In a cafe in the settlement of Ma'ale Adummim

The young man is a former paratrooper, now refusing further military activity. He told us, "To stay in the military is to go crazy because of what we’re told to do. We call it ‘scratched brain.’" Elsewhere we learned that many young people find ways of resisting military duties, many surreptitiously, some by leaving the country, some by feigning medical problems. Those brought to trial are often given light sentences to lessen the publicity. This man urgently told us his story until one of our guides angrily interrupted with accusations, forcing the conversation into a fruitless debate.