29 july 2010
ISRAEL WAR CRIMES GAZA Zeitoun Village killings.
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The Gaza war (Dec 2008-Jan 2009) has produced an unusual high number of civilian casualties. More that 400 children and 100 women not counting civilian men. Accusations of war crimes by many members of the international community has made people to study the weapons and war tactics used by Israel. It soon became clear that Israel did not want to repeat the experience of Lebanon 2006 in which it took heave casualties. The result may have been a change in tactics that surfaced in the Gaza war. The result may also be more cases of war crimes. |
Identity of Former IDF Torturer Exposed, Captain George is Doron Zahavi
Yesterday, I reported here on a Haaretz story about the notorious “Captain George,” an IDF military intelligence interrogator accused in 2004 of sodomizing a Lebanese kidnap victim in order to secure information about the location of IDF officer, Ron Arad. Among the things I wrote was my complaint that Haaretz was protecting the real identity of George even though he no longer served in military intelligence.
With the help of a diligent Israeli researcher, I can now expose George’s real identity. He is Doron Zahavi, currently the Arab affairs liaison for the Jerusalem police. His job, as I noted yesterday, is to direct community relations and liaison efforts between the police and Jerusalem’s Arab residents.
In discussing the parameters of Zahavi’s job, a police spokesperson told Haaretz:
“The adviser must be an accepted and welcome figure in the Arab community, with excellent interpersonal skills – someone they feel they can trust, otherwise he cannot succeed in the job,” a senior police officer said.
With the help of a diligent Israeli researcher, I can now expose George’s real identity. He is Doron Zahavi, currently the Arab affairs liaison for the Jerusalem police. His job, as I noted yesterday, is to direct community relations and liaison efforts between the police and Jerusalem’s Arab residents.
In discussing the parameters of Zahavi’s job, a police spokesperson told Haaretz:
“The adviser must be an accepted and welcome figure in the Arab community, with excellent interpersonal skills – someone they feel they can trust, otherwise he cannot succeed in the job,” a senior police officer said.
ACRI complaint identifies Doron Zahavi by name
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Apparently, Zahavi has performed his job so well he’s garnering rave reviews right and left from his Arab interlocutors. One, Jouad Siam, complained that in a February, 2010 interrogation, Zahavi threatened to destroy his home (Hebrew source) unless he disbanded a Silwan information center Siam had founded to counter the building efforts of settlers in his neigborhood. Here is how the ex-torturer now conducts himself. I’ll let you be the judge whether the leopard has changed his spots:
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He [Zahavi] told us we were making problems and we had to close the center. I told him: “I thought we are in a democracy.” This raised the ire of ‘George,’ who said: “We Jews are fools. We treat you too well. I thought you would behave yourself.” ’George’ threatened that he would draw up a demolition order for his home if he refused to close the center.
According to Siam, “The entire conversation was conducted in shouts. He didn’t let me speak. He would ask and answer his own questions [without allowing Siam to respond]. At the end of the discussion, he told me to go home and behave myself.
Last February, the Association for Civil Right in Israel registered a formal complaint against Zahavi for his outburst. Among the claims listed was that Zahavi called Siam a “criminal” and said that the latter would be held responsible for everything that happened in Silwan. The interrogator asked about the source of Siam’s income and told him he would intervene with his boss. At the end of the meeting, Zahavi attempted to enlist Siam as an informant.
The police replied formally to the complaint claiming laughably that Zahavi had merely invited Siam to a “get to know you” meeting in which the police advisor sought to discover what issues particularly troubled the local Arab population. In the course of the meeting, Zahavi felt it necessary to inform his Arab interlocutor about activities in which he was engaged that violated the law. No mention in the police reply how founding an information center was a violation of law.
The publicly available ACRI complaint lists Zahavi’s real name. In that case, why would Haaretz not be able to use it? The whole situation baffles me. At any rate, thank God we’re not bound by any such nonsense and we offer the real Doron Zahavi to the world in all his glory. If a reader has a picture of Zahavi, please let me know.
Related posts:
1. Jerusalem's Police Chief Enraged by Exposure of Captain George
2. Sheikh Jarrah Protestors Defy Censors, Out Doron Zahavi
3. Justice Captain George-Style: Excusing Family Honor Violence
4. Tikun Olam Suffers DOS Attack After Exposing Former IDF Torturer
5. Sacked IDF Torturer to Direct Police Relations With East Jerusalem Arabs
According to Siam, “The entire conversation was conducted in shouts. He didn’t let me speak. He would ask and answer his own questions [without allowing Siam to respond]. At the end of the discussion, he told me to go home and behave myself.
Last February, the Association for Civil Right in Israel registered a formal complaint against Zahavi for his outburst. Among the claims listed was that Zahavi called Siam a “criminal” and said that the latter would be held responsible for everything that happened in Silwan. The interrogator asked about the source of Siam’s income and told him he would intervene with his boss. At the end of the meeting, Zahavi attempted to enlist Siam as an informant.
The police replied formally to the complaint claiming laughably that Zahavi had merely invited Siam to a “get to know you” meeting in which the police advisor sought to discover what issues particularly troubled the local Arab population. In the course of the meeting, Zahavi felt it necessary to inform his Arab interlocutor about activities in which he was engaged that violated the law. No mention in the police reply how founding an information center was a violation of law.
The publicly available ACRI complaint lists Zahavi’s real name. In that case, why would Haaretz not be able to use it? The whole situation baffles me. At any rate, thank God we’re not bound by any such nonsense and we offer the real Doron Zahavi to the world in all his glory. If a reader has a picture of Zahavi, please let me know.
Related posts:
1. Jerusalem's Police Chief Enraged by Exposure of Captain George
2. Sheikh Jarrah Protestors Defy Censors, Out Doron Zahavi
3. Justice Captain George-Style: Excusing Family Honor Violence
4. Tikun Olam Suffers DOS Attack After Exposing Former IDF Torturer
5. Sacked IDF Torturer to Direct Police Relations With East Jerusalem Arabs
21 july 2010
Israel to restrict white phosphorus use in future wars
Rights groups collected evidence that white phosphorus was used in civilian areas
The Israeli military will restrict its use of artillery shells containing white phosphorus, it has told the UN.
The controversial weapons cause deadly burns and rights groups say they are banned from use in civilian areas.
The Israel Defense Forces used weapons containing white phosphorus during a 22-day assault on Gaza which began in December 2008.
In its report to the UN, the IDF said steps would be taken in future to avoid civilian casualties.
"The IDF chief of general staff ordered the establishment of a clear doctrine and orders on the issue of various munitions that contain white phosphorus," the report said.
"These instructions are currently being implemented."
Burning
During the Israeli offensive on Gaza, known as Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli military used white phosphorus rounds in densely populated areas, the UN and Human Rights Watch said.
Part of a UN compound burned down after it was hit by chunks of the burning chemical which ignites on contact with air.
The weapon has been used on battlefields to create cover for advancing troops and to flush infantry out of their positions, but human rights groups say international law bans its use in civilian areas.
Burning phosphorus sticks to skin and will continue to burn flesh until the supply of oxygen is cut off.
Palestinians and rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans died in the conflict, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.
War crimes
The Israeli military say that the attack was launched to prevent rockets being fired into southern Israel from Gaza.
The UN has sharply criticised both sides in the conflict.
A report by the former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Richard Goldstone, accused both the IDF and Hamas of war crimes.
The Goldstone report has been condemned by the Israeli government as biased.
Hamas has also denied its fighters committed war crimes.
Israel's latest report to the UN, posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also says it has launched 150 investigations into the conduct of its soldiers during the offensive.
The Israeli military will restrict its use of artillery shells containing white phosphorus, it has told the UN.
The controversial weapons cause deadly burns and rights groups say they are banned from use in civilian areas.
The Israel Defense Forces used weapons containing white phosphorus during a 22-day assault on Gaza which began in December 2008.
In its report to the UN, the IDF said steps would be taken in future to avoid civilian casualties.
"The IDF chief of general staff ordered the establishment of a clear doctrine and orders on the issue of various munitions that contain white phosphorus," the report said.
"These instructions are currently being implemented."
Burning
During the Israeli offensive on Gaza, known as Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli military used white phosphorus rounds in densely populated areas, the UN and Human Rights Watch said.
Part of a UN compound burned down after it was hit by chunks of the burning chemical which ignites on contact with air.
The weapon has been used on battlefields to create cover for advancing troops and to flush infantry out of their positions, but human rights groups say international law bans its use in civilian areas.
Burning phosphorus sticks to skin and will continue to burn flesh until the supply of oxygen is cut off.
Palestinians and rights groups say more than 1,400 Gazans died in the conflict, but Israel puts the figure at 1,166. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.
War crimes
The Israeli military say that the attack was launched to prevent rockets being fired into southern Israel from Gaza.
The UN has sharply criticised both sides in the conflict.
A report by the former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Richard Goldstone, accused both the IDF and Hamas of war crimes.
The Goldstone report has been condemned by the Israeli government as biased.
Hamas has also denied its fighters committed war crimes.
Israel's latest report to the UN, posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also says it has launched 150 investigations into the conduct of its soldiers during the offensive.
16 july 2010
Peres is a liar, made me cry, Turkey PM's wife says
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogon
Emine Erdogan tells PA paper that she is not usually prone to responding on political matters, but 'Peres pushed me to my limits, as he constantly lies.'
Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused President Shimon Peres of being a liar during a meeting with Palestinian business women in Ankara.
Recalling her husband's confrontation with the president at the Davos Summit in January 2009, Emine said she thought to herself "G-d, he [Peres] is such a liar, someone must stop him," she told the Palestinian women.
The Turkish prime minister stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, red-faced from verbally sparring with Peres over the fighting during Israel's Gaza offensive in December 2008.
Erdogan was angry after being cut off by a panel moderator after listening to an impassioned monologue by Peres defending Israel's 22-day offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayam on Saturday Erdogan's wife said her husband's diplomatic row with Peres was not intended, and that she was "close to madness" when she heard Peres speak and defend the 2009 Gaza offensive.
"How is it possible that Israelis lie like that, their president Peres uttering a chain of lies in front of the entire world?" she asked the Palestinian paper. "I told myself, G-d, shut that man up. And suddenly I saw Turkish Prime minister Erdogan's head exploding [with rage] and I started to cry. When they asked me why I was crying I said it was because, that man, Peres, is a liar."
Emine added that she is not usually prone to responding on political matters, but that "Peres pushed me to my limits, as he constantly lies."
Emine Erdogan tells PA paper that she is not usually prone to responding on political matters, but 'Peres pushed me to my limits, as he constantly lies.'
Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused President Shimon Peres of being a liar during a meeting with Palestinian business women in Ankara.
Recalling her husband's confrontation with the president at the Davos Summit in January 2009, Emine said she thought to herself "G-d, he [Peres] is such a liar, someone must stop him," she told the Palestinian women.
The Turkish prime minister stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, red-faced from verbally sparring with Peres over the fighting during Israel's Gaza offensive in December 2008.
Erdogan was angry after being cut off by a panel moderator after listening to an impassioned monologue by Peres defending Israel's 22-day offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayam on Saturday Erdogan's wife said her husband's diplomatic row with Peres was not intended, and that she was "close to madness" when she heard Peres speak and defend the 2009 Gaza offensive.
"How is it possible that Israelis lie like that, their president Peres uttering a chain of lies in front of the entire world?" she asked the Palestinian paper. "I told myself, G-d, shut that man up. And suddenly I saw Turkish Prime minister Erdogan's head exploding [with rage] and I started to cry. When they asked me why I was crying I said it was because, that man, Peres, is a liar."
Emine added that she is not usually prone to responding on political matters, but that "Peres pushed me to my limits, as he constantly lies."
Jewish Terrorist, Charged With Multiple Palestinian Murders, ‘Outs’ Chief of Shin Bet’s Jewish Terror Department
Jewish rightist site claims this is Avi Arieli, chief of Shin Bet's Jewish department
The Israeli police have arrested an alleged key Jewish settler terrorist, Chaim Pearlman, charging him with involvement in multiple murders and woundings of Palestinians going back as far as 12 years.
As part of Pearlman’s counter-campaign to impugn the Shin Bet, he released transcripts of 20 hours of conversations with an agent of the Shin Bet’s Jewish terror section. He and his supporters have also outed the chief of the unit in a post at the pro-settler site, HaYamin, claiming he is Avigdor (Avi) Arieli and lives in the settlement of Kfar Adumim.
Haaretz reported in May, 2010 that two women and their 11 children from the far-right Kahanist settlement of Yizhar, were detained when they demonstrated outside the agent’s home in the settlement. I simply find it unbelievable that people would place their own children in such a situation and exploit them in such a way.
The Israeli police have arrested an alleged key Jewish settler terrorist, Chaim Pearlman, charging him with involvement in multiple murders and woundings of Palestinians going back as far as 12 years.
As part of Pearlman’s counter-campaign to impugn the Shin Bet, he released transcripts of 20 hours of conversations with an agent of the Shin Bet’s Jewish terror section. He and his supporters have also outed the chief of the unit in a post at the pro-settler site, HaYamin, claiming he is Avigdor (Avi) Arieli and lives in the settlement of Kfar Adumim.
Haaretz reported in May, 2010 that two women and their 11 children from the far-right Kahanist settlement of Yizhar, were detained when they demonstrated outside the agent’s home in the settlement. I simply find it unbelievable that people would place their own children in such a situation and exploit them in such a way.
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HaYamin also posted the image below of another Shin Bet agent whose nickname was Dada, and who Pearlman claims attempted to entrap him as reported in this Haaretz article.
An Israeli source reports that an Avigdor Arieli works in the prime minister’s office (of which the Shin Bet is a part) and joined a delegation of security officials who attended a 2007 NATO meeting. While I don’t profess to be an expert on how the Shin Bet and Mossad parse their relationship, I find it odd that a senior Shin Bet agent would attend a NATO conference. That would seem to be the bailiwick of the Mossad. But perhaps things are looser in Israel than in the U.S. intelligence community, where I think it would be doubtful an FBI agent would attend such a conference unless it directly related to a U.S. domestic security issue. |
Pearlman’s transcripts are riveting and reveal Dada to be a overbearing, almost transparent provocateur, which is confirmed by the fact that Pearlman transcribed so many of their conversations likely suspecting his interlocutor was an agent. Among the main thread that the Israeli media has focussed on is Dada’s solicitation to assassinate Sheikh Ra’ad Salah, one of the leading Israeli Palestinian Islamists:
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HaYamin also accuses this man it calls 'Dada' of being a Shin Bet agent
In the recordings released Thursday, the alleged agent can be heard saying that only an “extreme move” could change public opinion, citing the assassination of Sheik Ra’ad Salah as one such extreme move. |
“I could do it,” the agent can be heard saying, referring to the proposed killing of the Islamic Movement leader, saying that Salah’s security would prevent him from succeeding, adding that if he were Pearlman he would commit the assassination.
“It’s not about hitting him [Salah] and getting in trouble. It’s about coming over, hitting him, and see you later, like that guy in Bar Noar” the alleged Shin Bet agent can be heard saying, referring to the killing of a counselor and a teenager at a Tel Aviv gay center last year.
The agent continues to explain how he would carry out Salah’s assassination, saying Pearlman would have to “use another person for that”…
“You don’t really want to do it,” Pearlman can be heard as saying, with the alleged Shin Bet agent replying: “Says who? Says you? What are you relying on? Can you check me? Come check me, I’m ready.”
When Pearlman asked if the alleged Shin Bet agent understood the ramifications of such an act, and if he would be willing to take responsibility for it, the agent said: “sure, why not.”
“How long will the noise continue? Will it lead to war? Won’t there be war without it happening?” the agent can be heard asking, adding that “war has casualties.”
“Listen I don’t have a problem [inaudible] someone who takes a life once and gets that feeling…. I would never do it to a Jew. It would be hard,” the alleged Shin Bet agent said, adding, “but I wouldn’t have a problem with one of those.”
“It’s not about hitting him [Salah] and getting in trouble. It’s about coming over, hitting him, and see you later, like that guy in Bar Noar” the alleged Shin Bet agent can be heard saying, referring to the killing of a counselor and a teenager at a Tel Aviv gay center last year.
The agent continues to explain how he would carry out Salah’s assassination, saying Pearlman would have to “use another person for that”…
“You don’t really want to do it,” Pearlman can be heard as saying, with the alleged Shin Bet agent replying: “Says who? Says you? What are you relying on? Can you check me? Come check me, I’m ready.”
When Pearlman asked if the alleged Shin Bet agent understood the ramifications of such an act, and if he would be willing to take responsibility for it, the agent said: “sure, why not.”
“How long will the noise continue? Will it lead to war? Won’t there be war without it happening?” the agent can be heard asking, adding that “war has casualties.”
“Listen I don’t have a problem [inaudible] someone who takes a life once and gets that feeling…. I would never do it to a Jew. It would be hard,” the alleged Shin Bet agent said, adding, “but I wouldn’t have a problem with one of those.”
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Sheikh Ra’ad Salah
After again discussing the risks such an action would entail, Pearlman can be heard asking if the alleged agent even knew where Salah lived, with the agent answering: “somewhere in the North, in one of the villages in the North. |
“Look, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. The car passes. You shoot a burst. Chances are the driver will get killed,” the agent added, saying that Pearlman would have to either “finish him with one burst, or a few split ones.”
The alleged agent continues his description of the potential assassination, saying that it would not be the kind of operation where one would “come in close.”
“You need to be as far away as you can in this kind of situation. Or put a bomb in the car. That’s the classic one. Nothing’s left, everything goes everywhere,” the agent added, saying Salah would then “go to all hell.”
Clearly, Pearlman is accusing the Shin Bet of entrapment. He goes so far as to claim that he was a Shin Bet agent, which the agency confirms, though it claims this was for a short period in 2002. Pearlman will of course attempt to claim that any acts for which he is charged were carried out with the connivance of the intelligence agency.
There will be those on the left who will take Shin Bet literally and believe it wanted Pearlman to assassinate Salah. Though I do not necessarily believe this, I’m nevertheless concerned by having an agent plant ideas in a violent terrorist’s mind upon which he might act. It would be in the nature of the Shin Bet to believe they could stop him before he acted. But what’s to stop a nutcase like Pearlman from escaping their surveillance and carrying out the murder? They’re essentially activating a Golem and expecting they can control him. But remember the fate of the actual Golem, who ran amok and had to be killed by his creator, Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague. It’s the height of hubris for the Shin Bet to plant the seeds of murder in Pearlman’s mind.
In fact, the Shin Bet did something very similar in 1994, supplying rifles to two Israeli brothers knowing they planned to use them to murder a Palestinian. They came very close to succeeding thanks to the weapons supplied to them. And the victim recently received a paltry settlement from the State for his trouble. In fact, I believe the Shin Bet cared as little about the fate of the victim in this case as it does about Sheikh Salah. What would it matter to them if Pearlman had taken up the gun and actually succeeded in killing him? It would only matter in the sense of a possible embarrassment about being implicated in the incident.
I also wonder how the Shin Bet would deal with a potential Palestinian terrorist and whether they would go so far as to suggest targets and offer arms to carry out attacks. I don’t know the answer, but I would imagine they would treat a Palestinian differently out of deference to their Jewish targets.
The alleged agent continues his description of the potential assassination, saying that it would not be the kind of operation where one would “come in close.”
“You need to be as far away as you can in this kind of situation. Or put a bomb in the car. That’s the classic one. Nothing’s left, everything goes everywhere,” the agent added, saying Salah would then “go to all hell.”
Clearly, Pearlman is accusing the Shin Bet of entrapment. He goes so far as to claim that he was a Shin Bet agent, which the agency confirms, though it claims this was for a short period in 2002. Pearlman will of course attempt to claim that any acts for which he is charged were carried out with the connivance of the intelligence agency.
There will be those on the left who will take Shin Bet literally and believe it wanted Pearlman to assassinate Salah. Though I do not necessarily believe this, I’m nevertheless concerned by having an agent plant ideas in a violent terrorist’s mind upon which he might act. It would be in the nature of the Shin Bet to believe they could stop him before he acted. But what’s to stop a nutcase like Pearlman from escaping their surveillance and carrying out the murder? They’re essentially activating a Golem and expecting they can control him. But remember the fate of the actual Golem, who ran amok and had to be killed by his creator, Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague. It’s the height of hubris for the Shin Bet to plant the seeds of murder in Pearlman’s mind.
In fact, the Shin Bet did something very similar in 1994, supplying rifles to two Israeli brothers knowing they planned to use them to murder a Palestinian. They came very close to succeeding thanks to the weapons supplied to them. And the victim recently received a paltry settlement from the State for his trouble. In fact, I believe the Shin Bet cared as little about the fate of the victim in this case as it does about Sheikh Salah. What would it matter to them if Pearlman had taken up the gun and actually succeeded in killing him? It would only matter in the sense of a possible embarrassment about being implicated in the incident.
