A group of reservist soldiers stated, at the start of their latest military stint, their intention to refuse certain orders – and their superiors changed the rules for them.
The reservists, popularly known as miluimnikim, served in recent weeks in the Negev, along the Sinai border with Egypt. They informed the local commanders as they arrived for duty that they would not agree to take part in the usual procedure for returning border-crossing infiltrators back to Egypt.
The procedure is that African infiltrators who are caught red-handed trying to cross the border are returned immediately to Egypt, except for specific emergency or humanitarian cases.
No fewer than 14,000 people entered Israel in this manner in 2010, and the foreign populations of several Israeli cities, as well as the crime rates, are growing rapidly.
In a recent tour of the 1.35-billion shekel fence currently being constructed along the border, MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) said, “This flood is already hurting Eilat, Be’er Sheva, Arad, Ashdod and southern Tel Aviv, and if we don’t wake up in time, we will suffer from a series of social, demographic and criminal damages.” He and other Knesset Members have called for legislation to return the infiltrators to their countries of origin.
The soldiers explained that they had heard that the Egyptians treat the returning infiltrators cruelly and violently, and said they did not want to be a party to such a possibility.
Infiltrators Given Food and Medicine
In a surprise move, the commander of the reservists’ brigade agreed to suspend the “return procedure” for the duration of their three-week service. Instead, all infiltrators were given medical treatment, food and drink, and were transferred to a detention camp in Israel to await eventual return.
The IDF Spokesman issued this statement: “In recent years, illegal infiltration to Israel from its western border has intensified. The IDF has detailed orders regarding the circumstances under which infiltrators may be turned back to Egypt. These orders have been presented to the High Court of Justice, and are in keeping with the State of Israel’s obligations under international law in general, and the charter regarding the status of refugees in particular.”