizations they work for – Rabbis for Human Rights and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.

Netta and Maya cited 3 types of human rights violations – settlements, checkpoints and the Security Fence, aka the Apartheid Wall – as motivating them to refuse to be part of the Israeli military occupation force, and talked about how young adults’ experience is shaped almost completely by three years of compulsory service in the military.

A wide-ranging, respectful q and a followed their presentation, with questions ranging from conditions in Gaza, to how they communicated with other women during their time in jail, to how much Israeli citizens understand of Palestinians’ hardships. Maya and Netta answered thoughtfully and sometimes eagerly. A humorous moment happened late in the q and a, when one person asked, “Do you have hope?” and Netta fired back, “No!” and Maya laughingly jumped in with, “She means yes; we’re getting used to speaking English.” The youngish audience included law students, members of Dialogues against Militarism and IVAW, codepinkers and a couple of student journalists.

The day before, Netta and Maya met former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has also seen the inside of an Israeli jail (for trying to deliver aid by ship to Gazans) at the Power to the Peaceful festival in Golden Gate Park.