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A supporter of the Jewish settlements who was arrested trying to infiltrate Gaza, talks through the window of a police bus after being booked and photographed at the main police headquarters at the Erez Crossing. (AP)
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08/05
Haaretz |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners August 5, 2005 |
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Thursday night police arrested some 120 anti-disengagement protestors at the Kissufim crossing as they attempted to enter Gush Katif. At the same time, anti-pullout protestors encouraged police to refuse to participate in the pullout.
"Soldier, police officer, disobey orders," went one chant by opponents to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, who hoped to persuade IDF soldiers to take their side in the tussle over the planned pullout.
With the withdrawal less than two weeks away and their options running out, some opponents are trying to stoke a rebellion in the ranks of soldiers carrying out the evacuation of Jewish settlers. "Brother, don't expel me," read posters hung across the country.
The army says it is not overly concerned by the settlers' campaign, but it is taking preventive action, punishing dozens of troops for disobeying orders and sending teams of psychologists to counsel troops who might be conflicted about their upcoming mission.
So far, only 40 soldiers -- a tiny fraction of the 55,000 security officers involved in the operation -- have been punished for refusing orders. Some have been disqualified from becoming commanders, while others have received 21-day jail sentences, the army said.
"That's something (soldiers) need to be prepared for," Capt. Yael Hartman, an army spokeswoman, said of the punishments. "Because one soldier refusing an order can lead to several soldiers, which can lead to the toppling of the IDF (Israeli army)."
The army has dealt with disobedience before. Scores of dovish soldiers have refused to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, saying they would not support the occupation of those territories.
Hard-line lawmaker Benny Elon said he does not agree with "organizing a rebellion," but hopes a critical mass of soldiers will decide on their own not to participate.
"I believe thousands, in the crucial moment when they see mothers and fathers, like their mothers and fathers, uprooted from their houses and homes, they won't take part in this dirty game," he said.
Army officials say they aren't worried about refusals and have a large surplus of soldiers that could carry out the evacuation, even if there is a wave of disobedience.
"There is no real threat to the morale or the integrity or any real threat to the IDF," said Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, a former army chief.
Moti Vaknin, a first sergeant in the air force who is part of the evacuation team, said he opposes the withdrawal as a capitulation to Palestinian terror attacks. He grew up in a religious home and fears he might run into people he met while delivering food to the settlements from his father's catering company.
But he would never disobey an order, he said, and he worries that a mass refusal could cause grievous harm to the army.
"I think that the disengagement is destroying the country, but I don't want to add to this a breakup of the army," he said.
At a recent anti-pullout rally in the Israeli town of Sderot, protesters themselves were conflicted.
"I am sure if I wasn't here and I was in the army, I would disobey orders," said Menachem Hovkin, a 23-year-old who recently finished his service as an army cook. The pullout "is against everything we stand for, it's against everything."
Amir Wasker, a 22-year-old just months out his service, strongly disagreed: "It will destroy the army. The second we talk about it it's dangerous."
Protests are to resume on Sunday, with the Yesha Council promising that they still have a "doomsday weapon".
The AP contributed to this report.
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