Moshe Feiglin: Duty of Soldiers to Refuse Orders they Deem Unethical – and to Pay the Price

Israel was rocked over the weekend by the letter of 43 reservists from the elite 8200 intelligence unit who expressed their refusal to obey orders designed to “harm the Palestinian population” in Judea and Samaria. In my opinion, it is the right of the soldiers in unit 8200 to refuse orders that they deem unethical. It is even their duty. Correspondingly, it is the duty of Israel’s military/justice system to punish them to the full extent. The soldiers must accept that and be pleased with their punishment.

That is the essence of conscientious objection.

The problem is that neither side is performing its duty. As a result, this important democratic tool does not foster a true clarification of contradicting values.