Pilots' Letter
—
filed under:
Israeli Policy
October 1, 2003 Letter from Israeli Pilots refusing to attack civilian population centers.
(Note: The Israeli Air Force pilots who signed the
following letter refusing to take part in attacks on civilian
population centers are associated with the Refuser Solidarity Network
(P.O. Box 53474, Washington DC 20009: website, www.refuserssolidarity.net)
"We, Air Force pilots who were raised on
the values of Zionism, sacrifice and contributing to the state of
Israel, have always served on the front lines, willing to carry out any
mission, whether small or large, to defend and strengthen the state of
Israel.
"We, veteran and active pilots alike, who served and still serve the state of Israel for long weeks every year, are opposed to carrying out attack orders that are illegal and immoral of the type the state of Israel has been conducting in the territories.
"We, who were raised to love the state of Israel and contribute to the Zionist enterprise, refuse to take part in Air Force attacks on civilian population centers. We, for whom the Israel Defense Forces and the Air Force are an inalienable part of ourselves, refuse to continue to harm innocent civilians.
"These actions are illegal and immoral, and are a direct results of the ongoing occupation which is corrupting all of Israeli society. Perpetuation of the occupation is fatally harming the security of the state of Israel and its moral strength.
"We who serve as active pilots - fighters, leaders, and instructors of the next generation of pilots - hereby declare that we shall continue to serve in the Israel Defense Forces and the Air Force for every mission in defense of the state of Israel.
Signed: Brigadier General Yiftah Spector, Colonel Yigal Shohat, Colonel Ran, Lieuteant Colonel Yoel Piterberg, Lieutenant Colonel David Yisraeli, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Netzer, Lieutenant Colonel Avner Ra'anan, Lieutenant Colonel Gideon Shaham, Major Haggai Tamir, Major Amir Massad, Major Gideon Dror, Major David Marcus, Major Professor Motti Peri, Major Yotam, Major Zeev Reshef, Major Reuven, Captain Assaf, Captain Tomer, Captain Ron, Captain Yonatan, Captain Allon, Captain Amnon
"We, veteran and active pilots alike, who served and still serve the state of Israel for long weeks every year, are opposed to carrying out attack orders that are illegal and immoral of the type the state of Israel has been conducting in the territories.
"We, who were raised to love the state of Israel and contribute to the Zionist enterprise, refuse to take part in Air Force attacks on civilian population centers. We, for whom the Israel Defense Forces and the Air Force are an inalienable part of ourselves, refuse to continue to harm innocent civilians.
"These actions are illegal and immoral, and are a direct results of the ongoing occupation which is corrupting all of Israeli society. Perpetuation of the occupation is fatally harming the security of the state of Israel and its moral strength.
"We who serve as active pilots - fighters, leaders, and instructors of the next generation of pilots - hereby declare that we shall continue to serve in the Israel Defense Forces and the Air Force for every mission in defense of the state of Israel.
Signed: Brigadier General Yiftah Spector, Colonel Yigal Shohat, Colonel Ran, Lieuteant Colonel Yoel Piterberg, Lieutenant Colonel David Yisraeli, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Netzer, Lieutenant Colonel Avner Ra'anan, Lieutenant Colonel Gideon Shaham, Major Haggai Tamir, Major Amir Massad, Major Gideon Dror, Major David Marcus, Major Professor Motti Peri, Major Yotam, Major Zeev Reshef, Major Reuven, Captain Assaf, Captain Tomer, Captain Ron, Captain Yonatan, Captain Allon, Captain Amnon
