One hundred young reservists declared yesterday that they cannot defend or guard Israeli settlements on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip because they express the “annexationist aims and the rejectionist policy” of the government. Their statement was made in a letter to Premier Menachem Begin.
Calling the Israeli government’s policy “misguided, erroneous and fraudulent,” the signatories–who included 10 officers–claimed that the policy, based on “mysticism and leading to the domination of another people, contradicts the security needs of the state, thwarts peace efforts and endangers the Zionist endeavor.” The 100 signers, aged 20-30, are mostly from Jerusalem and the rest are kibbutz members. “We want the State of Israel to live in peace with the states of the region,” they said.
The letter evoked strong negative reactions almost immediately. The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement last night noting that the reservists’ political motives were obvious, since they had released the letter to the press before the Premier had a chance to read it. It also noted that the reservists were accompanied by personnel from Israeli Television when they went to Begin’s residence to deliver the letter. The statement also expressed amazement that the reservists had chosen the eve of the Camp David summit to publicize that letter.
The Peace Now movement also strongly condemned the letter and emphasized that it had no connection with the 100 reserve soldiers. Noting that military service is “over and above any political debate,” the Peace Now movement condemned the attempt “to attach conditions” to military service.
The action was denounced by Labor Party leader Shimon Peres, who said that politics should not be involved in the army. He said any order, unless inhumane, should be obeyed. There was a large advertisement in all the newspapers demanding that the reservists be courtmartialed. It was signed by “Chaim Peled, citizen.”
Criticism was also levelled at the television news department for giving prominent display to the letter and the fact that the TV crews had been tipped off that the group was going to present its letter at Begin’s residence and were on hand to record it. The Broadcasting Authority chairman has asked for an investigation.
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