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Reserve IDF generals: Gaza ethics probe necessary but difficult to carry out By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Israel news, Ethics probe  Reserve Israel Defense Forces generals cast doubt Thursday over the army's ability to conduct an efficient internal investigation, after the publication in Haaretz of testimonies of soldiers who took part in the Gaza offensive. The soldiers complained of permissive rules of engagement and the intentional destruction of Palestinian property. "The IDF has neither the tools nor the culture to carry out inquiries into ethical dilemmas. In fact, no army in the world has such a thing," said Maj. Gen. (res.) Ami Ayalon, the former head of the navy and Shin Bet security service. "We shouldn't be surprised that such stories come to light. Whoever has lived in this country for the last 20 years, unless he has closed his eyes and ears, should not be surprised. The IDF never knew how to investigate such things, and in recent years, the problem has become more difficult because there are more such incidents." Advertisement Ayalon said Operation Cast Lead had compromised the IDF's "ethos, which was once built on ethics and sacrifice, and today, after the Gaza offensive, is based on force alone." Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven, however, breaks ranks with Ayalon, saying the revelations presented in Haaretz do not accurately reflect the army's nature. "That's not the IDF spirit, nor the commanders' spirit," he said. "In any case, the fact that this issue didn't emerge from official investigations is serious in itself, and we must examine why soldiers told such stories to the media or in other forums. Such a thing can happen only in places where commanders didn't do what was demanded of them - it didn't happen in every unit." Another major general in the reserves, who requested anonymity, said it is natural for such complaints to be aired outside official IDF inquiries. Even in 'Waltz with Bashir' "Even in the movie 'Waltz with Bashir,' there is a group of soldiers sitting around who were apparently shell-shocked, and only now such stories have reached the outside and we're starting to hear about them," he said. "It's the same here - there are things that don't come up in an inquiry, but when a group of guys gets together, it's different." All of the generals interviewed agreed on one thing - the army must investigate the events in question. "It's important to emphasize, particularly after such revelations, that ethical considerations must come above everything else," said a high-ranking officer in active service. Related articles: IDF killed civilians in Gaza under loose rules of engagement IDF orders probe into allegations over Gaza war ANALYSIS / Can Israel dismiss its own troops' stories from Gaza? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Vulgar fashion Bombed mosques and dead Palestinian babies are featured on IDF troops' clothes 'Inadmissible' MP Canada denies entry to vocal British MP George Galloway due to his 'support of Hamas'   1.   I support a more ethical army 06:03  |  Baruch Gold 20/03/09   2.   "The first victim of war is truth." 12:48  |  a wandering Jew 20/03/09

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