“Israelis” ‘make moral choice, dodge draft’

Source: ynetnews, 2-8-2007
The number of soldiers enlisting in the "Israeli" Military has reached an all time low, and only 67.3% of those qualified to serve in combat units requested to do so.
"This phenomenon has always existed, but now the draft dodgers seem to have lost their shame. The mission we are all tasked with is to return shame to the cheeks of those who shirk the draft, and return pride to soldiers in service," "Israeli" Military Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Tuesday at an army awards ceremony in Herzliya.
Defense (War) Minister Ehud Barak agreed that society was becoming too complacent in its view of draft dodgers. "Those who enlist in the `Israeli` Military and the fighters of the army's reserve units are the ones who are worthy of being society's true heroes," the defense (war) minister said.
Omri Evron, a 20-year-old draft-dodger from Tel Aviv, was one of the authors of a letter to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which was signed by 250 high school students who declared they would not join the army because they refused to take part in "the occupation of the Palestinian territories and people".
After refusing to enlist, Evron was sentenced to one month in prison, which he spent in isolation.
"I chose to go to prison rather than see the military's mental health officer, as an act of political protest," Evron said. "I recommend teens to look at their personal conscience as humans despite social norms, and choose not only what is acceptable and comfortable, but what seems morally right.
"The government doesn't mind sending us off to useless wars, and the last war proved that despite our strong military force, the only solution is to fight for peace.
"Groups that don't enlist are departmentalized by ‘Israeli' society's power centers. It is unfortunate that a society, which pretends to be democratic, bases its ethos on an army.
"The reactions I get are mixed - some people react harshly, and even curse, but some accept my decision with understanding and curiosity," Evron explained.