BBC NEWSAmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia PacificArabicPersianPashtoTurkishFrench
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC News UK Edition
 You are in: World: Middle East  
News Front Page
World
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
-------------
From Our Own Correspondent
-------------
Letter From America
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
Education
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
CBBC News
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS
Wednesday, 4 September, 2002, 15:41 GMT 16:41 UK
Israeli reservists call occupation illegal
Israeli soldier on a tank
Hundreds of reservists have refused to serve
Eight Israeli reserve soldiers who refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza have asked Israel's Supreme Court to declare the occupation of the Palestinian territories illegal.

The soldiers, who rank from staff-sergeant to major, are part of Courage to Refuse, a movement of reservists who have refused to serve in the occupied territories.

The group claims to have more than 400 members.


There is no way to have an enlightened occupation

Lieutenant David Zonsheine

"The Israeli Defence Forces' activities, notwithstanding the important goal of fighting terror, have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians," the soldiers' petition to the court reads. "For this reason, the occupation is illegal."

It was not known if the Supreme Court would agree to hear the case, but the group says it is the first such legal challenge to the 35-year Israeli occupation.

Military service is compulsory in Israel.

Men are required to serve in the reserves for more than a month each year until well into middle age unless they have a special exemption.

But the "refuseniks" say they should not be compelled to take part in an occupation they believe is illegal.

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip were captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and controlled directly until the Palestinian Authority was created in the mid-90s.

Palestinian schoolchildren throw stones at an Israeli tank
More than 100 refuseniks have come forward in recent months

But during a recent offensive that Israel says was aimed at stopping suicide attacks, the army reoccupied much of the West Bank, enforcing curfews and blockades.

The soldiers argue that Israel has an obligation under international law to provide public services to Palestinians in any territory it re-occupies, and that it is not doing this.

More than 100 refuseniks have come forward in recent months and some have faced prison for standing up for their beliefs.

Lieutenant David Zonsheine said he was sentenced to 35 days in military prison after refusing reserve duty two months ago.

He said that while serving in the Gaza Strip last year he was forced to hold up Palestinian traffic - including ambulances - at a checkpoint because of a suicide attack warning.

"I don't know how many people died because of the 200 ambulances I delayed there," he told the Associated Press.

"This made me realise there is no way to have an enlightened occupation."


Key stories

Profiles

FACTFILE

TALKING POINT

AUDIO VIDEO
See also:

02 Feb 02 | Middle East
01 Feb 02 | Middle East
01 Feb 02 | Middle East
01 Feb 02 | Middle East
02 Feb 02 | Middle East
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Middle East stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Middle East stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | World | UK | England | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
Politics | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology |
Health | Education | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes