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Defense Minister Ehud Barak: Refusal has no place in the IDF. (BauBau Archives)
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Last update - 14:54 07/08/2007
Barak: Refusal has no place in IDF, only commanders give orders
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke out for the first time Tuesday regarding the refusal of a dozen Israel Defense Forces soldiers to participate in the evacuation of settlers in Hebron, saying "refusal ? no matter what side it comes from ? has no place in our army."

"In the State of Israel there is one army, and in it orders are given by platoon, company, and battalion commanders ? and no one else, no matter how important, respected, or worthy they may be," he added, in reference to the fact that many of the soldiers who refused to participate in the evacuation were instructed to do so by their rabbis.

The defense minister said the army is taking steps to reduce the level of refusal and draft-dodging.

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12 IDF soldiers in the Duchifat Battalion refused orders Monday to take part in the evacuation, in the most wide-scale military refusal since the disengagement from Gaza two years ago. They were brought before a disciplinary hearing last night, on the orders of GOC Central Command Gadi Shamni.

Shamni also decided the soldiers will no longer be allowed to serve in combat units."This is a phenomenon that endangers the basis on which the IDF operates, as an army of the people in a democratic country, and its obligation to carry out the tasks assigned to it," Shamni said.

The refusal of soldiers to participate in Tuesday's evacuation of Jewish settlers from Hebron's market drew mixed reactions Monday, with MKs on the right expressing their support.

MKs Aryeh Eldad and Zvi Hendel (National Union, National Religious Party) congratulated the soldiers for "refusing to be the executioners of a blatantly immoral decision."

The two MKs also said that the decision was "politically motivated, and its aim is to evict Jews from Jewish property in Hebron."

"This is clearly an illegal order," Hendel said. "There is a limit to the extent to which the Jews can be abused, only because the extreme left has taken over the Supreme Court. The IDF needs to prepare for war and not deal with political policing actions."

MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) assailed Eldad. "This is a dangerous crossing of lines," he said. "Refusing [to serve] will lift the barrier before a torrent of political refusals to serve, which will disintegrate the IDF."

