TEL AVIV, June 23, 2009 (WAFA)- A soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after telling his commanders he would refuse to continue participating in his unit's operations in the West Bank, the Israeli daily Haaretz said.

Israeli Army Jails Soldier who Refused to Serve in West Bank

TEL AVIV, June 23, 2009 (WAFA)- A soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after telling his commanders he would refuse to continue participating in his unit's operations in the West Bank, the Israeli daily Haaretz said.

Corporal D., 19, a combat soldier in the Haruv Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, was sentenced not for refusing to serve in the West Bank, but for refusing to perform his duties.

D. announced his refusal after taking part in a March 26 operation in the village of Kifl Hares, in the northern West Bank. The soldier, several of his friends and several Palestinians present said Palestinian prisoners were abused during the operation.

The Military Police is now investigating these events.

Two months ago, due to this event and others D. said he witnessed, D. informed his commanders, starting with his platoon commander, through his company commander and up to the battalion commander, of his decision - both verbally and in writing.

In his letter, D. described how his friends abused and hit Palestinian detainees, destroyed property and harassed Palestinians at roadblocks.

'Their weapons give them the feeling of control and power, and therefore they allow themselves to humiliate those passing through the roadblock in order to ease the boredom and pass the time,' he wrote. 'The common opinion among Haruv Battalion soldiers is that Arabs are wild animals who should be destroyed, and not people ... They have full opportunity to verbally abuse and beat bound people who cannot protect themsees,' wrote D.

He also accused officers of knowing the problem existed but not addressing it.

D., whose family immigrated from Russia, said these things reminded him of his relatives' stories about pogroms.