The reason we are seeing the grass roots rise up against the leadership is due to their incompetence and impotence. The failed leadership has brought this on by their acts of insanity in appeasing the enemy instead of defeating them. The IDF under the leadership of the morally bankrupt politicians succumbed to minimal pressure from a false ally and failed to defeat Hizbollah and Hamas. This has generated the seeds of their growing dilema. The incompetent leadership now talks of using an iron fist against fellow Jews and iron fist they were unwilling to use against the enemy. This is the action of a morally bankrupt leadership.

It has been Israeli "leaders"who have politicized the Army.Rabin did it to conform to Oslo;olmerd(excuse the "r"which I can't resist)did it firing important brains from it to conform to his alliances with arabs. Better not to think because I get nervous.

A group calling themselves Shministim recently toured South Afrcan. In a place that is fighting for the rights of the Jewish population to be free from Muslem attacks, they were not only Arrogantly ignorant but dangerous. Why are these refusnicks being treated so lightly?

Just like the right-wing soldiers who protest in the army (and rightfully should be chucked out after serving time in the brig for insubordination and conduct unbecoming), the left-wing refuseniks are a tiny, but vocal, minority. The absolute vast majority are drafted and serve with honor and distinction. The tiny minority of vocal protesters either keep themselves out of the army (probably a good thing anyway) and the rabble who think they have the right to stage a citizen protest while in uniform are also penalized. The vast, overwhelming majority of kids who enlist and serve shows that our country and democracy are very strong.

WHAT IS THAT : REFUSENICK : iNsubordination. Infacts stop all this name callings. we need not give effect to self-curse ! Please listen ! ben singapore

Insubordinate soldiers, right or left, following the dictates that the rabbis say are from God or from political leaders are truly a poison to the nation. Politicians can slug this out, but it is not the role of raw recruits, particularly when they are encouraged, abetted and funded by their elders. To allow one's grievance with the army to permit insubordination gives license to any other grievance to do the same. This is a crucial time for togetherness. All who read the bible should know what happens when that goal is ignored!

Ashkenazi is right. The army is for the defense of Israel. It is not for any job that requires strength. Should the IDF be used to disperse political protests? What about to collect goverment debts ? Break illeagal strikes? The armies job is the defense of Israel. Nothing more.

The Army has been used as a political tool in Israel against its own citizens on several occassions including the evacuations of Sinai and Gush Katif. It is appalling. Pitting Jew against Jew and using the mighty force of the Israeli Army to strong-arm protesters. I, for one, am embarrassed that the State of Israel has allowed itself to use the Army for the political ends of the radical Left. While a staunch defender of Israel's actions in our war against the murderers of Gaza last year, I cannot defend the Army's stand against soldiers who have ideological issues with the country's policies, particularly when it comes to something as basic as evicting a Jew from his home. A wise and compassionate Jewish Army would simply release these soldiers from service.

They didn't join the army to evict brothers and sisters from their homes. Their mission is to protect THEM!

When we had leaders in the IDF that would tell the political leadership where to get off if they attempted to use the military as a police force. That leadership we do not have today. Instead they are all determined to become the next Chief of Staff and then Defense Minister. I spent most of my adult life in the IDF and am outraged at it's gross misuse. My brothers in arms are the ones that refuse to ethnically cleanse people from their homes.