Ten Israeli soldiers choose jail
over Gaza
14/01/2009
MAAN NEWS AGENCY
Date: 12 / 01 / 2009 Time: 21:30
Bethlehem – Ma’an – at least ten soldiers have opted for
prison terms rather than going through with their
deployment.
The refusals would be the first of their kind since
Israel launched its massive air, sea and ground assault
on the Gaza Strip,
On "conscience’s grounds," the soldiers refused orders
to head to the Gaza Strip, they said.
Preferring a 14-day prison stint and rounding criticism
from fellow soldiers and society at large, at least ten
are awaiting trial for violations of orders. One said he
simply could not go through with the deployment.
No'em Levna, a first lieutenant in Israel's army,
refused to serve in Gaza, saying, "We killed 900
Palestinians in 17 days, including hundreds of
children."
"If violence must be used, it should be used minimally,
and that isn't what’s happening," he added. "Killing
innocent civilians cannot be justified. Nothing
justifies this kind of killing. It’s devilish."
"It is Israeli arrogance based on logic. It’s saying,
'if we hit more, everything will be okay,'" he said.
"But the hatred and anger we are planting in Gaza will
rebound on us."
***Updated 23:28 Gaza time
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