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Subject:
An Interview With the Israeli Brigade Commander of the Givati Brigade
swhitebull
5/21/2004 10:35:42 AM
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Bottom line - "We have different values than the Palestinians":
link
Givati commander: The Palestinians have different values than we do
Colonel Eyal Eisenberg tells soldiers experiences under fire and Palestinian hatred.
Amir Buhbut
Soldiers in the Givati Brigade will long remember last week when they suddenly lost six comrades when their armored personal carrier exploded. Their efforts, under fire, to recover the widely scattered remains of the fallen put them on the public agenda and raised questions about the ethics of the operation.
Colonel Eyal Eisenberg, who has commanded the Givati Brigade for ten months, was in the rear command headquarters, outside of the Gaza Strip, when the APC exploded in Gaza City?s Zeitoun neighborhood. He immediately hurried to the scene and directly commanded the complex and dangerous search for the soldiers? remains, so that they could be brought to burial in Israel. Between meetings and updates on the situation, Eisenberg told Ma?ariv Online about the considerations behind the operation, the Palestinians? hatred and the difficulties faced by soldiers under fire.
It was a difficult week for you.
?Yes, but this profession is always difficult. The public does not know everything. The public expects only success. Until now, we have met that expectation but what can we do? People get killed in this profession. We had a difficult week but I believe that we will overcome this, too?.
You have been the brigade commander for 10 months, after 23 years in the army. Could you say that last week was the most difficult week you have experienced since you have been in the army or were there more difficult moments?
?No, definitely not. You need to keep things in proportion. In 2002, the State of Israel lost more than 100 citizens in 17 terrorist attacks in a single month?.
I am asking about your personal level. How do you feel?
?On the personal level, this is not an easy period. I have been a company commander and a battalion commander. There are encounters with the enemy and comrades are killed. This is not the first time that I have experienced this reality?.
Gaza Division commander Brigadier General Shmuel Zakkai said at the installation of the new northern brigade commander, that loneliness, making decisions alone, is the hardest part of the job. Where there moments of loneliness during the operation to recover the soldiers? remains?
?Now when I sit and ask myself if I should have done it differently, I think not. I made my decision intuitively, based on my understanding that it was the only option. That is what I was educated to do. These are the values I grew up with. You don?t leave a comrade on the battle field?.
There differing opinions in the Israel public. Some supported the operation but others opposed it because of the risk to the life of the soldiers who were searching for remains under fire.
?During the last few years, the IDF has had to examine its values several times. The strength of the brigade, and certainly of the soldiers, comes from their confidence that the commanders who sent them into battle are the same ones who will bring them back again, no matter what, even if it costs their life?.
During the search, you met Palestinian civilians who knew what you were looking. Were they all hostile or did you encounter any glimmers of understanding?
?I do not expect understanding from them. Let?s put things on the table. I have no expectations from the Palestinians. Their scale of values and mine are different.
Did a Palestinian ever approach you and show you where there were remains of a soldier?
?No, definitely not. It was a combat situation, under fire. Soldiers were injured but in the end, we brought our soldiers home. I haven?t told this to anyone but in the midst of this operation, we assisted a baby being born and evacuated an elderly woman who was injured and summoned a local ambulance for her. Terrorists ran and fired from behind the ambulance. Therefore, I do not want to make any comparison between our scale of values and theirs.
?If my soldiers can assist a Palestinian woman giving birth when six of their comrades have been blown to bits in the street but, at the same time, they fire at us from behind an ambulance, you must understand that we are at opposite ends of the scales of values. They are at the very bottom?.
Do all the weapons and explosives come through the tunnels?
I can?t tell you with certainty what comes from where but I think that a good portion does come through the tunnels?.
Eyal, what should I wish you?
Don?t wish me anything. Wish that the Givati Brigade continue as it is, doing a good job. Wish the Israeli people a little satisfaction. I wish that the Israeli people had the unity and patience that my brigade has?.
(2004-05-18 00:12:43.0)
swhitebull - and THAT's the difference. Too damn bad the rest of the world doesnt see it this way |
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