Israeli Refusenik vs. Israeli Peace Party Member: A Debate on Israel's Assault on Lebanon

While a large part of the international community opposes Israel's offensive on Lebanon, polls conducted over the past week have shown that between 90 and 95 percent of Israeli Jews remain in support of Israel's actions, including members of the major Israeli peace parties. Yet as the assault continues into its tenth day, there are also many Israelis who have begun to speak out against their country's policies.

This week Staff Seargent Itzik Shabbat became the first Israeli soldier to refuse to participate in the attacks on Lebanon. The Israeli peace party, Meretz, which initially supported the military's actions, has more recently begun questioning the extent of the current violence, according to a spokesperson for Meretz head Yossi Beilin.

* Yonatan Shapira, a former Captain in the Israeli Air Force Reserves. In 2003 Yonatan initiated the group of Israeli Air Force pilots who refused to fly attack missions on Palestinian territories. He is also the founder of the organization Combatants for Peace.
* Uri Zaki, chairman of Young Meretz.

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