Israel/Occupied Territories: Soldiers imprisoned for refusing to take part in human rights violations
On the International day of the Conscientious Objector on 15 May Amnesty International draws attention to the rising number of Israeli soldiers and reservists imprisoned for refusing to perform their military service in the Occupied Territories. This rise is the result of a growing concern of conscripts, soldiers and reservists about some of the actions taken by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Occupied Territories.
"Israel must recognise the right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience as recognised under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a party," Amnesty International said. "We call on the IDF to take the concern of its own reservists, soldiers and conscripts seriously. It is a message to halt actions which breach human rights standards and international humanitarian law."
A total of 460 reservists have so far signed a letter issued in January 2002 stating: "We shall not fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people."
On the International day of the Conscientious Objector on 15 May Amnesty International draws attention to the rising number of Israeli soldiers and reservists imprisoned for refusing to perform their military service in the Occupied Territories. This rise is the result of a growing concern of conscripts, soldiers and reservists about some of the actions taken by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Occupied Territories.
"Israel must recognise the right to refuse military service on grounds of conscience as recognised under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a party," Amnesty International said. "We call on the IDF to take the concern of its own reservists, soldiers and conscripts seriously. It is a message to halt actions which breach human rights standards and international humanitarian law."
A total of 460 reservists have so far signed a letter issued in January 2002 stating: "We shall not fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people."