profiles in courage

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27 Israeli pilots to refuse missions in West Bank, Gaza

Israel's air force chief has received a letter from pilots who are refusing to participate in activities targeting Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, an Israeli newspaper reported Wednesday.

Haaretz said 27 active and retired reserve duty pilots signed the letter to Maj. Gen. Dan Halutz, the Israeli air force chief, and it was reportedly sent Wednesday.

Israel Defense Forces did not have an immediate reaction.

Among those who signed the letter was reserve duty Brig. Gen. Yiftah Spector, a squadron leader during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, according to Haaretz. Some of the signatories have previously raised objections to similar operations, the paper said.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/24/israel.pilots/index.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. This has been happening for a long time

Many Israelis disagree with the aggressive policies of Sharon and many have refused to do service. You don't hear much about them or the Israelis who have dedicated themselves to make economic ties with Palestinians. I think Sharon would rather these people just go away. In my mind, they are the ones who are truly trying to follow the roadmap to peace.

[liberalmuse]

2. True

I read about soldiers standing down orders from Sharon a few times in the past year. It's too bad we don't hear more of these stories, because there are a lot of people in Israel who don't support the aggressive policies against the Palestinians.

[dfong63]

3. but their organizing and making a public statement, is new

... and takes their resistance to a new level. kudos.