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      1.   Hamas couldn`t be happier 03:27  |  Joseph E . 07/08/07
      2.   Pines Paz and crossing the line 04:57  |  Yaacov 07/08/07
      3.   Expulse Pines-Paz agitator , add in Beilin and Gal -on 04:58  |  Joseph E . 07/08/07
      4.   Settlers eviction is illegal , is immoral , 05:12  |  Joseph E . 07/08/07
      5.   Settlers eviction is caused by Numbers 33:56 05:16  |  Joseph E . 07/08/07
      6.   talk about a dark cloud looming on the horizon... 05:22  |  eric 07/08/07
      7.   Moshe Dayan said 06:33  |  DJStahl 07/08/07
      8.   This *is* political in nature 06:35  |  Gili 07/08/07
      9.   going too far 08:37  |  h.p. ness 07/08/07
      10.   Pines Paz Eat your words 08:48  |  David 07/08/07
      11.   Brave Heroic protesters 09:52  |  Jew 07/08/07
      12.   Why eric I didn`t know you cared 09:57  |  Hannah 07/08/07
      13.   # 7 to djstahl 11:51  |  eric 07/08/07
      14.   CIVIL WAR IN ISRAEL? 14:50  |  Adina 07/08/07
      15.   Conciencious Objection is an individual duty 14:51  |  symphonyofdissent 07/08/07
      16.   Pro-settlers should not push their luck 14:54  |  Sam 07/08/07
      17.   ARMY OF DEFENSE OF ISRAEL !...NOT... 14:57  |  ALBERT 07/08/07
      18.   Achtung Her Furer 14:59  |  Mike 07/08/07
      19.   refusal 15:06  |  herbert 07/08/07
      20.   Herbert # 19 15:13  |  paul 07/08/07
      21.   Politicians with 3% approval have no place in the government 15:17  |  Gili 07/08/07
      22.   As Ye Reap, so shall Ye Sow (3rd try Haaretez please) 15:37  |  Don Camillo 07/08/07
      23.   eric blows hot and cold 15:43  |  sh 07/08/07
      24.   #5 Joseph E, what does Numbers 33:56 mean 15:45  |  Kevin 07/08/07
      25.   Only a man with no conscience 15:59  |  Evelyn 07/08/07
      26.   Our Land, you leave! All of you. 15:59  |  Kevin 07/08/07
      27.   Don Camillo..... 16:37  |  Shalom 07/08/07
      28.   The IDF crossed the line 16:39  |  Kevin 07/08/07
      29.   To #26, aka "Hashem told me to do it" 16:40  |  nate 07/08/07
      30.   IDF should not be involved in internal political affairs. 16:42  |  Vital 07/08/07
      31.   Proof of anti-Israel slant (as if needed) 16:44  |  ChanahS 07/08/07
      32.   Adina @ 14 Civil War? 16:46  |  ChanahS 07/08/07
      33.   for Paul #20 16:50  |  peter 07/08/07
      34.   eric, talk about a pathetic ignorant comment 17:29  |  Jake 07/08/07
      35.   Don Camillo, advice you could certainly afford to take 17:35  |  Jake 07/08/07
      36.   While Qassams pound Israeli kindergartens,scoundrel Barak fights 17:40  |  Absolute Sweden 07/08/07
      37.   ChanahS raised a valid point 17:41  |  Jake 07/08/07
      38.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #12 17:46  |  Hannah 07/08/07
      39.   People should never be forced to act against their convictions 18:05  |  Alicia 07/08/07
      40.   #27 Shalom you claim I lie. Go to Hebron and see for yourself 18:05  |  Don Camillo 07/08/07
      41.   Top officials cause this all themselves by thier actions 18:10  |  pace306 07/08/07
      42.   No Place in thhe IDF 18:20  |  DovBer 07/08/07
      43.   "...only commanders give orders." except for the "4" mothers.. 18:25  |  dov epstein 07/08/07
      44.   #37 Don Camillo Visits Disneyland 18:35  |  Vacation 07/08/07
      45.   False Hannah Alert #35 18:36  |  Bill 07/08/07
      46.   Shalom - Don Camillo is right 18:41  |  Josh Goldman 07/08/07
      47.   "Refusal has no place in IDF" 18:50  |  Reuven 07/08/07
      48.   #37 Don Camillo, No need to go 18:54  |  Kevin 07/08/07
      49.   Plans by Olmert, Perez and Co. to destroy the country from the to 19:16  |  Jabadini 07/08/07
      50.   #42 Kevin/Don Camillo 19:24  |  Please 07/08/07
      51.   to Kevin 19:29  |  Mee Hung 07/08/07
      52.   Conciencious Objection is an individual duty 19:36  |  Mark Lincoln 07/08/07
      53.   Symphony of Dissent - perspective 19:40  |  Mark Lincoln 07/08/07
      54.   Separation 19:42  |  Baruch Nili 07/08/07
      55.   # 42 Kevin this where you are wrong 19:42  |  Jabadini 07/08/07
      56.   Sadly, the army can no longer be used against settlers 19:47  |  Tosefta 07/08/07
      57.   Only partially true 20:04  |  David 07/08/07
      58.   Sadly, the army can no longer be used against settlers 20:22  |  Tosefta 07/08/07
      59.   Settlers 20:53  |  YIDN 07/08/07
      60.   This is a disgrace!! 20:53  |  Simon Jenkins (Col.) 07/08/07
      61.   In 1983 20:58  |  Alicia 07/08/07
      62.   How is it Barak is back in office? 21:09  |  DJStahl 07/08/07
      63.   "blatantly immoral decision",(the Rabbis) 21:11  |  Akiva Patysh 07/08/07
      64.   Qafr Qassim, Yesh G`vul 21:15  |  DJStahl 07/08/07
      65.   One fact emerges... 21:15  |  Akiva Patysh 07/08/07
      66.   # 23 shhhhhhh, sh 21:23  |  eric 07/08/07
      67.   Jews in Hebron 21:24  |  Peter 07/08/07
      68.   Following orders? 21:26  |  Nechama 07/08/07
      69.   "Conciencious Objection is an individual duty" 21:28  |  Akiva Patysh 07/08/07
