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Gaza homes hit during Operation Cast Lead.
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Last update - 12:39 24/03/2009
Time to believe Gaza war crimes allegations
By Amira Hass
Tags: Palestinians, Gaza 

Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi has difficulty believing the soldiers' testimonies that they intentionally harmed Palestinian civilians, because the Israel Defense Forces is a moral army, he said on Sunday.

On the other hand, he believes the soldiers because they "have no reason to lie." Then again, Ashkenazi is convinced that if what they said is true, these are isolated incidents.

Ashkenazi reacted like most Israelis - as though the reports, including those in Haaretz and Maariv, were the first about the Gaza offensive that were issued by someone other than the military spokesman or the military reporters, who rely on him for their information.
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But ample information was available from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reports, based on statements collected from hundreds of people in the Gaza Strip in January and February.

Ashkenazi, like other Israelis, could have read the Red Cross' protest during the offensive, that the IDF prevented medical teams from reaching wounded Palestinians by shooting at them. He or his aides could have gone to the Web site set up by Israeli human rights organizations, which was full of reports and testimonies.

His aides, had they wanted to, could have found the many questions foreign reporters sent to the IDF spokesman, seeking Ashkenazi's comments before they filed their stories. They had details about families killed by IDF shells and bombs in their homes, about the lethal white phosphorus shells and about the shooting of civilians waving white flags. The had cataloged the massive destruction of plants, orchards, fields, cowsheds and apartment buildings. Much evidence of these outrages was also published inside Haaretz.

The IDF's legal advisers must have read it all. Including, perhaps, that judges who participated in investigation committees into crimes in Darfur, the former Yugoslavia and East Timor want to set up a similar international committee to investigate "all the parties" in the IDF offensive on Gaza. These people have concluded that the events go beyond isolated incidents and that the problem is not only in the soldiers' conduct, but the instructions from the senior military ranks and the ministers in charge.

It's hard to believe that the chief of staff, defense minister and their aides haven't read at least some reports that were not issued by the IDF. But even if they did, why should they let on? After all, they are the ones who gave the orders.

Ashkenazi chose to look surprised, as though he were an ordinary Israeli citizen disregarding reports from parties other than the IDF, because they were based on Palestinian testimonies. Most Israelis "know" Palestinians lie, so their statements should not be taken seriously.

