ISRAEL: 500 conscripts refuse to take oath for army and state

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

GAZA, May 29 2003 (IPS) - More than 500 Israeli young men and women have refused to take the oath for the Israeli army and state and opposed service in the occupied Palestinian territories and active duty.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented step, the Israeli army allowed Rotam Ronin, who refuses to be drafted into the army, to be conscripted without taking the oath of loyalty to the army or the state.

Ronin refused to take the oath because of the racist nature of the Jewish state.

Ronin, 19, spent three separate terms in prison because of his rejection to serve in the occupied territories or to join active service divisions. He had said he would not join the army as long as troops continued their occupation of the Palestinian territories.