I also wonder how the Shin Bet would deal with a potential Palestinian terrorist and whether they would go so far as to suggest targets and offer arms to carry out attacks. I don’t know the answer, but I would imagine they would treat a Palestinian differently out of deference to their Jewish targets.
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Chaim Pearlman left and his attorney is Adi Keidar
Returning to Pearlman, his attorney is Adi Keidar, who works for the far-right terror legal defense organization, Honenu. They also represent Yigal Amir and lobby intensively for the legal pardon of convicted settler murderers. |
As part of its coverage of this story, Haaretz published an eye-opening story explaining why the Shin Bet fails so miserably in tracking, preventing, and prosecuting Jewish terror:
When compared to the terrorist attacks carried out by Palestinians…the percentage of Jewish terrorist cases that have been solved is far from being impressive. The rate at which cases are solved is also different. More often than not years pass before any arrest is made.
…To a great extent it boils down to resources. The main role of the Shin Bet security service is to foil terrorism aimed against Israelis
Chief among the reasons I would note is a failure of will. The Shin Bet’s views are so close to those of the settlers that they may not even want to stop them. And even if they do, they show an amazing unwillingness to prosecute them fully. Finally, those who are convicted and sent to jail almost invariably receive presidential pardons: an expectation Palestinian terrorists somehow never realize.
It’s also interesting to note that Judge Leah Lev-On, hearing Pearlman’s case, was asked by the Shin Bet to place a gag order on the proceedings. Astonishingly, she agreed but limited it–allowing publication of Pearlman’s name. This threw the security agency into turmoil. In fact, once she allowed publication of the accused’s name the Shin Bet was forced to seek removal of the entire gag in order to reply to Pearlman’s accusations against it. Israeli judges almost never reject such applications. They certainly never do in the cases of Israeli Palestinians accused of security threats.
They also did not in the case of Anat Kamm. Either there was something in this particular judge that made her unwilling to be an accomplice to the Shin Bet; or perhaps she felt a certain affinity for Jewish suspects which few Israeli judges would feel for Arab suspects. Whatever her reasoning, she shocked the secret police out of their pants. They almost never lose on these motions and they likely did not expect to have to defend themselves and explain their behavior in such a public setting and so quickly after the accused terrorist’s arrest.
When compared to the terrorist attacks carried out by Palestinians…the percentage of Jewish terrorist cases that have been solved is far from being impressive. The rate at which cases are solved is also different. More often than not years pass before any arrest is made.
…To a great extent it boils down to resources. The main role of the Shin Bet security service is to foil terrorism aimed against Israelis
Chief among the reasons I would note is a failure of will. The Shin Bet’s views are so close to those of the settlers that they may not even want to stop them. And even if they do, they show an amazing unwillingness to prosecute them fully. Finally, those who are convicted and sent to jail almost invariably receive presidential pardons: an expectation Palestinian terrorists somehow never realize.
It’s also interesting to note that Judge Leah Lev-On, hearing Pearlman’s case, was asked by the Shin Bet to place a gag order on the proceedings. Astonishingly, she agreed but limited it–allowing publication of Pearlman’s name. This threw the security agency into turmoil. In fact, once she allowed publication of the accused’s name the Shin Bet was forced to seek removal of the entire gag in order to reply to Pearlman’s accusations against it. Israeli judges almost never reject such applications. They certainly never do in the cases of Israeli Palestinians accused of security threats.
They also did not in the case of Anat Kamm. Either there was something in this particular judge that made her unwilling to be an accomplice to the Shin Bet; or perhaps she felt a certain affinity for Jewish suspects which few Israeli judges would feel for Arab suspects. Whatever her reasoning, she shocked the secret police out of their pants. They almost never lose on these motions and they likely did not expect to have to defend themselves and explain their behavior in such a public setting and so quickly after the accused terrorist’s arrest.
Anger in IDF over surge in probes
Promotion halted. Malka
Senior IDF officers angered by excessive military investigations of battlefield incidents in Gaza, West Bank. 'Probes aimed at appeasing United Nations help Hamas, show we scrutinize officers,' says official
Senior IDF officers are furious over "the military prosecution's excessive involvement in operational matters," following a growing number of probes into battlefield incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip especially during Operation Cast Lead.
As part of their criticism, the officers suggested that the investigations damaged the IDF and served the interests of Hamas. Others claim that they are aimed at appeasing the United Nations following the Goldstone Report, and show that "officers are being scrutinized."
On top of the controversial decision to indict a combat soldier for killing a mother and daughter in Gaza, the military court recently decided to try a Golani Brigade commander for an incident in which his subordinates used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield.
Another debated issue is the decision to probe an event mentioned at length in the Goldstone Report, in which a Gaza house was bombarded, resulting in the deaths of 21 people.
Recent information revealed that the investigation will focus on Air Force personnel as well as former Givati Brigade Commander, Colonel Ilan Malka.
In addition, the military prosecution on Thursday convicted a regiment commander and a soldier for shooting a bound protester in Naalin.
Senior IDF officers angered by excessive military investigations of battlefield incidents in Gaza, West Bank. 'Probes aimed at appeasing United Nations help Hamas, show we scrutinize officers,' says official
Senior IDF officers are furious over "the military prosecution's excessive involvement in operational matters," following a growing number of probes into battlefield incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip especially during Operation Cast Lead.
As part of their criticism, the officers suggested that the investigations damaged the IDF and served the interests of Hamas. Others claim that they are aimed at appeasing the United Nations following the Goldstone Report, and show that "officers are being scrutinized."
