Gary Fitleberg, December 30, 2004

A so-called "right-wing" Israeli lawmaker called on army draftees not to evacuate settlements in the ancient biblical and modern disputed territories of Judea & Samaria (wrongfully called "West Bank") belonging to Israel and the Jewish people.

A letter distributed among Israeli 12th-graders this week by the National Union Bloc’s Arieh Eldad urges them to send a petition to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon when they enlist for mandatory military service, pledging to oppose his withdrawal plan.

Conscripts are expected to play a leading role in the planned removal of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.

A liberal lawmaker, Ran Cohen of the Meretz Party, accused Eldad of sedition and urged that his parliamentary immunity be removed so police can press charges.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg