In a harsh move, the IDF has expelled the soldier who held a sign opposing the use of the IDF to expel Jews from their homes, following in the footsteps of the decision to oust Har Bracha Hesder Yeshiva from the hesder network. The Shimshon soldier held a sign during a Kosel ceremony opposing the use of soldiers to remove Jews from their homes.

According to Colonel Gadi Agmon, IDF soldier Aryeh Arbus was given an opportunity to express remorse for his actions during a swearing-in ceremony at the Kosel, but he remained true to his beliefs, explaining he cannot do so, prompting the decision to oust him from the IDF. A second soldier was pulled from his combat unit and the hesder network, and will be compelled to complete a ‘regular’ 3-year military service as a regular soldier, unaffiliated with the hesder yeshiva network.

Ruchama, Aryeh’s wife, told the media that he was not thrown out because of the sign incident, but because of the hypothetical questions posed to him and of course, his response to those questions. One of the absurd questions was “if compelled to remove the residents of your own home, would you comply with such an order?”

Ruchama explains that this being the case, the leftist soldiers must be ousted from the IDF as well, telling Ynet that not only did Aryeh verbally express remorse for his actions, he did so in a letter as well, insisting the decision to oust him was “political” and not at all related to the facts. She added that he was ousted for “unacceptably bad behavior”, calling the decision absurd and unjustifiable.

This clause, of unacceptably bad behavior is generally used to oust career troublemakers, soldiers who defy military directives and simply are not capable of serving in subordinate fashion as demanded.  She added that whatever the case may be, the fact remains her husband represents a significant number of IDF soldiers and their viewpoints, and the IDF should not be used to advance political agendas.

She angrily reprimanded the committee who assaulted him with bizarre questions, as mentioned above, “depriving Aryeh of his honor and privilege of defending his country”.

“The first thing the IDF must do is to oust the leftist soldiers who signed the letters of defiance,” adding the process to which Aryeh was subjected proves the expulsion of Jews from their homes remains a high priority and soldiers will be deployed for this mission, and not to defend the Homeland as is just purpose.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)