27 IAF pilots refuse to fly targeted killing missions

Internet Jerusalem Post ^ | Sep. 24, 2003 | JPost.com Staff

[Phil V.]

27 IAF pilots refuse to fly targeted killing missions

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JPost.com Staff

Sep. 24, 2003

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Twenty-seven active and retired reservist Israel Air Force pilots have written a letter to the Air Force commander, Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz, in which they stated their refusal to carry out any further targeted assassinations and any other operations in the Palestinian territories, Channel 2 TV reported Wednesday.

"We new and old soldiers refuse these illegal and immoral orders that have been carried out by the State of Israel," the letter read.

"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," the servicemen wrote.

The pilots wrote that they would also refuse to transport IDF troops on missions into and out of occupied Palestinian territories, nor would they provide air support for combat troops in those areas.

The refusal came as a shock to the army, even though the 27 pilots make up a very small number of active duty pilots in the Israeli Air Force.

Air Force Chief Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz said he would take time to respond to the letter, however he seemed defensive when interviewed on Israel TV Wednesday night. "We are talking about 27 out of thousands, so 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.

Channel 2 reported that the signatories to the letter included high-ranking IAF reservist officers and pilots of all sorts of craft, including an Apache attack helicopter pilot, two Blackhawk pilots, pilots of transport planes, and F-15 combat pilots. One of the signatories is a combat flight instructor.

Another signatory is reserve duty Brig.-Gen. Yiftah Spector, who was a squadron leader during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

The officer pilots serve for a few weeks every year as part of their reservist duty and they are fully active in IAF operations.

Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said in response to the report that the pilots were entirely in the wrong and that the refusal was a very serious matter. "These are political statements dressed up in military uniforms; they are not legitimate at all. We will check the report. We recently jailed a soldier who refused to remove an illegal settlement outpost. His action was a political statement," Ya'alon said.

Minister-without-Portfolio Uzi Landau has called on the IDF's Chief of Staff to relieve those pilots who signed the letter of refusal of their duties immediately. "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 Landau.

Labor MK Yuli Tamir welcomed the letter of refusal, saying "if the Chief of Staff uses the army as a political platform, then so can pilots."

According to Israeli officials, the targeted killings are one of the most effective methods being used against Hamas. Hamas has issued instructions to its members calling on them to refrain from traveling in vehicles or in groups, to disguise their appearance, and to be aware of collaborators.

Israel's policy of targeted killings of Palestinian terrorists is controversial, both inside and outside the country. Some regard the elimination of arch-terrorists and 'ticking bombs' as not only efficacious but essential to Israel's survival.

Opponents of targeted killings maintain, however, that they only serve to raise the motivation of terrorist organizations and supporters to carry out more attacks to avenge those killed.

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[Graewoulf]

Maybe now the Bush-Powell Roadmap will have a chance for success.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Only if the destination of the road map, is the end of Israel.

[Phil V.]

Halutz: Pilots refusing to serve in territories will face law ^

[Beck_isright]

Sad. I guess the Sierra Club-Earth First-DNC-CPUSA-Green Party-Clintonista-RCP-ELF-ACLU-AFL/CIO-Teamsters (etc) - left wing union holds sway in Israel too.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

OK, so put them on consciencious objector status and be done with it.

[Romulus]

Kudos to these brave and principled men. Nobody cares, of course.

[RLK]

The refusal came as a shock to the army,

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I'll bet it did.

[BOBWADE]

They should be treated as traitors.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

They should be treated as traitors

why because they would be wasting there ammo on targets that arent any threat? (I.E who would i bomb first arafats HQ or some generic arab marketplace)

i dont blame them...israel bombing anything that moves isnt getting anything done..its time to go for the big fish (terrorist HQ arafat HQ any and ALL mosques which are probably in use by the jihad.hamas etc etc.)

[Romulus]

Don't be silly.

