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Last update - 08:26 06/04/2009
IDF chief: Troops' Gaza testimonies are completely unfounded
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Gaza, IDF, Israel News 

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Sunday dismissed as "completely unfounded" accounts by Israeli soldiers of wrongdoings in the recent offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

"It greatly disturbed me, and everyone, the 'testimonies' of soldiers that have been published about inappropriate acts and the apparently intentional harming of the civilian population," Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi wrote in a letter to IDF soldiers to mark the upcoming Jewish holiday of Pesach.

"These testimonies have been fully examined and investigated by the Military Police and Military Advocate's Office, and have been found, to my joy, to be completely unfounded and lacking in any evidential basis."
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Haaretz published last month accounts by soldiers who fought in Operation Cast Lead saying that Israeli forces killed Palestinian civilians under permissive rules of engagement and intentionally destroyed their property.

The soldiers' testimonies were picked up by other Israeli news outlets and media across the world, sparking a controversy as the troops seemed to confirm Palestinian accounts of IDF behavior during the campaign.

In the letter, Ashkenazi said it was Hamas that hurt Gaza's civilians.

"Our enemies turned their own people into human shields and hostages and chose to launch fire and death from their houses, schools, hospitals and mosques, and forced upon us a war zone packed with civilians," he wrote.

He added that Israel had only embarked on the campaign after a long period of restraint in the face of cross-border attacks by Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit instructed the Military Police Investigation unit to close the inquiry into the soldiers' accounts of alleged misconduct.

He said it was unfortunate that the soldiers, who discussed their Gaza experiences in private on Feb. 13 at a military academy session which was later leaked verbatim to the media, had been careless about accuracy.


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      1.   Gaza 21:13  |  Ben 05/04/09
      2.   So the fox in the henhouse... 21:19  |  David 05/04/09
      3.   Nu? Is Haaretz goint to apologize? 21:25  |  Sammy 05/04/09
      4.   Unfounded testimonies? 21:31  |  Michael Kramer 05/04/09
      5.   I suppose all those dead bodies are imaginary as well 21:34  |  Muslim 05/04/09
      6.   What else could they say? 21:37  |  Colin Wright 05/04/09
      7.   TRUTH IS ALWAYS THE FIRST VICTIM 21:48  |  Neutered Observer 05/04/09
      8.   And now those feathers must be gathered 21:49  |  RfaelMoshe 05/04/09
      9.   who belives that? 21:50  |  Paul 05/04/09
      10.   haaretz 21:53  |  nl 05/04/09
      11.   sure... like any expected the IDF to admit atrocities 21:56  |  bashar 05/04/09
      12.   Haaretz should apologize for the bad hawkish colportage 22:00  |  Daniel 05/04/09
      13.   Not surprised! 22:04  |  Shelly 05/04/09
      14.   5th/6th wheel 22:05  |  Akiva P 05/04/09
      15.   Thats handy 22:17  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/04/09
      16.   No one believes you, Mr. Ashkenazi 22:20  |  RGA 05/04/09
      17.   What a relief! Israeli soldiers are just liars, not murderers! 22:20  |  peacelover 05/04/09
      18.   unfounded? 22:23  |  Suzy 05/04/09
      19.   400 Gaza civilians dead of heart failure 22:24  |  Natallie Durson 05/04/09
      20.   Now wait for the UN Investigation 22:27  |  Mad Iranian 05/04/09
      21.   once again 22:29  |  rm 05/04/09
      22.   The "most moral" army in the world full of liars.....???? 22:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/04/09
      23.   Israel is not lost because they believe their own propaganda... 22:32  |  Natallie Durson 05/04/09
      24.   A criminal judges the evidence and pronounces himself innocent 22:36  |  Clickfool 05/04/09
      25.   "Inquiry" Closed After 11 Days - No Gazans Interviewed 22:42  |  chet 05/04/09
      26.   Hamas vs. Israeli Army 22:47  |  Osama 05/04/09
      27.   Gaza testimonies 22:53  |  WHG 05/04/09
      28.   investigation over 23:14  |  Fair 05/04/09
      29.   #3, are you serious, do tell!!!! 23:15  |  ballistic 05/04/09
      30.   Israel,s answer to global economic collapse 23:17  |  Labhras 05/04/09
      31.   Hi Gabi- Remember this black flag? 23:41  |  True Zionist 05/04/09
      32.   Clickfool, what kind of evidence do YOU have? 23:46  |  Daniel 05/04/09
      33.   To Clickfool (# 13), Judge, Jury & Executioner. 23:55  |  flyingdoc57 05/04/09
      34.   Thinks you can count on... death and taxes and 00:16  |  Victor 06/04/09
      35.   Ashkenazi is defendant, he can`t be judge 00:27  |  KMS 06/04/09
      36.   Hundreds of women and children dead. You Delusional People. 00:34  |  Lou Medel 06/04/09
      37.   Ashkenazi is a war criminal and he will be in 00:42  |  Jaffar 06/04/09
      38.   IDF declares IDF innocent 01:01  |  Axel 06/04/09
      39.   Reading Mr Ashkenazi`s perfect "poker face." 01:01  |  Maureen Ann 06/04/09
      40.   Shout like a big man and then cry like a baby 01:13  |  ScotGuy 06/04/09
      41.   Remember Jenin & Mohammed Al Durah 01:20  |  *BEN JABO 06/04/09
      42.   I have only one question, Mr. Ashkenazi..... 01:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/04/09
      43.   IF YOU BELIEVE ASHKENAZI 01:45  |  Ed 06/04/09
      44.   Israel disallowed reporters on the battlefied 01:57  |  marc leb 06/04/09
      45.   I believe 01:58  |  Liat 06/04/09
      46.   Circling the wagons... 02:02  |  Edithann 06/04/09
      47.   Israel`s Investigation 02:14  |  EU 06/04/09
      48.   lacking in any evidential basis 02:18  |  sean 06/04/09
      49.   And who believes in IDF investigating IDF ??? 02:19  |  Joe 06/04/09
      50.   To Number 17, Axel the German 02:35  |  Jeremy 06/04/09
      51.   Easy petzes, easy, you may choke from the excitement! 02:47  |  Emanuel 06/04/09
      52.   If so confident, let the UN investigate 02:49  |  Richard 06/04/09
      53.   in other words, STOP MAKING US LOOK BAD 03:03  |  VIPER 06/04/09
      54.   Just trying to shield himself from future war crimes proceedings 03:12  |  Tarik 06/04/09
      55.   #3 Sammy, apologizing because of a 1-day IDF `investigation`? 03:25  |  Mark B. 06/04/09
