Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz has announced that the 27 signatories of the famous "rebels' letter," in which they declared their intent to refuse the "unethical orders" to bomb terrorists who take refuge in population centers, will no longer be allowed to teach younger pilots. He will interview each of the pilots, among whom only nine are still flying for the army, and give them a chance to retract their signature - or face the consequences.
Minister Gideon Ezra (Likud), noting that terrorism against the residents of Yesha has increased over the past few days, said that the pilots' letter "gave a push of encouragement" to the terrorists. Marwan Barghouti, the imprisoned Fatah head who is on trial for directing many murderous attacks against Israelis, said in the courtroom this morning that he is "happy that finally the pilots realize that their actions are like war crimes."
On the other hand, one of the letter's most senior signatories, a Brigadier-General in reserves, has withdrawn his signature. "I chose a path that does not fit my character or the values on which I grew up and raised my children," he wrote in a subsequent letter to Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz. He wrote that his desire to emphasize the "dangers of the occupation" led him to "choose a mistaken path." The number of signatories is still 27, as another officer - a Lieutenant-Colonel - recently joined them.
Lt. (res.) Ehud Pridan, head of a public relations firm, wrote in Maariv today a scathing letter against the rebel letter-signers: "You have betrayed your co-pilots... You did not kill one or two, but an entire group. The small step you took quickly developed into the biggest stupidity of the decade. You will become the best weapon of our enemies. I assume that Saeb Erekat is already being interviewed on CNN... allowing the world 'to judge;' after all [he will say], you said it, not him... Your treachery has another price: you smashed the myth that pilots are smart. How stupid must one be not to see two steps ahead of such a mistaken and foolish decision as yours."