Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., August 09, 2007 Av 25, 5767 | | Israel Time: 12:11 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Real Estate Arts & Leisure Jewish World National Sports Advertising
Magazine Week's End Opinion Business Rosner's Domain Anglo File Travel
Q&A
Defense Minister Ehud Barak: Refusal has no place in the IDF. (BauBau Archives)
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
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.

Advertisement
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."

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS: Bitter fruit of forgiveness

  • At least 15 people hurt as police evacuate Hebron market homes

    •
    Bookmark to del.icio.us
    Do not panic
    It is ridiculous to claim that Friedmann's proposal undermines the legal system.
    Lucky number seven
    Six Israelis will compete in Beijing for a seventh national Olympic medal.
      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