Suicide is top killer of Israeli soldiers

Panther · 17 juli 2004, 12:37

Suicide is top killer of Israeli soldiers
Friday 16 July 2004, 18:12 Makka Time, 15:12 GMT

For the first time suicide has become the leading cause of death in the Israeli armed forces, according to an Israeli newspaper report.

Quoting statistics from Israeli army's rehabilitation division, the Hebrew daily Maariv said, in 2003 the number of Israeli soldiers who committed suicide was significantly higher than those killed during military incursions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A total of 43 Israeli soldiers took their own lives last year compared to 30 soldiers killed in intifada-related hostilities, said the report.

This represents a 30% increase in the number of suicides over the 2002 figure of 31.

Additionally, in 2003, 32 Israeli soldiers died of various illnesses, 27 were killed in traffic accidents or during vacation and 10 died in traffic accidents while on duty.

Nine soldiers were killed during training and practice exercises and in course of military operations. A further eight soldiers died due to other reasons.

This year's suicide figure is just as disturbing. The newspaper said 15 Israeli soldiers had killed themselves in the first six months of 2004.

Army reaction

Embarrassed by the report, the Israeli Ministry of Defence refused to comment on its content. A spokesperson said she "knew nothing of the report", adding the ministry "had nothing to do with it".

Occupation duties have often left
soldiers psychologically scarred

The publication of the Maariv report appears to have taken the Israeli military by surprise. An army spokesman said the fatality figures might have been leaked by unauthorised sources within the army or the Ministry of Defence.

He said the army was deliberating about the revelations.

The Israeli army denies any connection between army "excesses" in the occupied territories and the phenomenon of suicides among soldiers.

Army sources routinely cite more mundane reasons such as emotional crises, bullying and persecution by superiors and psychological depression.

However, it is widely believed a significant number of the suicide cases are connected to soldiers' traumatic experiences in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

'Terrible burden'

An Israeli peace activist, who spoke to Aljazeera.net on condition of anonymity, said she believed many of the soldiers who went on to take their own lives, simply could not live with the moral burden of causing avoidable and unjustified deaths in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli peace activist

"They are ordered to do things that go against their moral values … and when they do – because, after all, a good soldier is one who obeys orders, not one who thinks - they are left with this terrible burden which evolves into depression and eventually leads to suicide."

Last month, a number of former conscripts who had just finished their army service in the southern West Bank town of Hebron, described vividly the manner in which they mistreated and humiliated Palestinian civilians.

The group set up a photo exhibition opposite the Defence Ministry complex in Tel Aviv, featuring graphic pictures of ordinary Palestinians being tormented, often in a sadistic manner, by occupation soldiers.

The Israeli army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the exhibition on the grounds that it tarnished its image and undermined "the war on terror".

Refuseniks

In another incident, which took place earlier this week, an army reserve soldier joined the small but growing list of so-called refuseniks opposed to the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a letter to his local recruitment officer explaining his reasons for disobeying orders to join his unit in the West Bank, Chaim Feldman accused the Israeli army of committing manifestly criminal acts against innocent Palestinians.

"My letter to you is short and concise. I have no intention of wearing the uniform of this organisation known as the Israeli Defence Forces which fires artillery shells on civilian crowds, including children and old people. I see no reason why I should join this organisation."

The "conscientious objector" described the IDF as an organisation that defends "fascist settlers breaking the law and uprooting and burning olive trees".

Feldman is likely to be tried and imprisoned for disobeying orders and desertion.

Mounting toll

To be sure, a majority of Israelis regard the refuseniks and their supporters as "traitors" and "Hamas lovers".

Troops have also borne the brunt
of Palestinian resistance attacks

None the less, a growing and increasingly vocal minority of Israeli intellectuals and citizens back them, arguing that "conscientious objectors" in the armed forces represent the "the Jewish people's true moral ideal" of "not doing unto others what one wouldn't others to do unto you".

Since the outbreak of the present intifada in September 2000, the Israeli army and paramilitary Jewish settlers have killed more than 3400 Palestinians, a majority of them innocent civilians, including 640 children and minors.

Thousands of others have been injured, many of them disabled for life.

