[Marxism] Israel rulers, including top Labor official, denounce reservists who said no

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Subject: BBC 12/22/03: Likud, Labour officials condemn Israeli
military refuseniks


Israelis condemn army refuseniks Senior Israeli officials have sharply
criticised a group of army commandos who have refused missions in the
Palestinian territories. Thirteen reservists from the elite Sayeret
Matkal unit wrote to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saying they would not
be part of a "rule of oppression".

Deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim told public radio the group should
"face judgement", AFP news agency reported.

Three months ago, 25 pilots refused to take part in Israeli bombing
raids.

"These soldiers should be stripped of their uniform and face judgement
for their disobedience and rebellion, regardless of the unit in which
they serve, whether they be pilots, cooks or mechanics," Mr Boim told
public radio.

In their letter, the soldiers said they would no longer participate in
the defence of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"We will no longer corrupt the stamp of humanity in us through
carrying out the missions of an occupation army ... In the past, we
fought for a justified cause [but today] we have reached the boundary
of oppressing another people," the letter said.

Special weight

The refuseniks also came under fire from opposition Labour Party MP
Danny Yatom, a former head of the Mossad overseas intelligence agency
and deputy commander of the Sayeret Matkal, who branded their protest
as "illegal".

Mr Yatom said the Sharon government's policies in the territories were
exacerbating friction with the Palestinians and the armed forces but
said that did not justify a refusal to serve, AFP reported.

In September, a group of 27 pilots signed a letter refusing to carry
out targeted killings or other operations in the West Bank and Gaza
because they considered them "immoral and illegal".

Several hundred reserve soldiers have been sent to prison for refusing
to serve in the West Bank and Gaza, but the statements from pilots and
commandos carry special weight because of their elite status.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/3339785.stm

Published: 2003/12/22 10:00:52 GMT

© BBC MMIII

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