Court rejects Israeli reservists' appeal

Reservist David Zonshein (right) will return to prison

Israel's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a group of reserve soldiers who have refused to serve in the occupied territories.

The campaigners belong to "Courage to Refuse" - which rallies conscientious objectors who consider areas gained by Israel during the 1967 to be occupied illegally.

The court however did not address the legality of the occupation but whether conscientious objection is permissible in the army.

Israeli soldiers have no right to conscientious objection

"Yesterday the objection was to [military engagement in] Lebanon... tomorrow it will be to dismantling certain settlements," a panel of judges said, adding reservists had to go wherever the army sent them.

According to a BBC correspondent, the lawyer representing the reservists said they had gained some ground.

Judges rejected the prosecution's accusation that the reservists were engaged in civil disobedience as their motives were political rather than moral.

The reservists are not typical conscientious objectors.

They are willing to serve in the army, but not if they are posted to the West Bank in Gaza, they say.

David Zonshein, who filed the petition, will return to prison where he is being held for refusing to serve in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"Our refusal to serve in the occupied territories is the most Jewish and Zionistic ideal that can be upheld in this situation," said Mr Zonshein after the hearing, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Other reservists say they will continue their fight by going to prison when they are called up for service in the occupied territories.