[Nettime-bold] Re: Split widens over Israeli reservists

["Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>]

This is indeed most encouraging news coming from Israel so far. 
That reminds me of Bertold Brecht - if soldiers refuse to fight, 
generals will have nobody to send to war. I think, peace minded 
people in the world should extend their support to those Israeli 
soldiers and officers who refuse to fight the Sharon's dirty war.
ivo


Date sent:      	Fri, 1 Feb 2002 22:16:34 -0500
Send reply to:  	International Justice Watch Discussion List
             	<JUSTWATCH-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
From:           	Andras Riedlmayer <riedlmay@FAS.HARVARD.EDU>
Subject:        	Split widens over Israeli reservists
To:             	JUSTWATCH-L@LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU

(cross-posting of comments only permitted)

A move by a group of Israeli reserve officers to refuse service in the
Palestinian territories has picked up steam, with more than 100 officers
joining the protest.

    The BBC's Caroline Hawley, in Jerusalem, says it is not only
    the military that is worried - the reservists' rebellion is now
    taking on growing political significance.

    A poll conducted for Israel radio said 31% of Israelis supported
    the protesting officers.  [...]

    A former head of Israel's internal security service, Ami Ayalon, has
    given his support to their protest, saying he is very concerned about
    the large number of unarmed Palestinian children shot by Israeli
    troops.

    In an interview with Israeli television, he said that, as far as
    he was concerned, not enough soldiers were refusing to obey what he
    called blatantly illegal orders.

    But he added that refusing to serve in the West Bank and Gaza was
    not the answer.

So, what is the answer then?

Andras Riedlmayer
=======================================================================
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1795000/1795362.stm
BBC World | MIddle East  Friday, 1 February, 2002, 16:34 GMT

Split widens over Israeli reservists

  A decision by more than 100 Israeli reserve officers to refuse to serve
in the Palestinian territories has sparked a furious row inside the
military, and a widening public debate.

  In the biggest challenge to the army's authority since the Palestinian
uprising began 16 months ago, the reservists have said they are not
willing to fight for the purpose of "dominating, expelling, starving and
humiliating an entire people".

  This in turn has prompted a strong counter campaign, and a suggestion by
the army's chief of staff that there are political motives behind the
protest, which would amount to incitement to rebellion.

  A former head of Israel's internal security service, Ami Ayalon, has
given his support to their protest, saying he is very concerned about the
large number of unarmed Palestinian children shot by Israeli troops.

  In an interview with Israeli television, he said that, as far as he was
concerned, not enough soldiers were refusing to obey what he called
blatantly illegal orders.

  But he added that refusing to serve in the West Bank and Gaza was not
the answer.

  Military service is compulsory in Israel, and men are required to serve
in the reserves for over a month each year until well into middle age
unless they have a special exemption.

Petition growing

  Military commanders have suspended two of the rebellious officers who
started a petition and are interviewing others who signed it.

  An Israeli army spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Rafinovich, told
the BBC that the protest was not supported by the majority of serving
soldiers.

  He said the military authorities would not speak to the officers as a
group, but would see them individually and discuss their views. Initially,
52 reserve officers signed the petition.

  But the list is now growing and the petition with 50 new signatures was
published in an Israeli newspaper on Friday.

  "We reserve combat soldiers and officers say the decision is in our
hands - we are already more than 100," their statement said.

  In response, a counter campaign has begun with reservists condemning the
protesters and publishing their own petition in the same newspaper.

Disciplinary action

  Another counter petition has appeared on the internet and an organiser,
Nir Aboodraham, said up to 5,000 people had signed it.

  The BBC's Caroline Hawley, in Jerusalem, says it is not only the
military that is worried - the reservists' rebellion is now taking on
growing political significance.

  A poll conducted for Israel radio said 31% of Israelis supported the
protesting officers.

  The Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon, has said he is not against criticism,
but that if soldiers did not carry out the decisions of an elected
government, it would be the beginning of the end of democracy.

   The army's Chief of Staff, Shaul Mofaz, has said he is taking the issue
very seriously and will take disciplinary action against any officer who
refuses to serve.

   But a spokesman for the protesters said General Mofaz's suggestion
that they might face charges of incitement to rebellion was an attempt
to silence them.

  Israeli troops and tanks have staged frequent incursions into the West
Bank and Gaza since the current uprising, or intifada, began in September
2000.

  It says that, because the Palestinian Authority has failed to rein in
groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, Israel must defend itself against
suicide bombings and other attacks on its citizens.

  Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been under virtual house arrest at
his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah as Israel continues to
hold him responsible for much of the violence.

  The Palestinian Authority has denied being behind attacks on Israelis.

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