Last week reservists who serve in the IDF Intelligence Corp’s elite 8200 unit released a letter stating they can no longer comply with orders that deal with compromising the rights of PA (Palestinian Authority) residents. The letter led to a storm and it appears the reservists will be dishonorably discharged from the IDF.

Chareidi soldiers who served in the unit have come forward to volunteer to fill the slots of the 43. By and large the response from military and political officials has been one of disapproval and condemnation.

However, one politician who does not share this view is Deputy Knesset Speaker MK (Likud) Moshe Feiglin. Feiglin feels that not only does a conscientious objector have the right to refuse to comply with an order, s/he has an obligation to do so.

Feiglin feels that this concept is essential in a democratic society, speaking out clearly in support of conscientious objectors. He adds that those who refuse orders must however be willing to take the punishment that results from their decision and that too is part of democracy.

However Feiglin clarifies that in the case of the 43, they are not truly conscientious objectors in the true sense of the word and they are not paying the price for their actions. He explains conscientious objectors are imprisoned for their insubordination, and they are willing to pay the price to change society as they believe it should be. Feiglin feels such action should be commended and not decried, but in this case, the 43 are simply refusing to serve and the IDF will simply dismiss them from reserve duty instead of realizing their refusal is political in nature and addressing that political refusal accordingly.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)