Two IDF soldiers dismissed for right-wing Facebook protests

Ben Sales

(JTA) — The Israel Defense Forces dismissed two soldiers after finding that they had posted a Facebook post vowing to refuse orders to evacuate settlements.

The incident comes days after the IDF evacuation of portions of three illegal West Bank outposts. The post was a photo of a piece of paper with Hebrew writing that said “A real border policeman doesn’t evacuate Jews!,” according to the Israeli 0404 news website. Haaretz reported that the post went viral among soldiers, including those not serving in the West Bank.

The two soldiers in question were not posted in the West Bank at the time of the incident.

The protest also comes two weeks after dozens of IDF soldiers posted anonymously on Facebook protesting the suspension of a soldier from the Nahal Brigade who threatened a Palestinian youth with a rifle. Those posts featured IDF soldiers holding pieces of paper over their faces reading, “I am also with David from Nahal,” the soldier’s first name.

“Facebook is not a command tool,” said IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, according to Haaretz. “It’s not an alternative or even a parallel channel for dialogue between commanders and their soldiers.”

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