A top Israeli rabbi has called on soldiers to not report for reserve military duty after the Passover holiday next month in order to avoid taking part in a planned pullout of settlers from the Gaza Strip
this summer, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday.
Former Chief Rabbi Avraham Shapira's comments add to a growing
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| Youngsters willing to go to jail / By Moran Zelikovich |
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Dozens demonstrate at entrance to military induction center in support of 12th graders' refusal to enlist |
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The army has said it would begin prohibiting entrance to Gaza settlements for all but residents and their extended families before the Passover holiday, which begins April 23.
Settlers and right-wingers, including former ministers and members of Sharon's Likud Party,
oppose Sharon's plan to dismantle all 21 settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank. Many have vowed to resist the pullout, with some threatening to use violence.
"Rabbis who call upon soldiers not to return to their military service after Passover are inciting to break the law, and it's time to bring them to justice," said head of the secular Shinui party, Yosef Lapid.
The former justice minister said extreme right-wing rabbis were "playing a game of cat-and-mouse, where they test the patience of the justice system."
Several ministers from Zionist and religious parties such as the National Religious and National Union parties quit or were fired from Sharon's government last year over their opposition to the plan.
"The time of truth has arrived for the National Religious Party," said Yariv Oppenheimer,
head of the left-wing Peace Now movement. "It must choose during this trial whether it stands alongside Israel or chooses to fight against the country and support the stands of rabbis who call on troops to refuse orders."
A few reserve units have already presented petitions declaring their refusal to take part in the withdrawal.
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