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Last update - 09:06 31/07/2008
Neither an officer nor a gentleman
By Gideon Levy
Tags: IDF, Israel, War Crimes

Brigadier General Moshe "Chico" Tamir is a devoted and loving father who let his 14-year-old son drive a military all-terrain vehicle. Being the law-abiding organization that it is, the Israel Defense Forces probed the incident, calling it "serious." As a result, Tamir's promotion may be put on hold and he may be indicted. Certainly, a brigade commander who tried to cover up his son's accident by lying deserves to be punished. But the commander of the Gaza Brigade deserves much more for acts considerably more serious - acts that the world defines as war crimes and for which no one has been held accountable.

I would like Tamir, the dedicated father, to meet a girl the same age as his beloved son whose world fell apart when she was 14 years old. I saw her in mourning in November 2006, in the courtyard of her destroyed house in Beit Hanun. Islam Athamneh lost eight family members: Her mother, grandmother, grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins. They fled their house when it was struck by a shell and were killed by another onslaught. The legs of Abdullah, her three-year-old brother, were blown off. Islam, whose father had died years earlier, became an orphan.

The soldiers who fired the 11 shells at houses in Beit Hanun were under the command of Tamir, the dedicated dad who let his son take a Tomcar for a joyride. Some 22 people were killed in the shelling and another 40 were hurt. Most lost limbs or sustained head wounds.
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It was the Gaza Brigade commander, Tamir, who was responsible for that atrocity, but the IDF quickly absolved him of blame. Instead, they placed it on a faulty electronic component in the gun barrel. It was the chip, not Chico, who was to blame. In the seven days before the heinous shelling, which violates international law, Tamir's troops managed to kill 80 Palestinians, 40 of whom were innocent civilians, as part of Operation Autumn Clouds. Their blood was let and their deaths pale in significance to the Tomcar affair as far as the army is concerned. After all, what's some unlawful killing en masse next to illegally driving an ATV?

If indicted, it won't be the first time Tamir has been tried in court. In the summer of 2002, when he was the commander of the Golani Brigade, his soldiers fired a tank shell at a grocers' market in Jenin. That, too, was a war crime, but not to Israel. A 53-year-old vendor and three other children - two of whom were brothers - died in the shelling. They also had fathers who loved their sons just as much as Tamir loves his. The Military Advocate General believed Tamir was guilty of negligence, but a court cleared him of all charges. A few weeks later, Tamir's tanks fired a shell at the same market. This time, they killed a vendor who was loading onions onto his Peugeot 504.

Former IDF chief Moshe Yaalon once said about this officer and gentleman that he needs "reeducating" because of endemic disciplinary problems in his brigade. The person who bragged that his brigade behaved like Rottweilers; who thought more violence should be used against Palestinians; who said that the destruction his soldiers caused in a Jenin refugee camp did not "cause him any moral dilemmas," may now finally be punished. And for what? A Tomcar. And what might just spare him? For all his misdoings, this man may be cleared of blame because he is considered a "well-respected and important" officer in the IDF.
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  1.   The International War Crimes Tribunal awaits this thug 09:52  |  Clickfool 31/07/08
  2.   "war crimes" - Oh, how scared we are ! 10:13  |  Vitaly 31/07/08
  3.   The Hague 10:41  |  Mike Katz 31/07/08
  4.   Justice has ingenious ways of prevailing... 10:47  |  Esther 31/07/08
  5.   Statistical Quandry 10:51  |  Stuart Stein 31/07/08
  6.   KARADZIC WAS ALSO A DEVOTED FATHER 11:00  |  Indrajaya 31/07/08
  7.   And Al Capone was indicted on tax evasion 11:01  |  Danny 31/07/08
  8.   Will any Palestinian-or other Arab Muslim-leader be indicted? 11:02  |  Hastaroth 31/07/08
