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Last update - 23:53 19/07/2008 Ex-defense official: Gov't not informed of cluster bomb use in Lebanon war By Associated Press Tags: Lebanon, UN, cluster bombs  A former Israeli defense official says the Israeli military used cluster bombs for two weeks during the 2006 Lebanon war without telling the Israeli government. Hagai Alon, an adviser to then-Defense Minister Amir Peretz, says the government only learned of the cluster bomb use when European countries raised the issue after the war. Alon spoke on Israel Radio on Saturday. Advertisement An Israeli inquiry into the war found that Israel did not violate international law by dropping cluster bombs. But it raised questions about the army's use of the weapons, noting a lack of operational discipline, oversight and control. "We recommend that on this matter there be a re-evaluation of the rules and principles that apply to the army in using cluster bombs," said the report, published in January. Alon said that during the war, the government was not told by the military that it was using cluster bombs. "We didn't know, we weren't informed, that during the last two weeks, the (army) was using cluster bombs," Alon said, referring to the political leadership. No one received permission for this. No one would have received permission for this, Alon added. Alon said the government only learned that the army had used the weapon when European countries demanded maps of where the bomblets were dropped, after some of their soldiers deployed in south Lebanon were wounded by the explosives. The former adviser said Peretz demanded an explanation from the army, which issued a report months afterward. The army's probe determined the use of the bombs was a concrete military necessity. The investigation found that the majority of cluster bombs were fired at open areas used by Hezbollah, and that other cluster bombs were fired at residential areas used by Hezbollah for cover to fire rockets. The army said Saturday it did not conceal its activities from the government. The government was updated continuously about all activities in the war, said an army statement. The United Nation's Mine Action Coordination Center reports that more than 30 people have died in cluster bombs and land mines since the war. Another 13 de-mining experts from the Lebanese army, the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon and private mine action teams have also died in similar explosions since the 2006 war, according to the UN center. The military said in response that it updated the government on all issues throughout the war. Cluster bombs open in flight and scatter dozens of bomblets over wide areas. UN experts say that of millions dropped over Lebanon, up to 1 million failed to explode. An Israeli war inquiry had raised questions about the army's use of the weapons, noting a lack of operational discipline, oversight and control. Related articles: Cluster bomb left from 2006 war wounds 4 children in S. Lebanon Red Cross urges immediate global ban on cluster bombs IDF won't charge officers who fired cluster bombs in Lebanon war Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baptism by fire Bradley Burston offers 10 Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid. A second life 'Exodus' passenger makes aliyah six decades after being turned away.   1.   Responsibility is never accepted 15:06  |  Guy From NYC 19/07/08   2.   Who`s in charge? 16:08  |  W 19/07/08   3.   Impunity 16:37  |  Naftali Lavie 19/07/08   4.   Israel is ashamed of cluster bombs? 16:50  |  Motke 19/07/08   5.   Israeli investigation of israeli war crimes? 16:58  |  dk 19/07/08   6.   american people supplied 17:21  |  bri 19/07/08   7.   America now restricts the export of cluster bombs to Israel 17:53  |  Natallie Durson 19/07/08   8.   It All Means The Arabs Should FInd Another Web Site 17:59  |  GZLives 19/07/08   9.   Re: #7 Natalie Durson 18:18  |  Ivanka 19/07/08   10.   