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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
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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."

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      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