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Last update - 21:12 18/10/2007
Top IDF officer censured over use of 'human shields' in Nablus
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel Defense Forces Brigadier-General Yair Golan was censured on Thursday for allowing soldiers to use Palestinian civilians as "human shields" during military operations in the West Bank.

IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi decided to reprimand Golan - who formerly served as commander of forces in the West Bank - following a probe by the IDF's criminal investigation division into the army's use of human shields during raids in the town of Nablus.

Golan was the most senior officer to be questioned in the probe, which the army launched last March after IDF soldiers were filmed forcing a young Palestinian man at gunpoint to lead them from house to house during an arrest sweep in Nablus.
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The army said in a statement that Golan would be passed over for promotion for at least the next nine months.


In a landmark 2005 decision, Israel's Supreme Court banned the use of
Palestinian civilians as human shields in general, and specifically outlawed taking Palestinian civilians on searches. Before the decision, the army would often have Palestinian civilians knock on the doors of houses where militants were believed to be hiding and ask them to surrender.

The army said the practice - known as the neighbor procedure - prevented
violence by encouraging militants to give themselves up. But in August 2002, a 19-year-old Palestinian student was killed in a gunfight that erupted after he was forced to knock on the door of a building where a Hamas fugitive was hiding.

Since the Supreme Court decision, Palestinians have accused the army of
continuing the practice, but proof was elusive. Human rights groups say the use of civilians in military operations has dropped sharply since the Supreme Court ban, but has not disappeared.

The Israeli rights group B'tselem, which monitors human rights violations in the West Bank, on Thursday praised the army's decision to reprimand Golan.

"We welcome the fact that the army took this seriously and investigated the case and took action," B'tselem spokeswoman Sarit Michaeli said. "Golan was a senior officer who broke the law, and we hope that this will send a message to officers that they cannot give orders like this to soldiers."

Related articles:

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  • Police investigate IDF officer over use of human shields
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      1.   The vileness of euphemisms 20:28  |  Clickfool 18/10/07
      2.   The Animal! The Beast! EL BRUTO! :) 20:28  |  US Marine 18/10/07
      3.   Only Censure for Committing What is a War Crime? 20:30  |  Moore Lunacy 18/10/07
      4.   Harsh punishment 20:33  |  Steve 18/10/07
      5.   Yesss !! Finally a (good) reason to say something..... 20:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/10/07
      6.   Saving Israeli Livs 20:41  |  Ron 18/10/07
      7.   #6 Ron 21:29  |  Boycott 18/10/07
      8.   "PA officer sacked over planned attack on Israelis" 21:30  |  Polybios 18/10/07
      9.   Human shields 21:31  |  B 18/10/07
      10.   Ah, Clickfool; on euphemisms 21:40  |  Polybios 18/10/07
      11.   Now let`s see Palestinians do the same 21:45  |  USALovesIsrael 18/10/07
      12.   Should be put on trial for WAR CRIMES 21:52  |  POP 18/10/07
      13.   Again the screwed up military doctrine in Israel tries to 22:15  |  Gen. George Patton 18/10/07
      14.   Ron Your Comments are Build on Racism 22:32  |  Abe 18/10/07
      15.   clickfool and the vileness of euphemisms 22:40  |  scallywag 18/10/07
      16.   Abe 23:15  |  Edifice 18/10/07
      17.   Civilians with bomb belts should not be used 23:23  |  sam 18/10/07
      18.   To Abe and Boycot 23:36  |  Ron 18/10/07
      19.   Not a Human Shield, A Concerned Neighbor Who Does the Right Thing 00:21  |  Efox 19/10/07
      20.   I thought only terrorists did that.... 00:26  |  Omar 19/10/07
      21.   Reply to16,Edifice 00:38  |  Abe 19/10/07
      22.   Sarit Michaeli of B`Tselem,throw a book at pals,it`s the 00:40  |  Absolute Sweden 19/10/07
      23.   To Ron 00:49  |  Abe 19/10/07
      24.   #2 US Marine - of course you can believe it 00:50  |  * BEN JABO 19/10/07
      25.   #14 Abe 01:00  |  Nemesis 19/10/07
      26.   Ron`s comment 01:59  |  Eric 19/10/07
      27.   I prefer my enemy at gun point than risking the Israeli Soldier?s 02:04  |  PAUL 19/10/07
      28.   To Abe & Eric 03:54  |  Ron 19/10/07
      29.   #25, Eric... 03:57  |  Silvienne 19/10/07
      30.   #7, Boycott... 03:59  |  Silvienne 19/10/07
      31.   Sounds about right. Well done to Ashkenazi 04:22  |  Johnboy 19/10/07
      32.   To Abe 04:37  |  infidel 19/10/07
      33.   Nemesis,Reply to this sick nut 04:59  |  Abe 19/10/07
      34.   Censured for trying to save Israeli soldiers lives 05:31  |  Yoav Naor 19/10/07
      35.   Silvienne and youtube 05:49  |  Darren x Marine 19/10/07
      36.   No apology or moral confusion. 06:03  |  Margaret 19/10/07
      37.   "Human Shield" is the Palestinian Playbook 06:19  |  Jake 19/10/07
      38.   If the palestinians don`t want to lose lives, let them make peace 06:27  |  Mae 19/10/07
      39.   #35, Darren x Marine... 20:05  |  Silvienne 19/10/07
      40.   Human Shields - Palestinian set the standard 22:04  |  * BEN JABO 19/10/07
      41.   Darren x Marine... You are a realistic person 22:50  |  Paul 19/10/07
      42.   #39Silvienne 00:09  |  tire of the lies 20/10/07
      43.   Efox # 19 00:23  |  American in NY 20/10/07
      44.   #38, Mae... 04:29  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      45.   #40, Ben Jabo.. 04:33  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      46.   #43, American in NY... 04:35  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      47.   #42, tired of the lies 04:39  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      48.   #45 Silvienne 06:00  |  * BEN JABO 20/10/07
      49.   #47 Silvienne - read today`s news 06:06  |  * BEN JABO 20/10/07
      50.   Silvienne 06:25  |  Yoav Naor 20/10/07
      51.   To §38 15:10  |  H. Torrance Griffin 20/10/07
      52.   #49, Ben Jabo & Today`s News... 22:33  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      53.   #49, Ben Jabo & B`Tselem.... 22:34  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      54.   #51, Yoav Naor... 22:39  |  Silvienne 20/10/07
      55.   #52 Silvienne - you missed the rest of the news 23:06  |  * BEN JABO 20/10/07
      56.   #53..Silvienne 23:09  |  Nemesis 20/10/07
      57.   However, I do not see military resistance as anything but disaste 06:59  |  Margaret 21/10/07
      58.   Mohamedans are the original IDF just copy it and that`s fair 22:28  |  cristo 21/10/07
      59.   #55, Ben Jabo... 01:33  |  Silvienne 22/10/07
      60.   #53, Nemesis... 01:44  |  Silvienne 22/10/07
      61.   * BEN JABO # 40 Jewish human shield by Jews 02:36  |  American in NY 22/10/07
      62.   Yoav Naor # 50 02:43  |  American in NY 22/10/07
      63.   Silvienne - Read the Bomb Article CLOSELY 16:41  |  * BEN JABO 22/10/07
      64.   American in NY ( I just love people that prefix w/American) 16:48  |  * BEN JABO 22/10/07
      65.   Mr. ASS tricks BEN JABO (I just love people that prefix w/special 22:34  |  American in NY 22/10/07
      66.   #63, Ben Jabo... 02:32  |  Silvienne 23/10/07
      67.   #65 Silvienne - Stop the baloney 06:11  |  * BEN JABO 23/10/07
      68.   #65 Alleged American in NY 09:46  |  * BEN JABO 23/10/07
      69.   #65-2 Alleged American In NY 10:01  |  * BEN JABO 23/10/07
      70.   #67, Ben Jabo... 16:58  |  Silvienne 23/10/07
      71.   Dear ASS tricks # 69, If i may use your first name 17:46  |  American in NY 23/10/07
      72.   #70 Silvienne 17:28  |  * BEN JABO 24/10/07
      73.   #72, Ben Jabo...I knew I`d made a mistake... 18:38  |  Silvienne 24/10/07
      74.   #73 Silvienne 18:53  |  * BEN JABO 24/10/07
      75.   #74, Ben Jabo... 17:12  |  Silvienne 25/10/07
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