      56.   Ashkenazi 03:37  |  Iain 06/04/09
      57.   Most Scrutinized army on planet 03:46  |  Nano 06/04/09
      58.   Reading Maureen Ann`s guilty face 04:13  |  Yindi 06/04/09
      59.   #20 A very good question, Swiss (Dino) 04:19  |  Ben Alofs 06/04/09
      60.   With War Crimes to be Investigated, Did You Expect Guilty Plea? 04:20  |  Monitor 06/04/09
      61.   Cover up, cover up, cover up,.. 04:22  |  BBSNews 06/04/09
      62.   #24 Sean 04:28  |  Franco 06/04/09
      63.   IDF chief: Troops` Gaza testimonies are completely unfounded 04:40  |  tt0510 06/04/09
      64.   To Axel (#17) and Jeremy (#25) 04:47  |  ccb 06/04/09
      65.   Memo to "tt0510" 05:12  |  Yode`a Ta`alumot 06/04/09
      66.   IT IS ABOUT EVEDENCE 06:31  |  SKVNew York/ 06/04/09
      67.   Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. 06:34  |  Herr Josepf Goebbles 06/04/09
      68.   Israel basher jumping on any opportunity to attack Israel 06:37  |  Claude 06/04/09
      69.   UN to investigate 06:53  |  dovvod 06/04/09
      70.   I would`ve admitted minor things just to make it sound credible!! 07:05  |  Casper 06/04/09
      71.   To Chris Lintweight 07:20  |  Dan 06/04/09
      72.   what about 07:22  |  fadi 06/04/09
      73.   Hey Clicky, I am waiting for the UK army to investigate 07:25  |  Dan 06/04/09
      74.   Jihadist, your hate for us is not a proof of anything 07:30  |  Losers 06/04/09
      75.   Soldier`s testimony 07:30  |  Dana Raveh 06/04/09
      76.   Palestinian testimonial? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha 07:32  |  Dan 06/04/09
      77.   So 07:39  |  rm 06/04/09
      78.   The man is a liar 07:44  |  Marilyn 06/04/09
      79.   IDF has morality after 40 year occupation???? 08:01  |  gly 06/04/09
      80.   Marilyn, Have you posted in Hamas sites as well? 08:23  |  Dan 06/04/09
      81.   Jihad 8, 10, whatever can only froth in the mouthes 08:31  |  Dan 06/04/09
      82.   Don`t confuse me with facts 08:51  |  John 06/04/09
      83.   IDF chief: Troops` Gaza testimonies are completely unfounded 08:53  |  Abdullah 06/04/09
      84.   #36 VIPER 09:10  |  Jim 06/04/09
      85.   #37 Tank 09:25  |  Jim 06/04/09
      86.   Lots of talkbackers upset by a general who tells the truth 09:29  |  Realist 06/04/09
      87.   "BLOOD libels manufactured in Israel" Jerusalem Post 09:33  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      88.   Chocolate cake. 09:41  |  JBT 06/04/09
      89.   # 58 Ben Alofs Amen !! :) 09:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/04/09
      90.   IDF most moral army in the world 09:47  |  Benny 06/04/09
      91.   #68 dowod 10:02  |  Jim 06/04/09
      92.   IDF Troops testimonies 10:16  |  sonicgumel 06/04/09
      93.   #86 He`s lying, Realist 10:32  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      94.   IDF inquiry, yeah... 10:43  |  Kilminster 06/04/09
      95.   ben alofs goldstone not goldstein 10:43  |  harzion 06/04/09
      96.   The reason there is war in the Middle East 10:45  |  dovvod 06/04/09
      97.   #71 Dan 10:45  |  Jim 06/04/09
      98.   More comments from Palestinian Info Centre 10:52  |  dovvod 06/04/09
      99.   swiss dino "why should the soldiers lie" 10:52  |  rolex 06/04/09
      100.   #92 sonicgumel: what about your conscience? 10:52  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      101.   swiss dino the top idf lawyer said nothing happened 10:54  |  rolex 06/04/09
      102.   johnboy it is not the veracity of the idf general 10:56  |  harzion 06/04/09
      103.   What a farce! 11:13  |  Dutch 06/04/09
      104.   swiss dino and his amen corner ben alofs 11:15  |  rolex 06/04/09
      105.   Iam from Gaza 11:17  |  Gaza 06/04/09
      106.   #100 That was a joke, yes, rolex? 11:18  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      107.   MEDELdelusional.Were they targetted by Israel like your people 11:18  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      108.   these accusations made by various people 11:27  |  harzion 06/04/09
