Israelis refuse conscription
2002-09-18 01:26
Jerusalem More than 200 young Israelis called up for the national service
said in a petition released Tuesday that they would refuse to serve
in an "army of occupation".
"We refuse to be soldiers in an army of occupation," the 213
young Jewish conscientious objectors said in the petition, a copy
of which was received by AFP here.
The petition, signed by "secondary school students" was
addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israeli Defence
Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer and education Minister Limor Livnat,
a spokesman for the petitioners said.
The 213 petitioners accuse Israel of "committing war crimes and
violating human rights" in the Palestinian territories, and back
any form of refusal to do military service.
"Among us there are some who refuse to wear the uniform, others
refuse to serve beyond the Green Line (separating Israel from the
West Bank and Gaza Strip) and others will find different ways of
refusing to serve the occupation," said the text. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA