Brainwashed?

Was the IDF brainwashed into carrying out the Disengagement in the summer of 2005? Two years ago a complaint was filed with both the Ethics Committee of the Israel Board of Psychologists and the Health Ministry against a team of psychologists for “using their psychological and hypnotic skills” to facilitate the efficiency of the army in carrying out the mission.

The complaint was filed by clinical psychologist Dr. Amira Dor following the release of a 200-plus page study entitled “The Mental Preparation for the Disengagement and its Aftermath in the IDF.” The study prepared by a grassroots team of psychologists and educators including Dr. Dor uncovered thousands of pages of “mental preparations” and political briefings and details the systematic manner in which the army was transformed from a protective fighting force against an outside enemy into a force that could dismantle part of its own country. The team also interviewed soldiers who took part in the preparations and the Disengagement and studied documentary and preparation films prepared for the soldiers.

Dr. Dor’s letter to the Ethics Board and the Health Ministry stated that two  psychologists Dr. Haim Omer of Tel Aviv University and Nachi Alon of the School of Buddhist Psychology in Tel Aviv “trained the officers and psychologists of the army and police and taught them various techniques of emotional manipulation instilling ideas and massive influence upon the soldiers’ behavior opinions and emotions. The purpose of the training was to nullify the soldiers’ instinctive opposition to the expulsion and to bring them to the point of obedience to any command that would be given.

“The behavior of these two psychologists stands in clear opposition to the principles of the psychologists’ ethical code” Dr. Dor wrote.