SOS Israel to award citations to refuseniks
Right-wing movement to hold event honoring soldiers who disobeyed orders to evacuate Jewish squatters from Hebron market. Event timed to coincide with IDF ceremony honoring soldiers for bravery during last summer's war with Hizbullah
The SOS Israel movement will distribute on Sunday citations to the IDF soldiers who refused to take part in the evacuation of Jewish squatters from the Hebron wholesale market three weeks ago.
The movement timed the event to coincide with an IDF ceremony to honor soldiers who carried out brave acts during last summer's war with Hizbullah.
"It is time that politicians stop destroying the army and prepare it for what it is really meant to do," said the mother of a soldier who was sentenced to solitary confinement by a military court over his refusal to carry out the Hebron evacuation.
SOS Israel invitation to event
Rabbi Dov Wolpe of SOS Israel said, "The event will take place simultaneously with a ceremony to award citations to soldiers who fought in the Second Lebanon War because both groups deserve citations. I hope we will no longer have award citations to soldiers who disobey orders."
"I hope the State comes back to its senses and avoid assigning soldiers to tasks like these. But if it does give soldiers orders of the kind, God willing there will be more soldiers who will refuse orders. We will continue to encourage them and give them financial awards," Wolpe added.
SOS Israel plans to award disobedient soldiers 'Israel Hero' certificates in addition to granting thousands of shekels to their families.
The money was donated by a US citizen who vowed to cover the legal costs for disobedient soldiers and to pay their families a large some of money.
"In my opinion, disobeying orders to evict Jews from their homes and from the Land of Israel is the healthiest thing that can happen. The IDF's responsibility is to defend the citizens of State of Israel to fight terror and to defend the borders," said the mother of a soldier who will soon be released from a 28-day period of incarceration.
