"During your service in the occupied territories you will be ordered to carry out orders that contradict the values that we have endowed: mutual respect, human dignity, freedom, justice, equality and pursuing peace," said a letter signed by 97 parents.

"Your service in the occupied territories can make you face immoral and illegal actions that border with war crimes," the letter said.

Parents said they would stand by their children if they decided not to follow certain orders or even if they refused to serve because they were being asked to "take part in the injustice of the occupation".

"You don't have to be a part of the oppression," the letter said. "You don't have to take part in deepening the hate and the conflict between us and the Palestinians".

Public confidence in the Israeli military, which claims it is one of the most ethical armed forces in the world, has been rocked in recent weeks by a series of incidents including the shooting of a 13-year-old schoolgirl in Gaza and disturbing images of soldiers abusing the corpses of Palestinians.

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