IDF frees US Marine accused of draft-dodging after 2 months in jail
Dual Israeli-American citizen David K. was detained in August at Ben-Gurion Airport; US Army forbids its soldiers from serving in another force.
After holding him in a military prison for two months, the IDF has decided to release a US Marine from his compulsory army service in Israel.
David K. was born in Germany and immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of 10. In 2005, following his parents' divorce, he moved to Germany to live with his father and shortly after immigrated to the US, where he later joined the US Marine Corps.
At his hearing at the military court in Tel Aviv in August, David said his father had informed him that the issue of his Israeli military service had been resolved. He had been honorably discharged from the Marines earlier this year, with the rank of sergeant and numerous medals.
The Judge Advocate General had for two months rejected all pleas and motions from the soldier's attorneys, until the army finally decided this week to dismiss him from service, after more than two months behind bars at Prison Four, the IDF's jail in central Israel.
"The system functioned properly, but I do not think I should have been in prison for so long," David told Ynet. "Serving in the Marines as important and has significance, just like serving in the IDF."
Unlike other draft dodgers, David is still in the US Marine Corps as a reservist, and is therefore prohibited by American law from serving in a foreign army.
He added, "Because I have dual citizenship, and family in both Israel and the United States, they should have been flexible and exercised some discretion."
"We could have solved the bureaucracy even if I had not been in jail. Of course I would have shown up immediately every time they called me. I sat in a cell with detainees for property and drug offenses and it was definitely traumatic for me," he said. "During the trial, the prosecution lawyers from the JAG shook my hand and told me they were sorry, but the law did not allow them any flexibility. I have am not angry at the army or the system, you just need to change the rules."
David, who now has an exemption certificate from the army, is planning on staying in Israel and trying to build a life here.
