Nothing says "democracy" like peaceful debate. Unfortunately, some Israeli officials don't seem to be big fans of democracy, as was most recently demonstrated by the Education Ministry, who've cancelled a debate scheduled at an Ashdod high school between a signatory to a September letter from 27 Israeli Air Force pilots refusing to comply with "immoral attack orders" against Palestinian residential neighbourhoods and one of his gung-ho counterparts. The Ministry said Israel's schools shouldn't be discussing the sort of opinions the pilots expressed.

Deputy Education Minister Tzvi Hendel also says they will try to make sure that writings by those who support the pilots will not be taught in public schools.

Israel's University Student Union has also come to arms, issuing a letter encouraging the boycott of 200 peace-supporting professors, whom they contend are "not worthy of imparting knowledge to anyone."

Suggesting the pilots be forced to "stand public trial," the letter says that refusing to carry out orders "eats away at the foundations of democracy."

» Scott Saxon