IMRA Newsletter
Text: Petitions of Soldiers refusing to evacuate
19 January 2005
Noam Livnat, spokesman for the Chomat Magen group, www.hmagen.com , provided IMRA copies of the two petitions being signed by soldiers and reservists. Livnat has asked Defense Minister Mofaz for a meeting in three weeks to present the petitions. He expect to have at least 10,000 signatures by then
The following is IMRA's translation:
#1 Declaration of Reserve Soldiers
We the undersigned are Jewish citizens in the State of Israel, who serve as reserve soldiers in the IDF. We carry out our army service with pride, cognizant of our obligation and right to participate in the defense of the People of Israel in its Land and in war against the enemy.
We identify with the remarks of rabbis and public figures who see the "disengagement plan" and the evacuations, the destruction and expulsion, a national disaster and violation of Jewish law that may not be participated in, and hereby declare that we will not give our hands to implement the plan.
Name address rank army number telephone number
#2 Declaration of Soldiers
I will not participate in civil war!
I am a proud soldier in the IDF. My task is to defend the State of Israel and the People of Israel from the enemy.
I may be asked to expel the residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, but I cannot.
I cannot, because I am unable to beat my brothers and sisters, my countrymen.
I cannot expel a mother of children from her home; I cannot drag an old woman from her bed; I cannot use force against a boy.
I will not hurt the handicapped, orphans and widows, raze their homes and give their land to murderers.
I will not hit Jews. Will not uproot the planted. Will not destroy property.
Will not aid in the destruction of hothouses, take factories apart, destroy the harvest in the fields.
Will not remove my countrymen from their graves, will not destroy synagogues.
Will not agree to participate in civil war, even if I receive such an order.
I recognize the obligation to obey army orders, but if I am asked by my commander to do these things I will see them as grossly illegal, and as a soldier will be unable in accordance with the laws of the State and the orders of the General Staff, to carry them out and will be forced to refuse the order.
Name address rank army number telephone number