IDF takes responsibility for Kfar Giladi deaths - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Fri., December 21, 2007 Tevet 12, 5768

Israel Time: 02:03 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File

Hanukkah

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

IDF takes responsibility for Kfar Giladi deaths

By Eli Ashkenazi

Tags: Second Lebanon War

The IDF has admitted responsibility for the death of the 12 reservists who were killed by a Katyusha rocket near the entrance of Kibbutz Kfar Giladi on August 6, 2006, during the Second Lebanon War.

"The IDF is responsible for the failures and mistakes that led to the tragedy," Northern Command Chief of Staff Brigadier General Alon Friedman wrote recently in a letter to the kibbutz and the head of the Upper Galilee regional council. "The residents of Kfar Giladi must not be held at all responsible."

Following the war, relatives of those killed claimed that residents would not let the soldiers into the kibbutz due to fears that the soldiers would cause damage to property.

	Advertisement

Benjamin Ben David, whose son Daniel died in the rocket strike, said at the memorial service that, "the blood of our sons calls out from the earth to the kibbutz."

Over a year ago, Haaretz revealed the content of a document in which the IDF issued an order during the war in Lebanon banning communities on the northern border from granting entry to troops without prior permission from the military.

Friedman also wrote to the kibbutz that the incident would be investigated.

"The IDF woke up a bit late and with too low a profile," said Kibbutz member Uri Eshkoli. "We deserve a medal of honor for our assistance during the war. We opened our hotel to soldiers and asked for no compensation. Moreover, soldiers stayed in the kibbutz throughout the entire war. Our conscious was clean the entire time. I know that this letter won't change the minds of those who spoke so strongly against us."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Blast from the past
	The donkey is making a comeback as the prevalent form of transportation in Gaza.


	U.S. anti-Semitism
	The ZOA condemns the U.S. government for failing to protect Jewish students.

Today Online


	Experts: Far right will up violence in future settlement evacuation
	Responses: 161


	Israeli Arab group seeks 'supranational regime in historic Palestine'
	Responses: 257


	Harel: Palestinians live in squalid refugee camps by choice
	Responses: 137


	IDF soldier seriously hurt, seven militants killed in Gaza raid
	Responses: 173


	American Zionist group slams U.S. gov't on campus anti-Semitism
	Responses: 181

More Headlines
23:43 PMO denies Israel holding talks with Hamas on Gaza truce


02:02 ANALYSIS: Is a truce between Israel and Hamas possible?


21:54 IDF soldier seriously hurt, seven militants killed in Gaza raid


19:48 Israel sets up express passage into Bethlehem for pilgrims


01:23 Report reveals new details on Gibson's anti-Semitic comments


19:38 Bush: My patience with Syria's Assad 'ran out a long time ago'


16:39 Housing Minister backtracks, says no new E. J'lem housing plan


20:55 IDF officer charged with causing death by negligence in car accident


18:00 Barak: Labor Party won't support budget if stipends remain frozen


18:09 Transportation Min. proposal could reduce prices on Israeli airlines