Troops refuse to evacuate Hebron families
As thousands of police officers, soldiers prepare to evacuate two Jewish
families from Hebron wholesale market on Tuesday, 30 yeshiva students from
Duchifat Battalion announce they will not take part in evacuation after
consulting rabbis
Efrat Weiss YNET Published: 08.06.07, 11:01 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3434206,00.html

Thirty yeshiva students serving in the IDF have announced that they will not
take part in the evacuation of two Jewish families from the Hebron wholesale
market after consulting their rabbis.

The story was first reported by Army Radio. The soldiers, from the Kfir
Brigade's Duchifat battalion, were slated to replace a Border Guard force on
Tuesday and take part in the forced evacuation.

Following their protest, their commanders sat with them and explained the
importance of the mission. The potential "refusniks" were also told that
those who will not carry out the mission will be treated severely by the
army.

IDF officials clarified that the soldiers have so far not declared that they
will not get on the buses to the Hebron market and are continuing their
regular training.

Meanwhile, a special fund headed by an American millionaire has spread the
word among troops in Hebron that a soldier who will refuse an evacuation
order will receive a financial award of hundreds of dollars. If a soldier is
tried over refusing an order he could receive $600.

Among those involved in the initiative are extreme right-wing activists
Baruch Marzel, Avigdor Eskin and Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Non-violent side
The two Jewish families entered two stores owned by Palestinians in the
Hebron wholesale market about eight months ago. Members of the Jewish
settlement expressed their anger over the planned evacuation, which is
expected to be carried out by thousands of soldiers and police officers.

"The talks have reached a dead end," said Noam Arnon, a member of the Jewish
settlement. "How can we talk with the threat of expulsion in the air? When
there is such a threat, one cannot advance anywhere."

According to Arnon," This property is Jewish property. There was an
agreement with former Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brig-Gen Yair
Golan, which was accepted by the prime minister.

"There is a legal, acceptable proposal which can be implemented, and the
plan is that the families who entered will leave, but that Jews will stay in
the area in one way or another," he told Ynet.

Arnon is referring to an agreement reached about a year and a half ago, when
nine families who entered stores in the Hebron market left during one night,
preventing a confrontation.

"I hope no one is looking for this confrontation," Arnon said, declaring
that the settlers planned "a determined and non-violent struggle."

He clarified that "the violent side is not us. The one who orders an
evacuation is the violent side, and this confrontation is unnecessary. We
will do all we can not to break the rules."