Five Israeli Objectors to Military Service Were Convicted by Military Tribunal
The IDF Military Court convicted today (Dec. 16, 2003) five people for refusing to serve in the IDF on charges of
refusing to fulfill an order. The court determined that the main motivation behind the objectors' refusal was not
conscientious objection, but desire for political change.
The Military Court reiterated the Israeli Supreme Court's earlier ruling, and arbitrated that there is no exemption from
service for those who selectively refuse to serve, as this kind of exemption infringes on principles of democracy.
Furthermore, the court explained that if selective refusal of this type is accepted, the IDF risks turning into an army
made up of independent units operating according to its own set of virtues.
The accused objectors will receive their sentence on Tuesday, 23-12-03.