Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 22, 2009 Adar 26, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:16 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

IDF to probe troops' testimony on civilian deaths during Gaza war By Amos Harel, Anshel Pfeffer, Fadi Eyadat and Shahar Ilan The military advocate general ordered the Israel Defense Forces yesterday to launch two official inquiries into soldiers' testimonies of alleged misconduct and serious violations of rules of engagement during Operation Cast Lead. Brig. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit instructed the Military Police's investigation unit to open the probes after graduates of the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory course said they had witnessed troops firing at unarmed civilians and vandalizing property during the Gaza fighting. Advertisement In response to the expose - published yesterday in Haaretz, the full version of which appears in today's Week's End section - Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he "is sure the IDF will examine the matter with all seriousness." "We have the most moral army in the world," Barak told Israel Radio. "I spent dozens of years in uniform, I know what happened in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, and I say to you that from the chief of staff down to the last soldier, the most moral army in the world stands ready to take orders from the government of Israel. I have no doubt that every incident will be individually examined." This is the first time Mendelblit has ordered a criminal inquiry to be opened. The unusual step was taken in light of the allegations including two specific incidents in which civilians were killed in clear violation of the rules of engagement. The incidents in question were described by squad leaders in the Givati Brigade. One of them involved an IDF sharpshooter mistakenly shooting a Palestinian mother and her two children. In another, a company commander ordered an elderly Palestinian woman to be shot and killed. Education Minister Yuli Tamir told Haaretz yesterday: "The testimonies are grave and disconcerting. I hope an in-depth, transparent investigation is opened immediately. These are accounts that pull the rug up from underneath our values." According to Hadash chairman Mohammed Barakeh: "These testimonies make Barak indictable for war crimes, and disqualify him for another term as defense minister. The political and military establishments must be indicted for war crimes." MK Aryeh Eldad of the right-wing National Union party said: "The Israeli left and the Arabs are apparently unable to tolerate a war in which it is almost entirely Arabs who are killed, and they clearly prefer a situation in which Be'er Sheva, Ashkelon and Ashdod are fired on and IDF soldiers are killed." Danny Zamir, the head of the pre-military course, said he would refuse to give the army the names of the soldiers who spoke of their combat experiences. "We will continue supporting our people. I gave the chief of staff the relevant materials, and we will assist the army in any way we can. But I haven't given names, nor do I intend to," he said. "I believe an internal IDF investigation must focus on the problems with the army's standards, and not on the people who carried out the acts." 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'

Read & React Iran supreme leader rejects Obama offer for 'new beginning' Responses: 105 UN envoy Falk: Gaza op seems to be war crime of greatest magnitude Responses: 80 Canada denies entry to British MP Galloway over 'backing Hamas' Responses: 91 Dead Palestinian babies and bombed mosques - IDF fashion 2009 Responses: 149 A response to Gideon Levy from a Swede who doesn't hate Israel Responses: 58 More Headlines 01:45 Police foil terror attack at Haifa shopping center 23:06 Noam Shalit: We won't stop our fight, we'll just change tactics 17:42 Hamas: We want to finalize Shalit deal as soon as possible 23:45 Umm al-Fahm announces general strike over far-right march set for Tuesday 22:15 Abbas: No Mideast peace without Jerusalem as Palestinian capital 17:50 Police disperse 'Palestinian Culture Festival' events 08:01 Letters from Madoff victims to judge reveal outrage, despair 10:51 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 13:35 Iran rejects Obama offer for 'new beginning' 19:32 Unlicensed teen motorcycle rider runs over, kills 3-year-old girl 19:22 Israeli killed in sand skiing accident in southern Peru 09:06 Jordanian arrested for allegedly threatening to bomb U.S. Jewish schools over Gaza op 22:41 Dead Palestinian babies and bombed mosques - IDF fashion 2009 18:32 British MP Galloway barred from Canada over 'supporting Hamas' 22:54 Report: India bought advanced spy satellite from Israel Previous Editions Select Day 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 15 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 08 mar

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