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Last update - 21:52 23/01/2009
Israel to approve aid for IDF officers accused of Gaza war crimes
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel News, IDF

The government is set to approve a bill Sunday to grant aid and support to Israel Defense Forces officers in cases where they face suits for alleged war crimes from Operation Cast Lead.

The bill, titled "strengthening the IDF's hand after Operation Cast Lead", was put forward by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and coordinated by the Ministry or Defense, Ministry of Justice and State Prosecutor. There is growing concern at the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Justice that Israeli officers will be singled out in a wave of suits for alleged human rights violations.

Barak said Friday that the government carries the responsibility for sending IDF soldiers on military operations and as a result is obligated to grant them complete support against any possible harm to them stemming from those operations.
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"I do not know of any army that operates at the high standards that the IDF operates," Barak said. "There is no place for an automatic backlash following every operation."

Barak wrote in the bill that the IDF behaved according to its high moral values during Cast Lead, in spite of the fact that Hamas gunmen fired on IDF troops from areas heavily populated with civilians, in clear violation of international law.

"As an army which is unsurpassed in its moral traditions, the IDF has done all that it can in order to adhere to international law, in order to avoid harming civilians who are not involved in fighting," Barak said, adding that such moral principles "have not always been enough to prevent tragedies from happening."

"Nonetheless, Hamas cynically uses its civilians in a manner that places responsibility for the results upon their shoulders," Barak added.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Justice Minister Daniel Friedman to head a team that will examine methods to avoid war crimes charges for those involved in IDF operations in Gaza. The decision comes as a result of civilian casualties that happened as a result of Operation Cast Lead.