On top of the controversial decision to indict a combat soldier for killing a mother and daughter in Gaza, the military court recently decided to try a Golani Brigade commander for an incident in which his subordinates used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield.
Another debated issue is the decision to probe an event mentioned at length in the Goldstone Report, in which a Gaza house was bombarded, resulting in the deaths of 21 people.
Recent information revealed that the investigation will focus on Air Force personnel as well as former Givati Brigade Commander, Colonel Ilan Malka.
In addition, the military prosecution on Thursday convicted a regiment commander and a soldier for shooting a bound protester in Naalin.
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Stained for life. Burberg
The current situation has stirred discontent among the IDF's commanding ranks. "Undoubtedly, the rubber bullet affair was not good," said a senior officer who has served as a brigade commander in the past few years. "It would have been better if it never happened, but we can honestly say that in this case the officer didn't just go wild, but rather made a mistake and now he will get stained for life. This is something that seeps down, and as a result officers are scared to operate," he said. Only gave a warning. Eizenkot |
Lt. Col. Omri Burberg was relieved of his command after the incident, and an upcoming promotion. If no changes are made, he will also leave the IDF with a criminal record that will accompany him for 17 years.
The senior officer noted that the IDF was fighting its battle in a populated area, which makes it extremely difficult to distinguish between a terrorist and a civilian. Terror organizations, the officer claimed, used this fact to conceal traps that target the IDF.
"When an officer nabs a Palestinian taxi driver without cause it is a criminal act not wrong judgment. But there is no fault when a regiment commander allows a civilian who asked not to demolish his house, to enter and check if there are hidden terrorists," he said.
"The aforementioned regiment commander was brought before a disciplinary hearing led by GOC Northern Command Gadi Eizenkot, and walked away with a warning the most symbolic punishment that can be given. This alone shows the General's disagreement with the decision to discipline the commander," said the officer.
"The officers on the ground fight in very complex conditions, and when you examine it later in an air-conditioned office through a neat presentation there are always some remarks. We must not transmit the message that every mistake is a hanging rope."
'Decorated officer turned criminal suspect'
The senior officer noted that the IDF was fighting its battle in a populated area, which makes it extremely difficult to distinguish between a terrorist and a civilian. Terror organizations, the officer claimed, used this fact to conceal traps that target the IDF.
"When an officer nabs a Palestinian taxi driver without cause it is a criminal act not wrong judgment. But there is no fault when a regiment commander allows a civilian who asked not to demolish his house, to enter and check if there are hidden terrorists," he said.
"The aforementioned regiment commander was brought before a disciplinary hearing led by GOC Northern Command Gadi Eizenkot, and walked away with a warning the most symbolic punishment that can be given. This alone shows the General's disagreement with the decision to discipline the commander," said the officer.
"The officers on the ground fight in very complex conditions, and when you examine it later in an air-conditioned office through a neat presentation there are always some remarks. We must not transmit the message that every mistake is a hanging rope."
'Decorated officer turned criminal suspect'
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Zeitoun neighborhood after IDF bombing
Currently, the military police is investigating the January 2009 bombardment of the al-Samouni house in Gaza's Zeitoun neighborhood, which killed 21 people (out of 29 family members killed during the operation). |
Among those to be summoned for explanations is Colonel Ilan Malka, whose promotion is on hold due to the forthcoming investigation. Colonel Malka instructed the Air Force to bombard the house, assuming there was a terrorist cell seeking shelter inside but no civilians.
According to an officer who served in Givati, this is a sad case. "They turned a decorated officer into a criminal suspect. This is very unpleasant to say the least."
Other field commanders admitted behind closed doors that the military prosecution must be given the legitimacy to probe, but advocated using the right balance.
A senior military official remarked cynically that "investigating the event mentioned at length in the Goldstone Report serves as a good response from the IDF, who is expected to hand the UN an updated report soon. It is convenient to show them we are scrutinizing senior officers."
According to an officer who served in Givati, this is a sad case. "They turned a decorated officer into a criminal suspect. This is very unpleasant to say the least."
Other field commanders admitted behind closed doors that the military prosecution must be given the legitimacy to probe, but advocated using the right balance.
A senior military official remarked cynically that "investigating the event mentioned at length in the Goldstone Report serves as a good response from the IDF, who is expected to hand the UN an updated report soon. It is convenient to show them we are scrutinizing senior officers."
8 july 2010
Learn About Israeli Terrorism in this Video
Yoav Mordechai
Breaking YOU – a common saying which can be heard when somebody attacks a defenseless person. “Breaking YOU” were the only words uttered by dozens of defenseless women who were crying and screaming in their homes in Hebron, when dozens of IDF soldiers terrorized them in their houses. The inhuman scene was followed by the sound of bombs exploding. Then, the smoke was rising and citizens running. This was a simple ethnic cleansing operation of the IDF soldiers, who went to the Al Baqa’a Valley and terrorized people, most of them were women and children. The IDF continued firing bombs.
A scene of barbarism and terror can be seen in the video below. This crime took place yesterday in Al Baqa’a Valley, a Palestinian residential district of Hebron where thousands of Palestinians live since before 1967 without the basic necessities of life. My cousin Fatiha Ali Jaber lives in this area.
