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-- health;
-- family considerations;
-- married or pregnant women or those with children;
-- persons convicted of crimes;
-- the undereducated until they complete at least eight years of school; and
-- other considerations at the Defense Ministry's discretion.
Israeli law rejects conscientious objection rights for men and only partly accepts them for women on the basis of religion. Those refusing to serve may be prosecuted and imprisoned.
Yet, as a UN Charter signatory, Israel is obliged to comply with the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Its Article 18 guarantees everyone "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." So does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under Article 18 stating the same thing.
By rejecting conscientious objection and requiring those claiming it to serve, Israel violates international law and a fundamental human right afforded everyone under it. As a result, under Article 35 (a) (2) of the National Defence Service Law:
-- failure to fulfill an obligated duty is punishable by up to two years imprisonment;
-- evading military service is subject to five years in prison;
-- refusing to perform reserve duties calls for up to a 56 day sentence, renewable if the objector refuses repeatedly;
-- helping someone avoid military service is punishable by a fine and up to two years in prison; and
-- disobeying call-up orders means facing up to five years imprisonment, although sentences rarely exceed 12 months.
Convictions are usually for the following reasons:
-- refusal to obey an order;
