Should spend their graduation in prison. They should be denied admittance to public universities or any school that accepts gov. funding.

will they "at least be doing community service ?"

The 80 kids who signed the letter refusing to serve should go read the new Leftist manifesto that shows they are nothing more than Palestinian propaganda tools. http://www.slideshare.net/nicoblack/ss-2005782 Meretz will (unfortunately, in my opinion) die a sad death in the next election or two. Why? Because instead of embracing the country, they embrace these 80 kids. This country wants people who believe in our country, not people who suck up to our enemies. If you don't like the system, you get involved and change the system - instead, the 80 signers simply opted out. They'd rather quit than fight. The country is fed up with quitters, which is why hundreds have already signed this new letter, and only 80 have signed the refusal letter.

Kol Hakavod. Kadima B'nei Akiva. Am Israel Chai.

When the Orange Camp called for disobeying the blatantly illegal orders to ethnically cleanse Jews from their home, everyone was baying about the rule of law and condemning them. When some spoiled rich brats announce they will disobey orders which endager the lives of Israelis, they are treated with respect

We finally have the opportunity to hear from the teens of Israel that make Israel the amazing country that it is!

to try undo some of the damage done there recently?

This is what makes us stand tall and proud! These are the kids who deserve help with university after service. As for the others--Let them do hard labour and DO NOT allow them into our educational institutions! Rewards are for those who stand up for Israel--the others can go live in Gaza (see how they like living under Hamas)

serves or no one. Those that refuse can spend three times more years in prison than their military service plus another year. National service is just draft dodging by another name. All those that do not serve or have not served in the past should become second class citizens. They lose the right to vote,sit in the knesset,government jobs, seniority at work,higher education, driver's license, weapons licenses, business license and pay a defense tax of a few hundred shekels per month for each member of their family and no child allowance or welfare.

Did you read how the tolerant Muslims refused to play football against the French team PFG? Still supporting them?

It is accepting respnsibility and contributing. Everybody can do something.

Bravo, to the Bnei Akiva youth in Ramat Gan! You are those we are so proud of, standing up for what is morally and eithically right at a time when it is not popular! This should be an eye opener to the Left.

Now you seculars were saying? Some kids you're raising! Figures! Not surprising.

when i look around me, at all my friends, i see people who want to go serve in the idf, even though we are secular, best of luck.

Make up your mind and be consistent. (My #15 was sarcastic.)

I have three children who served the nation of Israel in the IDF and understand that if we don't defend ourselves, no one will! Yet, the truth about the foundation of the State of Israel was revealed to me (many don't know this, sadly!) whilst not looking for it. Re the sayings of Hertzl, Jabotinsky, Ben Gurion (on the Internet for all to see). Perhaps one needs to be less harsh on those who choose not to serve.

the reason why the haredim don't serve inthe army is in order to keep their culture separate from the general israeli culture. i don't think they would have a problem doing national service, but unfortunately that can not be done now for the following reasons: 1. legally: in order for them to not go into the army, they must show that they are full time in yeshiva. national service is not an option for them. 2. politically. haredi leaders aren't idiots. they know that once the government gets their hands on the haredi youths in national service, they later draft them into the army. BTW: why aren't arabs required to go for national service?

so no one has an excuse that they cannot serve their country in some way in National Service or the IDF. By the way, the protocol for elderly patients with a hole in their heart from birth has changed because of the brave struggle of Ariel Sharon: surgery to correct that will no longer be the protocol in the elderly and blood thinners will no longer be given to the elderly with a hole in their hearts. That is a world wide change and the remarkable survival abilities of Ariel Sharon inspite of all the things that would have killed a lesser person, he has survived. I would say that Ariel Sharon is giving Shimon Peres a run for his money on who is the strongest man in Israel. The ELS Torah codes say Shimon Peres is the strongest man in Israel, but I have to question the Lord on that one since holding on is the Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon definition of strength: holding on and not giving up. The young could learn a thing or two from that.

Can someone please let me know what the secular response would be to the seniors letter?

If you read my post yesterday about those moronic kids refusing to do their patriotic duty, I was pretty inflamed at the lack of courage a few kids could show. And now, I read this article about the "counter attack" from Bnei Akiva youth movement in Ramat Gan and could not be prouder of them. In fact I bet their parents are proud of them and the whole country even. I also bet anything that the students in today's article are achiever at school while the kids yesterday who wrote a letter of protest do poorly at school...it’s just a hunch! Today’s article is restoring my faith in Israeli youth.

First time I hear about this senior letter thing. When was it? Yesterday? Anyway, in twelve grade I had a lot of fears of going to the army. I was afraid that it would be tough, that I would be all alone, that it'll be dangerous etc. I know how high school seniors feel, and I'm sure that's why 90% of those kids joined that petition (or whatever it was). Those selfish emotions, but everyone has them. But you know what, after completing service, I can say that yes, it is tough (depends on what you serve as) but it will make you a stronger person in the end. The best thing to do against those kind of letters is to teach kids about what to expect in the military service. Jeez, long respond is LONG. Sorry about that.

Wonderful children. Your next step would be to confront your own Hesder soldiers so they serve the full 3 years instead of the 14 -16 months they usually serve. Better yet, let all soldiers serve !.5 years and continue their studies at the same time and give allowances to the institutions they attend also.

blessed are the 80 who signed the letter at least there minds are not yet owned by the state like the masses of Israeli youth

Can anyone please let me know what the secular response would be to the seniors letter - i.e. why would they oppose the seniors letter?

I feel very safe with the uniformed youth all around, on the buses and trains, on the street, they are fantastic people. It's ok for a small minority to have their own opinion, even though they've been brainwashed and misinformed by the leftist press, but the majority have been smart enough to see through the smokescreens.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3788962,00.html (you can copy & paste also) Read the previous article of some kids refusing to get drafted to the army; the title of that article is: "Students refuse to enlist due to 'occupation' ". if you type this in the search engine, you will be able to see the article. Good luck.

Those 80 kids will probably make yerida eventually anyway.