  9.   Clickfool # 1. 11:08  |  David Nigel Braham 31/07/08
  10.   May Tamir suffer nightmares for the rest of his miserable days 11:13  |  Palestinian in UK 31/07/08
  11.   Would someone 11:15  |  Victoria 31/07/08
  12.   Accidentaly stumbled upon this one, Gideon 11:21  |  TonyL 31/07/08
  13.   Racism 101 11:33  |  Sylvie 31/07/08
  14.   God save us from bleeding heart liberals like Sylvie 12:01  |  Victoria 31/07/08
  15.   war crimes, and thought crimes 12:18  |  eddie 31/07/08
  16.   and while youre at it... 12:51  |  ravi 31/07/08
  17.   Shame on you Gideon Levy 13:00  |  Proud Israeli 31/07/08
  18.   LEVY YOU SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH COLABERATING WITH THE ENEMY 13:09  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 31/07/08
  19.   Živeli! Am Israel Chai! 13:12  |  Andreas 31/07/08
  20.   Is Mr. Levy an Officer and a Gentleman? 13:13  |  Arthur 31/07/08
  21.   Civilian casualties in Iraq - also war crime? 13:23  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  22.   U.S. forces killing civilians Part 2 - war crimes? 13:27  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  23.   Coalition forces killing civilians Part 3 - war crimes? 13:29  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  24.   Victoria 13:32  |  Natallie Durson 31/07/08
  25.   Gideon Levy 13:36  |  Al 31/07/08
  26.   Thought Levy had been put out to grass with Amira 13:42  |  x-ray 31/07/08
  27.   Levy should be sued for libel 14:01  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  28.   Victoria 14:15  |  Sylvie 31/07/08
  29.   Rock versus a speck of dust 14:35  |  CM 31/07/08
  30.   Tell the truth then what 14:39  |  Baz Mann 31/07/08
  31.   Hi, Gideon, nice to see you 14:42  |  Edith 31/07/08
  32.   Victoria: You need to be hoping God will save you from yourselves 14:52  |  Guy From NYC 31/07/08
  33.   Free gilad Shalit-you should be sued #27 15:05  |  Roo 31/07/08
  34.   Coalition forces killing civilians Part 3 - war crimes??? YES! 15:17  |  John Mackie 31/07/08
  35.   Hypocrites ignoring coalition`s civilian casualties 15:42  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  36.   Coalition forces killing civilians Part 4 - war crimes? 15:52  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  37.   To the "Guy" from NYC,part 1 16:01  |  Hastaroth 31/07/08
  38.   #21,21,35 Free Shalit 16:04  |  THK 31/07/08
  39.   To the "Guy" from NYC,part 2 16:04  |  Hastaroth 31/07/08
  40.   Roo - go jump! 16:06  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  41.   #1 - Clickfool 16:06  |  THK 31/07/08
  42.   John Mackie 34# 16:08  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  43.   Bravo, Gideon, Continue On Telling the Truth! 16:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/07/08
  44.   Levy, are you really Jewish? 16:11  |  John Allen 31/07/08
  45.   I would go for trying Landau first for "rape Israel" remark 16:14  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/07/08
  46.   Mr. Levy. 16:19  |  John Allen 31/07/08
  47.   Gideon fans the hate flame. 16:21  |  Gilad 31/07/08
  48.   I reported that it was Hamas that blew up this family in Beit Han 16:23  |  Ali-AP Gaza Reporter 31/07/08
  49.   Gideon Levy never bothers to ask Arabs to have "moral dillemas" 16:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/07/08
  50.   Gideon Levy, Let me assure you 16:32  |  Dutch 31/07/08
  51.   The Australian connection 16:48  |  Marilyn 31/07/08
  52.   Right after you prosecute Abbas and the rest of Fatah, right? 16:49  |  Levy the fool 31/07/08
  53.   Suhaarto also killed 17:01  |  utagawa 31/07/08
  54.   Want some cheese with that whine Levy? 17:10  |  Jane 31/07/08
  55.   It is the Muslim World that calls it a War Crime 17:26  |  Meir Weinstein 31/07/08
  56.   Sylvie - 28 Holon 17:38  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/07/08
  57.   Ah, how the mighty fall... 17:48  |  Esther 31/07/08
  58.   "Free Gilad Shalit" 17:49  |  Sylvie 31/07/08
  59.   Just more proof why sreen names match 17:50  |  Arie 31/07/08
  60.   # 53, UTAGAWA 17:53  |  indrajaya 31/07/08
  61.   Levy Proves Again That IDF Most Evil Army In History 18:16  |  Anti-Zionist 31/07/08