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      1.   I wonder why most Israelis think Palestinians lie? 05:12  |  Maury Rochestadt 24/03/09
      2.   It would be silly to "simply" believe Pals 05:20  |  Brad 24/03/09
      3.   Bingo! 05:45  |  David Howard 24/03/09
      4.   I do believe Palestinians 05:47  |  Frank 24/03/09
      5.   Yeah, like 42 kids killed inside a UN school? 05:54  |  Dan 24/03/09
      6.   Palywood Amira? 05:54  |  Dan 24/03/09
      7.   A good time to read "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)" 05:56  |  Arab 24/03/09
      8.   And yet - 06:04  |  Aaron Truitt 24/03/09
      9.   Amira, in the first two responses to this thread... 06:13  |  BBSNews 24/03/09
      10.   Israel beating themselves up again........ 06:16  |  TLFBIY 24/03/09
      11.   You don`t get it 06:24  |  Colin Wright 24/03/09
      12.   re #2 `It would be silly to "simply" believe Pals` 06:28  |  Colin Wright 24/03/09
      13.   pahetic amira, fake candor true propaganda 06:38  |  stephane 24/03/09
      14.   amira, I have always believed the "Palestinians"- and still do... 06:39  |  bat yam 24/03/09
      15.   I DON`T BELIEVE ANYTHING ISRAEL SAYS ANYMORE 06:45  |  Arik Silverman 24/03/09
      16.   I Have No Doubt That Some War Crimes Occured In Gaza 06:46  |  Jeff Northridge 24/03/09
      17.   Just a thought 06:52  |  Najeeb Syed 24/03/09
      18.   Amira Hass is just a pro-palestinian propaganda writer 06:54  |  John Doe 24/03/09
      19.   Israel?s media people? 07:06  |  Jean Van Daem 24/03/09
      20.   Maybe it`s time we believe Amnesty International 07:19  |  Joe Sittizen 24/03/09
      21.   I wonder why most Israelis think Palestinians lie? 07:20  |  Margeret 24/03/09
      22.   Why believe liars? 07:38  |  Baruch Gold 24/03/09
      23.   Changling Headlines "Time to believe Palestinians to..." 07:40  |  Baruch Gold 24/03/09
      24.   with immoral leaders 07:40  |  Donatus 24/03/09
      25.   mistakes... 07:47  |  Charles 24/03/09
      26.   BELIEVE US 07:52  |  Paul 24/03/09
      27.   Not time to believe - time to investigate 07:53  |  Charlie 24/03/09
      28.   a simple question 08:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/09
      29.   When Palestinians Lie... 08:02  |  Baurch Gold 24/03/09
      30.   Lies 08:04  |  John 24/03/09
      31.   Excellent piece 08:10  |  peacelover 24/03/09
      32.   To Colin Wright: Well put 08:13  |  peacelover 24/03/09
      33.   Palestinians in Lebanon 08:27  |  As`ad Abukhalil 24/03/09
      34.   Darfur???? 08:28  |  leo 24/03/09
      35.   Amira Haas 08:41  |  Rich 24/03/09
      36.   #1 Because they constantly lie 08:57  |  UlfT 24/03/09
      37.   Talking about Gaza "crimes" w/out Hamas crimes is a crime itself 09:08  |  S 24/03/09
      38.   Amira`s call for belief: a proof of lack of evidence? 09:25  |  UlfT 24/03/09
      39.   Time to admit a war was brought on by Hamas 09:30  |  David 24/03/09
      40.   To Maury Rochestadt - do Palestinians Lie? 09:32  |  Chloe 24/03/09
      41.   yellow journalism 09:35  |  shai 24/03/09
      42.   difficult issues - does israel have to be more moral than arabs? 09:36  |  w. bone 24/03/09
      43.   Amira belief= faith 09:41  |  Zelkha 24/03/09
      44.   Ashkenazi wouldn`t need all those Human Rights reports...... 09:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/09
      45.   People like Ashkenazi are part of the problem 09:52  |  Dutch 24/03/09
      46.   IDF confirming the kill 10:00  |  JBT 24/03/09
      47.   Wow... a bloodhound Amira Hass article 10:16  |  allang 24/03/09
      48.   Amira time to be quiet 10:25  |  x-ray 24/03/09