During the same period, as many as 950 Israeli soldiers, settlers and civilians have been killed by armed Palestinian fighters, including human bombers.

Aljazeera

Ze worden zelf niet goed van hun criminele activiteiten, wat moeten de Palestijnse slachtoffers dan wel niet doormaken?

Pat · 17 juli 2004, 12:40

Hetzelfde geldt voor de Palestijnse strijders, maar met één verschil: die betrekken onschuldige burgers bij hun zelfmoordactie.

PollyCorrect · 17 juli 2004, 12:44

Vreselijk. Dat toont maar weer eens aan hoe leuk de Israeli's het vinden om onder die druk te staan en hun hele idealen naar de verdommenis zien gaan.

Panther · 17 juli 2004, 12:55

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door PollyCorrect

Vreselijk. Dat toont maar weer eens aan hoe leuk de Israeli's het vinden om onder die druk te staan en hun hele idealen naar de verdommenis zien gaan.

Sommige israeli's he, dit zijn slechts tientallen. De overgrote meerderheid vindt dit zeer leuk en heeft helemaal geen problemen met het geweten.

En deze minderheid van 'refuseniks' worden verraders en hamaslovers genoemd.

tabufferkwa · 17 juli 2004, 14:13

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Panther

Suicide is top killer of Israeli soldiers
Friday 16 July 2004, 18:12 Makka Time, 15:12 GMT

Aljazeera

Als dat van Al jezevera komt moet het wel waar zijn. Volgende van Hamas als "neutrale" bron

Panther · 17 juli 2004, 14:42

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door tabufferkwa

Als dat van Al jezevera komt moet het wel waar zijn. Volgende van Hamas als "neutrale" bron

Hamas heeft hier niets mee te maken. De gegevens komen van:

Quoting statistics from Israeli army's rehabilitation division, the Hebrew daily Maariv

Embarrassed by the report, the Israeli Ministry of Defence refused to comment on its content.

The publication of the Maariv report appears to have taken the Israeli military by surprise. An army spokesman said the fatality figures might have been leaked by unauthorised sources within the army or the Ministry of Defence.

He said the army was deliberating about the revelations.

The group set up a photo exhibition opposite the Defence Ministry complex in Tel Aviv, featuring graphic pictures of ordinary Palestinians being tormented, often in a sadistic manner, by occupation soldiers.

The Israeli army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the exhibition on the grounds that it tarnished its image and undermined "the war on terror".

Aljazeera is een neutrale en correcte bron. Tegenwoordig halen zelfs veel westerse media: cnn, bbc, vtm,... informatie van Aljazeera, want ze weten dat dit juist is. Bijna altijd gaat hun informatie gepaard met ontegensprekelijke beelden.

Zelfs de Amerikanen, die tegen aljazeera zijn omdat zij alles onthult van wat zij doen, haasten zich om een interview te geven op aljazeera als zij iets gevoelig hebben gedaan: moskee bombarderen, Abu ghraib,... en iedereen komt bij aljazeera aan bod, wat ze ook te zeggen hebben: Amerikanen, Israeli's, Hamas, Al Qaeda,... echte vrijheid van meningsuiting. De Saudi's hebben zelfs ruzie met Qatar omdat het weigert Aljazeera het zwijgen op te leggen, dat dissidenten en kritiekuiters op Saudi Arabië aan bod laat.

Dus stop jij maar met zeveren en aljazeera in diskrediet te brengen.

Panther · 17 juli 2004, 14:47

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door tabufferkwa

Als dat van Al jezevera komt moet het wel waar zijn. Volgende van Hamas als "neutrale" bron

Jij haalt je info zeker van Fox News en dergelijke. Conservatieve zenders die in handen zijn van duistere figuren. Van objectiviteit blijft niets meer over, tijdens de oorlog in Irak berichtten verslaggevers, in soldatenuniform zelfs:
"WE'VE broken through Iraqi enemy lines and WE'RE allmost in Baghdad"

tabufferkwa · 17 juli 2004, 16:42

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Panther

Aljazeera is een neutrale en correcte bron. Tegenwoordig halen zelfs veel westerse media: cnn, bbc, vtm,... informatie van Aljazeera, want ze weten dat dit juist is. Bijna altijd gaat hun informatie gepaard met ontegensprekelijke beelden.

