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27 pilots wrote to IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz announcing their refusal to participate in "illegal and immoral" missions in the territories.
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| By Ellis Shuman September 25, 2003 |
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The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is planning to dismiss from active service nine pilots, who along with 18 others wrote a letter to IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz announcing their refusal to participate in operations in the Palestinian territories. In their letter, the 27 pilots described the IAF's actions, including "targeted killing" operations, as "illegal and immoral."
Sources in the Air Force said this morning that the pilots would be dismissed from active duty immediately, pending a final decision by Halutz and the Air Force command.
Halutz told Haaretz that he planned to treat the signatories "in the same way as the IDF has dealt with refuseniks until now. This method has proven itself."
In their letter, reported originally on Channel 2 television and in Yediot Aharonot, the pilots wrote: "We new and old soldiers refuse these illegal and immoral orders that have been carried out by the State of Israel. We, who were brought up to love Israel and to contribute to the Zionist ideal, cannot take part in operations in the center of populated civilian areas, and refuse to endanger innocent Palestinian civilians."
Among the signatories of the letter is Brig.-Gen. Yiftah Spector (res.), who was a squadron leader during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and is one of the IAF's most decorated pilots. Air Force officials said that of the 27 signatories, only two were in positions in which they might be asked to take part in "targeted killing" strikes against Palestinian terrorist leaders, Army Radio reported.
According to the pilots' letter, other pilots serving in the IAF who had not signed the letter were participating in a "gray refusal," in which they were avoiding signing up for combat missions which could include operations in the territories.
A "political" refusal
"This is a political refusal," Halutz said, responding to the letter in an interview with Channel 10 television. "We must keep things in the right proportions, we are talking about only 27 out of thousands of pilots... "There is no corps and army more humane and moral than us," he said.
"We need to put things in perspective. We are in a vicious war against terrorism. We don't choose our wars. This war is prescribed for us. There is no room for political stands in this war. Let me remind you of the Park Hotel massacre, and other attacks. The terrorists we are going after are vicious killers who want to maim and kill Israeli civilians. We have no intention of harming innocent civilians, and when we have done so, we have apologized.
"We are going after terrorists. We are the most moral army I know. I am ready to deal with anyone who comes to me and shows me any one single operation we carried out which was not moral or legal. We are fighting terror that wants to kill us every minute, every hour," Halutz said.
"These are political statements dressed up in military uniforms; they are not legitimate at all," said IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon. "We will check the report. We recently jailed a soldier who refused to remove an illegal settlement outpost. His action was a political statement," Yaalon said.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the pilots' decision had no connection to the moral standards of the army. "In my opinion, to thwart a terror attack in which dozens could be killed is the most moral thing... It is very sad that during these days of combat when we are trying to defend our homes, the signers of the letter are making use of their rank and uniforms to air political statements."
"Army carries out decisions of political leadership"
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the army only carries out the decisions of the political leadership, and would continue to operate against the terrorists, whose goal was to harm the Israeli population and innocent civilians. Sharon said the IDF was not an "as you wish" program and stressed that the pilots' refusal to serve would be dealt with immediately and severely.
Former president and one-time air force commander Ezer Weizman said the pilots lacked "morality," that their act of publishing a letter was a "disgrace," and that they should "put their tail between their legs" and get out of the air force "as quickly as possible."
"There is no place for political statements in the Israeli army. This deed by the pilots should be condemned. It is something that should never be done, especially during a time of war," said Minister without portfolio Uzi Landau.
MK Yuli Tamir (Labor) welcomed the letter of refusal, however, saying "if the Chief of Staff uses the army as a political platform, then so can pilots."
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