The grassroots Women in Green (WIG) organization has already collected some 1,200 such signatures over the course of the past several Sunday mornings. WIG volunteers set up a stand outside Jerusalem's central bus station each week, and generally sign soldiers up at the rate of two a minute. The volunteers report that many soldiers say they are afraid to sign, but indicate verbally their support for the cause. The total number of soldiers - standing-army and reserve soldiers - who are signed on various versions of the same petition nationwide is nearing 10,000.
The police made it somewhat difficult yesterday. Several undercover agents and Military Policemen began to surround the stand, claiming "security reasons." Soldiers who wished to sign the petition had to undergo a police check, deterring many of them from signing. When the volunteers finally closed up the stand and left, the policemen did too.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the city, other WIG volunteers managed to gather several dozen soldiers' signatures.
Nadia Matar, co-chairperson of WIG, said that the police activity is actually an encouraging sign. "It shows that they're scared and are taking our work seriously," she said. "In any event, it won't deter us, and we'll think of new ways to confuse and avoid them so that the signings can continue without disturbance."
Many opponents of the disengagement are against refusal, and certainly against organized refusal, of army orders – even in the case of Sharon's planned expulsion plan. Yesha Council members, MK Effie Eitam and others have said that refusing IDF orders is unacceptable and that it could harm the very fabric of Israeli democracy.
Asked to answer these charges, Matar told Arutz-7, "The thousands of people who are signing these petitions are the ones who will save the army from the damage they're talking about. Because if, G-d forbid, the army takes part in this expulsion plan, that will be the cause of civil war, and not those who refuse. We're the ones who are seeking to preserve unity in the army and in the country... We're against refusal; soldiers must fulfill all legal orders – but not immoral ones."
Organizers of the petitions, led by Noam Livnat of the Homat Magen [Defensive
Shield] initiative, plan to present them to Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz next month. At least 10,000 signatures are expected by then. Livnat, younger brother of Education Minister Limor Livnat, says that his goal is not large-scale refusal, but to have the government realize that the disengagement plan is simply not workable due to the tremendous opposition within the army.
Both Noam Livnat and Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss face police investigation, by order of Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, for encouraging soldiers to sign such petitions.
Excerpts from two of the petitions:
"We, the undersigned, carry out our army service with pride, cognizant of our obligation and right to participate in the defense of the People of Israel in its Land and in war against the enemy. We identify with the remarks of rabbis and public figures who see the disengagement plan and the evacuations, the destruction and expulsion, a national disaster and violation of Jewish law that may not be participated in, and hereby declare that we will not give our hands to implement the plan..."
"I will not participate in civil war! I am a proud soldier in the IDF. My task is to defend the State of Israel and the People of Israel from the enemy. I may be asked to expel the residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, but I cannot... I cannot expel a mother of children from her home; I cannot drag an old woman from her bed; I cannot use force against a boy. I will not hurt the handicapped, orphans and widows, raze their homes and give their land to murderers... I recognize the obligation to obey army orders, but I see [these orders] as grossly illegal, and as a soldier will be unable to fulfill them, in accordance with the laws of the State and the orders of the General Staff."
The police made it somewhat difficult yesterday. Several undercover agents and Military Policemen began to surround the stand, claiming "security reasons." Soldiers who wished to sign the petition had to undergo a police check, deterring many of them from signing. When the volunteers finally closed up the stand and left, the policemen did too.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the city, other WIG volunteers managed to gather several dozen soldiers' signatures.
Nadia Matar, co-chairperson of WIG, said that the police activity is actually an encouraging sign. "It shows that they're scared and are taking our work seriously," she said. "In any event, it won't deter us, and we'll think of new ways to confuse and avoid them so that the signings can continue without disturbance."
Many opponents of the disengagement are against refusal, and certainly against organized refusal, of army orders – even in the case of Sharon's planned expulsion plan. Yesha Council members, MK Effie Eitam and others have said that refusing IDF orders is unacceptable and that it could harm the very fabric of Israeli democracy.
Asked to answer these charges, Matar told Arutz-7, "The thousands of people who are signing these petitions are the ones who will save the army from the damage they're talking about. Because if, G-d forbid, the army takes part in this expulsion plan, that will be the cause of civil war, and not those who refuse. We're the ones who are seeking to preserve unity in the army and in the country... We're against refusal; soldiers must fulfill all legal orders – but not immoral ones."
Organizers of the petitions, led by Noam Livnat of the Homat Magen [Defensive
The signatures of soldiers who refuse to carry out disengagement orders
Both Noam Livnat and Kedumim Mayor Daniella Weiss face police investigation, by order of Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz, for encouraging soldiers to sign such petitions.
Excerpts from two of the petitions:
"We, the undersigned, carry out our army service with pride, cognizant of our obligation and right to participate in the defense of the People of Israel in its Land and in war against the enemy. We identify with the remarks of rabbis and public figures who see the disengagement plan and the evacuations, the destruction and expulsion, a national disaster and violation of Jewish law that may not be participated in, and hereby declare that we will not give our hands to implement the plan..."
"I will not participate in civil war! I am a proud soldier in the IDF. My task is to defend the State of Israel and the People of Israel from the enemy. I may be asked to expel the residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, but I cannot... I cannot expel a mother of children from her home; I cannot drag an old woman from her bed; I cannot use force against a boy. I will not hurt the handicapped, orphans and widows, raze their homes and give their land to murderers... I recognize the obligation to obey army orders, but I see [these orders] as grossly illegal, and as a soldier will be unable to fulfill them, in accordance with the laws of the State and the orders of the General Staff."