Israeli teenagers cite conscientious objections for not joining army

Dozens of Israeli teenagers have sent a letter to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring their intention to refuse to enlist in the army.

The teenagers said in their letter that they will not join the army in protest at “the ongoing occupation and the army’s invasion of civilian life that deepens the notions of chauvinism, militarism, violence, inequality and racism in society”.

Conscientious objection is extremely rare in Israel, where almost all Jewish males, with the exception of the ultra-Orthodox, serve a three-year compulsory stint in the military at age 18. Women serve for two years.

The letter’s authors urged Israeli youth in their final years of high school to reconsider the meaning of army service.

“The Palestinians in the occupied territories live under the Israeli government’s rule, even though they did not choose this government and they cannot influence its decision-making in any legal way. This situation is unequal and unjust,” the letter said.

The signatories criticised what they termed “human rights violations” and “acts that are considered war crimes according to international law” perpetrated by troops serving in the West Bank, citing “executions without trial, settlement and collective punishments ” as examples.

Influence
Shaked Harari (18) from Bat Yam near Tel Aviv said he chose not to enlist "because of the influence of the army on society" in the areas of education, work, politics, society and economics. "We as a group believe that the army harms society and its citizens, both in Israel and in Palestine, and as long as people continue to enlist they are helping to deepen the social gaps," he said.

The Yesh Gvul (There is a Limit/Border) movement, which supports conscientious objectors, welcomed the letter. "We are proud of the young people who are refusing to take part in oppression and calling on the government to end the occupation."

Yesh Gvul said refusal to serve was a “personal decision by every person in a democratic society”. The military continues to play a very important role for most Israeli youths.

Addressing new recruits yesterday, the head of the army’s “manpower directorate”, Maj Gen Orna Barbivai, said “the ‘people’s army’ has been and will be one of Israeli society’s principal foundations”.