Zelfs de Amerikanen, die tegen aljazeera zijn omdat zij alles onthult van wat zij doen, haasten zich om een interview te geven op aljazeera als zij iets gevoelig hebben gedaan: moskee bombarderen, Abu ghraib,... en iedereen komt bij aljazeera aan bod, wat ze ook te zeggen hebben: Amerikanen, Israeli's, Hamas, Al Qaeda,... echte vrijheid van meningsuiting. De Saudi's hebben zelfs ruzie met Qatar omdat het weigert Aljazeera het zwijgen op te leggen, dat dissidenten en kritiekuiters op Saudi Arabië aan bod laat.

Dus stop jij maar met zeveren en aljazeera in diskrediet te brengen.

Al jezevera een neutrale bron. LOL, Nooit de vertegenwoordiger in België gehoord zeker, vanaf zijn mond opengaat is hij al in diskrediet gebracht. Het is alsof hij vertegenwoordiger is van de nieuwe Al Goebbels. En het is niet omdat zij op Saudi Arabie kritiek leveren dat zij daarom neutraal zijn. Die logica moet ge toch eens trachten uit te leggen.

tabufferkwa · 17 juli 2004, 16:48

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Panther

Jij haalt je info zeker van Fox News en dergelijke. Conservatieve zenders die in handen zijn van duistere figuren. Van objectiviteit blijft niets meer over, tijdens de oorlog in Irak berichtten verslaggevers, in soldatenuniform zelfs:
"WE'VE broken through Iraqi enemy lines and WE'RE allmost in Baghdad"

Dezen kwam ook op Al jezevera met het juiste nieuws

"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!"

de rest van Bagdad bob Al jezevera te vinden op:
http://www.theiraqiinformationminist...sue1/index.htm

En in de handen van nog groter duistere figuren is Al jezevera dan ?

amedee · 18 juli 2004, 13:18

Citaat:

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door tabufferkwa

Dezen kwam ook op Al jezevera met het juiste nieuws

"There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!"

de rest van Bagdad bob Al jezevera te vinden op:
http://www.theiraqiinformationminist...sue1/index.htm

En in de handen van nog groter duistere figuren is Al jezevera dan ?

Die man vond ik eerder lief. Wat wou je dat ie deed? Zijn soldaten moed inspreken door te verkondigen dat ze zo goed als verloren zijn? Een soldaat die hoort dat ze aan het winnen zijn, doet extra zijn best om toch nog alles te geven om zijn land te verdedigen.
Vanuit het standpunt van de Irakezen kon ik dit best begrijpen.
Het was best grappig, ok... maar toch had ik een grote sympathie voor hem...
In ieder geval een 100x grotere sympathie dan voor bush zijn rattenkop.
De schijnvertoningen van de woordvoerders van het Amerikaanse leger begint nu trouwens ook lachwekkende vormen aan te nemen.

