No connection, I know the famous Dayan family.

A solider in uniform most always so respect for follower soldiers and commander. Out of uniform is free to protest in anyway he see fit I think his medal should be taken away.... But expelling him seems wrong

Yup. Hard rain's a gonna fall, and soon. Time they woke up to who's in control.

Yakov, I did not say that the High Court was irrelevant; I said that was illegitmate. It is illegitmate because it selects its own new members, as opposed to these members being selected by a "people's branch." It is also illegitimate because it makes law as opposed to interpreting law. This can be seen in reports of its "rulings," which do not mention statutory or case law and rarely even mention the High Court's own previous "rulings." In other words, the HC not only creates law, but creates it de novo. The HC is in fact lawless. To a great extent, its "rulings" contribute to anarchy because they have no connection to the true lawmaking body, the Knesset. Indeed, even bringing an issue before the HC gives it too much legitimacy. Anyway, it is thoroughly post-Zionist and will "rule" accordingly. Have I make myself clearer?

I'm gonna get on a plane, shake this man's hand, get back on and leave the Jewish nuthouse behind.

Sec and the Chicago Flash. Implied threats? From the Sayeret Dizengoff ? Give us a break. Lounging around the coffee shops on the bars on the beach hoping for some charity from the local strolling ladies does not one a hero make. hard rain indeed. Implied civil War threats are the corn meal that signifies the socialist palegra that infect the left. Kadima has not gained a majority from the last vote and has to cobble up a patchwork quilt of odds and ends from diverse and mutually hating "partners". I keep waiting for the opening strings of "Fiddler" to signal the arrival of amature Olmert the living proof that less is really less.

Yishai, the new interior minister has threatened to close the country down on Shabbat. I hope he does because it should be regarded as cassus belli. I mean this very seriously and I hope the public will respond accordingly and bring this thing to a head, once and for all. We must not be forced back into the middle ages by a bunch of retarded people wearing clown outfits.

a noisy minority tries to convince us of a major crisis but there is not : the people of Israel have given up the absurdity of the so-called Great-Israel. They want to get rid of these costly, illegal and lawless settlements.

Incredible to see the Right-Wing advocating disobeying orders in the army, refusing to salute commander or whatever. I thought the Right was into obeying orders. They certainly have been througout history. They usually are the ones screeching "traitor" at other people.

If you can't obey orders and show respect for your senior officers, you shouldn't be in the army and we don't want you in our army. Stay home. The army is not for the enforcement your personal opinions. The army will follow the orders of senior officers who are instructed by a civilian, democratically-elected government. That's the point of the army. The only exception are clearly illegal orders, such as orders to shoot unarmed civilians. If this guy was ordered to shake the hand of his commander, then failure to do so is disobeying orders and he will be punished. No question about it. The army is not a democracy. It's an organization ruled by discipline. If you can't accept that, you cannot be in the army. Joe Lyons (probably the real name of "Yoel Ariel") doesn't know what he's talking about. And why do these people choose such silly names.

Sorry, but I keep hearing that shaking hands isn't even required in the IDF, and this is consistent with my understanding of the US military as well. Can the "law and order" types here (most of whom are Meretz-left on other issues) produce anything on paper (i.e. a section from the military code) in support of their position?

Halutz lost an oppotunity to say to the soldier, "I am sorry that I had to remove your family from home because that was the order or an old guy Sharon and his son Sharon Jr. I am glad that you serve and defend me."

No, it is not obligitory to shake hands, moreover no officer would have any authority to order a soldier to shake hands with him or anybody else. But this is not the issue. This incident was a premeditated politicaly motivated demonstration of contempt and derision for the most senior officer in the military by a very young soldier of minor rank. What is more it took place in the presence of The President of the State of Israel, within the walls of his office. Is it too difficult to understand that this issue is not about the legality of a handshake ? The Chief of Staff offered HIS hand to congratulate the young soldier for his achievment, the soldier refused to accept, thereby showing contempt and derision not just to the CoS but also to the President and not just to them personally but to the high office itself. There is no question of legality, but rather maturity and common sense.

Probably not, Moshe Dayan, the general was secular family. Dayan is a fairly common surname. Both, however, are heros . I met Moshe Dayan, 50 years ago on fourth of July celebration in TA , over a buffet table,---a most charming man indeed , he was.

