Wednesday, November 12, 2008
[Background on sentencing]

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
The following are examples of IAF punishments:
- getting caught drinking on base while on call - 7 days in jail
- a soldier who beat up another soldier - 14 days in jail
- running away from base for two months - 21 days in jail
- yawning at Rabin memorial service - 21 days in jail ]

IDF soldier jailed for yawning during Rabin memorial service
By Haaretz Service Last update - 14:11 12/11/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1036747.html

The Israel Defense Forces has sentenced a soldier to 21 days in jail for
yawning during a recent memorial service for assassinated prime minister
Yitzhak Rabin.

The soldier yawned while the commander of the Ramat David Israel Air Force
base was delivering a speech on last week's memorial day for Rabin. The
senior officer paused for a few minutes after the yawn, which was allegedly
long and loud.

The soldier was consequently tried on account of his "disrespectful act" by
the army and was sentenced to 21 days in military prison. The IDF
Spokesperson's Unit said that he is able to request a pardon, which will be
considered according to military regulations.

The soldier's mother told Israel Radio that her son was not disrespectful,
but tired. She said that her son deserves to be punished for inappropriate
behavior, but the verdict is disproportionately harsh.

She said that her son was raised upon Rabin's legacy, and that yawning is
known to be an uncontrollable physical act.