Confirming long-held suspicions by Israelis holding right-wing political opinions, the IDF admitted last week that it indeed was discriminating against youths who disagree with the 2005 disengagement, in which some 10,000 Jews were thrown out of their homes. The admission came during a Knesset subcommittee discussion on a law that would dismiss and purge from the public record all cases brought against youths who were arrested for acts of civil disobedience during the period leading up to the disengagement.
An IDF official testifying at the session said that the army quizzes recruits on their attitudes to the disengagement when deciding which units to assign them to. Army psychologists also proffer evaluative opinions, to ensure that the recruit is being straightforward about his opinion. If a youth is found to be “too right-wing,” a number of choices of unit assignment or army career paths are closed to him.
The proposed law, which is supported by virtually all MKs, both coalition and opposition, would grant amnesty to all those found guilty of civil-disobedience violations that did not endanger the public. The law would specifically require the IDF not to discriminate against such recruits.
An IDF official testifying at the session said that the army quizzes recruits on their attitudes to the disengagement when deciding which units to assign them to. Army psychologists also proffer evaluative opinions, to ensure that the recruit is being straightforward about his opinion. If a youth is found to be “too right-wing,” a number of choices of unit assignment or army career paths are closed to him.
The proposed law, which is supported by virtually all MKs, both coalition and opposition, would grant amnesty to all those found guilty of civil-disobedience violations that did not endanger the public. The law would specifically require the IDF not to discriminate against such recruits.