IDF reserve troops receive fictitious calls for duty in Gaza
By Yuval Goren, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 05:14 08/01/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053580.html

The Israel Defense Forces have launched an investigation into numerous
fictitious Tzav Shmone (emergency call for duty) messages recently sent to
mobile phones of reserve soldiers, ordering them to join the battles of the
ongoing Gaza assault.

The messages instructed the soldiers to arrive at Haifa's enlistment center,
where they would receive their stationing in the south.

Boaz, a student in Tel Aviv and a reserve soldier serving in Golani
Brigade's elite Egoz anti-guerilla unit describes receiving the message: "A
few days ago, while I was in the university, I received a call from an
unidentified number. When I answered I heard an automatic voice message very
similar to the message we received during the Second Lebanon War, only this
time I wasn't requested to verify my ID number."

Boaz left school immediately in order to prepare to leave and notified his
employer that he would not be coming to work over the following two weeks.
Only when speaking to his commander did he find out he had been tricked.

"When I called my commander he said we had not been recruited, and after an
initial inquiry he was told it is possible that someone is trying to pull
some sort of stunt," added Boaz, who also reported the incident to police to
help avoid additional such cases.

More reserve soldiers have reported receiving similar messages which also
turned out to be fictitious.

"I can't understand who would do such a thing," said Boaz. "I've heard of
cases of tricking friends, but this seems like something that was planned,
and not by anyone I know."

IDF spokesman stated in response that "Tzav Shmone is sent via military
authorities. Unauthorized fictitious calls sent by anonymous bodies,
especially during these difficult times, are a violation of the law, and the
IDF condemns such actions."