I have known Nitzan Alon since he was a little boy. He is really a hero and like the article says, he has dedicated his life for all of the people in Israel Let's put politics aside for a moment as I consider myself a religious and right wing individual, but Brigadier-General Nitzan Alon is an officer and a gentleman and should be honored and admired by all in Israel.

Don't blame and abuse our men in uniform. They are the ONLY reason that this country has survived against impossible odds and a brutal and vicious enemy! Those who assault, insult, threaten and spit on our soldiers, be they generals or privates should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law just as you would a person who assaults a policeman. Those who don't like the actions against the settlements should remember that they elected the present government. They made their beds, now they must lie in them!

one law...

Crickey, just look at that picture, all that's missing is Tevye the milkman.

I consider myself a right wing element as I live in a religious settlement and I'm totally against the idea of evicting Jews from what I consider to be our homeland. I also consider myself to be a responsible law abiding citizen of Israel, as are the 'majority' of Jews living in a similiar situation to myself. This extends to the hope that a peaceful solution can be found with those Arabs living nearby who also seek the same. So I guess that makes me and most others 'moderate right wing elements'. The same type of language can be used for left wing oriented Israeli Jews, depending upon their degree of activity. In fact, the same goes to describe Arabs who can also be divided into factions depending upon their interest to cause violence or adopt a belligerent attitude. Accordingly, Jews who see fit to demonize other Jews serving in our IDF, and take such hostile action, don't represent my own understanding of being a right wing Jew, and can adequately be described as 'extreme elements'. I see this as a marked improvement from having all Jews living in the settlements branded as 'extremists' and demonized in the process. I hope this kind of description marks a turning point within Israeli society, and can be extended across the board regardless of religious and political orientation. That way we put out a shared message ...nothing justifies terrorism such as violent attacks against others and their property. I hope some of those interesting talkbackers, inlcuding lefties & Arabs can subscribe to this belief? Shalom!

R' Elyashiv has issued a halachaic demand that nazirs maintain their peyot. As if Jews should not live as Jews in the land of their own name as their forefathers. The land they love and protects them. But positive prescriptions (and Torah at that) take precedence of negative prohibitions (especially only rabbinical ones). According to YNet, the rav would cede the land that belongs to all Yehudim past present and future rather than perform mitzvot ha eretz and act according to pikuach nefesh whereby the threat is removed and not the Jews. Any good soldier knows that. Ergo, Alon is not a good soldier (i.e. he does not remove the threat, he endangers the people he and the land are to defend by removing the people from the land of their own name). Enforce the right of return of those that come to kill you back to the homicidal , Hamite peninsular homeland of their own name! That is what the government has been elected to do but order the soldiers not to and in fact do the opposite. A government that disenfrachises the elctorate has no authority to order anyone to do anything.

Rav Elyashiv is an authority with no doubt, but his approach to everyday matters is the same approach that antagonized with Zionism in Europe before WWII and prevented Religious Jews to take part of the construction of the State. Status Quo is no always the best, though what he said is halachically correct other hallachic rules can be said to sustain the contrary, we are thought to defend each centimeter of the Land of Israel, much more Yossef HaTzadik's tomb!

Every time I see the phrase "Halachic Rule" (or "Halachic Prohibition") it makes me sick. Is Israel a modern country or a piece of ancient nonsense? I refuse to accept that the latter is the case, but until there is a Constitution in place Israel cannot be called a modern country. So, dear Knesset, hurry up -- drop your lazy living habits, your expensive trips abroad for no purpose, your nose picking breaks by the water coolers. Give us a constitution, a good one. After sixty three years Israeli citizens deserve it.

He could have chosen to respond with violence, to violence. Instead he consulted the respected Rabbi of his assaillents. Commander Alon is a great leader,and parents can confide to him their children with closed eyes.

Military rank deserves respect. Unequivocally. Someone who has attained the rank of Brigadier General has already proven himself worthy of the respect that rank affords. If a member of the military is given an order that requires unjust or antiscriptural action, like the forced eviction of Jews from Israel's heartland, that military member has a responsibility to refuse to implement that order. "Just following orders" has never absolved one of culpability for carrying out an unjust order. For this reason, I implore Gen Alon to review his taskings and implement only those which are just and in conformity with Scripture.

Yes, Brigadier General is worthy of respect and it was demeaning for him to meet Elyashiv, a person of no relevance to IDF. By meeting Elyashiv Nitzan sought to appease some Haredi soldiers and settlers. Can you imagine even a low rank officer doing something parallel to this in the U.S. armed forces? It would be a sensational news item, a celebration for journalists for a long time. Now, Corporal John from Alaska, try to implement your scripture commands in your State and see how much joy you'll give to journalists. Nobody will write about Sarah Palin any more.

In Afghanistan, the leaders of units assigned there met with local Afghani leaders, religious or othewise, to facilitate positive relations between our forces and the local populace. Gen Alon's meeting with the Haredi leader has precedent and was wise. I wasn't Army, I was Air Force, way back when, and wasn't a corporal but a Staff Sargeant. But your point would hold. Except that if I had been given a command that I found morally wrong (say, fire on the unarmed civilians at My Lai), I would hope that I would have had the intestinal fortitude to respectfully decline.

Do you live in Israel?