Minister of Defense (MOD) Moshe Ya’alon said on Monday, March 21, that a left-wing group of army veterans accused of collecting and distributing abroad information about Israeli military operations “could be guilty of treason” if suspicions raised against them last week are found to be true. Ya’alon was commenting on allegations leveled against “Breaking the Silence” saying that when soldiers came to testify on rights violations, the activists tried to mine them for operational secrets. The group emphatically denied it held any state secrets.
“Breaking the Silence” activists with soldiers in front of Tel-Aviv University (Photo: Breaking the Silence)
In response, “Breaking the Silence” released the following statement: “The citizens of Israel expect their defense minister to give them and their children security and not false and pathetic political incitement.” “During a time in which terror runs wild in the streets, and citizens of Israel are being stabbed and injured on a daily basis, the Minister of Defense, Moshe (Boogie) Ya’alon, whose sole job it is to protect and maintain security, has instead chosen to lash out at soldiers and combatants, citizens of Israel – some of whom are parents with children – who oppose the occupation. ‘Breaking the Silence’ does not hold any state secrets, and Ya’alon knows that well.”
Chairman of the Joint List, MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash), accused Ya’alon of a fascistic attitude toward the group. “The witch hunt around ‘Breaking the Silence’ is another example of the fascist madness spreading across the country,” he wrote in a statement. “The prime minister and his ministers are afraid of any criticism of the occupation policy, whether it is said here or abroad. The fear of criticism drives them out of their minds and they continue to lead the hatred and incitement against more and more of the public.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked “Breaking the Silence” on Sunday, saying that “it works against IDF soldiers fighting terrorism.| Netanyahu said “The attempt to discredit the soldiers of the IDF is wrong, but the attempt to gather intelligence on them is intolerable and is being dealt with by the relevant parties.”” Netanyahu’s attempt to shut down the organization and harm soldiers and combatants who object to the occupation should worry all those concerned for Israel’s future,” said Yuli Novak executive director of “Breaking the Silence.”
