TEL AVIV — The Israeli military are concerned that
officers and soldiers will fail to carry out the eviction of nearly 10,000
Israeli residents from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.
Already, military units have reported that soldiers were disobeying
orders to train for the withdrawal operation. In some cases, both officers
and soldiers cited objection to any order to expel Jews from their homes.
On June 7, a captain in the military's Technology and Logistics
Directorate was questioned regarding refusal to participate in a withdrawal
exercise.
Sources said other junior officers have also expressed their
intention to refuse to participate in such drills. In one case, a captain
told his superiors in a letter that the military must protect rather than
expel Israelis in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported.
Military sources said the concern of the General Staff was that a
prolonged eviction effort would fail as officers and soldiers would be
unable to use force against civilian resisters.
The sources said despite an
agreement in 2004, the military would be expected to implement the
withdrawal without significant police support.
Military prosecutors have been ordered to prepare to courtmartial those
who refuse orders to participate in withdrawal exercises. The trials could
result in imprisonment and a reduction in rank.