  62.   To Proud Israeli 18:32  |  noor 31/07/08
  63.   Free Gilad Shalit #40 18:45  |  Roo 31/07/08
  64.   Sylvie 18:46  |  Victoria 31/07/08
  65.   The Loathsomeness of a Jewish Self-Hater 18:49  |  Tod Zuckerman 31/07/08
  66.   One way or another they will pay for their crimes. 18:59  |  Deborah 31/07/08
  67.   Jane #54 -don`t be hasty 19:04  |  Roo 31/07/08
  68.   "Sudan`s president vows never to deal with ICC (AP") 19:06  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/07/08
  69.   Gideon Levy, 19:09  |  Ralph 31/07/08
  70.   Vitaly - Moslem terrorists, or just Moslems? 19:09  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
  71.   Guy from NYC 19:09  |  Victoria 31/07/08
  72.   Levy shows us That IDF Most Evil Army In History against enemies 19:10  |  Evil Zionist 31/07/08
  73.   Meir...tiny Jewish state? 19:16  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
  74.   Victoria - peace initiatives?? 19:20  |  Sylvie 31/07/08
  75.   please remember to remember 19:26  |  rich 31/07/08
  76.   He is just translating articles from Al Manar 19:45  |  Uri 31/07/08
  77.   What Is Loathsome, Zuckerman 19:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/07/08
  78.   noor,you promised me a few months ago you were leaving America 19:51  |  terrornator 31/07/08
  79.   Dutch WHERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HAMAS’ MASSACRES 19:51  |  RW 31/07/08
  80.   Clickfool At It Again 19:52  |  Ruth 31/07/08
  81.   #37 19:53  |  Amos 31/07/08
  82.   palestinian brit # 70 tell me,are all terrorist,moslem,or or all 19:57  |  terrornator 31/07/08
  83.   Evil Zionist 19:57  |  Connie 31/07/08
  84.   IDF General Tamir should be sent to the Hague for War Crimes 20:02  |  Yossi Cronenberg 31/07/08
  85.   Yes, many Israelis should be tried for their War Crimes 20:03  |  POP 31/07/08
  86.   amos? are you sure that is your name 20:09  |  Connie 31/07/08
  87.   #77 Yaacov Sullivan 20:29  |  THK 31/07/08
  88.   to Rich and Sylvie 20:35  |  Victoria 31/07/08
  89.   Put faulty electronic component and the gun barrel on trial 20:40  |  American in NY 31/07/08
  90.   Ruth on the sinking of the Belgrano # 80 20:40  |  Clickfool 31/07/08
  91.   WAR IS UGLY 20:42  |  Proud Jew 31/07/08
  92.   #87 THK joins jew haters! 20:55  |  FIGHTER OF EVIL 31/07/08
  93.   Yossi Cronenberg; It`s people like you... 21:01  |  Gray 31/07/08
  94.   #44 Yes he is 21:03  |  Edith 31/07/08
  95.   Didn`t President Shimon Peres say the other day... 21:06  |  Smadar 31/07/08
  96.   #49 21:07  |  Edith 31/07/08
  97.   I would like Mr Levy 21:24  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  98.   Neither have I read an article by Mr Levy 21:31  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  99.   #86, Connie... 21:37  |  Silvienne 31/07/08
  100.   Kutw; "....when pals kill Israelis..." 21:40  |  Gray 31/07/08
  101.   Operation Automn Clouds aimed at stopping qassam launching 21:43  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  102.   Autumn Clouds: ?civilians? assisting the terrorists 21:50  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  103.   Autumn Clouds: 59 dead pals were gunmen. 21:57  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  104.   Autumn Clouds: stockpiles of weaponry discovered 22:14  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  105.   Autumn clouds: the terrorists sheltering among population 22:17  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  106.   Autumn Clouds: suicide attack thwarted 22:21  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  107.   Better attack the messenger than take time to reflect 22:22  |  Ben Alofs 31/07/08
  108.   99. Silvienne: pal government should feed them 22:25  |  KUTW 31/07/08
  109.   #92 - Fighter of ??? 22:35  |  THK 31/07/08
  110.   free gilad shalit 23 23:14  |  potobac 31/07/08
  111.   To Guy FRom NYC 23:24  |  Peter 31/07/08
  112.   But you praise Kuntar release you lyin` hypocrite 23:35  |  friend not foe 31/07/08
  113.   Connie: Palestinians "flourishing" 23:35  |  Gray 31/07/08
  114.   Rottweilers 23:43  |  Zvi E 31/07/08
  115.   TERRORNATOR 23:43  |  noor 31/07/08
  116.   KUTW: "Like A Monkey With A Flashlight....." 23:46  |  Gray 31/07/08
