Monday Nov 17, 2008
Army Life: A moral army
Posted by A.J.
Comments: 25
Comments: 25
When armies begin to train combat soldiers, the main focus is on providing them with the skills necessary to fight the enemy. Soldiers are taught to shoot, run in formation, and treat wounded comrades. In this respect, the IDF is no different than any other army in the world. What separates this army from the rest is the moral emphasis placed on our training.
During my three months in the army, I have sat in multiple classes dealing with the humanitarian and moral aspects of military service. The IDF teaches its soldiers that there are certain orders that must be refused. Needlessly causing lasting physical harm to civilians is one such example. "Just following orders" is an unacceptable answer here.
My platoon commander shared with us some of his own experiences when it comes to dealing with civilians. As a commander of a checkpoint near the Palestinian town of Kalkilya, he was faced with the situation where a pregnant woman and her family arrived at the checkpoint demanding that she be taken to an Israeli hospital to give birth. None of the civilians had the proper permits to pass through the checkpoint. The platoon commander asked us what we would have done. After the lively discussion that ensued, he told us that he called for an Israeli ambulance to take the woman to an Israeli hospital while restricting the passage of the rest of her family.
The moral dilemmas that the IDF and its soldiers are faced with on a daily basis have no easy answers. The reality that we live in is complicated and is often far from being black and white. The IDF's primary mission is to defend the country and its citizens, and it strives to do so in the most professional, moral and humane way possible.
Two weeks ago, I witnessed a Muslim construction worker kneeling in prayer inside a base in plain sight of the brigade headquarters. I doubt that he would have felt as comfortable if the base was run by the Marines.
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1 | Yael Fitzpatrick, Ireland, Monday Nov 17, 2008
Hi AJ,
I have been reading with interest your entries so far. Regarding the moral dilemma of allowing a pregnant woman to travel to hospital, I would ask for your views on the moral dilemma of requiring her to go through the checkpoint at all. Surely an ambulance, as required by international law, should have automatic right to transport her to the nearest hospital without having to rely on the conscience of a solider, who could refuse.
I hope you will answer becasue it is rare to get a calm chance to talk directly with a serving soldier.
Yours,
Y.F.
2 | cordier france, Monday Nov 17, 2008
There is a time for war and a time for peace. These "classes" of "morality" are propaganda tools of leftists and a lost of time. Cause of the leftist's "morality" palestinians can bomb easily Israel with feeble response (cause qassam are launched from civilians locations), a morality which put in danger your wife and your children and your life to protect wifes and children of a terrorist is not moral, it is folly. You have to defend your children, your wife and your life FIRST even if you have to kill friends of terrorist. Soon some children in Sderot or in Achkelon will be killed by qassam.
3 | John, Monday Nov 17, 2008
AJ, it is ludicrous to imply that the IDF is a ''moral'' army, such thing doesn't exist, except if murder is part of your set of values. These moral dilemmas you talk about should not exist, as the previous commenter said, ambulances should not be stopped at checkpoints. The IDF put itself in an occupying situation, and therefore, its intrinsic purpose is inherently immoral, and bound to produce tough moral dilemmas. Moreover, your example has so many counter-examples, that it is irreleant
4 | Nicolas K., Monday Nov 17, 2008
Yael, I understand that this seems backwards. It is. Its backwards because we are required to check pregnant women when women have, in the past, used pregnancy to hide the bomb belts that are really under their clothing. It is backwards because of the terrorists who have hidden in ambulances and vehicles marked 'UN'. These are the people who have caused a situation that shouldn't be.
5 | Israeli, out there, Monday Nov 17, 2008
Dear Yael
Ambulanses are used by palestinians to transport weapons explosives and terrorists. Should we allow them to pass automatically? How would the dead and crippled Israelis from an attack enabled by such ambulance transports would look from a moral point of view? Maybe you say that its a price worth paying for the principle of automatic passage for ambulances? I am sure that the clause in international law discussing passage rights for ambulances forbids them from transporting weapons, fighters and such. Again - the Palestinians violate this!
6 | Shmuel, Israel, Monday Nov 17, 2008
Yael,
There have been several documented instances of fake pregnant women carrying bombs under their clothes instead of a baby. Sad, but true. Imagine if that pregnant woman had a bomb there? And imagine if she had gotten through and blown someone up?
