A military court sentenced an IDF sergeant on Tuesday to 21 days in incarceration for refusing to take part in a mission related to Israel’s planned pullout from the Gaza Strip last week, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents of insubordination regarding the withdrawal.
Several IDF officers have been indicted and imprisoned for similar allegations. Military officers, including Chief of State Lt.-General Dan Halutz, have slammed what they call the “Refusnik Phenomenon,” where IDF troops refuse orders, saying such moves discredit the army and divide the Israeli people.
Halutz said dozens of troops and reserve soldiers have refused orders related to the pullout.
The sergeant’s detention comes two days after Israel indicted a military rabbi who is suspected of calling upon his brigade to refuse to carry out Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip, set to begin on Aug. 17.
About 12 soldiers were arrested in July for refusing to participate in closing a Gaza Strip bording crossing and stop hundreds of settlers who arrive to try and break a closure the IDF imposed on the territory.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is determined to carry out his “disengagement” plan next week, which includes the evacuation of all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank, while strengthening large settlement blocs in the West Bank.
Right-wingers oppose the plan, saying the land is theirs by biblical birthright and that any Israeli withdrawal from the territory would reward Palestinian terrorists, whose power is growing in the Gaza Strip.
The pullout would mark the first Israeli withdrawal from land Palestinians want for a future state.