Soldier with cancer wants to stay in army

JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A young Israeli soldier dismissed from the army after being diagnosed with cancer appealed Tuesday, arguing she can serve during treatment.

The 19-year-old woman, identified only by the initial L., filed a petition with the High Court, Ynetnews.com reported. She named Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, chief of staff of the Israeli military, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak as defendants, along with the army.

The soldier, who enlisted in 2008, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma two days after she finished officer's training. She was immediately found medically unfit.

In her petition, she and her lawyers argued she should be transferred to desk duty while undergoing chemotherapy. Her lawyer, Avi Bar Am, said she has a more than 90 percent chance of recovery and would be in chemotherapy once a week for up to six months.

Under military regulations, the woman would not be eligible to re-enlist until she has been free of cancer for five years.