Speaking on Israel Radio, the boy's mother protested what she said was an unjustified and harsh punishment.
By YAAKOV LAPPINRabin 224.88(photo credit: Courtesy)
An IDF soldier was sentenced to 21 days in prison for yawning during a speech delivered by his base commander in remembrance of slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin this week.
The soldier, who serves at the Ramat David Air Force base in the North, forgot to cover his mouth while yawning, causing the base commander to halt his speech. The commander later tried the soldier over what he described as a disrespectful act during a solemn occasion.
Speaking on Israel Radio, the boy's mother protested what she said was an unjustified and harsh punishment.
"Those who get to know my son can see after five minutes that this is an ethical boy who respects those around him," she said. "I tried to explain [to his commanders] that my son would not dare do such a thing [as show disrespect during a memorial]. He grew up in a home with values and was taught to respect and value Rabin's acts... He feels an injustice has been done to him, and he's thinking to himself, all I did was yawn."
The mother said her son was concerned that Rabin's relatives would believe he had yawned deliberately, after he learned that his mother would be interviewed for the radio. She stressed that Rabin's legacy was deeply valued in her home.
"The yawn may have been rude, he could have done it another way, but you don't send someone to prison for yawning... You can punish him for it, but not make an example of him," she said.
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