IDF orders probe of human rights violations in Gaza War

Let's hope it is a real investigation, and that both punitive and proactive measure are taken for once. Covering up human rights violations is not "patriotic" or "Zionist" - it is stupid and evil. And the people who perptetrate these misdeeds in the name of Israel are at best negligent or ignorant. They are hurting the state of Israel and the Zionist cause. Those who do it intentionally must be punished effectively, and those who do it out of ignorance must be educated. Those who are responsible, up to the highest levels, must be sought out and rooted out. I is nonsnsical to state "The chief education officer also described "the actions taken before during and after the operation to inculcate the soldiers and commanders with the moral aspects of the fighting" after the whole world was shown the shameful booklets of racist incitement that were created by extremist rabbis and distributed to the soldiers "by accident."

 

It is also unforgivable for the IDF to claim:

 

The IDF has no supporting or prior information about these events.

It was very easy to get such information and very hard to ignore it. It required a conscious effort. The IDF had no knowledge? In their own communique they had admitted that the daughers of Dr. Izzedin Abuelaish were killed by negligent firing of tank shells. Everyone saw the vandalism in Palestinian houses and the racist graffiti on the walls. But the IDF "had no knowledge." Those who attempt to cover up these senseless deeds are doing it only for their own benefit - not for the benefit of Israel or the IDF.

 

The only good thing we can say is that Hamas or Fateh wold never order such a probe, nor would they consider it a problem if a thousand Jewish civilians were murdered. Imagine the headline, "Hamas orders probe into civilian deaths after suicide bombing" - you will never see it of course.

 

Ami Isseroff

Last update - 12:35 19/03/2009       
IDF orders probe into allegations over Gaza war
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
...

Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit instructed the Military Police Investigation unit to launch the probe after soldiers were quoted as telling a military cadet academy that combat troops in Gaza fired at unarmed Palestinian civilians and vandalized property during Operation Cast Lead.

 

The head of the pe-military course, Danny Zamir, told Haaretz on Wednesday that he did not know in advance what the soldiers would say at the gathering, and what they said "shocked us." He said that after hearing the soldiers, he told IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi about his fears of a serious moral failure in the IDF.
 
The chief of staff's bureau requested a copy of the transcript of the discussion, and Zamir provided it. This week Zamir met with the IDF's chief education officer, Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister, to discuss the matter. Zamir said he believed the army would take the matter seriously. "They do not intend to avoid responsibility," he said.

 

The IDF Spokesman's Office said: "As a result of the request of the head of the Rabin pre-military course, Mr. Danny Zamir, to the chief of staff's bureau, a meeting was held between Zamir and the chief education officer, Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister. The chief education officer described to the head of the preparatory course the processes of the operational and ethical inquiries being conducted by the IDF and the chief education officer's staff at all levels."

 

The chief education officer also described "the actions taken before during and after the operation to inculcate the soldiers and commanders with the moral aspects of the fighting."

 

The spokesman said that "Brig. Gen. Shermeister also made it clear that the IDF is now conducting intensive and comprehensive inquiries, and that commanders are encouraging discussion of these matters. The IDF has no supporting or prior information about these events. The IDF will check their veracity and investigate as required. The head of the preparatory course was also asked to pass on to the IDF any information he has so we can deal with it and investigate it in depth."