Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 06, 2008 Shvat 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:26 (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

A UN observer inspecting an unexploded cluster bomb-laden rocket in southern Lebanon. (AP) Last update - 14:22 31/01/2008 Winograd: Current use of cluster bombs not in line with int'l law By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press Tags: winograd, israel  Israel must consider whether it wants to consider using cluster bombs in the future, because its current manner of employing them does not conform to international law. The Winograd Committee made this recommendation in its report on Israel's conduct in the Second Lebanon War as it relates to international law. In a special appendix dedicated to the use of cluster bombs, the committee determined that, "The cluster bomb is inaccurate, it consists of bomblets that are dispersed over a large area, and some of the bomblets do not explode [on impact] and can cause damage for a long period afterward." The committee thus recommended that non-military elements be involved in assessing their future use in light of international law. In Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's office said the Israeli probe failed to hold the army accountable for its actions, including the use of cluster bombs. It said the practice was a flagrant violation of i Advertisement nternational norms, human rights and is tantamount to a daily war crime committed against Lebanese civilians. The Winograd Committee also recommended reducing to a minimum the presence of the attorney general and the chief military prosecutor in decision-making forums during wartime: the cabinet, security cabinet and Israel Defense Forces General Staff sessions. The committee said that the activity of the legal advisers should focus on the preliminary stage, in inculcating the principles of international law, as well as on examining the decision-making process after the fact. The committee ruled that Israel generally complied with war directives laws, which are part of international law, both with regard to the justification for initiating the war and with regard to combat operations themselves. The committee decided not to examine in depth individual complaints about violations of international law committed by Israel in the course of the war, which included claims about the selection of illegitimate targets, the use of cluster bombs, the disproportionate harming of civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon and the use of civilians as "human shields." Instead, the committee made do with general conclusions, in part because, "We did not find it appropriate to deal with issues that are part of a political and propaganda war against the state." The committee examined the methods used to instill the precepts of international law among the country's leaders and in army officers and combat soldiers, concluding that, "The authorities are cognizant of the duty to obey international law and acted out of a desire to do so during the war." Regarding the presence of legal advisers in the field during the course of the war, the committee said: "It is better, in our opinion, to inculcate the general norms prior to action, as a matter of routine. In the course of action, the decision-makers and the soldiers should be left to operate in accordance with these norms, and afterward the cases should be examined and responsibility determined in the event of a serious deviation from the obligatory norms that were inculcated... The fighting forces, especially at the field level, should focus on combat and not on consultations with legal advisers." Related articles: IDF commander: We fired more than a million cluster bombs in Lebanon IDF admits targeting civilian areas in Lebanon with cluster bombs IDF won't take legal action against officers for firing cluster bombs in Lebanon Briton killed while clearing IDF cluster bombs in southern Lebanon Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prayer change Pope Benedict XVI nixes a reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in a Catholic prayer. Blind and deaf in Jaffa 'The world's first professional deaf-blind theatre company' takes center stage in Jaffa.   1.   Oh SNAP!!1!. All you warmongers who supported this should be... 06:03  |  POP 31/01/08   2.   Winograd right. War Crimes Committed Execute Chief of Staff 06:43  |  Yossi Cronenberg 31/01/08   3.   POP # 1_You Have To Be Human For It To Be Called A Crime Against 07:20  |  Phinias Whoppy 31/01/08   4.   Is arab terrorism not a war crime? 07:20  |  isaac 31/01/08   5.   