Call for Israeli army Gaza revolt

Soldiers are due to implement the Gaza withdrawal plan in July

A number of Israeli right-wing and Jewish leaders have urged soldiers to refuse to carry out orders in an attempt to thwart the Gaza pullout.

Signatories published a document calling on conscripts, career soldiers, and reservists not to return to duties after the Passover holiday in May.

All Jewish settlers are to be forced to leave Gaza between July and August.

The most prominent figure calling on the soldiers to refuse duties is the former chief rabbi Avraham Shapira.

Received a reserve duty call-up order for after the Passover holiday? Received a conscription order for enlisted duty soon? Then you got an order for destruction and evacuation Call to protest issued by religious and right-wing groups

The Yesha Council rabbis, the far-right Women in Green organisation, and Noam Livnat, brother of Likud Education Minister Limor Livnat, who leads the anti-pullout Homat Magen [Defensive Shield] organisation, also signed the document.

However, the head of the right-wing National Religious Party, which also opposes the Gaza pullout, has criticised the call to protest.

Zevulun Orlev said his party did not believe in calling on soldiers to refuse military orders.

Passover protest

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper has suggested that Israeli forces may close off the Gaza Strip before Passover to head off attempts by thousands of disengagement opponents to reach the settlements in order to foil efforts to evacuate them.

The contents of the call to protest were broadcast by Israel public radio.

It says: "From Passover on, we are all mobilised for the defence of Gush Katif [a large settlement block in Gaza]."

Addressing soldiers directly, the document asks: "Received a reserve duty call-up order for after the Passover holiday? Received a conscription order for enlisted duty soon? Then you got an order for destruction and evacuation."

Starting on 20 July, Israel is planning to pull all of more than 7,000 settlers from Gaza and the troops that protect them, as part of a disengagement plan. Israel will maintain control of Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace.

Four West Bank settlements are also scheduled to be evacuated.