Insubordination fears rise
Religious soldiers from hesder yeshivas are already voicing possible intention to disobey evacuation orders, military source tells Ynet. Recently, IDF decided to dismantle platoon comprising yeshiva students; army denies connection to pullout
The hesder yeshivas arrangement allows youngsters to combine religious studies with military service.
“They are already voicing some insubordination sentiments,” an IDF source said about the platoon. “There will be no concessions here.”
Another military source told Ynet the platoon in question enlisted for army service in August 2004.
“Those are guys who come from hesder yeshivas found in the radical end, rabbis that call for insubordination or at least are not condemning the phenomenon,” he said.
The official admitted the IDF is concerned about the prospect of disobedience among platoon members.
“The question is not whether we’ll encounter insubordination there, but rather, when,” he said.
‘We’ll have to act in creative ways’
IDF Southern Command Head Dan Harel has already ordered army officials to refrain from concessions to any soldier in the platoon, the source added.
“We’ll have to act in creative ways,” he said. “For example, we could send officers to the yeshivas and clarify to the rabbi that if he doesn’t instruct his students to follow orders, there’s no reason they would serve only one year and four months, but rather, they would serve three years like everyone else.”
Last week, after a spurt of right-wing insubordination, Army Chief Dan Halutz implied that the army would consider revoking the special hesder yeshivas arrangement if the problem persists.
“It’s impossible to maintain a dual system and call on people to refuse (orders,) and at the same time enjoy the arrangement with the IDF,” he said at the time.
Army officials, however, were quick to downplay the remarks and denied they constituted a threat.
Religious platoon dismantled
Meanwhile, the army recently decided to dismantle a Golani brigade platoon comprising yeshiva students. The soldiers in question enlisted into the IDF in March 2004 and were slated to take part in the disengagement plan.
One soldier in the platoon told Ynet troops were sent to Gaza, where they were told they are being split between two companies. Other soldiers said the no reasonable explanation was provided for the move.
The IDF, however, said there was nothing unusual about the decision.
“Any (talk of a) connection between the dismantlement and fears of insubordination is baseless,” an official IDF statement said.
Targeting the paratroopers
Meanwhile, right-wing activists and groups who oppose the pullout are attempting to convince IDF paratroopers to refuse evacuation orders.
Anti-pullout sticker: A Paratrooper doesn't expel a Jew
The groups have started distributing a specially designed sticker bearing the paratroopers’ insignia and reading: “A paratrooper doesn’t expel a Jew.”
Those behind the initiative say they intend to start distributing similar stickers among other brigades and regiments.
“The paratroopers are a hard nut to crack, but we feel their sympathy and hope they’ll realize you don’t do such thing (evacuating Jews,)” one campaign organizer said.
