_a.jpg "Photo: Aya Ben Amos")
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Officer: I'd go to jail if it mattered
Rabbis attempt to convince police commander to refuse orders; officer tells them he would do so if it would make a difference, but stresses forces must follow orders in a democracy
Spur of the moment conversations between evacuating forces, settlers, and rabbis became a common sight in the past days. As forces were getting ready to break into a fortified house in Homesh, an interesting conversation took place between a police commander and a rabbi.
The rabbi said the pullout is an "immoral decree." Police superintendent Amnon Vahabi replied: "If I was certain that what you term a 'decree' would be cancelled if I left and no one would come to replace me, I'd get up and go."
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Tuesday in Homesh: Police and rabbis (Photo: Aya Ben Amos)
Superintendent Vahabi added that he is unable to justify the decision, but said: "We were sent by the government of Israel and we will complete this painful mission. Another government might decide to resettle these areas but that must be the result of a democratic process. Don't be naive – there's a government, we're a democracy, you elected this leader too."
Rabbis Zion Cohen and Ilan Perlman replied: "At the end of the day you will answer your conscience. If you walk away and others will follow, this will be stopped. What are you afraid of? Spending time in prison?"
Vahabi promptly replied: "Had I believed that going to prison for 28 days would prevent this from happening, I'd sacrifice even more, but we both know it won't help."
He added that there are others in his unit who oppose the disengagement: "I told them it was okay. We each vote according to our conscience. But for us as the security forces of a democratic state it is irrelevant."
The rabbis persisted and told Vahabi and another officer, superintendent David Harusch: "If you would go to your commanders and told them 'we can't do this' and other would follow your example, it might thwart the plan."
Superintendent Harusch replied: "So what? They'd bring an army of foreign workers?"
