Professor Disproves Claim that IDF Diminishes Soldiers'

Maayana Miskin

Professor Noach Milgram, head of the masters program in psychology at the Ariel University Center, has conducted a study that disproves a claim put forth by some academics that Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria is detrimental to the soldiers' moral fiber. In a study conducted among six groups of soldiers and 10 groups of civilians, Professor Milgram found that living in or performing IDF service in Judea and Samaria did not lead to hostility towards Palestinian Authority Arabs or a willingness to mistreat them.While it may seem natural that those most affected by the conflict would seek revenge, that is not the case, Professor Milgram said. Instead, even those most affected by PA attacks on Israel were no more likely to turn to violence against Arabs or avoid reconciliation than the general population, he said.