New Profile operates via two main projects
New Profile’s Counseling Network supports any person who independently chooses to avoid or discontinue military service with free counseling, information, and legal aid. Consisting of a network coordinator, legal coordinator, and group of trained volunteers, the Network supports around 1,000 people annually, with thousands more benefiting from the information we distribute online.
Through our Education & Outreach programs, New Profile acts to raise awareness of Israelis–mostly youth and professionals who work with youth–to militarism in Israel and its negative impact on society and on individuals. We expose how Israelis are indoctrinated to militarism by the education system, the media, and society at-large. We seek to counter the status quo by providing largely hidden data and information, militaristic-critical views, and actively legitimize the independent choice of youth who do not enlist in the Israeli Military.
Our main activities are:
- Conducting workshops and conferences for educators and other professionals working with youth, in order to raise their awareness to risks associated with military service, and providing them with practical tools for supporting and informing youth about the exemption process and civil options for those who are exempted from military service.
- Conducting workshops, conferences, events, panels, and lectures to the public related to militarism and its impact on Israeli society.
- Producing and distributing research-based publications and videos about militarism, enlistment, refusal, and exemption, and offering a stable stream of information, data, and literature via New Profile’s growing social media networks and website.
The organizational structure of New Profile reflects the movement’s ideology. Our team operates in a non-hierarchical organizational structure, meaning there is no executive director, and that organizational decisions must reach a consensus to be implemented. New Profile hosts a monthly assembly to discuss all matters related to the organization’s activities. Anyone from our community is able to take an active role in our decision making and voting processes.
Our history
New Profile grew out of two learning groups of Israeli women in 1996, who began exploring the situation of women in a militarized society. After two years of joint study, the group members organized a public conference which focused on enlistment and on refusal to enlist in the military in Israel. New Profile, as an organization, was established at this conference, which took place on October 30th 1998, as a volunteer-based nonhierarchical movement.
The movement’s activity over the years (see here in Hebrew) has focused on supporting exemption-seekers and on education and outreach work. New Profile played an important role in supporting the evolving refusal movement in Israel, and has assisted in organizing and accompanying several public declarations of the refusal of Israeli youth over the years.
On several occasions, right wing groups and state authorities have acted against New Profile. In 2008-2009, an interrogation was conducted against the movement for allegedly “inciting for evading military service.” Several activists of New Profile were summoned for investigation, but eventually the investigation file was closed with no indictment. New Profile is certain to act within all Israeli laws, with all of our outgoing information undergoing strict review by our Legal Coordinator.
Our partners (partial list)
Gun Free Kitchen Tables (GFKT)
is a small arms disarmament and gun control project, consisting of a coalition of organizations. Rooted in a feminist analysis, GFKT aims to stem the violence enabled by ubiquitous small arms through preventive legislation, effective enforcement and comprehensive transparency about guns in civil space. GFKT incorporates consistent monitoring and fact-finding towards significantly reducing armed violence against women in and beyond their homes and holding both armed organizations and individuals accountable.
Mesarvot
A network of activists whose goal is to support political refusers and to promote a discourse around refusal among Israeli public. The network offers connection to activists and to other refusers, a platform for a critical-political discussion on Israeli society in general and on the Israeli occupation in particular, as well as bureaucratic and personal counseling to refusers.
WRI
a global pacifist and antimilitarist network consisting of 90 affiliated groups in 40 countries, working for a world without war. WRI holds that all wars, including wars of 'liberation' and 'humanitarian military intervention' lead to suffering, destruction, and new structures of domination.
Yesh Gvul
was launched in 1982 as a political movement aimed at supporting refusers and conscientious objectors. The movement has provided individual assistance to refusers, in tandem with political, legal, and informational activity in the struggle to end the occupation and avoid unnecessary wars.
Our donors
Bread For the World
Sparkplug Foundation
Palästina – Friedensstiftung Rachel Corrie
Mennonite Central Committee
Women’s World Day of Prayer
American Friends Service Committee
British Shalom-Salaam Trust
The Radley Charitable Trust
SIVMO
Haëlla
Women for Peace Switzerland
IHL Trust
Refuser Solidarity Network
Individual Donors