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.

""Resistance to crimes of state, and refusal to participate in them, has been and remains one of the most significant achievements of people of decency and courage throughout history. The Israelis who have undertaken this honorable course merit the greatest admiration and respect. Their testimonies are a memorable contribution to this noble cause.""--Noam Chomsky