      49.   How do you know when an Israeli spokesman is lying? 10:29  |  Stephen L 24/03/09
      50.   Joe Sittizen with his inadequate comparison 10:51  |  Dutch 24/03/09
      51.   Jenin 11:05  |  Joe W 24/03/09
      52.   Individual crimes are not government crimes 11:10  |  dyinglikeflies 24/03/09
      53.   PROBLEM WITH PALs TESTIMONIES IS, THEY USED TO DENOUNCE EVENTS... 11:30  |  MOSHEH 24/03/09
      54.   Amira, I have heard hundreds of far different reports. 11:34  |  JO 24/03/09
      55.   Time to Read Caroline Glick instead of Amira Hass 11:36  |  Palestinian in tears 24/03/09
      56.   Enough of the accusations, go to court. 11:37  |  a wandering Jew 24/03/09
      57.   TIME to call allegations just that & not use misleading headlines 11:49  |  PETER SM 24/03/09
      58.   The Dead don`t Lie 12:02  |  Matty Groves 24/03/09
      59.   Time to beliveve IDF will do nothing 12:08  |  J.B. Tito 24/03/09
      60.   # 20 - Kohn - answers for a simpleton question 12:09  |  Natallie Durson 24/03/09
      61.   IDF in Gaza 12:26  |  George 24/03/09
      62.   CJK #20 Too simple 12:42  |  Roo 24/03/09
      63.   Reporters not allowed 12:53  |  Cath 24/03/09
      64.   Cipora = biased/pathetic 13:01  |  Neil 24/03/09
      65.   The Qassams stopeed didn`t they? 13:08  |  Yosi 24/03/09
      66.   Everyone believes that Amira believes any anti-israeli sentiment 13:12  |  lily 24/03/09
      67.   Hamas DO lie! 13:15  |  Danny 24/03/09
      68.   Exection before trial 13:18  |  a wandering Jew 24/03/09
      69.   def @ all juice 13:29  |  a. mohamed 24/03/09
      70.   Time to believe Gaza war crimes allegations 13:46  |  Paulo Almeida 24/03/09
      71.   It`s a merry go round 13:51  |  Walid 24/03/09
      72.   dealing with war crimes 13:55  |  JBT 24/03/09
      73.   Op Cast Lead 13:56  |  Shoshi 24/03/09
      74.   Most Israelis know Pals lie 13:57  |  Hannibal 24/03/09
      75.   Amira again write one piece at least about Hamas war crimes!!! 14:02  |  arthur 24/03/09
      76.   PLEASE MG#34, AND TREMENDOUS VICTIMS NUMBERS OF FIGHTS WITHIN... 14:05  |  MOSHEH 24/03/09
      77.   Report on Hamas Exploitation of Civilians as Human Shields 14:08  |  Sceptic 24/03/09
      78.   honest question for amira hass 14:08  |  ari 24/03/09
      79.   its arrogance....arrogance... arrogance.... 14:14  |  ravi 24/03/09
      80.   CJK #20 Too simple 14:18  |  Roo 24/03/09
      81.   "have no reason to lie." 14:20  |  sam 24/03/09
      82.   Until the allegations are 14:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/03/09
      83.   #36 Paulo Almeida 14:30  |  E 24/03/09
      84.   Amnesty international and Human rights watch 14:37  |  Alice 24/03/09
      85.   #39 Dealing with JBT 14:39  |  Hastaroth 24/03/09
      86.   Amira Hass- Israel`s Mata Hari or Tokyo Rose 14:40  |  Rich 24/03/09
      87.   Ashkenazi wouldn`t need the human rights groups..... 14:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/03/09
      88.   Execution before trial? 2nd try 14:41  |  a wandering Jew 24/03/09
      89.   #37 To Paolo Almeida the Portuguese 14:43  |  Hastaroth 24/03/09
      90.   Amira Ham-ass wants us to believe the allegations 14:44  |  Hastaroth 24/03/09
      91.   Whatever Amira Hass says, always consider the opposite 14:45  |  John Doe 24/03/09
      92.   Fools 14:57  |  Ray 24/03/09
      93.   Report on Hamas Exploitation of Civilians as Human Shields 15:04  |  Sceptic 24/03/09
      94.   CJK #20 Too simple 15:09  |  Roo 24/03/09
      95.   from victim to the executioner 15:12  |  kaled 24/03/09
      96.   Believe it 15:18  |  Mark 24/03/09
      97.   Ravi from Punjab said it best 15:25  |  Mark 24/03/09