What happens in Al-Baqa’a Valley is simply inhumane, immoral. It is terrorism and genocide according to international regulations and laws. The crime is credited to Lt. Col. Guy Hazut, commander of the so-called Hebron military brigade, and to military Brigadier Yoav Mordechai, head of the so called Civil Administration. See the video below and read the press release of the American Christian Peace Maker Team.
Breaking YOU – a common saying which can be heard when somebody attacks a defenseless person. “Breaking YOU” were the only words uttered by dozens of defenseless women who were crying and screaming in their homes in Hebron, when dozens of IDF soldiers terrorized them in their houses. The inhuman scene was followed by the sound of bombs exploding. Then, the smoke was rising and citizens running. This was a simple ethnic cleansing operation of the IDF soldiers, who went to the Al Baqa’a Valley and terrorized people, most of them were women and children. The IDF continued firing bombs.
A scene of barbarism and terror can be seen in the video below. This crime took place yesterday in Al Baqa’a Valley, a Palestinian residential district of Hebron where thousands of Palestinians live since before 1967 without the basic necessities of life. My cousin Fatiha Ali Jaber lives in this area.
What happens in Al-Baqa’a Valley is simply inhumane, immoral. It is terrorism and genocide according to international regulations and laws. The crime is credited to Lt. Col. Guy Hazut, commander of the so-called Hebron military brigade, and to military Brigadier Yoav Mordechai, head of the so called Civil Administration. See the video below and read the press release of the American Christian Peace Maker Team.
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For Immediate Release
Israeli Border Police Destroy Vegetable Fields in Al Baqa’a Valley – July 7, 2010 – Israeli border police destroyed several Palestinian fields in Al Baqa’a Valley just east of Hebron on July 6, 2010, directly impacting the livelihood of more than one hundred Palestinians.
Landowners said that Israeli border police and the Israeli District Coordinating Office (DCO), responsible for the coordination of Palestinian civilian affairs in Area C, began implementing the destruction at around 8:30am. Israeli authorities, with the assistance of hired labor, damaged fields of vegetables and destroyed the irrigation systems of those fields. When international peace activists from Christian Peacemaker Teams arrived in the area at |
11:30am, about 20 workers hired by the Israeli border police and DCO had cut and disposed of the irrigation pipes laid in two fields.
The fields each measured 10 dunams (approximately 40 acres) and included tomatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, and beans. In addition to dismantling the irrigation pipes, the workers also cut the twines that were holding up each tomato plant.
A matriarch of the family, Aratiki Karim, said, “These tomatoes are for the kids, for the babies, to feed the kids and to sell them to buy other food for the kids.” The Palestinian farmers had planted the tomato plants nearly three months ago and the tomatoes were only 20 days from being ready for market.
The fields each measured 10 dunams (approximately 40 acres) and included tomatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, and beans. In addition to dismantling the irrigation pipes, the workers also cut the twines that were holding up each tomato plant.
A matriarch of the family, Aratiki Karim, said, “These tomatoes are for the kids, for the babies, to feed the kids and to sell them to buy other food for the kids.” The Palestinian farmers had planted the tomato plants nearly three months ago and the tomatoes were only 20 days from being ready for market.
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The border police, DCO, and hired laborers then moved to another field further along Route 60 in the Al Baqa’a Valley to perform the same procedure.
The border police blocked the junction between the residential zone and the nearby fields, shooting tear gas and sound bombs to prevent Palestinians from going to the area where the hired workers were removing more irrigation pipes. |
Several women and children suffered from tear gas inhalation and required hospitalization. Badran Mohammed Jabber, looking out onto his destroyed fields uttered in exasperation, “I have spent 43 years under the Israeli reign of terror.
I have lived my life in fear, I never know what the Israelis will do tomorrow. They have destroyed my land, they have destroyed my life, and these fields are my life.”
This is not the first time Israeli authorities have destroyed crops and irrigation equipment in the Al Baqa’a Valley.
I have lived my life in fear, I never know what the Israelis will do tomorrow. They have destroyed my land, they have destroyed my life, and these fields are my life.”
This is not the first time Israeli authorities have destroyed crops and irrigation equipment in the Al Baqa’a Valley.
7 july 2010
IDF indicts Cast Lead soldiers
IDF puts final touches on report refuting Goldstone's conclusions.
A number of IDF soldiers will face criminal and disciplinary charges for misconduct during Operation Cast Lead, IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.- Gen. Avichai Mandelblit decided Tuesday, in the most comprehensive legal action taken by Israel in the wake of the Goldstone Report.
In the most severe case, Mandelblit decided to charge a soldier with manslaughter for allegedly shooting and killing a Palestinian woman during the operation in the Gaza Strip.
He will bring disciplinary charges against two officers, one of them a battalion commander, for unprofessional conduct, including permitting the use of Palestinians as human shields, a practice banned by the High Court of Justice.
In the coming weeks, Mandelblit, together with the Foreign Ministry, will submit a revised version of a report that Israel submitted on Operation Cast Lead to the United Nations in February. The new report will be delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon by July 25, when Ban is expected to issue his own report on Cast Lead.
With the decision to take legal action, Mandelblit has completed reviewing 30 cases singled out in the Goldstone Report, except for one that is still under Military Police investigation.
The shooting incident took place on January 4, 2009 in Juhar a-Dik, near Gaza City, when a group of about 30 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, approached an Israeli military position. The group, according to several eyewitness accounts, was waving white flags.
