Israeli Army Rejects Students’ Appeal Not to Serve in the Territories

The Defense Ministry indicated Monday that young Israelis entering the Israel Defense Force will have to serve wherever they are assigned regardless of their personal views.

The ministry was responding to a letter from 34 high school seniors, all at the top of their class, who said they do not want to serve in the administered territories for reasons of conscience. The letter was identical to one sent the defense minister by 16 other high school seniors on Sept. 28.

The issue has polarized the student population, as well as Israeli society at large. The earlier letter drew sharp responses from young rightwing nationalists who declared it was an honor to serve in areas “liberated” from Arab rule that were part of the Jewish national heritage. The students’ letter, sent Sunday, stated: “We Israeli young people before induction into the IDF see Israel’s rule in the occupied territories as a real danger to the future of Israeli democracy and society and a barrier to peace. The students noted they were born after the 1967 Six-Day War “which has turned the IDF from a defense army into an occupying repressive army.” They stressed that “service in the IDF is very important to us. We therefore ask you, Mr. Defense Minister, to allow us to serve within the Green Line (pre-1967 border) and not to compel us to participate in acts of oppression and occupation in the territories, because it is against the dictates of our conscience… If we are ordered to take part in acts of oppression, we will be forced to refuse.”

Defense Ministry spokesman Eitan Haber said that he has not yet seen Sunday’s letter and could not respond directly. But, he stressed, the law requiring compulsory military service applies to all equally and that all soldiers must serve wherever the army needs them.