Jewish soldiers and ‘ethnic cleansing’

There has been much in the news about Israeli Defense Forces soldiers holding or posting signs announcing their refusal to participate in “evacuations” of Jewish communities in the Land of Israel. “Evacuations” is simply Orwellian doublespeak for ethnic cleansing of Jews.

The IDF has prided itself on its “purity of arms” and its high ethical behavior. As such, soldiers have been empowered with the right to refuse unethical orders. No one would complain if Jewish soldiers refused orders to eat pork or perform pointless tasks on the Sabbath, yet there is an outcry when the same soldiers are ordered to uproot Jewish communities, destroy Jewish homes, and pull children from the arms of their parents.

There is no greater desecration of the honor of the Jewish army than to be asked to behave like the Arabs, the British, the Romans, the Babylonians, and all the other enemies of our people throughout history. Also, liberal Jews in America would be apoplectic if the regular U.S. Army were suddenly authorized to act within the borders of the United States against American citizens – an act strictly prohibited by law. Why would it be acceptable for the State of Israel? The soldiers posting the signs are heroes of the Jewish people, speaking out against the unethical and unacceptable. For Jews, “following orders” is never an acceptable excuse.

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