Use of Cluster Munitions 08:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 31/01/08   6.   Re #1: POP 08:13  |  Alternative 31/01/08   7.   An Astonishing Statement from Winograd! 08:21  |  Johnboy 31/01/08   8.   #1 Right, and all Lebanese casulaties were civilians? 08:27  |  Gili 31/01/08   9.   #6, manic jb, shut up! 08:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/01/08   10.   Takes all the fun out of war 09:08  |  Natallie Durson 31/01/08   11.   cluster 09:22  |  John 31/01/08   12.   cluster bombs 09:34  |  Sidney 31/01/08   13.   #9 When you violate Int`l Law it is everyone`s business, Cipora 09:34  |  Johnboy 31/01/08   14.   Seems like there will be some Israelis 10:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/01/08   15.   the use of cluster bombs is not illegal per se 10:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/01/08   16.   Cluster bomb use WAS a war crime. So where`s the prosecution? 10:59  |  Michael 31/01/08   17.   LINTHWAITE on population projections for Greater London 11:07  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   18.   #1 POP. It`s not the first time... 1982 Lebanon! 11:42  |  Maureen Ann 31/01/08   19.   Chris "Yoyne" Lintwit,now you`ll convert once more 12:04  |  Absolute Sweden 31/01/08   20.   gili 8 12:20  |  realism 31/01/08   21.   Israelis do not care about the cluster bombs 12:21  |  mehmet 31/01/08   22.   Israel and international law 12:43  |  Truthteller 31/01/08   23.   So, "Shoot first and ask questions later" 12:45  |  David 31/01/08   24.   MICHAEL It was NOT regarded as illegal AT the time 13:00  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   25.   This really sums up the credibility of the Winograd 13:13  |  Danite 31/01/08   26.   Hmm...Israel, international criminals 13:19  |  Clickfool 31/01/08   27.   How utterly cowardly 13:28  |  Tim 31/01/08   28.   #17 PETER SM 13:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/01/08   29.   A Typical Evasion Of Moral Responsibility 13:46  |  Rowan Berkeley 31/01/08   30.   Mark of Lewiston...#5 on cluster bombs 13:48  |  Lynn 31/01/08   31.   # 16 Michael of UK 14:05  |  Lynn 31/01/08   32.   # 26 Clicky...then the UK and US are just as guilty 14:09  |  Lynn 31/01/08   33.   It was Wrong to Inflict Cluster bombs on S.Leb. 15:02  |  Eleanor 31/01/08   34.   Lynn 31 the weapon isn`t illegal, the context is. 15:16  |  Michael 31/01/08   35.   #30, 31, 32 Cluster bombs 15:19  |  Boycott 31/01/08   36.   Cipora Juliana Kohn on the Morality of Cluster Bombs 15:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08   37.   You`re right, Lynn # 32 15:37  |  Clickfool 31/01/08   38.   Lynn, you are correct on that 15:44  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08   39.   #3 Golly Phinias 16:07  |  ballistic 31/01/08   40.   `Legality` vs. morality 16:21  |  Michael N 31/01/08   41.   #31 Say Cupcake 16:21  |  ballistic 31/01/08   42.   Very interesting 17:18  |  M.O. 31/01/08   43.   karma 17:25  |  Space 31/01/08   44.   Ballistic # 39 - I Will Do You A Favor And Let You In On A Little 17:36  |  Phinias Whoppy 31/01/08   45.   LOL @ all the Pro-Israel Cluster Bomber Terrorist Supporters 17:39  |  POP 31/01/08   46.   Was the bombing of Berlin in 1945 in line with internat law? 17:48  |  Did Allies commit 31/01/08   47.   Cluster bombs 17:55  |  Chopper 31/01/08   48.   barack 18:02  |  al 31/01/08   49.   Cluster Bombs - 1st try 18:07 HT 18:07  |  BBSNews 31/01/08   50.   Time to use the wisdom of the Supreme Court 18:36  |  Tosefta 31/01/08   51.   Turks do not care to admit the Armenian Genocide they committed 18:39  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/01/08   52.   Then it was a war crime, please clear the mess. 18:55  |  The observer 31/01/08   53.   america approved 19:04  |  bri 31/01/08   54.   response to the "oh Snap" 19:13  |  B. 31/01/08   55.   # 5 Mark of Lewiston.. 19:26  |  Stephen. 31/01/08   56.   What about the Hizballah whiningGrad? 19:31  |  Judith, Haifa 31/01/08   57.   A FAIL DAMAGE CONTROL 19:33  |  indrajaya 31/01/08   58.   Will the Party of God also review the war? 19:35  |  The Judge 31/01/08   59.   #44 Say Phinias, I thought I answered your post, however 19:38  |  ballistic 31/01/08   60.   but israel carries on regardless.... 20:00  |  ravi 31/01/08   61.   If you can use them why not give them to Hezbollah too 20:41  |  Gino 31/01/08   62.   Ron Paul for President! 20:50  |  Gino 31/01/08   63.   Did Allies commit. No it wasn`t. US was commiting a war crime. 21:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08   64.   Natalie Durson- we also sell them F-15 and F16 21:11  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08   65.   