Dear Yuyutsu,

I sort of get that all Israelis over 18 (excepting the ultra orthodox) are trained to kill Palestinians but 37 years for objecting to do so? I'm finding it hard to believe. Can you give any examples?

Dear Custard,

You wrote; "I'm not anti-religion, I am vehemently opposed to extremists of any religion, who would destroy the lives of others based upon their sick reading of textbooks. I am vehemently opposed to these sick-nutjobs repressing others, killing them, determining what they can and cannot do, etc. That is what freedom is built upon, the fundamental freedom to say/do as one pleases, as long as in doing so you do not unfairly impinge upon the freedoms/rights of others."

I wasn't sure if you were referring to Iraeli settlers of Hamas extremists, perhaps both?

Dear Csteele,

If one refuses to go the army, they are jailed for 1-2 months, then told to enlist again. In theory, this can be repeated indefinitely until they are released on the grounds of age, at 55. In practice, chances are that they will be released earlier on some health grounds. In any case, once someone is in their mid 30's it's very unlikely that they will be trained to kill: they would rather be sent to some military support job (clerk, mechanic, driver, cook, store-keeper, cleaner, etc). In the past it was popular to send such people to clear mine-fields...