Jonathan Pollak is a prominent Israeli Jewish activist, anarchist, and graphic designer. He is a co-founder of Anarchists Against the Wall (AAtW) and one of the most persistent Israeli Jewish figures within the Palestinian popular resistance in the West Bank.
Born in Tel Aviv to a family with deep cultural roots (his father is the renowned actor Yossi Pollak), Jonathan chose a path of radicalism early on. While a professional graphic designer by trade, he channels his skills into movement propaganda, though his true “battlefield” lies in the villages of the West Bank. He is a high-profile draft resister who openly identifies as an anti-Zionist. His life is characterized by “legal guerrilla warfare,” having been arrested dozens of times and serving multiple prison sentences for his direct actions.
In 2003, he co-founded AAtW on the principle that Israeli Jews must move beyond demonstrating in Tel Aviv and instead put their bodies on the line in the West Bank alongside Palestinian farmers to block the construction of the barrier. He has maintained a presence in villages like Bil’in and Ni’lin for over 20 years.
Pollak is famous for his refusal to “play the game” with the Israeli legal system. He often refuses to pay fines or defend himself in court, arguing that a court that holds no accountability toward the millions of Palestinians it rules over has no legitimate authority over him. This preference for prison over financial cooperation has had a significant impact on the Israeli radical left.
Due to his radical stance, Pollak has been physically attacked by far-right extremists (including a stabbing in Tel Aviv). Between 2023 and 2026, amidst increasing political repression, he has faced threats of administrative detention but continues his on-the-ground solidarity in the Occupied Territories.
He is one of the few Jewish citizens within Israel who openly calls for international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against the state, arguing that internal change is no longer viable and only international pressure can end the occupation.