http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1036747.html IDF soldier jailed for yawning during Rabin memorial service
By Haaretz Service
Tags: yawn, Israel News
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 by the army tried on account of his "disrespectful act" 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.
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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