      98.   Ramallah Hass strikes again 15:31  |  Gee 24/03/09
      99.   Everyone is a Lying...blah blah blah 15:47  |  James 24/03/09
      100.   Tim to ignore Amira Hass. Dont believe, investigate. 15:49  |  David 24/03/09
      101.   Time to belive 15:50  |  Feldmann Miaheli 24/03/09
      102.   ????Hastaroth??? 15:52  |  JBT 24/03/09
      103.   Question to Miss Amira Hass (NOT offensive) 15:53  |  Gil 24/03/09
      104.   "Sanbiki Na Saru" 16:04  |  Knott Bushman 24/03/09
      105.   For David in Boston 16:10  |  James 24/03/09
      106.   Lightwaite`s "guilty until proven innocent" argument 16:15  |  ZISD 24/03/09
      107.   Amira, Look at it this way... 16:16  |  Dutch 24/03/09
      108.   GABI HAS A TALENT TO BECOME A PRESIDENT 16:21  |  indrajaya 24/03/09
      109.   @1, ravi. we jews have 4000 years of history 16:22  |  v 24/03/09
      110.   when you disagree you are a jew hater, anti-semitic, a liar... 16:23  |  kaled 24/03/09
      111.   Amira Amira 16:24  |  David Benjamin 24/03/09
      112.   x-ray just makes things up... 16:48  |  BBSNews 24/03/09
      113.   And you all believe the IDF?! 16:50  |  David 24/03/09
      114.   Not enough aggresion they are still bombing Israel 16:58  |  lily 24/03/09
      115.   #93 ZISD 16:58  |  Chris Linthwaite 24/03/09
      116.   The Davids in Boston - and you believe HAMAS? 17:11  |  x-ray 24/03/09
      117.   Gil, exactly what is prescribed by doctor 17:16  |  Sceptic 24/03/09
      118.   Israeli`s Moral Army 17:24  |  Vladek 24/03/09
      119.   #11 Colin Wright 17:25  |  Peter Mall 24/03/09
      120.   Sceptic #92 Melanie Phillips???!!! You need help. 17:26  |  Roo 24/03/09
      121.   Indrajaya (#99) we don`t need Jesus to tell us to enter Gaza 17:38  |  Gil 24/03/09
      122.   Through the tiem capsule with Amira 17:41  |  alan the real one 24/03/09
      123.   Kaled.....you`re just jealous of the Jewish people! 17:52  |  Maria 24/03/09
      124.   If I were Dr. Mangele....I would examine Amira`s brain! 17:53  |  MMM 24/03/09
      125.   Yes, E #83 17:54  |  Peter Mall 24/03/09
      126.   Ashkenazi & war crimes 18:07  |  Gary 24/03/09
      127.   Deplorable 18:21  |  R 24/03/09
      128.   Pallywood!!!!!!!! 18:21  |  yeiel 24/03/09
      129.   v...109 18:28  |  ravi 24/03/09
      130.   Gil, Re: your teen calculations 18:34  |  Dutch 24/03/09
      131.   Chris Linthwaite from the UK Question 18:36  |  Gil 24/03/09
      132.   A Challenge 18:51  |  Zach 24/03/09
      133.   Rabbis with their hate speech 19:08  |  Esra 24/03/09
      134.   War crime allegations 19:27  |  Grossmann 24/03/09
      135.   Hass and company ignores real war crimes 19:31  |  Gee 24/03/09
      136.   Time to believe Gaza war crimes 19:43  |  EED 24/03/09
      137.   Amina al-Hass: Some People Still Believe the al-Durra Hoax 19:49  |  massaraskh 24/03/09
      138.   BBSNews 19:54  |  sfg 24/03/09
      139.   Sceptic (#117) 19:55  |  Gil 24/03/09
      140.   Sceptic (#117) 19:56  |  Gil 24/03/09
      141.   I believe you Amira 20:10  |  Mohammed Al Dura 24/03/09
      142.   Does Israel make any wrongs 20:11  |  mike honcho 24/03/09
      143.   To JBT # 46 re"confirming the kill" 20:33  |  David 24/03/09
      144.   Maria...you`re just blind of the reality 20:34  |  kaled 24/03/09
      145.   103 Let`s have you calculate thewanton destruction for your side 20:41  |  Dutch 24/03/09
      146.   #124 MMM.....I tried but couldn`t find it 20:42  |  Dr Mangele 24/03/09
      147.   Ashkenazi can`t have it both ways... 20:54  |  Silvienne 24/03/09
      148.   #60, Durson 20:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/09
