Post AwVTGcUkGQ8hLoNFse by evan@cosocial.ca
 (DIR) More posts by evan@cosocial.ca
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGcUkGQ8hLoNFse by evan@cosocial.ca
       2025-07-25T21:59:31Z
       
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       TIL that Palestinian citizens of Israel are not subject to universal conscription for military service.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGdaSCgIejo3KPw by johl@mastodon.xyz
       2025-07-25T22:21:43Z
       
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       @evan Arab citizens of Israel (who largely identify as Palestinians) are exempt from the compulsory military service. They can serve voluntarily. The Arabic speaking community of the Druze in Israel asked not to be exempt. Druze soldiers have made it to the highest ranks.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGesvNUfWlNhaqW by evan@cosocial.ca
       2025-07-25T22:24:47Z
       
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       @johl that's great. I just wonder how the war in Gaza would be different, or the policing of the West Bank would be different, if one in five soldiers was Palestinian.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGfv5WvzfyNiprE by johl@mastodon.xyz
       2025-07-25T22:27:45Z
       
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       @evan I have not read a lot of voices from the Arab community that see exemption from military service as discrimination.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGgfWkH8mIPRvF2 by evan@cosocial.ca
       2025-07-25T23:03:58Z
       
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       @johl sure. I mean, can you imagine how fucked it would be to be one of the 100-200 Palestinians of 48 who has served in the military since its beginning? But being part of a mandatory military force, where a significant number of fellow soldiers are also Palestinian? You'd probably feel a lot safer.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGhVHdqXasvfFui by evan@cosocial.ca
       2025-07-25T23:07:20Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @johl but most of all it's a question of fairness for the rest of the citizens. They've had multiple lawsuits to make conscription universal, based on arguments around fairness.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwVTGhkshr19fIxiE4 by evan@cosocial.ca
       2025-07-25T22:08:05Z
       
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       I was reading about the push for universal conscription, especially w/r/t the ultra orthodox, and wondered why none of the conversation was about real universal conscription of citizens.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/as-netanyahus-governing-coalition-fractures-what-what-it-means-for-israel-and-gaza