Israeli court rejects petition from ‘refusenik’ soldiers

Friday, January 3, 2003 | by

JERUSALEM (JPS)—The High Court of Justice on Monday rejected a petition by eight reservists who have refused to serve in the

The justices rejected the concept of selective conscientious objection, that is, the refusal to serve in specific circumstances as opposed to pacifism, which is recognized as legitimate by the army.

Supreme Court justices ruled that although both types of refusal to serve are based on moral considerations and conscience, the impact of selective refusal is more damaging to the state.