MAUREEN Don`t like cluster munitionsAsk Hezbala whyTHEY used them 21:17  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   66.   POP. YOUR brothers used clusters against Israel. 21:20  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   67.   Haaretz Please verify postings 21:36  |  Yaakov Sullivan 31/01/08   68.   SULLIVAN.Syria supplies and aids "kill all Jews" Hesballa 21:42  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   69.   #32, Lynn 21:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/01/08   70.   USMC 21:52  |  William 31/01/08   71.   RAVI.your brothers have been carrying on regardless 22:12  |  PETER SM 31/01/08   72.   cluster death 22:14  |  king k 31/01/08   73.   Peter SM - 1st try 22:34 HT 22:34  |  BBSNews 31/01/08   74.   Ballistic # 59- We have, and had no trouble and they all 22:38  |  Phinias Whoppy 31/01/08   75.   This was obvious at the time 22:40  |  Mark Lincoln 31/01/08   76.   False Danite Post#25 done by chgodmk 23:11  |  Danite 31/01/08   77.   What do I care 23:15  |  CHGODMK 31/01/08   78.   # 57 Indy. Still suggest you watch movie"Exodus". 23:53  |  Stephen. 31/01/08   79.   30 Lynn - Uses of Cluster Munitions 23:56  |  Mark of Lewiston 31/01/08   80.   Here`s a deal 23:59  |  Scharker Yid 31/01/08   81.   clusters not in line with int law 00:04  |  mark 01/02/08   82.   #28 Chris Linthwaite. It`s more about "class" rather than race. 00:14  |  Maureen Ann 01/02/08   83.   #74 Well, Phinias, that is wonderful! 00:19  |  ballistic 01/02/08   84.   # 78, STEPHEN 00:25  |  indrajaya 01/02/08   85.   I say you`ll have to clear this issue in US courts first. 00:43  |  barack 01/02/08   86.   Cipora - look at the picture 00:44  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   87.   55 Stephen of Salamanca 00:46  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/02/08   88.   Which raises the question of DU - Mark of Lewiston 00:48  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   89.   #79 No moral justification for cluster bombs 00:49  |  American Patriot 01/02/08   90.   Area Denial Munitions 00:53  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   91.   Unpardonable #4 01:19  |  oscar oswald 01/02/08   92.   Something worse to consider 01:29  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   93.   Cipora Kohn - 1st try 01:48 HT 01:48  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   94.   #46 No, DAC, Berlin was a war crime 02:03  |  Johnboy 01/02/08   95.   #41 Wormwood.... 02:09  |  Lynn 01/02/08   96.   Stephen - Watching "Exodus" 02:23  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   97.   # 26 Clicky if Israelis, so is the UK 02:23  |  Lynn 01/02/08   98.   Indrajaya - must you disparage honesty? 02:29  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08   99.   #13 03:32  |  Moshe 01/02/08   100.   Yaacov Sullivan # 63_ The US Would Have Committed A Crime 03:35  |  Eli 01/02/08   101.   Lynn on linguistics - 1st try 03:35 HT 03:35  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   102.   # 78, STEPHEN 03:52  |  indrajaya 01/02/08   103.   BBS Do you have a problem with a reply to Hamas apologist POP 04:00  |  PETER SM 01/02/08   104.   Lynn on linguistics - 2nd try 04:42 HT 04:43  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   105.   The Israelis seem to think they have the right to kill a few 04:44  |  Apartheid 01/02/08   106.   Peter SM by default - 1st try 05:41 HT 05:41  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   107.   Danite re: 76 05:53  |  CHGODMK 01/02/08   108.   Regarding Post #77 05:56  |  CHGODMK 01/02/08   109.   Lethal Weapons are Legal, Destroying Southern Lebanon is Legal 06:08  |  Efox 01/02/08   110.   Taking Captives From Another County is Against the Law 06:09  |  Dave Levy 01/02/08   111.   # 26 ckickfool 06:20  |  dan 01/02/08   112.   # 46 johnboy 06:27  |  dan 01/02/08   113.   APARHEID a "few"rockets by fringe groups?1 rocket/hour is FEW 06:35  |  PETER SM 01/02/08   114.   Try again 06:47  |  abi zaid 01/02/08   115.   Peter SM on fringe - 1st try 07:17 HT 07:17  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   116.   It`s a whitewash. 07:25  |  peacelover 01/02/08   117.   #82, BS is not an art 07:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/02/08   118.   Dave Levy - 1st try 07:42 HT 07:42  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   119.   #98 That is a straw man argument, dan 07:58  |  Johnboy 01/02/08   120.   Efox - 1st try 08:01 HT 08:01  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   121.   