impuntiy - typo corrected 18:19  |  Naftali Lavie 19/07/08   11.   It fits 18:20  |  Axel 19/07/08   12.   cluster bomb maps 18:38  |  Miriam 19/07/08   13.   America restricts nothing--when it comes to Israel 19:16  |  Ben 19/07/08   14.   Political CYA - Blame the Military 19:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/07/08   15.   Manufacture your own cluster bombs 19:29  |  Andrew Saunders 19/07/08   16.   Sure they had no clue 19:33  |  Samer 19/07/08   17.   The gift that keeps on giving 19:34  |  Bitin Dawg 19/07/08   18.   A total lack of command and control 19:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/07/08   19.   Israel`s fascist generals running the country 19:35  |  Chanalau, Tova 19/07/08   20.   Ivanka & Ben - Natalie`s Right and Wrong 20:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/07/08   21.   # 15 andrew 20:12  |  Axel 19/07/08   22.   It would have made no difference, would it David Israel ? 20:19  |  mehmet 19/07/08   23.   banana republic? 20:54  |  banana 19/07/08   24.   Cluster Bombs Are A Legitimate Instrument Of War 21:14  |  Eli 19/07/08   25.   Ivanka _ What made You So Smart? Vodka? GGAD 21:16  |  Eli 19/07/08   26.   Axel _ Why Are You Complaining About Money 21:41  |  Eli 19/07/08   27.   To W #2 21:46  |  Otto Rand 19/07/08   28.   #24 Say Eli in CA 21:48  |  ballistic 19/07/08   29.   #!5 Say Andrew 21:51  |  ballistic 19/07/08   30.   Well said, Naftali Lavie 21:53  |  Maki 19/07/08   31.   #8 Say GZLives--Do you own Haaretz? 21:54  |  ballistic 19/07/08   32.   cluster bombs 22:16  |  curious george 19/07/08   33.   I wonder if these so called maps exist..? 22:40  |  Stephen. 19/07/08   34.   Mark of Lewiston obscures the truth 23:22  |  Natallie Durson 19/07/08   35.   What twaddle 01:14  |  Mark Lincoln 20/07/08   36.   If the left really cared 01:24  |  Ron 20/07/08   37.   To Natalie 01:30  |  Ron 20/07/08   38.   # 24 eli 01:53  |  Axel 20/07/08   39.   # 26 eli 02:01  |  Axel 20/07/08   40.   Eli, do you think Europeans are dummies? 02:58  |  Mark B. 20/07/08   41.   Wow Ballistic _ You Exploded On The launching Pad I See 03:46  |  Eli 20/07/08   42.   #28, ballistic re: Eli in CA 03:52  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   43.   Mark B. _ There Are No European Dummies. Only Duped Ones 03:53  |  Eli 20/07/08   44.   #26, Eli, why are you complaining about money? 03:54  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   45.   #13, Ben...that might change soon... 03:56  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   46.   Silvienne _ Follow The Posts. I Did Not Complain About Money 04:48  |  Eli 20/07/08   47.   Silvienne # 42 _ Actually I Don`t Believe We Ever Corresponded 05:03  |  Eli 20/07/08   48.   Really Axel # 38 _ ???? 05:14  |  Eli 20/07/08   49.   Poor us! 05:29  |  Jim 20/07/08   50.   Pity 05:44  |  Jim 20/07/08   51.   #3 Natalie Lavie 05:58  |  Jim 20/07/08   52.   #9 Ivanka 06:18  |  Jim 20/07/08   53.   34 Natalie - Believe What you Want 06:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/07/08   54.   #47, Eli from CA..we`ve corresponded several times... 07:38  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   55.   #48, Eli, yes, really, Eli... 07:43  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   56.   #8, GZLives...who died and put you in charge? 07:48  |  Silvienne 20/07/08   57.   Strange, it was in the major papers... 08:55  |  chatnic 20/07/08   58.   #15 Andrew Saunders 14:55  |  Jim 20/07/08   59.   #16 Samer friom Lebanon 15:03  |  Jim 20/07/08   60.   #19 Chanatau, Tova A new def of Zionism! 15:47  |  Jim 20/07/08   61.   #24 Eli 15:52  |  Jim 20/07/08   62.   #35 Mark Lincoln 16:18  |  Jim 20/07/08   63.   Silvienne #54 _ Please keep Your Lies Straight 19:53  |  Eli 20/07/08   64.   Gee Silvienne # 55 _ Got Under Your Skin I See 22:03  |  Eli 20/07/08   65.   #64, Eli, lovely to hear from you again! 02:02  |  Silvienne 21/07/08

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