Posted on 06/30/2005 8:41:50 PM PDT by Salem
JERUSALEM -- A New Jersey-born Israeli soldier who became the first to refuse to take part in Israel's evacuation of the Gaza Strip was motivated by his love for the land "given to the Jews by God," his father said Monday.
Cpl. Avi Bieber, 19, was pulled away Sunday after he shouted support for settlers who were interfering with an army operation to destroy abandoned buildings in the Gaza Strip.
His actions, and his father's comments Monday, underlined the ideological and religious chasm between camps of opposing Israelis over the August pullout. While many soldiers have said they will disobey orders to remove settlers from Gaza, Bieber was the first to act.
Pictures of Bieber being dragged away by fellow soldiers appeared on the front pages of Israeli newspapers Monday.
"When we moved here because we are Jews, we didn't expect he would have to do this," said his father, Ralph Bieber.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
A Stab In The Heart [Video]
IsraelNationalNews - A Video on Gush Katif [Video]
The Nature Of Bruce ~
My son has finished his IDF tour. He has chosen not to re-enlist for another tour because of the disengagement and is now employed as a civilian, "doing work Israelis don't want to do."
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