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Soldier jailed for yawning at Rabin memorial By Haaretz Staff The Israel Defense Forces has sentenced a soldier to 21 days in jail for yawning during a recent memorial service for assassinated prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Officials report the soldier yawned while the commander of the Ramat David Israel Air Force base was delivering a speech during last week's memorial ceremony for Rabin. The senior officer paused for a few minutes after the yawn, which was described as long and loud. Advertisement The soldier was subsequently arrested by the army, tried for his "disrespectful act" and sentenced to 21 days in military prison. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit noted that the soldier is able to request a pardon, which will be considered according to military regulations. The soldier's mother told Israel Radio that her son was not disrespectful, but tired. She said that her son deserves to be punished for inappropriate behavior, but the verdict is disproportionately harsh. She further said her son was raised upon Rabin's legacy, and that yawning is known to be an uncontrollable physical act. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A ringing endorsement Jimmy Carter says Obama will waste no time in pursuing Middle East peace. Peres' olive branch Israel's president says the Arab peace plan is an opening for progress.

Read & React Carter: Obama will waste no time pursuing Middle East peace Responses: 127 Peres: Arab peace plan - an opening for real progress Responses: 90 IDF soldier jailed for yawning during Rabin memorial service Responses: 116 Ari Shavit: Israel needs a successor to Rabin Responses: 21 More Headlines 22:47 Israel to Hamas: We don't want escalation in Gaza 00:17 IDF to court-martial soldiers filmed humiliating bound Palestinian 23:47 Saudi King meets with group of prominent U.S. Jews in New York 00:57 UN: Israel's border closures leave us with no food for Gaza 01:47 Rahm Emanuel apologizes for father's disparaging remarks about Arabs 23:03 Palestinian suspected in 1980 Paris synagogue bombing arrested in Canada 00:32 TASE falls to lowest level since 2005; U.S. dollar soars 20:15 Livni: Israel not counting on Obama in peace talks 20:03 Qassams strike near southern towns of Ashkelon and Netivot 23:21 Labor MK Pines-Paz to remain in Labor; Ex-police chief joins Likud 18:30 Antiquities official: 8th century church discovered in Syria 20:33 Switzerland: Israel breaking int'l law by razing Palestinian homes Previous Editions Select Day 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct

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