Number of reservists refusing to serve in territories now 375
By Joseph Algazy, Ha`aretz, March 31, 2002
Sunday, March 31, 2002 Nisan 18, 5762
Israel Time: 04:50 (GMT+3)
08:26 31/03/2002
Last update - 08:46 31/03/2002
Number of reservists refusing to serve in territories now 375
By Joseph Algazy, Ha'aretz Correspondent
The number of IDF reservists who are refusing to serve in the territories,
has surged to 375 officers and soldiers, who have all signed the letter
of refusal to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
On Friday, a group of the refuseniks demonstrated
for the first time outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem,
carrying Israeli flags to stress their ties to Zionism, and voicing calls
against what they said was the unnecessary killing of their comrades in
"the war for the peace of the settlements."
The spokesman for the refuseniks, Amit Mashiah,
estimated that by Tuesday, some 20 officers and soldiers identified with
the group would be serving time in jail for refusing to serve in the territories.
Twelve of those who have signed the refusal notice
and have already received orders to report for duty are refusing to go
to the territories, while another nine told the Yesh Gvul peace organization
at the weekend that they would not comply with such orders if and when
they received them.
One of the refuseniks was already on his way Saturday
to face a military tribunal in Hebron; three were waiting for a decision
on their status at the Central Command; and four reported to their posts
Saturday, signed a refusal to serve in the territories and were sent home.
Over the weekend, Yesh Gvul received dozens of calls
from officers and soldiers who said they had decided to refuse to report
for duty in the territories and were seeking advice and assistance.
"The principles and motives that six-and-a-half
years ago led me to leave Australia, come to live in Israel and serve as
a regular conscript in the Israel Defense Forces, and later as a reservist,
are the same principles and motives that have prompted me, now, to refuse
to serve in the occupied territories and play a part in carrying out immoral
actions," Corporal (res.) David Pearlman told Ha'aretz on Friday.
Pearlman was sentenced last week to 14 days in detention
for his refusal to serve in the territories.
"The IDF's demand that I serve in the territories,"
Pearlman continued, "left me facing a very difficult dilemma because I
am willing to serve in any war whose objective is the defense of the State
of Israel. But in no uncertain terms am I willing to take part in any activity
that causes suffering and victims to both nations."
A second reservist, Elad Lahav, who is currently
serving a 28-day jail sentence for his refusal to serve in the territories,
said: "Since seder night, I have been living with a terrible feeling because
of the horrific terror attack in Netanya, because of the government's decision
to conduct an ongoing act of war the final outcome of which no one knows,
and due to the fact that I am here - while my unit comrades are stationed
in Hebron.
"I am a Zionist and a patriot and went to serve
in an infantry unit out of free choice. When I informed [the army] of my
refusal to do reserve duty in Hebron, around half of my friends in my platoon
told me that they supported my actions. The others said they didn't agree
with me, but understood me. This picture could change in light of the war
that is going on at present. Even at this moment, I do not regret my refusal
to serve in the territories."
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