At a certain point, a staff-sergeant from the Givati Brigade opened fire, killing an unidentified person. The Palestinians claimed that a mother and daughter 35-year-old Majda Abu Hajiji and her 64-year-old mother Salama were killed in the incident, which was thoroughly investigated by B'Tselem and mentioned in the Goldstone Report, while the soldiers claimed that the soldier, who served as a marksman, shot a man.
After reviewing the evidence, Mandelblit decided to indict the soldier based on evidence showing he deliberately targeted an individual walking with the group.
Despite the fact that the two events are apparently one and the same, from a judicial point of view, sufficient connections could not be made between the evidence gathered in the case of the indicted soldier and the event described by Palestinian testimonies, the IDF said in statement.
Mandelblit also decided to hold a disciplinary hearing for a battalion commander from the Golani Brigade with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, who allegedly permitted troops to send a Palestinian into a home where terrorists were located. This was done in an effort to convince the terrorists to leave the home.
The battalion commander, who was not present during the incident, gave his approval based on reports that he received from one of his company commanders that the Palestinian, according to a senior officer, literally begged the soldiers to allow him to enter the home in an effort to prevent the demolition of his home, which was next door.
Mandelblit decided to press disciplinary and not criminal charges against the officer, after reviewing the material collected during the investigation and due to the fact that the Palestinian had requested to enter the home to talk to the terrorists. But Mandelblit still decided to hold a hearing for the commander, since the use of human shields is a violation of IDF orders and a High Court ruling.
The IDF also announced Tuesday that Mandelblit had decided to launch a new criminal investigation into an air force bombing of a home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City occupied at the time by close to 100 members of the A-Samuni family. Some 21 members of the family were killed in the bombing.
Suspicions are, a senior officer said, that civilians were killed due to a violation in regulations.
In the last case, Mandelblit decided to take disciplinary action against an IDF captain who ordered an attack on a terror operative who was stationed near the Ibrahim Al- Makadma mosque in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
The aerial strike targeted a terror operative involved in the launching of rockets at Israel who was standing outside of the mosque. Injuries caused to civilians inside were unintentional and caused by shrapnel that penetrated the mosque.
A number of IDF soldiers will face criminal and disciplinary charges for misconduct during Operation Cast Lead, IDF Military Advocate-General Maj.- Gen. Avichai Mandelblit decided Tuesday, in the most comprehensive legal action taken by Israel in the wake of the Goldstone Report.
In the most severe case, Mandelblit decided to charge a soldier with manslaughter for allegedly shooting and killing a Palestinian woman during the operation in the Gaza Strip.
He will bring disciplinary charges against two officers, one of them a battalion commander, for unprofessional conduct, including permitting the use of Palestinians as human shields, a practice banned by the High Court of Justice.
In the coming weeks, Mandelblit, together with the Foreign Ministry, will submit a revised version of a report that Israel submitted on Operation Cast Lead to the United Nations in February. The new report will be delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon by July 25, when Ban is expected to issue his own report on Cast Lead.
With the decision to take legal action, Mandelblit has completed reviewing 30 cases singled out in the Goldstone Report, except for one that is still under Military Police investigation.
The shooting incident took place on January 4, 2009 in Juhar a-Dik, near Gaza City, when a group of about 30 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, approached an Israeli military position. The group, according to several eyewitness accounts, was waving white flags.
At a certain point, a staff-sergeant from the Givati Brigade opened fire, killing an unidentified person. The Palestinians claimed that a mother and daughter 35-year-old Majda Abu Hajiji and her 64-year-old mother Salama were killed in the incident, which was thoroughly investigated by B'Tselem and mentioned in the Goldstone Report, while the soldiers claimed that the soldier, who served as a marksman, shot a man.
After reviewing the evidence, Mandelblit decided to indict the soldier based on evidence showing he deliberately targeted an individual walking with the group.
Despite the fact that the two events are apparently one and the same, from a judicial point of view, sufficient connections could not be made between the evidence gathered in the case of the indicted soldier and the event described by Palestinian testimonies, the IDF said in statement.
Mandelblit also decided to hold a disciplinary hearing for a battalion commander from the Golani Brigade with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, who allegedly permitted troops to send a Palestinian into a home where terrorists were located. This was done in an effort to convince the terrorists to leave the home.
The battalion commander, who was not present during the incident, gave his approval based on reports that he received from one of his company commanders that the Palestinian, according to a senior officer, literally begged the soldiers to allow him to enter the home in an effort to prevent the demolition of his home, which was next door.
Mandelblit decided to press disciplinary and not criminal charges against the officer, after reviewing the material collected during the investigation and due to the fact that the Palestinian had requested to enter the home to talk to the terrorists. But Mandelblit still decided to hold a hearing for the commander, since the use of human shields is a violation of IDF orders and a High Court ruling.
The IDF also announced Tuesday that Mandelblit had decided to launch a new criminal investigation into an air force bombing of a home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City occupied at the time by close to 100 members of the A-Samuni family. Some 21 members of the family were killed in the bombing.
Suspicions are, a senior officer said, that civilians were killed due to a violation in regulations.
In the last case, Mandelblit decided to take disciplinary action against an IDF captain who ordered an attack on a terror operative who was stationed near the Ibrahim Al- Makadma mosque in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
The aerial strike targeted a terror operative involved in the launching of rockets at Israel who was standing outside of the mosque. Injuries caused to civilians inside were unintentional and caused by shrapnel that penetrated the mosque.