They're declining to have a hand in indiscriminate killing. These assasinations result in the death or maiming of many innocent civilians, including children, while the terrorist targets frequently escape unhurt. These "rules of engagement" are barbarous and unworthy of professional soldiers. More than that, they will never make Israel safer because they only stoke Palestinian rage and provoke future terrorism. They may be politically well-received in some quarters, but strategically they're no better than publicity stunts.

[Bobby777]

there's something to be said, but this is a difficult issue ... while they may save the life of even a terrorist and someone who may be an innocent bystander (I'm sure it happens in some cases) it leaves the terrorist Hamas, etc. leaders to plot and kill more ...

their actions are not without consequences ... their inactions are not without consequences ...

this is the problem in the world when civilized men and women must deal with uncivilized men and women ...

the civilized would avoid war at all costs if possible ... the uncivilized would make war at all costs if possible ...

that's why a Palestinian "state" with apparently a significant number of barbarians makes no sense in the middle of Israelis, who, by and large, do not run the sort of attacks on Palestinians that Palestinians run on Israelis ...

the innocent suffer on both sides ... had Yasser Arafat been killed by Sharon's forces 3 decades ago, we would not have that particular raghead to deal with today ... $300 million from the USA and he sits back and laughs and flashes his "victory" sign ... all the while plotting strategic attacks to terrorize the Israelis and keep the terror fervor alive ...

[geopyg]

"Kudos to these brave and principled men." And from the previous post: "OK, so put them on consciencious objector status and be done with it."

I agree with both these statements - as long as CO status puts these pilots into pushing papers or emptying bedpans. No - better yet, put them on the cleanup details after the homicide bombings. The ones who make sure that evey speck of blood, shred of tissue, and fragment of bone is cleaned up from the streets and walls and ceilings.

[goldstategop]

These active and reserve pilots are cowards and traitors. They say they won't kill terrorists no matter what. I'm not surprised the Osloid mentality that cowardice is courage and treason is the highest form of patriotism has infiltrated Israel's Air Force. Stil this has to be seen in perspective - 27 out of thousands serving. After all the innocent Jewish blood flowing in the streets the past few years as a result of homocide bombings, one would have to dumb, blind and deaf not to realize the way to prevent them is to get the people planning them in the first place. (And yes, that means targeted killings of those who ARE responsible for the bloodshed). If these 27 turncoats with their superior sense of misplaced morality get their way, thousands of more Jews will die. Its that simple.

[TXnMA]

Kudos to these brave and principled men.

Hardly. It's court martial time...

[Trailerpark Badass]

They may be politically well-received in some quarters, but strategically they're no better than publicity stunts.

Oh, BS. The only way "Palestinian rage" accomplishes anything is through the complicity of the those outside the immediate area who have no desire to see peace.

[RJL]

The Palestinians seem to love bombing Israeli transit buses. Instead of flying, these guys can drive buses while on duty.

[RJL]

No - better yet, put them on the cleanup details after the homicide bombings. The ones who make sure that every speck of blood, shred of tissue, and fragment of bone is cleaned up from the streets and walls and ceilings.

I just posted that the Palestinians love to blow up Israeli transit buses, and these guys should be driving buses while on duty.

But, I really like your idea too. Maybe pull them off driving transit buses to do cleanup duty after every bombing?

[yonif]

Mofaz Rejects Pilots’ Letter
06:50 Sep 25, '03 / 28 Elul 5763


(IsraelNN.com) Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz responded to the letter of the rebellious pilots, calling their actions “political” and “not an issue of morality”.

Mofaz added that a pre-emptive strike aimed at preventing an attack that would kill tens of persons including women, and children, is definitively a moral act.

The senior minister concurred with the air force commander, as well as IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya’alon, calling the act of the rebellious air force personnel a politically motivated action. The senior commanders indicated the pilots’ actions will result in disciplinary action, perhaps even their dismissal from duty.

[rmlew]

Oh please.
ISrael uses either small bombs or anti-tank missles to reduce collateral damage. 9Remember when Israel hit a house full of Hamas leaders but failed to kill any because a 500lb bomb was too small!?)

Besides, many of the "civilians" are nothing of the sort. Staff members for terorist leaders are proper targets.