Pro-settlement soldier dismissed over protest

[StarfarerBill]

An Israeli soldier has been dismissed from the military for 'grave' misconduct.

He held a sign at his swearing-in ceremony saying his battalion would refuse orders to evacuate Jewish settlement outposts in the West Bank.

The dismissal came after the soldier, who has yet to be named, refused to say he would not repeat the action.

This is the first dismissal of its kind, media reports said, though other soldiers are being disciplined.

The protest was held in October 2009 at the investiture of hundreds of soldiers at the Western Wall, one of Judaism's most important religious sites.

A group of soldiers held similar banners at the event. As well as the dismissal, another soldier tried over the incident will be removed from combat service. Both soldiers were also sentenced to 30 days in military jail.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8467496.stm