17 juli 2004, 12:37	#1
Panther Partijlid Geregistreerd: 11 april 2004 Berichten: 239	Suicide is top killer of Israeli soldiers Suicide is top killer of Israeli soldiers Friday 16 July 2004, 18:12 Makka Time, 15:12 GMT For the first time suicide has become the leading cause of death in the Israeli armed forces, according to an Israeli newspaper report. Quoting statistics from Israeli army's rehabilitation division, the Hebrew daily Maariv said, in 2003 the number of Israeli soldiers who committed suicide was significantly higher than those killed during military incursions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A total of 43 Israeli soldiers took their own lives last year compared to 30 soldiers killed in intifada-related hostilities, said the report. This represents a 30% increase in the number of suicides over the 2002 figure of 31. Additionally, in 2003, 32 Israeli soldiers died of various illnesses, 27 were killed in traffic accidents or during vacation and 10 died in traffic accidents while on duty. Nine soldiers were killed during training and practice exercises and in course of military operations. A further eight soldiers died due to other reasons. This year's suicide figure is just as disturbing. The newspaper said 15 Israeli soldiers had killed themselves in the first six months of 2004. Army reaction Embarrassed by the report, the Israeli Ministry of Defence refused to comment on its content. A spokesperson said she "knew nothing of the report", adding the ministry "had nothing to do with it". Occupation duties have often left soldiers psychologically scarred The publication of the Maariv report appears to have taken the Israeli military by surprise. An army spokesman said the fatality figures might have been leaked by unauthorised sources within the army or the Ministry of Defence. He said the army was deliberating about the revelations. The Israeli army denies any connection between army "excesses" in the occupied territories and the phenomenon of suicides among soldiers. Army sources routinely cite more mundane reasons such as emotional crises, bullying and persecution by superiors and psychological depression. However, it is widely believed a significant number of the suicide cases are connected to soldiers' traumatic experiences in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 'Terrible burden' An Israeli peace activist, who spoke to Aljazeera.net on condition of anonymity, said she believed many of the soldiers who went on to take their own lives, simply could not live with the moral burden of causing avoidable and unjustified deaths in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli peace activist "They are ordered to do things that go against their moral values … and when they do – because, after all, a good soldier is one who obeys orders, not one who thinks - they are left with this terrible burden which evolves into depression and eventually leads to suicide." Last month, a number of former conscripts who had just finished their army service in the southern West Bank town of Hebron, described vividly the manner in which they mistreated and humiliated Palestinian civilians. The group set up a photo exhibition opposite the Defence Ministry complex in Tel Aviv, featuring graphic pictures of ordinary Palestinians being tormented, often in a sadistic manner, by occupation soldiers. The Israeli army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the exhibition on the grounds that it tarnished its image and undermined "the war on terror". Refuseniks In another incident, which took place earlier this week, an army reserve soldier joined the small but growing list of so-called refuseniks opposed to the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In a letter to his local recruitment officer explaining his reasons for disobeying orders to join his unit in the West Bank, Chaim Feldman accused the Israeli army of committing manifestly criminal acts against innocent Palestinians. "My letter to you is short and concise. I have no intention of wearing the uniform of this organisation known as the Israeli Defence Forces which fires artillery shells on civilian crowds, including children and old people. I see no reason why I should join this organisation." The "conscientious objector" described the IDF as an organisation that defends "fascist settlers breaking the law and uprooting and burning olive trees". Feldman is likely to be tried and imprisoned for disobeying orders and desertion. Mounting toll To be sure, a majority of Israelis regard the refuseniks and their supporters as "traitors" and "Hamas lovers". Troops have also borne the brunt of Palestinian resistance attacks None the less, a growing and increasingly vocal minority of Israeli intellectuals and citizens back them, arguing that "conscientious objectors" in the armed forces represent the "the Jewish people's true moral ideal" of "not doing unto others what one wouldn't others to do unto you". Since the outbreak of the present intifada in September 2000, the Israeli army and paramilitary Jewish settlers have killed more than 3400 Palestinians, a majority of them innocent civilians, including 640 children and minors. Thousands of others have been injured, many of them disabled for life. During the same period, as many as 950 Israeli soldiers, settlers and civilians have been killed by armed Palestinian fighters, including human bombers. Aljazeera Ze worden zelf niet goed van hun criminele activiteiten, wat moeten de Palestijnse slachtoffers dan wel niet doormaken?

17 juli 2004, 12:40	#2
Pat Parlementslid Geregistreerd: 8 februari 2003 Locatie: Bananenkoninkrijk Berichten: 1.879	Hetzelfde geldt voor de Palestijnse strijders, maar met één verschil: die betrekken onschuldige burgers bij hun zelfmoordactie. __________________ http://faithfreedom.org

17 juli 2004, 12:44	#3
PollyCorrect Perm. Vertegenwoordiger VN Geregistreerd: 11 april 2004 Berichten: 11.718	Vreselijk. Dat toont maar weer eens aan hoe leuk de Israeli's het vinden om onder die druk te staan en hun hele idealen naar de verdommenis zien gaan. __________________ Ook zo blij dat 2010 het Europees Jaar van de Strijd tegen de Armoede en de Sociale Uitsluiting was?