      149.   #64, Neil 21:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/09
      150.   To Chris - I don`t know what Civilized Society You Live In 21:14  |  Eli 24/03/09
      151.   Jeff excellent post could not agree more 21:36  |  jj 24/03/09
      152.   Lies and liars 21:41  |  American 24/03/09
      153.   Doublethinker Roos last resort is personal assault 22:18  |  Sceptic 24/03/09
      154.   Challenge accepted 22:23  |  American 24/03/09
      155.   Amira`s Photograph 22:43  |  Mehdi 24/03/09
      156.   Dutch and his apologies for Palestinian war crimes 22:48  |  Joe Sittizen 24/03/09
      157.   Human Rights Violations 22:52  |  Tina Aviles 24/03/09
      158.   105 , James, anihilated? hmm, guess IDF isnt good at that 22:55  |  David 24/03/09
      159.   Time to believe what Israel is up against 22:58  |  Jasper 24/03/09
      160.   #136 EED, believe 1% of what you see, versus 99% of the truth 22:59  |  David 24/03/09
      161.   Roo, my roo 23:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/03/09
      162.   David #142 another non-event 23:12  |  Gee 24/03/09
      163.   #16 So sorry, Jeff, that is untrue 23:25  |  Johnboy 24/03/09
      164.   Time to outlaw Israeli denials as crimes against sanity 23:28  |  Joe 24/03/09
      165.   American ? 00:03  |  The Teacher/Instrut 25/03/09
      166.   CJK # 28, Gaza war according to you. 00:33  |  Westwell 25/03/09
      167.   Kaled....give me a break! I know what`s going on in 00:49  |  Maria 25/03/09
      168.   Too bad, Dr. Mangele 00:51  |  MMM 25/03/09
      169.   re: x-ray (#116) 00:53  |  David 25/03/09
      170.   Haretz: Is This Guardian/UK Article Accurate? 00:57  |  chet 25/03/09
      171.   Why not give Gaza back to Egypt and 00:58  |  MMM 25/03/09
      172.   Silly exchanges between CJK and Durson 01:04  |  Michael N 25/03/09
      173.   Nothing but liars worldwide - except the chosen people 01:21  |  riuz 25/03/09
      174.   massaraskh.#137 what hoax? 01:41  |  Roo 25/03/09
      175.   Amira Hass, you`ve got to be kidding me. 01:19  |  Akiva P 25/03/09
      176.   one man`s war crime is another`s defense, sweetie 02:33  |  Mark 25/03/09
      177.   Time to outlaw Israeli denials as crimes against sanity 03:10  |  Joe 25/03/09
      178.   #60 Natalie Durson 03:27  |  stan 25/03/09
      179.   Contra-Bingo - David Howard Harms Peace 03:28  |  ModestOpinion 25/03/09
      180.   #115 Chris Linthwaite 03:38  |  Stan 25/03/09
      181.   I LOVE YOU AMIRA 03:42  |  Christoph 25/03/09
      182.   Smell of racismall over 05:36  |  Joe 25/03/09
      183.   time to believe Gaza war crimes 06:03  |  sonicgumel 25/03/09
      184.   #146 CJK 06:32  |  Tony Price 25/03/09
      185.   wir willen es nicht wissen 08:42  |  Kenny Sedat 25/03/09
      186.   #151, Tony Price 09:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/03/09
      187.   massaraskh.#137 what hoax? 12:00  |  Roo 25/03/09
      188.   Tony Price 12:03  |  Roo 25/03/09
      189.   #155- aaagh, no, not the antisemite ploy! 12:35  |  Tony Price 25/03/09
      190.   that is so sad 13:04  |  Khaled 25/03/09
      191.   Tony Price 13:28  |  Roo 25/03/09
      192.   Tony Price 13:52  |  Roo 25/03/09
      193.   Gaza Atrocities 14:03  |  Adela Cecil 25/03/09
      194.   The American `high horse`... 18:13  |  American 25/03/09
      195.   Now, that`s a laugh, Teacher 19:07  |  American 25/03/09
      196.   #60--Disproportionate response 19:18  |  Don Rosenberg 25/03/09
      197.   Re 55 Very well said 18:47  |  RME 22/04/09
      198.   war crime baggage 19:10  |  Derek Todd 18/10/09
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