      109.   #102 Is that so, harzion? 11:28  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      110.   ALOFS Quoting hearsay is not lying,its quoting hearsay. 11:29  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      111.   johnboy to expect the idf lawyer to peddle lies 11:30  |  rolex 06/04/09
      112.   DOWOD Litany of lies by the Pals is not new or news 11:33  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      113.   johnboy "are not are not are not" 11:33  |  harzion 06/04/09
      114.   johnboy the israeli judiciary from where manderbilt comes" 11:36  |  harzion 06/04/09
      115.   johnboy we now have an inquiry 11:38  |  avinoam 06/04/09
      116.   It is hard to believe... 11:40  |  Anne 06/04/09
      117.   ashkenazi, you`re lying and you KNOW that you are! 11:40  |  eric 06/04/09
      118.   johnboy "the israeli idf lawyerl has a self-interest 11:41  |  yairi 06/04/09
      119.   johnboy "the idf lawyer is compromised by the advice 11:43  |  gal 06/04/09
      120.   #111 Rolex tries again..... 11:45  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      121.   johnboy so many presumptions and accusations 11:48  |  harzion 06/04/09
      122.   gaza war and seige 11:53  |  Tamara 06/04/09
      123.   #114 You are joking, harzion 11:55  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      124.   johnboy "i do not expect the law officer to be conducting that 11:57  |  rolex 06/04/09
      125.   #117Eric, a lot of wind, no facts 11:59  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      126.   ERIC HAMAS knew THEY would cause casualties by chosing to fight 11:59  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      127.   johnboy do all allegations against aussie or us soldiers 12:01  |  harzion 06/04/09
      128.   #118 Thanks for the laugh, yairi 12:02  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      129.   76 Dan the scam 12:05  |  john and the TRUTH! 06/04/09
      130.   johnboy manderbilt was educated by the israeli judiciary 12:05  |  harzion 06/04/09
      131.   Claude Montreal 12:07  |  John , Canadian 06/04/09
      132.   #123 The point that you will not address, rolex 12:10  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      133.   johnboy "monostrously inappropriate" for manderbilt 12:11  |  harzion 06/04/09
      134.   johnboy is easily amused 12:16  |  yairi 06/04/09
      135.   #121 Harzion slips up. 12:17  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      136.   The weapons of Palestinians and their supporters (Israel-bashers) 12:18  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      137.   JOHNBOY Care to substantiate your johnboyfacts? 12:20  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      138.   Why lie? 12:21  |  JBT 06/04/09
      139.   #130 You don`t even know, do you, harzion? 12:25  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      140.   #127 Yes, let`s all change the subject, hey, harzion? 12:29  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      141.   Harming civilians as a deterrence to send a message to Hamas 12:30  |  Zed 06/04/09
      142.   #115 An interesting statement, avinoam 12:37  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      143.   the cat is out of the bag on TV 12:51  |  john and the TRUTH! 06/04/09
      144.   johnboy "the idf cannot clear itself" 13:01  |  rolex 06/04/09
      145.   johnboy "cross reference with the idf list of pal casualties" 13:07  |  rolex 06/04/09
      146.   # 142 Johnny boy 13:11  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      147.   so johnboy you make accusations against israel 13:12  |  harzion 06/04/09
      148.   johnboy "how do you know manderbilt was educated by the judiciary 13:17  |  harzion 06/04/09
      149.   johnboy "i can think of other reasons for a lawyer`s suitability 13:20  |  harzion 06/04/09
      150.   johnboy but you have already made up your mind 13:26  |  avinoam 06/04/09
      151.   Gabi Askenazi`s Statement on the conduct of IDF in Gaza 13:33  |  Lech Biegalski 06/04/09
      152.   Palestinians tell the truth, yet nobody cares 14:30  |  Joe Sittizen 06/04/09
      153.   JOE SITTIZEN the Pal. Mein Kampf the Hamas charter 14:52  |  PETER SM 06/04/09
