IDF recruits to Barak: We refuse to evacuate settlements
Jewish law forbids destruction of Jewish construction, 12th graders tell defense minister in letter.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel settlements Israel news IDFAbout 200 Israeli teenagers soon to be drafted have sent a letter to Defense Minister Ehud Barak saying they would refuse to enforce any government orders to dismantle settlements in the West Bank.
The 12th graders told Barak in their letter that their paramount loyalty is to Jewish law. Jewish law forbids the destruction of Jewish construction, they wrote, even if if unauthorized by the government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to slow construction in the West Bank has provoked a great furor in the largely religious settler community.
Several influential rabbis have urged religious soldiers to violate orders to knock down unauthorized building.
Earlier this month, Barak ousted the Har Bracha Yeshiva from the hesder program, which combines army service with torah study.
The letter came as right-wing activists planned to call on settlers to cut their close ties with the Israel weighs easing Gaza siege to allow post-war repairsIsrael Defense Forces and urge soldiers to refuse orders, as part of their efforts to thwart a freeze on new construction in West Bank settlements.
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IDF recruits at Tel Hashomer. |
| Photo by: (Dan Keinan) |
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The army has many tasks better suited to the recruits than first line infantrymen. Three years of kitchen duty and patrolling the fence line of, say, Joulis, would keep them safe and out of trouble
the govt of israel is a law breaker, nothing strange about the inhabitants doing the same.
Some politician! A real unifier. The job of the IDF is to kill Jewkillers..he should do his job.
"To defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel. To protect the inhabitants of Israel" The settlers are not "inhabitants of Israel"... they are illegal squatters on the Palestinian West Bank, stealing land, attacking Palestinians, destroying Palestinian property and appropriating natural resources...
Any kid who will not follow military orders must not be permitted to serve. Instead, use the brave young Druse kids who serve with distinction and bravery despite politics. Oh the irony...
"To defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel." The West Bank is not a part of the state of Israel. The "defense" of settlements located in the West bank is therefore extraneous to that part of the mission statement. "To protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life" Again, the West Bank is not in Israel, and so the settlers are not "inhabitants of Israel". They are Israeli citizens, yes, but then so is an Israeli citizen who is living in New York City......
As per their own web site: IDF Mission To defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel. To protect the inhabitants of Israel and to combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily life http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/about/doctrine/default.htm In other words, these 12th graders ARE 100% prepared and eager to carry out the IDF's mission, but they are not willing to go against it. Barak and Bibi unfortunately are. They are the future- the hope, and they are 100% correct.
ehud barak will back down eventually . he may have been a brave soldier . but now he is a cowardly politician .
Am not sure about Jewish law, but surely Israeli law expects soldiers to obey orders; and for them to be court martialled if they refuse. Barak needs to make this clear quickly, if he expects to have any authority; or credibility internationally.
Not that Israeli Civil law applies in occupied and illegally annexed territories.
And there are many more who would have signed the letter had they known about it. Good for them! And good for us all.