Israel and the Gaza pull-out (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

Israeli soldiers break rank over Gaza pull-out
AM - Monday, 18 July , 2005 08:23:00
Reporter: Mark Willacy


TONY EASTLEY: Dozens of Israeli soldiers are defying orders and refusing to clear Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip. As well, some soldiers have even deserted, and joined the settlers. Later today, tens of thousands of Israelis will try to enter the Gaza Strip in order to stop next month's planned pull-out of Jewish settlers and soldiers.

Middle East Correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Jerusalem.

(Sound of angry crowd)

MARK WILLACY: It was supposed to be a routine operation to demolish some old villas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Army feared the buildings could be used as barricades by Gaza settlers opposed to the government's planned pull-out, but only minutes into the operation a split appeared within the army's ranks.

AVI BIEBER: I'm not joking.

MARK WILLACY: "I'm not joking," screams Corporal Avi Bieber. The 19-year-old soldier had just refused an order to help with the demolitions.

(Sound of shouting)

"Are you a traitor, or just crazy?" yells his commanding officer.

"I didn't come to Israel to beat up Jews," replies Avi Bieber.

With that, the Corporal is lead away, placed under arrest, and his gun confiscated.

RAFAEL BIEBER: I'm very proud of what my son did.

Avi Bieber's father Rafael moved the family from the United States to Israel about 10 years ago. He says his son was misled by the Israeli military about what he'd be ordered to do that day in Gaza.

Corporal Avi Bieber is now serving a 56 day prison sentence for refusing orders and unbecoming behaviour. Rafael Bieber believes his son's refusal has inspired other soldiers to stand up for their beliefs.

RAFAEL BIEBER: And from the phone calls that I've been getting, you know, since this thing happened I've gotten calls from many soldiers who tell me, you know, "tell your son not to fear. We're going to be joining him soon." Like I said, he…what he said was in most people's hearts and now they have the courage to say something as well.

The Israeli Government certainly does fear that other soldiers will follow Avi Bieber's lead.

"We must all remember that the call to disobedience endangers the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic nation," says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "I'm sure the authorities will take all the necessary measures to stop this wild behaviour." He says.

Opponents of the Gaza disengagement have managed to send letters to hundreds of soldiers urging them to refuse to be part of the pull-out and young settlers have approached troops in the streets to plead with them to disobey their orders.

Boaz Haezni is a reserve soldier in the Israeli Army, who lives in a West Bank settlement.

"We're speaking here about a racist evacuation. People are being pulled out of Gaza because they're Jewish," he told AM. "This is an illegal order and we must refuse," says the reserve soldier.

After decades defending Israel from all types of threats, the army is now facing a new one from within.

This is Mark Willacy in Jerusalem for AM.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1416370.htm

This is only one of the most recent articles discussing the issue. The pull-out is sure to be more than contentious, and it is going to test many in the region, more so than the security fence, it seems.

 

[loquasagacious]

Well it essentially flies in the face of hardcore zionism and is admittance that Israel/Jews do not have complete soveriegnty over israel/palestine.

 

[Z_Nizzle]

One thing i hate is religious intolerence

so what if someone is MUSLIM or JEW
what matters is they an individual
Its fake ass bitches that perpetuate rage
so many terrorists?...cause we don luv and we choose to hate

 

[Comrade nathan]

One thing i hate is religious intolerence

so what if someone is MUSLIM or JEW
what matters is they an individual
Its fake ass bitches that perpetuate rage
so many terrorists?...cause we don luv and we choose to hate

What are you talking about.

Anyway back to the topic, Israel needs to keep to the commitement and crack down on this protesters.

Also this is diversion from the new settlements in the West Bank. There is going to be alot more pull outs before the Palastinian people can begin their lives as normal.