From The Observer:
In the words of one soldier: ‘The truth? When there is chaos, I like it. That’s when I enjoy it. It’s like a drug. If I don’t go into Rafah, and if there isn’t some kind of riot once in some weeks, I go nuts.’
Another explained: ‘The most important thing is that it removes the burden of the law from you. You feel that you are the law. You are the law. You are the one who decides… As though from the moment you leave the place that is called Eretz Yisrael [the Land of Israel] and go through the Erez checkpoint into the Gaza Strip, you are the law. You are God.’
The soldiers described dozens of incidents of extreme violence. One recalled an incident when a Palestinian was shot for no reason and left on the street. ‘We were in a weapons carrier when this guy, around 25, passed by in the street and, just like that, for no reason – he didn’t throw a stone, did nothing – bang, a bullet in the stomach, he shot him in the stomach and the guy is dying on the pavement and we keep going, apathetic. No one gave him a second look,’ he said.
The soldiers developed a mentality in which they would use physical violence to deter Palestinians from abusing them. One described beating women. ‘With women I have no problem. With women, one threw a clog at me and I kicked her here [pointing to the crotch], I broke everything there. She can’t have children. Next time she won’t throw clogs at me. When one of them [a woman] spat at me, I gave her the rifle butt in the face. She doesn’t have what to spit with any more.’
Yishai-Karin found that the soldiers were exposed to violence against Palestinians from as early as their first weeks of basic training. On one occasion, the soldiers were escorting some arrested Palestinians. The arrested men were made to sit on the floor of the bus. They had been taken from their beds and were barely clothed, even though the temperature was below zero. The new recruits trampled on the Palestinians and then proceeded to beat them for the whole of the journey. They opened the bus windows and poured water on the arrested men.
Curtsy: Informed Consent.
I’m sorry, Ampersand, but . . .
[sarcasm on]
Israeli soldiers are violent? Even towards Palestinians, whom Israelis love and cherish? Soldiers are brutal and beat up children when they are allowed to do it and get away with it?
I’m shocked, shocked . . .
[sarcasm off]
In keeping with the above, sorry MFB, but…
[sarcasm] It’s typical for soldiers to abuse children and get away with it? Well, then, it’s ok for Israeli soldiers to do so and no one would possibly expect them to reform. After all, all the cool soldiers are doing it.[/sarcasm]
What’s wrong with trying for better than the lowest common denominator? And how are reforms that might prevent some of this abuse supposed to happen if people are so jaded that they just say “eh, happens” when they read about abusive practices?