Yakov, you say "No, it is not obligitory to shake hands, moreover no officer would have any authority to order a soldier to shake hands with him or anybody else. But this is not the issue. This incident was a premeditated politicaly motivated demonstration of contempt and derision for the most senior officer in the military by a very young soldier of minor rank. What is more it took place in the presence of The President of the State of Israel, within the walls of his office." Let's stipulate that you have successfully read the mind of the "very young soldier of minor rank." My impression is that he tried to avoid this ceremony entirely but could not. Wasn't this whole ceremony an excercise in politics on the part of Halutz? Isn't it pretty obvious that Dayan was being used by Halutz to make a POLITICAL point that outstanding soldiers from Yesha had forgotten about Gaza and were on board for new expulsions? Let's stipulate, for the sake of argument, that Halutz did use this as an opportunity for some political theater. Would you then agree that Halutz himself would be at fault? Furthermore, wouldn't Dayan be involved politically no matter what he did at the ceremony? If it is ok for Halutz to create political theater but not for Dayan, at what point in the chain of command should politics start?

I am essentially a pragmatist and am not easily given to hypothesizing. Your points, one by one. I most certainly agree with you that I "have read his mind" and consequently arrived at a conclusion which is either right or wrong, I prefer to think it is right. Your impression that he tried to avoid, I doubt. I am familiar with the system, I have no doubt whatsoever that he distinguished himself in some way that merited his nomination, by his immediate battalion commander, for a "soldier of excellence". This by the way has nothing to do with an act of bravery or sacrifice, for this there is a different mechanism in place. He was nominated, his nomination accepted, ergo he earned it, if he earned it, it belongs to him, and rightly he went to receive it, why should he try to avoid ? This ceremony is a part of the Independence day celebrations and has nothing to do with any particular Chief of Staff and as I said before he was nominated by his CO. No, he was not being used. Further expulsions. The Cof S is also a soldier, and he carries out his orders, that is what armies do in a democracy. Your next two points. Had Halutz or any other C of S used this or anything else as a political theatre he would not only be at fault but he would be seriously reprimanded, yes I agree. If a soldier of minor rank were duped into taking part in a poltically motivated or orientated ceremony, by a senior officer, yes he would be a party to the proceedings but he most certainly would not bear any responsibility and the officer wpuld be in serious trouble. Last point. All officers over a certain rank and some under this rank but with certain positions are not permitted to make public statements unless authorized by the IDF Spokesman. This is not just a person but a very important institution in the GHQ. With one exception I can not recall a C of S who got himself involved in politics or even political staements. One C of S was a lifelong friend of my wife's family and he was a political animal with every bone in his body and believe me it was difficult for him not to express himself, but his lips were tight even when not in uniform. I hope I have responded honestly to your observations even if it was, in the main, an excersise in academics.

you are more of a bully than a chief of staff. If you fought against the terrorists like you do against Jews,this would not have happened. Dayan is more important to the defense of Israel in the Barak division than you are in the I.D.F.headquarters.

a handshake is not a military method like a salute-the soldier did nothing wrong ar all-this is a political move on Halutzs part & completely undemocratic-have we really become a dictatorship

The shocking news is that Staff Sergeant Hananel Dayan who refused to shake the Chief of Staff's hand over his role in the Gaza withdrawal, has been discharged from the Army and his $1500 cash prize revoked. We feel that Staff Sergeant Dayan's refusal to shake the hand of General Dan Halutz, because he was in charge of expelling Israeli citizens from their land, was courageous, ethical and moral. WOMEN IN GREEN has decided to appeal to our supporters, to at least compensate this soldier from the monetary loss he sustained as a result of his courageous stand. All monies received will go directly to him. Make your donation to this soldier in any of the following ways: 1. Go to our website www.womeningreen.org and donate in a safe and secure manner by credit card over the Internet. On the line where you provide your email address, after you have given it, indicate that it is for Sergeant Dayan. 2. You can also send your check payable to Women in Green, POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel. Indicate that the money is for Sergeant Dayan. 3. From the States, you can send your check made out to the Central Fund for Israel, and send it to them at 980 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018. Be sure to tell them that it is for Women in Green, earmarked for Sergeant Dayan. You can report your contribution on your US Income Tax Return. With blessings and love for Israel, WOMEN IN GREEN