BBSNews # 83_ Re Israel Launching a Month long Attack 08:19  |  Eli 01/02/08   122.   Cipora on roots - 1st try 08:19 HT 08:19  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   123.   #26, Clickfool... 08:29  |  Silvienne 01/02/08   124.   84 Mark Lincoln - Of Course 08:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/02/08   125.   maybe,but it obviously was a great success 10:36  |  eliyahu bokertov 01/02/08   126.   holy smokes!; what a statement to make! 11:23  |  eric 01/02/08   127.   #126 - I find it incredible... 14:54  |  JES 01/02/08   128.   Mark (#5) 16:20  |  jjvanka 01/02/08   129.   Eli on lies - 1st try 19:31 HT 19:31  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   130.   Eli on lies - 2nd try 20:52 HT 20:52  |  BBSNews 01/02/08   131.   BBSNews _ I Repeat! The Sections You Mentioned 22:58  |  Eli 01/02/08   132.   BBSNews_What About Answering My Question About What the 23:00  |  Eli 01/02/08   133.   #126 Yes, eric, that appears to be the case 01:50  |  Johnboy 02/02/08   134.   Eli on lies section b - 1st try 01:50 HT 01:51  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   135.   Eli on the other side - 1st try 02:07 HT 02:08  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   136.   #133 08:04  |  JES 02/02/08   137.   And Sonny... 08:39  |  JES 02/02/08   138.   # 127 to jes in israel 09:06  |  eric 02/02/08   139.   And further, Johnboy... 09:08  |  JES 02/02/08   140.   # 137 to jes who before i responded to politely 09:37  |  eric 02/02/08   141.   JES on Johnboy - 1st try 10:14 HT 10:14  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   142.   #138 - Eric 10:24  |  JES 02/02/08   143.   #139 Utterly hilarious, JES 10:57  |  Johnboy 02/02/08   144.   #140 - Do you think you can stick to the point, Eric? 11:35  |  JES 02/02/08   145.   #143 - Johnboy 13:57  |  JES 02/02/08   146.   #141 - B-BS 14:07  |  JES 02/02/08   147.   JES on waiting - 1st try - 17:50 HT 17:50  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   148.   JES on translations - 1st try 18:06 HT 18:06  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   149.   #147 - BBS 20:18  |  JES 02/02/08   150.   #148 - Really BBS? 20:30  |  JES 02/02/08   151.   JES on Ahmadinejad - 1st try 22:33 HT 22:34  |  BBSNews 02/02/08   152.   # 144 you have my sincere apology, jes... 06:08  |  eric 03/02/08   153.   #145 Utterly astonishing, JES. 06:20  |  Johnboy 03/02/08   154.   #145 JES wants the MEANING of his speech 07:08  |  Johnboy 03/02/08   155.   #152 - Accepted and sincerely appreciated.... 08:08  |  JES 03/02/08   156.   I see the light, Johnboy! 08:18  |  JES 03/02/08   157.   JES on light - 1st try - 09:59 HT 09:59  |  BBSNews 03/02/08   158.   #157 - BBS 13:37  |  JES 03/02/08   159.   #156 And I fail to see, JES... 23:11  |  Johnboy 03/02/08   160.   re: BBSNews 00:57  |  Efox 06/02/08   161.   Coded speech in the South 09:18  |  DJStahl 06/02/08

Today Online IAF strike on Hamas police headquarters in Gaza kills seven Responses: 260 Burston: Barack Obama for Prime Minister of Israel Responses: 178 The Israel Factor: Is Obama really pro-Palestinian? Responses: 82 Foreign Min. backs Cairo request to double border forces Responses: 72 Harel & Issacharoff: The 300km problem along Egyptian border Responses: 64 U.K. to fund school trips of understanding to Auschwitz Responses: 103 Rosner's Domain The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut From Super Bowl drama to Super Tuesday drama True or false: Obama is pro-Palestinian, McCain will appoint James Baker Iraq, remember? (WTR) Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference More Headlines 09:09 IDF kills nine Hamas men in Gaza, Qassams rain on Sderot 09:26 Winograd panel member hints PM shouldn't quit despite damning report 09:08 Gov't task force mulls international presence in Gaza Strip 09:22 Super Tuesday: McCain wins key states, Clinton ahead of Obama 09:19 Egypt warns Hamas against provocations on Gaza border 09:08 The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut 03:01 Qassams succeed in chasing skilled workers from Sderot factories 08:17 Hamas claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Dimona 00:03 Jordan urges U.S. to pressure Israel to stop Gaza strikes 05:57 Israel no longer the world's 'Mecca' of Jewish studies 06:05 Israeli Arab lecturer told to say he respects students' right to wear IDF uniform 06:55 Rector of major Ukraine college says 'no such thing as anti-Semitism' 06:03 Court rejects gov't bid to partially control Meron pilgrimage site Previous Editions Select Day 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan

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