ISRAEL: 'Refuseniks' say they won't attack civilians

[Karmadillo]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/5ca5cf4d391c1b71bd0360cd830f81bc.htm

KIRYAT SHMONA, 9 August (IRIN) - Called up to serve in the conflict against Hezbollah, reserve soldier Israeli Tom Mehagel decided he couldn't fight.

"I don't believe that Hezbollah has any goal but destroying Israel," the artillery staff sergeant told IRIN. "But we shouldn't use our force against civilians."

Mehagel is one of a small group of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservists who have refused to fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon because they don't think it is right. Soldiers in Israel who refuse to fight are known as 'refuseniks'.

Using disproportionate force, including attacks against civilians, is a violation of international humanitarian law. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused both sides of committing war crimes, specifically for attacking civilians.

IDF spokesman Captain Erik Snider said that refuseniks are wrong to believe the IDF is targeting Lebanese civilians. "Under no circumstances does the IDF target those who are not involved with terrorism," he said.

more...

[Waya]

1. Bless'em...

[hadrons]

2. these are the IDF's bravest

[Rex]

3. It's not terrorism Captain, this is a war between two nations.

Good to see heart in the IDF, but I have to rant here sorry;

Israel needs to stop with the terrorism nonsense, it sounds too much like what Bush and crew spew. Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government, right or wrong and this is a war between two nations. If people start treating it as such, then the definition of what is going on over there would have to change.

I can just as easily say that leveling 12 story buildings in Lebanon is a form of mass terrorism, but I won't because it is a bloody war and should be stopped immediately for the security of future generations on both sides. It is a blood vendetta that has festered and grown, in large part because of George Bush and his fictitious 'war on terror', IMO.

[Double T]

4. Captain Erik Snider is a damn liar...........

and there are plenty of dead innocents not involved in terrorism to prove it!! The IDF is creating terrorists, as has the USA, by their irresponsible destructive actions.

[izzie]

5. This looks like war crimes to me. Killing off a Pop. is not

what I would call honor of any type. And as always we tax payers will hand over 3 B. so the people of Israel will not have to spend their own money. JUst how long are we voters going to keep this greedy group in congress? I just heard Roberson. He is brainless.

[Tsiyu]

6. It's a brave thing: to stand up to warmongers

Israel needs to regroup and find a way to work this out. Continually bombing civilian targets is just lunacy.

As I've said before, we don't bomb entire trailer parks to get one meth cook and we don't bomb entire housing projects because we got word that a gang leader lives in one of the apartments.

I wish more soldiers would lay down their arms and demand that their leaders find peaceful solutions to conflict. And that goes for the violence-mongers in hezbollah as well.