      70.   "Conciencious Objection is an individual duty" 21:28  |  Akiva Patysh 07/08/07
      71.   Tosefta comes up with a reply... albeit several years late 21:43  |  Jacob Blues 07/08/07
      72.   The settlers should not have been evicted 21:44  |  Yonatan 07/08/07
      73.   Refusing draft - well kept secret 21:45  |  Esther 07/08/07
      74.   #26 Untermenschen and Uebermenschen 21:48  |  American 07/08/07
      75.   Yes they are 21:49  |  Realistic Arab 07/08/07
      76.   #49 Tosefta, sadly I agree with you 21:59  |  Yonatan 07/08/07
      77.   #51 COL SIMON FORGETS NUREMBURG 22:02  |  paul harris 07/08/07
      78.   # 41 reuven 22:11  |  Axel 07/08/07
      79.   simon jenkins 51 22:14  |  realism 07/08/07
      80.   From another Talkback - I couldn`t have said it better 22:25  |  Yonatan 07/08/07
      81.   I have a solution for the IDF 22:44  |  Tosefta 07/08/07
      82.   No partner 22:45  |  Steve 07/08/07
      83.   army under rabbinic order 23:24  |  mehmet 07/08/07
      84.   THERE SHOULD BE A MILATERY COUP 23:33  |  Yochanan 07/08/07
      85.   If you want a mindless IDF to evict Jews from the homes they Own 23:51  |  Efox 07/08/07
      86.   re: eric 23:55  |  Efox 07/08/07
      87.   Police actions should be done by police 00:07  |  Dave 08/08/07
      88.   mehmet 00:12  |  Hannah 08/08/07
      89.   Hebron Settlers are a shame for mankind 00:15  |  Angel 08/08/07
      90.   Esther 00:16  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 08/08/07
      91.   # 65 efox 00:28  |  Axel 08/08/07
      92.   Don Camillo, settlers in Hebron 00:53  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      93.   #40, Josh Goldman 00:56  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      94.   #42, Kevin 00:59  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      95.   #47, Jabadini 01:02  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      96.   Police vs. Army action (Dave #68) 01:03  |  Tosefta 08/08/07
      97.   #57, Yonatan 01:05  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      98.   #62, Tosefta 01:08  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      99.   #67, Efox 01:10  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      100.   Gal-on supports Courage to Refuse,11/05/2004 , 01:21  |  dov epstein 08/08/07
      101.   Mark Lincoln 01:54  |  Angel 08/08/07
      102.   Tosefta - making lemonaide 01:55  |  Mark Lincoln 08/08/07
      103.   treatment of "Non Jews in Israeli airports. 02:10  |  Labhras 08/08/07
      104.   role of the IDF 02:12  |  Alone ben Caro 08/08/07
      105.   Hannah vs. Hannah, (#69) 02:13  |  Akiva Patysh 08/08/07
      106.   jurisdiction 02:18  |  Alone ben Caro 08/08/07
      107.   # 54 Jacob Blues 02:21  |  Labhras 08/08/07
      108.   barak 02:42  |  ali 08/08/07
      109.   settlers 02:59  |  michael 08/08/07
      110.   #30 Vital appears not to have looked on the map 03:00  |  Johnboy 08/08/07
      111.   # 26 Kevin from Baltimore 03:03  |  Jim 08/08/07
      112.   #55 Nevery gonna happen, Yonatan 12:09  |  Johnboy 08/08/07
      113.   Going up all the way (Mark Lincoln #73) 03:17  |  Tosefta 08/08/07
      114.   Police vs. Army action (Dave #68) 03:18  |  Tosefta 08/08/07
      115.   #75 The role of the IDF on OCCUPIED TERRITORY 03:21  |  Johnboy 08/08/07
      116.   Refusal to participate not the same as rebellion 03:26  |  Jon 08/08/07
      117.   Speaking of Hebron.... 03:38  |  maria 08/08/07
      118.   you`re right..... 03:45  |  maria 08/08/07
      119.   Good more fighting to the jot and title 03:51  |  jlynch 08/08/07
      120.   # 46 Separation 04:10  |  Jim 08/08/07
      121.   # 61 Yanotan 04:22  |  Jim 08/08/07
      122.   #115, Jon 04:50  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      123.   #111, Johnboy 04:53  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      124.   #102, Labhras 04:56  |  Silvienne 08/08/07
      125.   #115 JOHNBOY AND THEONGOING INCORRECT TRIPE 04:59  |  paul harris 08/08/07
      126.   # 105 Labhras 05:02  |  Jim 08/08/07
      127.   #103 LABARSE AND IRISH LOGIC 05:07  |  paul harris 08/08/07
      128.   # 109 michael 05:09  |  Jim 08/08/07
      129.   # 115 Johnboy 05:17  |  Jim 08/08/07
      130.   #118 maria 05:29  |  Jim 08/08/07
      131.   # 61 Alicia: 05:43  |  Jim 08/08/07
      132.   Barak is strong with Jews weak with Arabs 06:20  |  Mike 08/08/07
      133.   Barak is strong with Jews weak with Arabs 06:20  |  Mike 08/08/07
      134.   Alicia 06:22  |  Tom 08/08/07
      135.   FALSE HANNAH ALERT! #88 06:37  |  Hannah 08/08/07
      136.   re: Axel 08:31  |  Efox 08/08/07
      137.   re: Silvienne 08:35  |  Efox 08/08/07
      138.   Refusal and True Democracy 11:26  |  Avi 08/08/07
      139.   # 34 hey jake 12:47  |  eric 08/08/07
      140.   Soldiers Moral Obligation 17:31  |  Eric 08/08/07
      141.   # 86 efox, you`re a lost case... (3nd try) 12:07  |  eric 09/08/07
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