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      1.   The ones in charge are known 16:22  |  Natallie Durson 23/01/09
      2.   we are making sas list checking it twice 16:23  |  Santa Hamas 23/01/09
      3.   The shit hits the fan 16:28  |  Fred 23/01/09
      4.   Don?t compare but look to possible future effects 16:41  |  H.H.M 23/01/09
      5.   Welcome to Haag mr Barak! 16:42  |  Peter L 23/01/09
      6.   Don?t compare but look to possible future effects 16:45  |  H.H.M 23/01/09
      7.   #2 Natallie 16:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/01/09
      8.   What is the Israeli government afraid of? 16:50  |  Ernst 23/01/09
      9.   Don?t compare but look to possible future effects 16:51  |  H.H.M. 23/01/09
      10.   The scale of Israel`s crimes and disgrace 16:52  |  Clickfool 23/01/09
      11.   War criminals 16:55  |  William 23/01/09
      12.   War Crimes a waste of time 16:56  |  Dave Duncan 23/01/09
      13.   Errr... what about evidence before accusation? 17:08  |  ZISD 23/01/09
      14.   War Crimes? You`ve got to be kidding 17:21  |  Scott L. Havsy 23/01/09
      15.   Calm down Barak! 17:27  |  Israel supporter 23/01/09
      16.   The Jew haters are foaming at the mouth, sticking it to the Jews, 17:45  |  Heidi 23/01/09
      17.   Arrest duplicitious Brits visiting Israel,coming to learn anti-te 17:46  |  Absolute Sweden 23/01/09
      18.   The Story of A Strange Country 17:46  |  Persian Kitty 23/01/09
      19.   If Officers get charges, next time don´t care 17:59  |  Daniel 23/01/09
      20.   Scott L. Havsy - You gotta be kidding! 18:00  |  ME 23/01/09
      21.   Another admission of wrongdoing... 18:00  |  Silvienne 23/01/09
      22.   #2, Santa Hamas, it`s gonna be a loooong list! 18:01  |  Silvienne 23/01/09
      23.   IDF should have allowed in........ 18:11  |  Where is Clickfool? 23/01/09
      24.   1: Evading Responsibility As A Lifestyle 18:16  |  Phil 23/01/09
      25.   Scott, you need to get help.... 18:18  |  David James Vickery 23/01/09
      26.   For "Where is Clickfool?" # 9 19:08  |  Clickfool 23/01/09
      27.   David the Canadian 19:08  |  Ron 23/01/09
      28.   For Heidi # 5 19:11  |  Clickfool 23/01/09
      29.   @ #1 Natalie Durson 19:14  |  Will 23/01/09
      30.   #11 David Vickery 19:16  |  Sarah 23/01/09
      31.   #9 19:17  |  Ron 23/01/09
      32.   #4 Scott L Havsy 19:20  |  mike 23/01/09
      33.   The bill "Cover them up" more appropriate. 19:21  |  Darus Salam 23/01/09
      34.   makes no sense 19:27  |  Sparkles Plenty 23/01/09
      35.   scott#4. You definitely got it wrong. 19:31  |  Horold Strongman DPM 23/01/09
      36.   This will go nowhere 19:42  |  Da Nang 23/01/09
      37.   A Lifetime Of Not Being Able To Leave Israel 19:44  |  chet 23/01/09
      38.   Daniel 19:46  |  Jimminy 23/01/09
      39.   for #13: Even when Jews are innocent, as they 19:57  |  Heidi 23/01/09
      40.   For Clickfool 20:00  |  Miriam Ashkelon 23/01/09
      41.   What do you have to hide? 20:13  |  Ben 23/01/09
      42.   Anonymous Pilot 20:38  |  American Patriot 23/01/09
      43.   Barak, tahar haneshek and "1984" Truthspeak" 20:39  |  David 23/01/09
      44.   And yet still no evidence 20:42  |  Jordan 23/01/09
      45.   I USE HUMAN AS SHIELD 20:44  |  THINKER 23/01/09
      46.   For "Miriam Ashkelon" # 18 20:46  |  Clickfool 23/01/09
      47.   JewHaters (durson;Clickfool;Daud aka David J.Vickery & Co): Know 20:51  |  Vittorio 23/01/09
      48.   admitted! 20:55  |  Stem Cell 23/01/09
      49.   Why do you need that?? 21:05  |  Palestinian 23/01/09
      50.   It`s too bad he appears to mean it 21:22  |  Colin Wright 23/01/09
      51.   Ari ben Yisrael 21:28  |  Jake1948 23/01/09
      52.   Very disturbing 21:51  |  Matt 23/01/09
      53.   War crimes 22:09  |  Mikhail 23/01/09
      54.   #23, Miriam Ashkelon, and oh! what a victory! 22:11  |  Silvienne 23/01/09
      55.   hot air 22:16  |  Amal 23/01/09
      56.   move to Gaza 22:52  |  ron 23/01/09
      57.   How about Arab crimes since 1948 ...any accusations? 23:07  |  Johann 23/01/09
      58.   #9 International Journalists 23:11  |  DesMnsDave 23/01/09
      59.   #13 Clicfool 23:42  |  Sarah 23/01/09
      60.   "Jew haters are foaming at the mouth" 00:03  |  mendel-the-mean 24/01/09
      61.   IDF lawyers 00:05  |  flimflam 24/01/09
      62.   Purity of Arms 00:15  |  Pssd Off American 24/01/09
      63.   to hot air 00:16  |  christof litz 24/01/09
      64.   silly though of Barak 00:22  |  ana 24/01/09
      65.   The difference between Hamas and the IDF 00:24  |  mary 24/01/09
      66.   #28 00:30  |  mary 24/01/09
      67.   The Israeli army has high standards 00:31  |  hala 24/01/09
      68.   19 00:34  |  Ebrahim 24/01/09
      69.   #34 00:39  |  Malcolm 24/01/09
      70.   This really is telling 00:50  |  Colin Wright 24/01/09
      71.   mary #39 `The difference between Hamas and the IDF` 00:54  |  Colin Wright 24/01/09
      72.   Didnt think so. 00:55  |  Sean 24/01/09
      73.   Mary 01:07  |  Connie 24/01/09
      74.   #28 Matt 01:09  |  Boycott 24/01/09
      75.   #40 mary 01:12  |  Boycott 24/01/09
      76.   #19 Da Nang 01:15  |  BDS 24/01/09
      77.   Des Moines Dave 01:26  |  Pssd Off American 24/01/09
      78.   The difference between Hamas and IDF 01:26  |  Maria 24/01/09
