A story on ABC News this evening highlighted an Israeli daughter, forced to spend 30 days in prison for refusing mandatory military service in Israel, which is compulsory after high school.

Shahar Perets, the daughter in question, has refused four times to be part of mandated military service in Israel and her mother was very proud of her stance, with Shahar stating she will maintain her "anti occupation activism".

An Israeli MP said in the story however compulsory military service was a way of "melting everyone into one stock", with the story showing many young people trained to use weaponry, guns and firearms. It was heartbreaking to see their lives wasted away using such items that kill others.

It is right though for people to be forced into compulsory, mandated military service in Israel and should young people have to go to prison for taking a stance against compulsory military service in a modern age?

http://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/two-israelis-jailed-refusing-military-conscription

In Israel military service is compulsory for men and
women and if you repeatedly refuse such behaviour results in
jail sentences.

The Israeli High Court of Justice has ruled that refusal was
"legal on the grounds of unqualified pacifism" but that
"selective refusal" which accepts some duties and not others
was illegal. That allowing "selective refusal" would "weaken
the ties that bind us as a nation."

Exemptions for women is covered by Section 39 of the Israel
Security Service Law which states the grounds from service
in the Israel Defence Force include - marriage, pregnancy,
or parenthood.

It appears that the young lady has decided on what she chooses
to do.

What can be done about it, Nathan. More to the point, what can you do about it? All you get from worrying about, even thinking about, things over which you have no control only leads to frustration and depression. We have pretty much lost control of the people doing unpleasant things in our own country; we cannot hope to influence or control foreigners.

As for anyone getting locked up for not wanting to do national service, one of my younger brothers was locked up by the Australian federal government for refusing to register during the Vietnam War. The silly bugger wrote to defence minister and told him that he wasn't going to register.

Australians have always been against conscription, and it has occurred only during times of war. The thing about Israel, Nathan, is that it is on a permanent war footing, thanks to the the permanent threat from Islamists surrounding it. We cannot allow our own relatively safe position and situation to judge other countries.

Perhaps they should have locked up the 'proud' mother as well. She apparently thinks it's OK for others to protect her and her family.

ttbn,

<<What can be done about it, Nathan.>>

To advocate against these types of moves by a Government, any Government. To force people into military training is in my opinion not only terrible but sending a message that the use of firearms and weaponry is acceptable, when we as people should be moving towards peaceful moves to resolve any matters that arise.

It seems many Governments including Australia, still see violence as the way forward on so many matters, when it is not. If anything it should be a last resort, not a first option.

It is sad this principle is still continuing.

Quotes from Martin Luther King’s sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on April 30, 1967 opposing the Vietnam War and calling for “a revolution of values”.

“The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war. There comes a time when silence is betrayal… there are those who are seeking to equate dissent with disloyalty. It’s a dark day in our nation when high-level authorities will seek to use every method to silence dissent. Something is happening and people are not going to be silenced. The truth must be told… the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today, my own government.”

“There will be no meaningful solution until some attempt is made to know these people [the Vietnamese], and hear their broken cries. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. Come home, America. I call on Washington today. I call on every man and woman of good will all over America today.”

As a person I want to support those who advocate for world peace. I will not support those who engage in violence. The brainwashing of young people by the Israeli Government, any Government into a belief that military action is fine, is fundamentally wrong as is the Government there throwing those into prison who disagree to participate in such an evil activity.

Foxy,

<<It appears that the young lady has decided on what she chooses
to do.>>

She's been forced into such a move, that being going to prison by the Government. In no way has she decided. I would also argue she now has a criminal record against her name also, which is hardly favourable, in the context it could inhibit her from undertaking certain activities or not look very good on her resume or CV when applying for a job or if she needs a future police check in terms of employment.

Short answer, Yes.