      154.   #144 Pointing this out, rolex 14:56  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      155.   #147 Hilarious Harzion 15:09  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      156.   #149 Slanderous indeed, harzion 15:12  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      157.   Harzion answer this 15:14  |  Iain 06/04/09
      158.   Gaza wounded 15:22  |  j 06/04/09
      159.   #150 Let me illustrate with a quote, avinoam 15:22  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      160.   5 No Muslim - They are those of Hamas Terrorists 15:26  |  S Judah 06/04/09
      161.   #137 I beg to differ, PETER SM 15:29  |  Johnboy 06/04/09
      162.   Clouded Vision. 15:30  |  Iain 06/04/09
      163.   These Soldiers Accounts Will Be Bolstered 15:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 06/04/09
      164.   johnboy manderbilt is the law officer of the idf 15:33  |  rolex 06/04/09
      165.   johnboy manderbilt is the senior law officer in the idf 15:39  |  rolex 06/04/09
      166.   The conning of the Israeli public 15:46  |  Clickfool 06/04/09
      167.   Joe Sittizen 16:25  |  joan 06/04/09
      168.   peter sm 16:27  |  joan 06/04/09
      169.   Does he want us to believe that 1200 civilians died by accident 16:38  |  jens 06/04/09
      170.   Impossible to refute what was given with no proof 17:14  |  Ilan 06/04/09
      171.   To Clickfool (# 158). You want the truth? Here it is. 17:44  |  flyingdoc57 06/04/09
      172.   Clickfool, but are YOU impartial? A joke. 17:45  |  Daniel 06/04/09
      173.   The Usual 18:29  |  GABE1 06/04/09
      174.   Laying a part of jihad 18:34  |  Confused 06/04/09
      175.   #71 Dan of Haifa 18:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/04/09
      176.   The truth 19:10  |  Stranger 06/04/09
      177.   Israel- Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing 19:13  |  Lisa Javner 06/04/09
      178.   every israeli knows everything and can judge for himself 19:15  |  abe 06/04/09
      179.   So Ben Jabo. Then we can Chalk this one too and wait for the NEXT 20:27  |  Whiskey 06/04/09
      180.   For Flyingdoc57 # 162 20:52  |  Clickfool 06/04/09
      181.   Bad Publicity 21:05  |  Jake1948 06/04/09
      182.   A Closer look At Flyingdoc57`s Analysis 21:09  |  Yaakov Sullivan 06/04/09
      183.   Good wartime etiquette 21:12  |  Jack 06/04/09
      184.   No one believes you Mr. Ashkenazi 01:48  |  RG 07/04/09
      185.   Only independent investigation will be convincing. 02:15  |  Tony Price 07/04/09
      186.   Inquire is required 03:43  |  Spencer 07/04/09
      187.   Clicky`s numbers 05:29  |  Jasper 07/04/09
      188.   Spencer of Fort Collins 05:46  |  Jasper 07/04/09
      189.   NO JOHNBOY."MISTAKENLY shot a Palestinian mother& her 2 children" 08:14  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      190.   #155 Johnboy: little comment to your sources 08:47  |  Daniel 07/04/09
      191.   SULLIVAN Kidding yourself if Israel was like the neighbours 09:08  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      192.   JENS 1200 civillians died did they?No Hamas were fighting?? 09:28  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      193.   JOHNBOY Mother & 2 children were a Mistake! 09:46  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      194.   To the REAL writer of #122 Use your head! 09:51  |  Ari ben Yisrael 07/04/09
      195.   #155 Johnboy: some remarks about your sources 10:15  |  Daniel 07/04/09
      196.   APRICE Independent is OK One sided UN investigation 10:35  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      197.   JOHNBOY 1.Mistakes are indendent of any rules of engagement. 10:54  |  PETER SM 07/04/09
      198.   Jeremy: of course... 17:40  |  AT 07/04/09
      199.   rolex: How many were worried about Iraq casualties? 18:15  |  AT 07/04/09
      200.   #86 Realist..Lots of talkbackers upset by a general who tellstrut 19:37  |  Whiskey 07/04/09
      201.   #125 excuse me, daniel? did you say "hamas propaganda"? (3rd try 22:35  |  eric 07/04/09
      202.   #197 PETER SM is losing it. 04:41  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      203.   War Criminals 19:46  |  Chad 08/04/09
      204.   IDF investigates IDF 20:45  |  Judge 09/05/09
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