IDF soldiers to West Bank children: ‘We are the army, be careful if we see you’

Haggai Matar By Haggai Matar June 1, 2013 | Edit

IDF soldiers posted leaflets in the West Bank village of Qadum warning children to refrain from attending demonstrations. The leaflet, photographed yesterday at the weekly protest in the village by activist Lior Ben-Eliyahu (the children’s eyes have been hidden by +972), show photographs of four children from the village, probably taken by soldiers at previous demonstrations. The message reads: “We are the army. Be careful if we see you, we’re going to catch you or come to your house.”

"We'll come to your house". Leaflets in Qadum (Lior Ben Eliahu)
“We’ll come to your house.” Leaflets in Qadum (Lior Ben Eliahu)

This is most likely a private initiative by soldiers serving in the village. Just recently Ma’ariv published an extensive story (Hebrew) about soldiers who feel their hands are tied by army regulations when it comes to the dispersal of demonstrations in Qadum. The story was followed up by a campaign, led in part by Ma’ariv and Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party, to loosen regulations, allowing a lighter finger on the trigger. According to Haaretz’s Chaim Levinson, the campaign is part of settlers’ efforts to get rid of Brig. General Nitzan Alon, mainly for political reasons.

Haggai Matar

Haggai Matar is an award-winning Israeli journalist and political activist, in addition to serving as the executive director of “972 – Advancement of Citizen Journalism,” the nonprofit that publishes +972 Magazine.

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