February 26, 2010
The Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust hosted an event entitled “Israeli Soldiers Speak Out: A Discussion of their Experiences and Moral Challenges During Times of War.”
The Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust hosted an event entitled “Israeli Soldiers Speak Out: A Discussion of their Experiences and Moral Challenges During Times of War.”
The event featured Staff Sergeant Avi Webber and Master Sergeant Yoav Earon of the Israel Defense Forces. Both officers described their experiences during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009. Upon entering Gaza, Webber told of his astonishment to see pieces of paper with Arabic writing on them, warning the inhabitants that the IDF would be targeting the terrorist infrastructure and smuggling tunnels. “No other army in the world would do this,” Webber remarked of the clear warning. Earon told of going house to house looking for militants and smuggling tunnels. While searching a home that was occupied by a Palestinian family, Earon’s unit received intelligence that terrorists were aiming missiles at the house, regardless of the fact that a Palestinian family was inside. “It was very frustrating to us,” said Earon, “because we pay so much attention to protecting Palestinian civilians, but the Palestinian terrorists do not even pay attention to potential civilian casualties on their own side.” The event was co-sponsored with Stand With Us.
