New Profile

New Profile is an Israeli feminist and antimilitarist movement established to challenge the central role of military institutions and military values in Israeli society. Its full Hebrew description is commonly translated as “New Profile – The Movement to Demilitarize Israeli Society.” Rather than operating as a conventional commercial brand, it functions as a nonprofit activist organization, a public-education network, and a support system for people who question, refuse, or seek exemption from compulsory service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The movement emerged from two Israeli women’s study groups formed in 1996. The groups examined the position of women in a society they viewed as highly militarized, including the influence of military institutions on education, citizenship, gender roles, public debate, and social status. After two years of joint discussion and research, participants convened a public conference on military enlistment and refusal. New Profile was formally established at that conference on October 30, 1998, and registered as an Israeli nonprofit organization in 1999. Rela Mazali is among the activists associated with its founding period. New Profile’s central objectives include reducing militarism in Israeli society, opposing the normalization of military values in education, challenging compulsory conscription, and supporting the right of individuals to refuse military service or service connected with the occupation of Palestinian territories on grounds of conscience. The organization also seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding military exemptions, including exemption under Profile 21, and promotes recognition of civilian and alternative forms of service. Its broader political language emphasizes feminism, equality, tolerance, peace, and civilian life. The movement’s principal practical service is its Counseling Network. This network offers free information, legal guidance, and moral support to people considering whether to avoid or end military service. Assistance may involve explaining exemption procedures, helping people understand medical or psychological routes to exemption, discussing religious exemptions, and supporting conscientious objectors or people facing imprisonment after refusing orders, enlistment, or service. The reference material describes the network as assisting approximately 1,600 people annually, although the relevant period for that figure is not specified. New Profile also conducts education and outreach. Its activities have included workshops, lectures, conferences, publications, and research-oriented materials for young people, educators, social workers, and the wider public. These materials address the social effects of militarization, the experiences of soldiers and conscientious objectors, procedures for seeking exemption, conditions faced by draft refusers in military prisons, and civilian alternatives for people released from military obligations. Organizationally, New Profile reflects its anti-hierarchical politics. It has operated without an executive director and relies on consensus-oriented internal discussion. Active members consider organizational and strategic matters through monthly assemblies, where proposals may be discussed and voted on. The movement is associated with War Resisters’ International, linking its Israeli work to a broader international network concerned with conscientious objection and opposition to war. New Profile became the subject of a significant legal and political controversy in 2008–2009. In September 2008, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered a police investigation following allegations that the organization incited draft evasion and helped people obtain exemptions fraudulently. On April 26, 2009, police detained eight activists for questioning and confiscated organizational computers. The episode brought national attention to the organization’s activities and to the contested boundary between supporting conscientious objection and allegedly encouraging unlawful evasion of military obligations. The available reference material does not establish the final legal outcome. New Profile’s identity therefore rests less on a consumer offering than on a set of public-interest services and advocacy positions: demilitarization, feminist analysis, conscientious-objector support, anti-occupation activism, and the construction of a civilian alternative to military-centered citizenship.