7 | Yael, Ireland, Monday Nov 17, 2008
Dear all,
In a report submitted to the UN by several agencies, including the World Health Organisation, 61 Palestinian women were forced against their will to give birth at a checkpoint. It states that 36 infants died as a direct effect of Israeli obstruction at checkpoints. How can this improve the prospects for peace? If an Israeli was forced to give birth at the side of the road in Ireland how would you feel?
As for the idea they may be carrying bombs, the vast majority of checkpoints are not between Israel and the oPT but between different areas in the west bank itself. If Israel wanted to have proper full checkpoints at its own borders this would be entirely logical and proper. Having them between Palestinian towns is not.
Yael
PS Great to have a civilised discussion about these issues.
8 | hmburg, Monday Nov 17, 2008
That such questions both are encouraged and asked is the key to the morality of this special Jewish army and its overall conduct. However, this meritorious approach must be supported by a Command that ultimately, if not in the first instance, permits the independent review such conduct and/or claims and, when there is a determination made that the conduct was unacceptable, or criminal, , the soldier is punished. Without enforcement, and due process for the accused, an army's claim to be moral cannot carry much weight.
9 | Derek, St. Louis, MO, Monday Nov 17, 2008
AJ, thank you for writing these entries for us, and this one in particular. Though some (as above) might disagree, I think you are very helpfully providing a glimpse into a complex organization, about which people have polarized views. I am a member of a fraternity, which leads to many difficult situations in which I try to explain to non-initiates just how much of an influence our organization has had on my moral life. Obviously I lack understanding of the inner workings of the IDF, but I hope I appreciate the difficulty of explaining it. I thank you, especially since I plan to enlist.
10 | Louis the scooterer, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
In my humble opinion, topics like this should be left to experienced writers and columnists who have the wherewithal to research specific subjects. A young soldier who is in IDF should learn and listen well, and should concentrate on the learning procedures of the military. Many young people enter the military with little "worldly experience" and after finishing their training..enter the real world as intelligent young women and men.Please keep on telling us about experiences you gain something from in your training.Do some army units teach young soldiers "how to drive" all types of vehicles?
11 | Shlomo Toren, Israel, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Dear Yael
I have a friend who was at a checkpoint that stopped a PA ambulance with a terrorist with a bomb belt. Far from a single case, there have been several occassions where ambulances have been used to transport terrorists (although as a rule, almost most ambulances are legitimate). Unfortunately the exceptional cases cause suffering for everyone and especially can be tragic in emergencies eg. in high risk child births. The rationale of placing checkpoints around cities like Nablus is to prevent easy access bomb manufacturing shops and the villages closer to Israeli cities.
12 | Yael, Ireland, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Hi all, Pregnant Palestinian women are given permits that last 2 days, so the usual outcome is a woman in labour approaching a checkpoint with no correct permit. If the problem were bombs the previous 9 months could be used to establish who is not a potential threat and inform the soldiers.
Also if you want to prevent everyone without the legal right to do so from entering Israel, fine, its your country. But most checkpoints are between Palestinian areas, and have nothing to do with protecting Israel. They are there to protect settlements, most of which are illegal even under Israeli law.
13 | Mordechai, Israel, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Yael speaks of the women who gave birth at checkpoints, but not of the thousands who are treated every year at Israeli hospitals (about 7,000/yr according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), or of the patients admitted to Israel from Jordan and other Arab countries. It comes down to balancing humanitarian vs. security concerns.
For more information see: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Law/Legal+Issues+and+Rulings/Palestinian+Misuse+of+Medical+Services+and+Ambulances+for+Terrorist+Activities+13-Oct-2004.htm
14 | Saul, Norfolk, VA, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Yael
Just to let you know, I have seem many muslims pray inside US military bases, and even a few ships in many different parts of the world. I know some will argue with me on the amount but the point is US military does go through moral-ethical training too. (with regards to how much it taught in both militaries is up for discussion).
15 | Yael, Ireland, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Yes Mordechai but why? Palestinian medical services are continually destroyed. Hospitals are raided, using grenades and tear gas. In the last 7 years 21 Palestinian on duty medical staff have been shoot dead by the IDF. Medical staff have to complete impossibly complicated procedures daily just to get to work. They are separated from patients by permits, checkpoints, and walls which deny access to their own health care services. Palestinian hospitals may even have to pay Israeli tax- Israeli hospitals do not. Again, this is not in Israel, this is Palestinian areas.
