Sharon meets with birthright visitors

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met in his office yesterday with young Jews visiting the country as participants in the birthright israel program.

In response to a visitor's question about the possibility of soldiers refusing to obey if ordered to evacuate settlements, Sharon said, "I do not see any justification in refusing orders. Not by soldiers, not by political leaders and not by rabbis."

The young people from several English-speaking countries are here on birthright israel's free 10-day trip for first-time Jewish visitors between the ages of 18 and 26. Now in its sixth year, the program is funded by North American philanthropists, the Israel government, the Jewish Agency and the United Jewish Communities of North America, at a cost of $30 million a year.

Some 70,000 young people have visited under the the program; 8,000 more are expected this winter. "The students visiting Israel return to their campuses and become Israel's best emissaries," Sharon said yesterday.

The program's main event, attended by 3,000 participants and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, is to be held tonight at the Jerusalem Convention Center.