Settler rabbi: Commander may execute soldier refusing to serve by Ha'aretz Service 4:50pm Thu Jul 18 '02 Leading settler rabbi, Shlomo Aviner, recently published an article in which he intimated that a soldier who refuses to serve in the territories - several hundred have done so since the start of the intifada in September 2000 - can be executed by a commander for treason. print article Settler rabbi: Commander may execute soldier refusing to serve By Ha'aretz Service Leading settler rabbi, Shlomo Aviner, recently published an article in which he intimated that a soldier who refuses to serve in the territories - several hundred have done so since the start of the intifada in September 2000 - can be executed by a commander for treason. The article, which was brought to light Thursday by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, was published in the B'Ahava V'Emuna pamphlet that is distributed in synagogues. "We are in a state of war and it is forbidden to speak badly of the army," Aviner wrote. "Beware, the internal informer, beware the dissenter. Rabbi Naftali Ben-Zvi, the head of the Wolozin yeshiva, wrote that a person weakening the hands of the commander must die, because he is endangering the entire nation," the rabbi wrote. He gave examples of Jews who were executed by commanders for treason, and concluded that a commander is allowed to execute a soldier refusing his commands. Rabbi Avi Gisser of the West Bank settlement of Ofra criticized the article in an interview on Israel Radio on Thursday: "Especially today, Tisha B'Av, the article raises disputes and arguments between groups in Israel," Gisser said. Gisser added that in his opinion the topic should not have been brought up. "There are better ways to warn about how dissention can potentially harm the state's future," he said. "Israeli law also includes the death penalty for treason, but it is not implemented with regard to someone who says they cannot carry out a (military order)," the rabbi said. Asked whether there was not a danger that someone might interpret Aviner's statements literally, Gissin explained that in the quote by rabbi Naftali Ben-Zvi, the word 'commander' is a metaphor for the state, and that only the state's leadership can decide on a death penalty for dissenters. "There is no call for an individual to act [in what Rabbi Aviner said]" www.haaretzdaily.com add your comments

Yesh Gvul's statement regarding Rabbi Aviner by Yesh Gvul 6:05pm Thu Jul 18 '02 print comment There’s a Limit to Incitement !!! Rabbi Shlomo Aviner: It’s permissible to kill refuseniks Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, one of the most important of the Judea and Samaria Rabbis (the West Bank), published an article that permitted killing soldiers who refuse to serve in the Occupied Territories. “We are in a state of war, and it is forbidden to criticize the army” wrote Rabbi Aviner in the bulletin “B’ahava u’bemuna” (In Love and Faith), that is distributed in thousands of copies in synagogues throughout Israel. “Woe to the informer, woe to the refuser. Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, the head of the Wolozin Academy, wrote that one who weakens the hand of the commander is liable to death, since he endangers the entire nation. Rabbi Aviner’s words of incitement, and his permit of bloodletting against those who refuse to take part in the Occupation, reminds us of distant days – when internal hate caused the destruction of the Temple – and not so distant days, when similar religious judgments were issued against the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Yesh Gvul demands that Attorney-General Rubinstein order the Police to investigate the Rabbi Aviner’s words of incitement – words that are intolerable in a democratic society. We demand that Aviner be put on trial, and wonder if after the next political assassination, the Attorney-General will claim “I didn’t know” , that he didn’t understand the handwriting on the wall and that it was only a matter of some “rotten apples” and not the persistent incitement of the rabbis of the Occupied Territories. We also wish to point out that only last week members of the “Young Likud” filed a complaint of bribery to the Police against Yesh Gvul. This was followed by a campaign of threats against Israeli musicians who were supposed to perform at the Yesh Gvul concert, by groups such as the Israeli Students and Academics Organization. Yesh Gvul sees Aviner’s words as the natural continuation of these anti-democratic acts. We call on all decent people to oppose these actions. add your comments

Syria and Lebano : the foundation of Peace by How Zaarta is making a living on Jewish Blood 6:26pm Thu Jul 18 '02 print comment In his final wards of an article recently published by Yaser Alzaarta he warns (in ambigious language)the anti-suicdal-homocidal-marytal bomber that death is between us and you.Many Israelis say why we do not hear from moderate Palistinians.They must know that radicals act like states who enforce militery conscription.The state use force and any one object is jailed and in some countries particulary in the past,killed and tortured.The Palistinian pro peace are the majority and the pro peace cannot by thier nature use violence to force pro violence to be pro peace.Unfortuntly,Israelis who do not want peace are not angry that this western tie suit Islamist Zaarta to call for violence and more suicidal bombing.If you say to Zaarta stop calling for violence he may respond"you want to cut my bread"meaning deprive me of my source of income.Yes in the Middle East you can make a career by calleing for hate and violence among Jews and Israelis. This Zaarta expliots the desperation to spread his fealth and dirt.Above that he even though claims to be Islamist say that we have to target children women and old men for Israeli society is miltery and no such thing as civilians and claim that this is Islamic,that is commit vilence to the enemy the way the enemy does.He neglects to add the rest of the Kuranic verse which put restriction.No where I see in his articles any compassion for the suffering of the Palistinians.His writing is totaly emotionless.Above that he moves from one piont to another without clarifying and only for the purpose of inciting violence.Why the Palistinians did not bomb hospitals or schools?Because they know that this will damage thier repitation.Therfore they care about thier image.But the problem is there seems to be no will to stop the conflict among some poweful Israelis,Europeans and Americans.The claim that was recently raised that Arab leaders particulary in Syria and Eygpt fear a Palistinian state is totaly sensless.There is Bahrain,Oman,Yemen and the rest.The additional of a Palistinian state is just one state on the list.Those who do not want peace are looking for any execuse and in this process the image of Arab leaders are being distorted.Again to say a Palistinian stae would jepordice Syria,Egypt or lebanon is ridiculous. add your comments

Now come the cannibals by Alberto G 6:36pm Tue Jul 23 '02 print comment So, after killing so-called terrorists and civilians, after killing 8 children in an air strike, after the occupation of a land which was not theirs and showing various nasty habits, some Israelis claim they can kill other Israelis in the name of security, just because someone refuses to kill someone else... How funny, and murderous. Israelis should start worrying about their loss of moral values, and listening to the feeble critical voices they are trying to kill. This story of a great Israel really reminds me of a great Germany and a great Serbia. And that's the saddest thing I could ever write. The only democracy in Middle East, or not? add your comments