Refusal to serve in the Israeli military

This letter, dated December 2003, was signed by 13 reservists of Sayeret Matkal, an elite commando unit, serving in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (nine commandos in Sayeret Matkal, 2 soldiers who had been removed from reserve duty because of prior refusals to serve there, and 2 additional combatant soldiers).

Their letter, addressed to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, stated:

We shall no longer lend a hand in the occupation of the territories.

We shall no longer take part in the deprivation of basic human rights from millions of Palestinians.

We shall no longer serve as a shield in the crusade of the settlements.

We shall no longer corrupt our moral character in missions of oppression.

We shall no longer deny our responsibility as soldiers of the Israeli DEFENSE force.