The IDF Southern Command and the IDF Operations Branch are at this time formulating special orders for opening fire for the settlement evacuation process in the Gaza Strip and Samaria. The new orders relate to the possibility that it will be necessary to open fire at Jewish demonstrators carrying weapons, Yedioth Ahronoth has learned.

A senior officer involved in formulating the new orders said these orders would be more stringent than those in place today and that troops would not be able to shoot at Jews in order to kill, even if these Jews are the first to fire at the soldiers. “If our soldiers have to fire in response, this will be done cautiously and only after receiving the necessary approval from the highest levels,” the officer said. He said that permission to open fire would only be given by senior commanders, and no matter what, not to kill, only to silence the sources of fire. One situation that the IDF is discussing is how to act against those who open fire at troops and then flee. In contrast to a Palestinian, for whom orders make it possible to open fire at him and kill him, in the case of a Jew, the troops will be forbidden to fire in order to kill and the order to the troops is to do everything possible to neutralize the shooter without using live fire.

The new orders for opening fire relate to the first circle of evacuation, where the closest contact with settlers and their supporters from the Right who manage to reach the evacuation areas will take place. After the orders are formulated, they are expected to receive the approval of Director of the IDF General Staff’s Operations Division Brig. Gen. Gadi Shamni and then the approval of Head of Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Yisrael Ziv. [.]

Along with the rules of opening fire, the IDF is also formulating a list of rules of conduct for the soldiers who carry out the evacuation. The Ground Forces headquarters has composed a list of orders for soldiers who physically have to enter the houses of the settlements that are evacuated. Among other things, the soldiers cannot use the furniture in the house to rest, they cannot play in the yards of the houses or use public facilities in the settlements, go through personal items, watch television or use the phone. On the other hand, it was decided that soldiers are allowed to burst through locked doors, move items carefully and to untie the evacuee, if he has tied himself to any object in the house.

The plan presented by the head of the training department in the Ground Forces, Col. Ofer Segal, proposes that soldiers take lessons in which they get to know the area where they will be operating, its history and the various aspects of the settlers. “We explain to the soldiers that not all the evacuees are extremists-just the opposite-a large portion of them will leave voluntarily and will not resist, and we must act accordingly,” said Col. Segal. “The goal is have the soldiers internalize the fact that this is a special task which requires different behavior from that used in the usual military tasks. We have them face these dilemmas and deal with them, so that on the ground, this will not be the first time they encounter these dilemmas.”

Commander of the Southern Command training bases Col. Erez Katz said that before disengagement, the commanders will hold meetings with the settlers “over a cup of coffee and talk with them, so that during evacuation, it will be easier for both sides.”

This article ran in Yediot Aharonot on May 10th, 2005

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