  117.   #108, KUTW.. 23:50  |  Silvienne 31/07/08
  118.   2nd Try,these criminals should be tried for war crimes and 23:54  |  lakshmi 31/07/08
  119.   #111, Peter...here we go again!! 23:55  |  Silvienne 31/07/08
  120.   Sylvie 58 00:04  |  Free Gilad Shalit 01/08/08
  121.   #12, TonyL, and "people on the edge" 00:05  |  newageblues 01/08/08
  122.   Potobac 00:09  |  Free Gilad Shalit 01/08/08
  123.   #24, Natallie 00:15  |  hello 01/08/08
  124.   Justice has ingenious ways of prevailing... 00:33  |  blindjustice 01/08/08
  125.   Gideon Levy 00:37  |  Ron 01/08/08
  126.   #86 Connie 00:39  |  Amos 01/08/08
  127.   To Free Gilad Shalit 00:44  |  Janice 01/08/08
  128.   123 00:49  |  Amos 01/08/08
  129.   Zivi E; "Accidentally" speaking 00:51  |  Gray 01/08/08
  130.   Peter from Amsterdam 00:56  |  Janice 01/08/08
  131.   STUART STEIN #5 01:01  |  shoshanna 01/08/08
  132.   117. Silvienne 01:14  |  KUTW 01/08/08
  133.   TO FREE GILAD SHALIT 01:17  |  shosha 01/08/08
  134.   a voice of reason in a sea of madness 01:18  |  Pssd Off American 01/08/08
  135.   EDDIE AND THOUGHT CRIMES 01:25  |  shosha 01/08/08
  136.   Guy from NYC - you forgot the one 01:39  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
  137.   in the meantieme Guy from NYC 01:42  |  ChanahS 01/08/08
  138.   #21, 22, etc. Free Gilad Shalit 02:36  |  Johnboy 01/08/08
  139.   Friend not foe: Whining about Kuntar 02:46  |  Guy From NYC 01/08/08
  140.   Israel can commit war crimes as long as others are too??? 02:48  |  Ben 01/08/08
  141.   Shosha Thank You!! 02:53  |  Guy From NYC 01/08/08
  142.   For the deniers and apologists 03:12  |  Che 01/08/08
  143.   About Those "Jew-haters" & "Islamo-facists" 03:27  |  Gray 01/08/08
  144.   NOWHERE does Levy mention that Qassems had been CONTINUOSLY fired 03:55  |  PETER SM 01/08/08
  145.   all you clicking fools 04:35  |  JfromC 01/08/08
  146.   #78 terrornatot noor couln`t give up he cushy place in the US. 04:44  |  . 01/08/08
  147.   ISRAEL Bashers expect Return fire when Israeli Civillians 05:05  |  PETER SM 01/08/08
  148.   SYLVIENNE the trouble is you people never expect consequences 05:19  |  PETER SM 01/08/08
  149.   How many Germans did the Nazis prosecute? 05:28  |  Mark Lincoln 01/08/08
  150.   How many Germans did the Nazis prosecute? 05:28  |  Mark Lincoln 01/08/08
  151.   GREY.Skirting around Jew haters like kill ALL Jews Narallah or 05:41  |  PETER SM 01/08/08
  152.   The Innocent Pal Children 05:48  |  Jasper 01/08/08
  153.   There Is No Statute of Limitations For War Crimes 05:53  |  Mr. Know-It-All 01/08/08
  154.   questioning Gideon`s jewishness 05:56  |  hollingsworth 01/08/08
  155.   OK he writes for the Left 06:08  |  Mr Ipp 01/08/08
  156.   M.LINCOLN How many Arabs have been charged by Arab with anything? 06:12  |  PETER SM 01/08/08
  157.   Silvienne 06:22  |  Connie 01/08/08
  158.   Amos 06:30  |  Connie 01/08/08
  159.   Peter sm; Let`s see..... 06:36  |  Gray 01/08/08
  160.   Connie re SIlvienne 07:06  |  Janice 01/08/08
  161.   i would believe it`s a joke 07:15  |  dani.a 01/08/08
  162.   A zions thugs "country"!! 07:24  |  Niva dos Santos 01/08/08
  163.   thank you gideon, for exposing the qualities the idf "prefers" 09:48  |  eric 01/08/08
  164.   "in a sniper`s bead" 10:00  |  eric 01/08/08
  165.   U.S. occupation in Iraq, IDF in the "Territories"... 10:39  |  sandra chitayat 01/08/08
  166.   Gideon Levy - Stooge 10:43  |  Abu Golanchik 01/08/08
  167.   #154 Hollingsworth, I disagree 11:17  |  Johan Odin 01/08/08
  168.   the bitter irony of the selfrighteous 12:42  |  eric 01/08/08
  169.   Johnboy 138 Janice etc. 15:39  |  Free Gilad Shalit 01/08/08
  170.   to Johan Odin 17:36  |  hollingsworth 01/08/08
  171.   moral absolutism of journalist 00:22  |  honey bunch 02/08/08
  172.   168 Eric, Re: Righteousness and moral blindness 04:44  |  Dutch 02/08/08
  173.   Connie 14:19  |  Amos 02/08/08
  174.   173 Eric, Addendum (The Pain of injustice) 20:22  |  Dutch 02/08/08
  175.   173 addendum, (The pain of injustice ) 21:07  |  Dutch 02/08/08
  176.   173 Eric, P. P. S. 21:33  |  Dutch 02/08/08
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