Israel Soldiers Breaking the Silence

They're called "Refuseniks" but not for refusing to serve. They've done it proudly and courageously, and here's how "Courage to Refuse" members state their position:

• We, reserve combat officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who were raised upon the principles of Zionism, sacrifice and giving to the people of Israel and to the State of Israel, who have always served in the front lines, and who were the first to carry out any mission, light or heavy, in order to protect the State of Israel and strengthen it.
  
• We, combat officers and soldiers who have served the State of Israel for long weeks every year, in spite of the dear cost to our personal lives, have been on reserve duty all over the Occupied Territories, and were issued commands and directives that had nothing to do with the security of our country, and that had the sole purpose of perpetuating our control over the Palestinian people. We, whose eyes have seen the bloody toll this Occupation exacts from both sides.
  
• We, who sensed how the commands issued to us in the Territories, destroy all the values we had absorbed while growing up in this country.
  
• We, who understand now that the price of Occupation is the loss of IDF’s human character and the corruption of the entire Israeli society.
  
• We, who know that the Territories are not Israel, and that all settlements are bound to be evacuated in the end.
  
• We hereby declare that we shall not continue to fight this War of the Settlements.
  
• We shall not continue to fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people.
  
• We hereby declare that we shall continue serving in the Israel Defense Forces in any mission that serves Israel’s defense.
  
• The missions of occupation and oppression do not serve this purpose – and we shall take no part in them.

These are courageous men and some women, hundreds of them. Their "Courage to Refuse - Combatant's Letter" web site lists 550 by name. There are hundreds more as well. Their numbers are growing, and their resistance is firm. Further numbers of signers are here.

In another report, 50 Israeli protesters demonstrated today in front of IDF Chief of Staff’s house in north Tel Aviv. The demonstration took place after a blast, presumably caused by Israeli artillery, resulted with the tragic death of 7 family members picnicking on Gaza beach.

The demonstration called for the halt of Israeli policy of targeted killings and preventive shelling, which is not only illegal, but also often results with the death of innocent Palestinian civilians. This policy, argued the protesters, also contributes to the escalation of the violence in the region and eventually endangers Israeli civilians. This Israeli contribution to the escalation of violence and the apparent preferring of such illegal military moves over the pre-elections promised negotiations, urged CTR to resume its activity. The movement intends to carry out further activities in order to prevent IDF’s illegal actions and save both civilians and IDF’s soldiers lives. The presence of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s daughter, Dana Olmert, attracted the Israeli media’s attention and brought the demonstration to the press’s headlines.

The Palestine land confisticated and settled by Israel since 1948.