16 | Mordechai, Israel, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
Yael writes, "They are there to protect settlements, most of which are illegal even under Israeli law.
"
1) Please provide the citation for your claim that most settlements are illegal under Israeli law.
2) If, as you claim, "most" are illegal, than "some" are. Is it your position that civilians living in disputed areas are not to be protected from attack?
17 | Yael, Ireland, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
According to Btselm, the Israeli NGO, the settlements that are illegal under Israeli law numbered 100 at the end of 2007. Since then there has been an increase. I mentioned some are illegal under Israeli law; they are of course all illegal under international law, and in the eyes the UN, International Court of Justice, the EU. Even the US opposes building them. Based on the Israeli government database 38.8 percent of Israeli settlements are built on private Palestinian land. All are built outside Israel. I dont condone any illegal actions under international law-killing or theft.
18 | Yael, Tuesday Nov 18, 2008
By the way, Saul, are you in the army as well?
19 | John, Wednesday Nov 19, 2008
The basic fact to consider is that the West Bank is not a ''disputed territory'', it is an occupied territory, since 1967. Therefore, it is evident that the IDF doesn't have a legal right to stay there, especially if it is to allow a slow and sneaky settlement process, which is stricly forbidden by international law. The checkpoints are inherently immoral as they effectively starve the Palestinian economy, and doesn't allow freedom of movement, which causes humanitarian crises.
20 | Mordechai, Israel, Wednesday Nov 19, 2008
John - Please see the article published in today's Jpost. It is written by a professor of international law at Purdue University, and explains from a legal perspective why the territories cannot be considered "occupied".
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1226404769705&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
21 | Yael, Ireland, Wednesday Nov 19, 2008
A professor says it is not occupied, these people say it is:
US State Department: www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100597.htm
UN, EU, International Criminal Court, Red Cross, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch
.
22 | tjm308 USA, Thursday Nov 20, 2008
Marines? I work one of the largest Marine bases in the US. Also, I served with the US Army in 2 wars and a NATO Peace Keeping add to that my time as a contractor and I have 90 months 7 and half years of being in combat OR hazardous duty areas. Ive worked with Turkish, Russian, Egyptian, Afghan, and many more, militaries. The basic soldier is NOT evil and is willing to be compassionate. Ill bet my next pay check 99% of the people making comments saying otherwise have NO military experience. Fyi Islamic services (Jumah) at Quantico USMC are on Friday at noon, building 3019.
23 | Gus USA, Friday Nov 21, 2008
the west bank is disputed territory. The stupid line that they drew ran through areas that effect Palestinians just as much as israelis. Some of the settlements that people have been forced out of were territories that were in peaceful living arrangements but because the government at the moment is stupid and doesnt know how to handle the situation.
And I agree with tjm308, the basic soldier is not evil. They think they are serving their country and being patriotic. Military functions very differently then how it is perceived by the public and the media.
24 | Former IDFer, Saturday Nov 22, 2008
I agree with Louis. A new recruit should obey orders, period. After A.J. has put in his own time on check-point duty, done some kav in a truly hostile part of West Bank, got his hands dirty a bit, and then released from the army - then he can give his opinion in a public media outlet. Soldiers should not have an opinion, or make sweeping statements about morality in the IDF, especially those still in training. Im surprised the IDF is letting a serving soldier write for the newspaper, as it is. Not too long ago it would have been a definite no-no.
25 | DanB., Monday Nov 24, 2008
Morality, legality, how about a little history? The West Bank of what? Some of the land between the armistice line of 1948 and the Jordan River had been previously designated by the UN for the Palestinian Arabs. In 1950 it was illegally annexed by Jordan. This was recognized officially only by Great Britain and Pakistan. In June of 1967 Jordan opened fire, joining Egypt and Syria in war against Israel. In responding, the territories of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) came under Israeli control. In 1968 Israel was ready to return it only to be greeted by the three "nos" of the Arab League.
About this blog Army Life
A.J. made aliyah with his family in 2003 at the age of 15. After two years of study at a pre-army yeshiva , he joined the IDF's Armored Corp in August 2008. He writes about his day to day experiences as a soldier, and his observations about life in the army.
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