The Druze Methaq, an organization formed by Druze Refuseniks, says it has obtained a list containing the names of 13 Druze youths who have been sentenced to periods in prison ranging from 28 days to 9 months for refusing to serve in the Israeli military.
According to the organisation the Israeli army tries to keep the number of Druze refuseniks from the media, while the Methaq is working to collect information on the issue despite of Israeli gagging orders.
It added that it will only publish the initials of the refuseniks as they could, for example, be targeted by right-wing Israeli extremists and physically attacked.
The Methaq also said that a week ago it released a list of 40 other Druze refuseniks.
In early February of 2009, at the Herzliya Coference, Israeli leaders discussed a proposal to strip Arab refuseniks of their Israeli citizenship.
Documents presented at the conference showed a 50% decline in the number of Druze young men who are willing to serve in the military.
