"Deal with those who refuse orders," Chief of Staff Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon told Yesha leaders at a meeting Sunday night. The latter replied, "We can't. It's too late. After the Zionist rabbis have taken a stand calling for refusing orders [to uproot Jewish communities in Israel], there is almost nothing we can do. If there is no referendum or new elections, thousands of religious soldiers and officers will refuse orders. Out in the field things are on fire."
Although the meeting produced no practical results, both sides expressed interest in keeping the lines of communication open.
Tzviki Bar-Chai, a member of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), said, "We explained to him that when the evacuation comes, he can be sure that we will be the first people to resist and to be arrested."
"It would be better if everyone could speak (as we did) on the political level," said Pinchas Wallerstein, another member of the Yesha Council. Wallerstein sparked a storm of controversy last month when he appealed to Israelis to be prepared to go to jail if the government declares as illegal passive resistance in the 25 Jewish communities the Sharon government wants to dismantle.
The meeting, held in the Chief of Staff's offices in Tel Aviv, was described as "tense but open." Yesha leaders charged that the government is distinguishing between "blood and blood," referring to swift IDF reactions to missile and mortar attacks on S'derot and the western Negev, inside the pre-1967 borders, but restrained retaliation to terrorist attacks on Jewish communities in Gaza. They further asked Chief of Staff Ya'alon to do what he can to release the military entirely from the mission of uprooting the Jewish communities slated for evacuation.
Following the discussion, Wallerstein said, "There is no dialogue on the political level. It is true the army does not decide, but we spoke with the head of the IDF about everything. It's a pity he (Yaalon) is not the prime minister. The discussions and subjects were difficult, but the conversation was straightforward from both sides," he added.
Deputy Minister of Defense Ze'ev Boim told Voice of Israel Radio this morning (Monday) that he is concerned over the growing trend, which may develop into mass insubordination in the IDF, of refusal by thousands of soldiers and officers to implement orders to carry out the Gaza Disengagement Plan. Boim admitted that if the trend is too widespread, it may not be logistically possible to carry out the government's plan.
To date, organizers circulating a petition for soldiers and reservists to express their refusal to comply with what they define as inherently "illegal and immoral" orders report having amassed over 5,000 signatures.
Although the meeting produced no practical results, both sides expressed interest in keeping the lines of communication open.
Tzviki Bar-Chai, a member of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), said, "We explained to him that when the evacuation comes, he can be sure that we will be the first people to resist and to be arrested."
"It would be better if everyone could speak (as we did) on the political level," said Pinchas Wallerstein, another member of the Yesha Council. Wallerstein sparked a storm of controversy last month when he appealed to Israelis to be prepared to go to jail if the government declares as illegal passive resistance in the 25 Jewish communities the Sharon government wants to dismantle.
The meeting, held in the Chief of Staff's offices in Tel Aviv, was described as "tense but open." Yesha leaders charged that the government is distinguishing between "blood and blood," referring to swift IDF reactions to missile and mortar attacks on S'derot and the western Negev, inside the pre-1967 borders, but restrained retaliation to terrorist attacks on Jewish communities in Gaza. They further asked Chief of Staff Ya'alon to do what he can to release the military entirely from the mission of uprooting the Jewish communities slated for evacuation.
Following the discussion, Wallerstein said, "There is no dialogue on the political level. It is true the army does not decide, but we spoke with the head of the IDF about everything. It's a pity he (Yaalon) is not the prime minister. The discussions and subjects were difficult, but the conversation was straightforward from both sides," he added.
Deputy Minister of Defense Ze'ev Boim told Voice of Israel Radio this morning (Monday) that he is concerned over the growing trend, which may develop into mass insubordination in the IDF, of refusal by thousands of soldiers and officers to implement orders to carry out the Gaza Disengagement Plan. Boim admitted that if the trend is too widespread, it may not be logistically possible to carry out the government's plan.
To date, organizers circulating a petition for soldiers and reservists to express their refusal to comply with what they define as inherently "illegal and immoral" orders report having amassed over 5,000 signatures.