      79.   There will be peace in Israel if all Palestinians 01:28  |  Maria 24/01/09
      80.   british police 01:31  |  D moore 24/01/09
      81.   israel to approve aid to IDF 01:35  |  James Dunne 24/01/09
      82.   Do not publish the identity of military leaders 02:02  |  Cyber 24/01/09
      83.   What about the white phosphorus shells? 02:03  |  Aron 24/01/09
      84.   Time to face the music and dance 02:15  |  Jack Olson 24/01/09
      85.   to Phil #10 02:15  |  Bob 24/01/09
      86.   War criminals?? 02:41  |  Jordan 24/01/09
      87.   Imagine 02:44  |  hollingsworth 24/01/09
      88.   to 34 02:46  |  Jordan 24/01/09
      89.   christof litz 02:58  |  Connie 24/01/09
      90.   War Crimes indeed! 03:01  |  Magpie 24/01/09
      91.   #4 I see a poster who has wisdom to speak .. 03:02  |  Jasmine 24/01/09
      92.   Blinded by lack of distance 03:09  |  David 24/01/09
      93.   # 7 Silvienne - As a female you should know 03:12  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      94.   "Protection programs", with new IDs. 03:17  |  Dorsi Grey 24/01/09
      95.   #9 where is what`s his name 03:17  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      96.   #12 Clicky - don`t flatter yourself 03:20  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      97.   #30 Silvienne - Place the blame where it belongs 03:23  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      98.   Miriam - war? 03:24  |  wibism 24/01/09
      99.   #24 Ben NYC 03:26  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      100.   #41 Hala - If you want to place the blame 03:31  |  *BEN JABO 24/01/09
      101.   #53 Ben Jabo. Lawyers and insurace. 03:34  |  Maureen Ann 24/01/09
      102.   Should ask for millions in deposits in Israeli Courts for every D 03:34  |  Alfred 24/01/09
      103.   #52 Ben Jabo..Did you know??? 03:35  |  Jasmine 24/01/09
      104.   "As an army which is unsurpassed in its moral traditions? 03:45  |  Torrance 24/01/09
      105.   PALESTINIANS 04:22  |  MARIA 24/01/09
      106.   Circling the wagons 04:38  |  Colin Wright 24/01/09
      107.   Wibism about War 04:48  |  Miriam 24/01/09
      108.   helping me to understand 04:59  |  hollingsworth 24/01/09
      109.   Anyone remember the Hamas war crimes? 05:01  |  Peter Williams 24/01/09
      110.   #76 *BEN JABO and the blame game 05:04  |  hala 24/01/09
      111.   #1 the ones in charge are known 05:45  |  Jeff 24/01/09
      112.   Peter Williams and war crimes... 05:57  |  BBSNews 24/01/09
      113.   #86, hala, you are contradicting yourself 06:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/01/09
      114.   strange days indeed 06:31  |  rm 24/01/09
      115.   PIOUS CRITICISM BY THOSE WHO NEVER SPENT A SEC IN A BOMB SHELTER 08:23  |  Steve 24/01/09
      116.   Proof 10:32  |  Yonatan 24/01/09
      117.   "circling the wagons" 11:30  |  mendel-the-mean 24/01/09
      118.   #46 Quite right, Clickfool. Israel did not HAVE to assault Gaza 14:35  |  Ben Alofs 24/01/09
      119.   #5 Peter L 16:37  |  John Allen 24/01/09
      120.   war crimes 16:51  |  dalgo 24/01/09
      121.   IDF War Criminals On The Run 16:53  |  joanna 24/01/09
      122.   War Crimes justifies War Crimes 16:55  |  Ed 24/01/09
      123.   Ben Alofs and Clickfool get things out of order 17:11  |  Nero 24/01/09
      124.   Clearly the Government of Israel knows 18:04  |  Mark Lincoln 24/01/09
      125.   Fundamental problem with Israeli psyche 18:24  |  Mike 24/01/09
      126.   Ben Alofs 18:38  |  danite 24/01/09
      127.   # 7 Chris Linthwaite 19:46  |  Daivd 24/01/09
      128.   Those who commit war crimes should give themselves up 20:52  |  Jean Pierre 24/01/09
      129.   #120 Ed 21:22  |  Boycott DS 24/01/09
      130.   IDF precision 01:24  |  Paul 25/01/09
      131.   War crimes 01:26  |  Amir 25/01/09
      132.   Friends of the IDF 01:39  |  Steve 25/01/09
      133.   Imagine this 01:41  |  Denise 25/01/09
      134.   Move fast too 01:45  |  Denise 25/01/09
      135.   War Crimes 01:47  |  Abe 25/01/09
      136.   Torrance from Tampa 01:58  |  john and the TRUTH! 25/01/09
      137.   # 128 Jean Pierre 02:00  |  Magpie 25/01/09
      138.   #131 - Amir 03:41  |  Magpie 25/01/09
      139.   #118 Ben Alofs 03:44  |  ballistic 25/01/09
      140.   #125 Mike, Geez, how refreshing! 03:48  |  ballistic 25/01/09
      141.   #89, Say Connie, in post after post, 04:20  |  ballistic 25/01/09
      142.   #73 Golly Connie, I sent you 04:27  |  ballistic 25/01/09
      143.   barak`s statement of DECEIT; is a smiling tongue-in-cheek! 08:07  |  eric 25/01/09
      144.   #93, Ben Jabo... 09:09  |  Silvienne 25/01/09
      145.   ANYONE SURPRISED? it`s a MUST for olmert and barak! (3rd try) 10:34  |  eric 25/01/09
      146.   A RUSH TO BLAME 18:32  |  CUSPIDOR 25/01/09
      147.   #132 Steve..Thank You,Thank you, a 100 times .. 23:46  |  Kathy 25/01/09
      148.   #132 Steve..Thank You,Thank you, a 100 times .. 23:46  |  Kathy 25/01/09
      149.   To # 132 - You´re right - peace is bad for businesses... 00:00  |  Ed 27/01/09
      150.   #144 Silvienne - Thanks for the link 00:11  |  *BEN JABO 29/01/09
      151.   This bill is to protect the Barak and Olmert 12:41  |  Sig Lof 04/02/09
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