Signatory of Israel pilots' letter says regrets signing petition

Haaretz ^ | September 28, 2003 | Amos Harel and Gideon Alon

[IsraelBeach]

Signatory of Israel pilots' letter says regrets signing petition

By Amos Harel and Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service

Colonel Ran, one of the 27 signatories of the pilots' letter of refusal, in which they stated that they would not participate in operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said Sunday he regretted signing the letter, and was changing his mind.

The move came after a slew of criticism of the pilots' move from government figures and from fellow Israel Air Force airmen.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, speaking in a holiday interview to Israel Radio on Friday condemned the letter, saying it

reminded him that there had also been an attempt to overthrow a democratically-elected government during the 1982 Lebanon War.

Sharon's comments were an apparent reference to the Amram Mitzan's decision to resign during the Lebanon War. Mitzna was commander of the IDF Command College at the time.

Mitzna cited the behavior of then defense minister Sharon during the invasion of Israel's northern neighbor, in particular regarding the massacres in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, as the reasons for his decision.

The signatories to the letter wrote they would refuse to take part in aerial attacks on populated Palestinian areas in the territories.

"We, both veteran and active pilots, who have served and who still serve the state of Israel, are opposed to carrying out illegal and immoral orders to attack, of the type Israel carries out in the territories," the letter states.

"We, for whom the IDF and the air force are an integral part of our being, refuse to continue to hit innocent civilians... The continued occupation is critically harming the country's security" and moral fiber, it added.

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said Thursday it would meet next week to discuss the letter. The committee will meet next Tuesday, following the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

Also Thursday, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Major General Dan Halutz issued an order to ground the 27 signatories - nine of whom are still on active duty - who signed the letter, details of which were published last week in Haaretz.

On Thursday, seven Air Force pilots sent a letter to Halutz rejecting the pilots' refusal to serve in the territories, saying they were not doing anything immoral by operating in the territories.

Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein said Thursday that any IDF activity that is conducted according to the directives of the Judge Advocate General Corps, the attorney general's office and the Supreme Court is legal.

Rubinstein said that although the army does not generally consult with the attorney general's office before a specific operation, legal experts do conduct discussions and issue instructions on issues such as the extent the army should go to aovid wounding innocent civilians during an operation.

After the Israel Defense Forces attempted to assassinate Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin about three weeks ago, military leaders said the reason the operation had failed was that the army used a relatively small explosive device so as to minimize civilian casualties.

Halutz told Haaretz on Wednesday night he planned to treat the signatories "in the same way as the IDF has dealt with refuseniks until now. This method has proven itself."

He called the refusal to serve "the mother of all dangers" to Israel.

The nine pilots will be called to meetings with the heads of their bases in the coming days. If they do not retract their statement, they will be dismissed from active service.

Halutz has also ordered the grounding of those pilots who signed the letter and who currently serve as flight instructors at the flight school at the Hatzerim base in the south of the country. "These are not the people who should educate the next generation of pilots," Halutz said.

Major General Dan Halutz: Refusal to serve is 'the mother of all dangers.' (Photo: IDF)

[goldstategop]

In other words, the 26 would rather see Israeli children be blown up on buses than get their morally pure hands dirty in a campaign to defend the country by ridding it of terrorists. No wonder people in Israel loathe them. They are poster children for the worst of the Oslo Era.

[LarryM]

This was a potential left-wing coup attempt and it failed miserably.

[Darksheare]

To a soldier's eyes, the signers of that letter are cowards that are no better than the homicidakazis.
And it does seem that they would rather see their children blown up rather than do the right thing.
Egads, what a mess.

[Burr5]

This was really discouraging to learn of. Apparently, one of the mutineers was among the F-16 pilots who bombed Iraq's Osirak complex in 1981.

What the hell are these people thinking?

[LinuxRocks]

What the hell are these people thinking?

I know the way they are thinking...it is the same way the Democrats in the good 'ol USA are thinking: The war on terror must be stopped because it so unjust. We must all hide under rocks and let the terrorists attack us and then do nothing. We must learn to understand terrorists and why they don't like us, and maybe send Dr. Phil and Oprah to give them anger management and a group hug and tolerance training.

[tubavil]

This is insane. What are those people still doing in the military?

[LinuxRocks]

What are those people still doing in the military?

My guess is the same thing Wes Clark was doing in the military (nothing).

[OldFriend]

The left is the same everywhere........enemies of civilized society.

[livius]

I don't see how they get away with this. They should not only be dismissed, but court-martialed and serve jail time.

[IsraelBeach]

This entire incident illustrates Israel's strong democracy - the right to speak out, freedom of speech. Open newspapers and open government - checks and balances. If this was Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia or China these pilots would have been lined up, blind folded and shot.

As for the Israel Defense Forces - now that these pilots have had their "democratic say" - they will fall at mach speed in Israeli society like a pebble from a tall cliff. There is no tolerance in the IDF or any other armed forces for this kind of behavior. We in Israel can question our commanders and make suggestions - unlike other armed forces - but you don't commit the crime of mutiny. You don't turn your back on innocent children and babies being blown up in buses and restaurants just because these Palestinian terrorists decide to hide within heavily populated areas. If Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and Hezbollah decide to use their families as "human shields" then THEY put their children at risk - not the IDF. These terrorists are learning quick - you can run - but you can't hide from Israel's security forces.

Lastly, these were two dozen pilots out of thousands and they don't have a parachute to save them in this free fall from responsibility.

[tubavil]

I agree with most of your post. However Israel hardly has an open or free press/speech. I wouldn't characterize them as a democracy either, close, but not a democracy. Unfortunately, as a whole Israel is very socialist and the government is notoriously financially corrupt.

Arutz Sheva wouldn't be floating offshore if Israel's government accepted criticism from the right. Half the stuff posted here qualifies as "incitement" and would bring a thug response.

I would be under observation for the balance of my life if I appeared in public with a "Kahane was right" sign.

[Arpege92]

"This is insane. What are those people still doing in the military?"

Collecting their pay!!

[Salem]

Follow up on the very misguided fighter jocks.

If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me. ~
    
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~

[Nix 2]

This was really discouraging to learn of. Apparently, one of the mutineers was among the F-16 pilots who bombed Iraq's Osirak complex in 1981.

He was also the only pilot who MISSED the target on that sortie. How discouragingly odd.....

Am Yisrael Chai.
NIX

2

[Nix 2]

how about lying to get a cabined to support a certain war, and fighting a different one.

How about clarifying your point, if you have one?

[Nix 2]

I take it you are "hypothetically" speaking of Wesley Clark who seriously tried to start WWIII?