The soldiers, part of the “Rotem” unit, announced in front of their fellow soldiers that they refuse to take part in the closure of Gush Katif, calling the order illegal and immoral.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon signed an order declaring the region closed to non-residents Wednesday morning.
IDF Southern Commander Maj. Gen. Dan Harel told reporters that the soldiers would be punished. He brushed off suggestions of a looming refusal movement. “We will handle those six soldiers in the exact same way as we handled the 30 others who have refused orders recently. We will implement our policy, which does not accept either right-wing or left-wing insubordination," he said.
More than 30,000 active duty and reserve soldiers and officers have signed a petition declaring they will refuse orders to implement the Disengagement Plan, according to the Homat Magen (“Defensive Shield”) refusal movement.
"These heroes of the IDF are salvaging the army’s honor," Homat Magen announced. "The wave of refusals will become a tsunami that will wash away the blatantly illegal expulsion order."
The Rotem unit is made up of soldiers who were drafted one year ago and includes many yeshiva students.
The Golani brigade, which was originally slated to take a direct role in the expulsion of the Jews of Gaza, was recently reassigned due to widespread concern among officers of mass refusal. Bumper stickers have appeared on vehicles around Israel, reading: "My Golani Does Not Expel Jews. Respect!"
A ceremony will take place next Sunday opposite the IDF enlistment office in Haifa, during which IDF officers plan on returning their ranks to the IDF. The officer claim that by closing Gush Katif and taking part in the forced removal of Jewish residents from their homes, the IDF is betraying its code of ethics and the basic tenets upon which it was created.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon signed an order declaring the region closed to non-residents Wednesday morning.
IDF Southern Commander Maj. Gen. Dan Harel told reporters that the soldiers would be punished. He brushed off suggestions of a looming refusal movement. “We will handle those six soldiers in the exact same way as we handled the 30 others who have refused orders recently. We will implement our policy, which does not accept either right-wing or left-wing insubordination," he said.
More than 30,000 active duty and reserve soldiers and officers have signed a petition declaring they will refuse orders to implement the Disengagement Plan, according to the Homat Magen (“Defensive Shield”) refusal movement.
"These heroes of the IDF are salvaging the army’s honor," Homat Magen announced. "The wave of refusals will become a tsunami that will wash away the blatantly illegal expulsion order."
The Rotem unit is made up of soldiers who were drafted one year ago and includes many yeshiva students.
The Golani brigade, which was originally slated to take a direct role in the expulsion of the Jews of Gaza, was recently reassigned due to widespread concern among officers of mass refusal. Bumper stickers have appeared on vehicles around Israel, reading: "My Golani Does Not Expel Jews. Respect!"
A ceremony will take place next Sunday opposite the IDF enlistment office in Haifa, during which IDF officers plan on returning their ranks to the IDF. The officer claim that by closing Gush Katif and taking part in the forced removal of Jewish residents from their homes, the IDF is betraying its code of ethics and the basic tenets upon which it was created.