Last update - 02:34 07/08/2007
Bitter fruit of forgiveness
By Amos Harel
Two years after the Gaza disengagement, the issue of soldiers refusing orders once again rears its ugly head. Ten new recruits and two squad commanders were court-martialed yesterday for refusing an order to take part in an evacuation operation - the most serious such case since the evacuation of Gush Katif.
What was avoided during the right-wing opposition to dismantling the Amona outpost is now happening because of two stores in Hebron market.
It is hard to explain the sudden surge of refusal. Perhaps it derives from the settlers' feeling that the Olmert-Barak government is again considering the evacuation of outposts. The IDF's lenience toward those who refused to take part in the disengagement also has something do with it.
Those who preached for refusal were treated with even more indulgence. Nothing remained of former chief of staff Dan Halutz's threats to settle the score with the inciting rabbis. Halutz finally recommended revoking the special 'hesder' status of the Elon Moreh yeshiva, whose rabbi Elyakim Levanon had been one of the most vociferous refusal preachers.
Once again the soldiers who refuse to carry out orders belong to hesder yeshivas, and this time too the commanders tried to compromise with them, hoping that the rabbis or their disciples would come to their senses.
GOC Central Command Gadi Shamni ended the negotiations abruptly by announcing that all those who refused orders would be court-martialed immediately, and would no longer serve as combatants. It remains to be seen whether the army doesn't find reasons to bring them back to combat positions once the media lose interest.
Yesterday's refusal is another in a series of events that have embarrassed the IDF in recent weeks. An officer and five soldiers were arrested after rampaging in Dahariy south of Hebron. A Givati officer who used a local Palestinian as a human shield in Gaza was dismissed, a Golani soldier was left in Palestinian territory after an operation, soldiers in a frontline outpost announced a mutiny, and a Givati squad commander who did not attack terrorists was dismissed.
Despite the credit Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is receiving for the IDF's frantic activities in preparation for another war, the series of blunders makes one wonder if it was justified to blame all the IDF's failures in Lebanon on Dan Halutz.
The number of personnel committed to the operation should be carefully examined. There is little point in using 3,000 soldiers and policemen to enforce what will be a temporary evacuation, since the settlers will find a way back to the stores that are just a few meters from their homes.
Dozens of right-wing activists have been arrested since the pilgrimage ritual to Homesh began on Passover. Most of them were released a few hours later. It is unlikely anyone will be brought to account for the run-around they have imposed on the security forces. The excessive leniency shown to these law breakers by the police, prosecutors and courts has not changed one iota.