Posted on 02/02/2006 4:51:42 AM PST by Esther Ruth
Cracks Between Religious-Zionist Public and Army 11:54 Feb 02, '06 / 4 Shevat 5766 By Hillel Fendel
The Military Police arrested a young 2nd Lieutenant last night on suspicion of having leaked Amona operational plans to anti-destruction protestors. He was interrogated, and if the suspicions are substantiated, he stands to be indicted by the Military Prosecution.
O.C. Central Commander Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh - the yarmulke-wearing brother of former Health Minister Danny Naveh of the Likud - made statements irksome to both sides in the current dispute. Yesterday, he said the police "were close to being in danger of their lives" from the youths in Amona. This morning, it has been learned that during the destruction, he hinted at criticism of the Supreme Court.
Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman heard Naveh say, "I hoped and prayed - because I knew that we would reach a high level of violence - that the settlers would receive Supreme Court approval. Unfortunately, the Court decided otherwise."
Naveh was referring to the ruling of yesterday morning shortly before 10 AM. Six hours earlier, Justice Elyakim Rubenstein had issued an interim order, at the request of the Binyamin Regional Council, against the destruction. A three-justice panel convened at 8: 30 AM, and by a majority of Justices Edna Arbel and Ayala Procaccia against Rubenstein, rejected the request to delay the destruction by a week in order to afford another chance at finding a peaceful solution.
Naveh said, "I tried up until the last second to reach an understanding, and even during the events themselves... This is not a success, but rather a failure on everyone's part. It was clear to all that this would be violent."
Eran Sternberg, who served as spokesman for Gush Katif, renewed his call for the religious-Zionist public to cut off ties, at least temporarily, with the IDF. "There is no question that in light of the catastrophic situation developing in front of our eyes," Sternberg said, "it is impossible to continue to live in illusions. It is now clear that it is no longer just an issue of a specific order, but rather an entire army operating and educating its soldiers to an ethos of destruction."
"Only if we suspend our enlistment and cut off our ties with the IDF," Sternberg said, "can we send a sharp, non-violent message that is worth more than 1,000 barricaded roofs."
Refusal within the IDF to take part in the operation was not as widespread as in the case of the disengagement, but some instances did occur. Among them are the following:
The personal driver of the Deputy Battalion Commander responsible for the destruction refused to take part in the destruction, saying he is willing to stand trial for his decision.
In addition, following yesterday's events, an IDF officer in an elite reserve unit sent a letter to his commander, turning in his stripes. The letter states, "I feel, like my entire population sector, persecuted, humiliated, and the target of repression in every corner. After Gush Katif, when I saw the 'army of the people' expelling Jews from their homes with no compassion and destroying entire communities with no hesitation, and thereby destroying families - I had terrible doubts as to whether I could continue in this army... When I put on my uniform, I felt nauseated... Yesterday, on my way home [to Yesha], an officer stopped me [at the roadblocks preventing protestors from reaching Amona] and asked me who I am and where I'm going. I answered, 'I'm just like you, an officer in the same army as you.' He said, 'So what? Show me your ID card.' At that moment I felt that he and I are not in the same army, or maybe he's in the army and I'm not; I felt like a suspected terrorist who has to show his identity card... I always wanted to volunteer as much as possible - but that's it; no more. This is not the army of the people, but rather a political army that is motivated only by self-fulfillment and advancement, no ideology... I hereby return my ranks to the IDF; I have no desire for them, they only make me ashamed. I no longer want to be in this army."
He later explained that though the police were those who used excessive violence, but "the commanders of the operation were leading IDF figures Yair Naveh and Yosh Division Commander Yair Golan."
Arutz-7 also received a copy of another letter from an IDF sergeant asking Chief Reserves Officer Brig.-Gen. Ariel Heiman to exempt him from reserve service. "The return of the army to its original goals will open the door to my return to the army," the letter concludes.
One man said on television, "I fought in Israel's wars, and helped liberate Jerusalem. For 30 years I have been giving inspiring talks at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, describing the heroic battle and how the State of Israel won - but no more. I won't do it again."
Fifteen people are still hospitalized following yesterday's violence in Amona. Fifteen-year-old Yechiam Eyal of Psagot, who was rendered unconscious by the police violence, awoke during the night, and is now listed in moderate condition. The others are in light condition.
Thirty-four people were arrested yesterday, and 19 of them are still in prison. Four have already been indicted.
Published: 11:30 February 02, 2006 Last Update: 11:54 February 02, 2006
The link at the end of article - pictures must be seen.
http://www.hashkafah.com/index.php?showtopic=20215&hl
St. Petersburg, Russia, January 1905 all over again.
I love the IDF, but this is awful.
I would not have betrayed the plan, but I sure would have asked to be sent to the edge of Lebanon or something.
If they didn't move me, they'd have to put me in jail, as there as some orders that simply cannot be followed.
Jews, above all, should know that.
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