Edited for brevity.
A group of 27 active reserve duty pilots and retired pilots have sent a letter to Air Force Chief, Major General Dan Halutz, declaring that they refuse to participate in operations against Palestinians in the territories. "We, veteran pilots and active pilots alike, who have served and who continue to serve the state of Israel for many weeks every year, are opposed to carrying out illegal and immoral attack orders, of the type carried out by Israel in the territories," the group wrote. "We, who have been educated to love the state of Israel and to contribute to the Zionist endeavour, refuse to take part in Air Force attacks in civilian population centers." The group was referring to Israel’s policy of targeted killings of Palestinian militants in the territories. Dozens of civilians have been killed in these strikes, which began a few months after the intifada erupted in late September 2000. |