There is no question that 2013 will continue to add more complexities to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Rather than delve into one right now, let’s go back to 2008, for the sake of reintroducing the world to Omer Goldman.

Omer became the face of a fast growing group of young Israelis refusing to enlist in the Israeli Army. She, and many like her, as seen in the video above, state that what they saw the IDF do to the Palestinians was immoral, unethical, illegal, and simply against their beliefs. Omer’s case was specifically interesting.

Omer continuously refused to enlist, and served several sentences in prison as a result.

In her own words, here is why Omer refused to enlist with the IDF:

“I refuse to enlist in the Israeli military. I shall not be part of an army that needlessly implements a violent policy and violates the most basic human rights on a daily basis.

Like most of my peers, I too have not dared to question the ethics of the Israeli military. But when I visited the Occupied Territories I realized I see a completely different reality, a violent, oppressive, extreme reality that must be ended.

I believe in service to the society I am part of, and that is precisely why I refuse to take part in the war crimes committed by my country. Violence will not bring any kind of solution, and I shall not commit violence, come what may.”