New Profile developed from Israeli feminist discussion and study groups concerned with militarization and its effects on women and civilian life. Two groups began meeting in 1996 to examine how military institutions shaped social expectations, education, citizenship, and gender relations. Their work led to a joint public conference addressing compulsory military enlistment and the position of people who refuse or seek exemption from service. New Profile was founded at that conference on October 30, 1998, and became formally registered as an Israeli nonprofit in 1999. From its beginnings, the movement combined political advocacy with direct support. Its analysis treats militarization as a social system rather than only a matter of defense policy: military language, institutions, and status may influence schools, families, employment, public discourse, and definitions of responsible citizenship. New Profile consequently advocates a civilian society based on equality, tolerance, feminism, and peace. Its stated goals include reducing militarism in education, resisting the occupation of Palestinian territories, ending compulsory military conscription, reducing stigma attached to military exemptions, and securing legal recognition for conscientious refusal and civilian alternatives. The organization’s Counseling Network became a key practical expression of these aims. Coordinators, legal advisers, and trained volunteers provide free guidance to individuals who independently decide not to enlist or to discontinue service. Support can cover exemption procedures, medical and psychological routes associated with Profile 21, religious exemptions, conscientious objection, and the consequences of refusal or unauthorized absence, including possible imprisonment. The network has also supported people seeking to understand civilian options after receiving an exemption. The available reference material reports assistance to approximately 1,600 people per year, without specifying the date of that estimate. New Profile’s second major area is education and outreach. It has organized workshops, lectures, conferences, and public discussions for young people and professionals such as educators and social workers. It has also produced research and informational publications concerning militarization, soldiers’ experiences, conscientious objection, military prisons, exemption procedures, and alternative civilian service. These activities aim both to question dominant assumptions about enlistment and to provide practical information to people making decisions about military service. Its internal structure reflects its political commitments. Rather than relying on a conventional executive hierarchy, New Profile has operated without an executive director and has used a participatory, consensus-based model. Active members discuss organizational questions and strategic decisions in monthly assemblies, with matters subject to deliberation and voting. The movement is associated with War Resisters’ International, situating its work within an international network supporting conscientious objection and nonviolent resistance. In 2008, New Profile entered a period of legal controversy. Attorney General Menachem Mazuz instructed police to open a criminal investigation based on allegations that the organization encouraged draft evasion and facilitated fraudulent exemptions. On April 26, 2009, police detained eight activists for questioning and confiscated the organization’s computers. The investigation generated debate about freedom of political advocacy, the limits of assistance to conscientious objectors, and the treatment of compulsory service as a civic obligation. The available source does not provide a definitive account of the investigation’s final disposition. New Profile is consequently best understood as an activist nonprofit and support network rather than a commercial brand. Its public identity is built around demilitarization, feminist social criticism, conscientious-objector assistance, education, and the promotion of civilian alternatives to military-centered citizenship in Israel.

• 2009

  Activists questioned and computers confiscated

  [1]New Profileen.wikipedia.org

  Police detained eight activists for questioning and seized organizational computers on April 26, 2009.

• 2008

  Criminal investigation ordered

  [1]New Profileen.wikipedia.org

  The attorney general ordered a police investigation into allegations involving draft-evasion incitement and fraudulent military exemptions.

• 1999

  Registered as an Israeli nonprofit

  [1]New Profileen.wikipedia.org

  New Profile completed formal registration as a nonprofit organization in Israel.

• 1998

  New Profile is established

  [1]New Profileen.wikipedia.org

  The movement was formally established at a public conference on military enlistment and draft refusal held on October 30, 1998.

• 1996

  Women’s study groups begin examining militarization

  [1]New Profileen.wikipedia.org

  Two Israeli women’s groups began studying the position of women in a highly militarized society, creating the intellectual and organizational foundation for New Profile.

A feminist, antimilitarist, and non-hierarchical Israeli civil-society movement focused on demilitarization, conscientious objection, civilian alternatives, and opposition to the social effects of compulsory military service.

• Conscientious-objection and exemption support

  Counseling Network

  New Profile’s principal support service provides free counseling, legal information, and personal support to people considering non-enlistment, seeking exemption, ending military service, or dealing with the consequences of refusal. Guidance may address medical or psychological exemptions, religious exemptions, conscientious objection, unauthorized absence, and possible imprisonment. The network is coordinated by staff and trained volunteers.

• Public education and advocacy

  Education and Outreach

  This program uses workshops, lectures, conferences, research, and publications to explain the social effects of militarization and to question the assumption that military enlistment is the only legitimate route to responsible citizenship. Intended audiences include young people, educators, social workers, and the broader Israeli public.

• 2009

  Police questioning and seizure of organizational computers

  Eight New Profile activists were detained for questioning and police confiscated the organization’s computers during the continuing investigation.

  Source

• 2008

  Criminal investigation over alleged draft-evasion incitement

  Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered a police investigation based on allegations that New Profile encouraged draft evasion and helped people obtain military exemptions fraudulently. The available source does not establish the final outcome.

  Source

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• Demilitarization of Israeli society

  Israel

  New Profile campaigns for a civilian society by challenging the influence of military institutions and military values in education, public life, and citizenship.

  Source
• Support for conscientious objectors and military-exemption seekers

  Israel

  Through its Counseling Network, the movement supports people who refuse enlistment, discontinue service, or seek legal and practical information about exemption and civilian alternatives.

  Source
• Civilian and alternative service advocacy

  Israel

  The organization advocates recognition of civilian and alternative service options for people who do not serve in the military and works to reduce the social stigma associated with exemption.

  Source

1. 1New Profileen.wikipedia.org
2. 2New Profile official websitenewprofile.org