Israeli general returns medal to protest sacrifice of soldier in Nablus

TEL AVIV — A reserve brigadier has returned a medal in protest of what he said was the military's decision to allow an Israeli soldier to bleed to death in Nablus rather than evacuate him under Palestinian fire.

Brig. Gen. Aharon Sabag, a reserve officer, said he was returning his medal of honor awarded after a 1972 operation against the PLO leadership in Beirut. Sabag said his act was to protest the failure to rescue a soldier injured and trapped in Joseph's Tomb in Nablus.

Sabag said that he won the medal when he helped rescue soldiers injured in Beirut.

The act of protest was taken as military commanders urged Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz and the government for harsher steps against the Palestinians. The commanders warned that the Palestinian Authority believes that the current miniwar has achieved success in galvanizing international and Palestinian public opinion.

Israeli military sources said a debate raged among senior commanders on whether to evacuate Cpl. Yosef Madhat, the injured border guard, under Palestinian fire. The sources said the commanders concluded that the evacuation would involve a greater loss of life.

"A man is bleeding to death and cynical people are wondering whether this is worth it," former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rafael Eitan said. "This has destroyed the myth of the Israel Defense Forces."

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said PA security chief Col. Jibril Rajoub personally tried to evacuate Madhat but was prevented by Palestinian snipers.

In another development, Israel's Foreign Ministry warned Israelis abroad to increase security measures. The ministry advised tourists not to mention they are from Israel or wear stickers or clothes that would identify their nationality.

In Dusseldorf, a synagogue was firebombed overnight Tuesday. German police said nobody was injured.