Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 08, 2008 Adar1 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:33 (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

The site of the 2002 IDF raid on Gaza. (AP) Last update - 22:39 04/02/2008 PM appoints panel to probe 2002 killing of Hamas chief Shehada By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Salah Shehada  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday announced the appointment of an investigative committee into the July 2002 assassination of Salah Shehada, the overall commander of Iz al-Din al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas. In the incident, an IDF warplane dropped a one-ton bomb on Shehada's house in Gaza, killing more than a dozen people in the building, many of them children. The committee, which was appointed by Olmert ten days ago, will be headed by attorney Zvi Inbar, formerly the Knesset's legal adviser. Advertisement Deputy State Prosecutor, attorney Shai Nitzan, notified the Supreme Court of Justice on Monday of the formation of the committee. "The state claimed and still claims that there was no need to appoint a criminal investigation into the affair," Nitzan wrote in his statement to the court. However, beyond the letter of the law, the state did agree over five months ago to form an investigative committee into the circumstances leading up to the assassination. The purpose of the committee, Nitzan wrote, was to "examine whether the strike was justified or whether an alternative could have been found." The committee was requested to compile a report to examine whether "operational lessons" can be learned from the 2002 attack, as well as make recommendations to the Chief of Staff regarding officials who were involved in planning and carrying out the strike. Avigdor Feldman, the attorney who petitioned the Supreme Court, said that the panel members who were picked were not objective. "This committee is no better than the internal investigation conducted by the IDF," Feldman said. "Now three people were appointed to the panel, all of them with military background, whose loyalties therefore lie with the defense establishment." "The purpose of the committee was to hold an independent investigation of an incident in which many innocent civilians were killed," Feldman said, adding "clearly the State has something to hide." Related articles: Israel may provide counsel to officials in war crimes trials overseas 'One day in five, the IDF attempts assassination' Global condemnation for strike; U.S.: it was 'heavy-handed' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baghdad, Interrupted Movie star Angelina Jolie takes on Iraq as UN goodwill ambassador. Unwanted praise Hezbollah leader Nasrallah compliments on the Winograd Committee report.   1.   Since when is killing Palestinian children a problem? 21:02  |  Natallie Durson 04/02/08   2.   The investigation should find out why it took so 21:10  |  TOMY 04/02/08   3.   Tragedy and Victory 21:21  |  Ben Gurion 04/02/08   4.   Killing Terrorists Results In Justified Collateral Damage 21:44  |  Norman F Birnberg 04/02/08   5.   #4 22:08  |  William 04/02/08   6.   No difference 22:12  |  pal 04/02/08   7.   No difference 22:15  |  pal 04/02/08   8.   Those responsible for use of 1-ton bomb must be held to account! 22:25  |  common sense 04/02/08   9.   William,the way Germans experienced collateral damage from US Arm 22:29  |  Absolute Sweden 04/02/08   10.   TOMY,it took so long because Lefties in the IDF were sabotaging i 22:33  |  Absolute Sweden 04/02/08   11.   One answer to Natialie`s question...War Crimes 22:40  |  Tim 04/02/08   12.   A Response To William In Portland 22:51  |  Norman F Birnberg 04/02/08   13.   The Truth About THe Palestinians` War Against Israel 22:54  |  Norman F Birnberg 04/02/08   14.   The IDF was wrong for not using a 10 ton bomb 23:35  |  smarter then olmert 04/02/08   15.   Support the indictment of "our" war criminals 00:06  |  Yesh Gvul 05/02/08   16.   Actually Norman 00:08  |  Tim 05/02/08   17.   Just an excuse for another whitewash report 00:20  |  Chanalau, Tova 05/02/08   18.   More proof that Israeli gov`t & IDF are same as Al-Qaeda & Hamas 00:25  |  anti-racist 05/02/08   19.   Racist stupidity of Smarter Than Olmert 00:32  |  anti-racist 05/02/08   20.   Crazy waste of time 00:34  |  BobUSA 05/02/08   21.   Myopic Natalie 00:50  |  john 05/02/08   22.   The PM Intent to probe 2002 Justified killing of Terrorist Shehad 01:09  |  Joseph . E 05/02/08   23.   Winograd II 01:18  |  Daniella Harter 05/02/08   24.   Mr a Feldman is right. 01:40  |  Josua 05/02/08   25.   what a total joke/insult 01:55  |  dale 05/02/08   26.   bombing terrorist 02:11  |  JG 05/02/08   27.   bimberg here is a question 02:25  |  Truth 05/02/08   28.   response to the truth about the Palestinians 02:42  |  Mark 05/02/08   29.   will one of the outspoken people who 02:46  |  tom 05/02/08   30.   will one of the outspoken people who 02:46  |  tom 05/02/08   31.   Who is responnsible? 04:32  |  Shlomo 05/02/08   32.   What is your definition of terror? 18:23  |  Janet 05/02/08   33.   it can be noted that UK was not kiling children 17:10  |  bozhidar bob balkas 08/02/08

Today Online Syria upgrades missiles thanks to Iranian support Responses: 153 Palestinian PM: Peace deal with Israel 'unlikely' this year Responses: 49 Editorial: Open the Rafah crossing Responses: 56 B. Weinthal: Germany is the logical place to start embargo of Iran Responses: 40 Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza Responses: 51 Rosner's Domain Why many Jewish men go beardless (WTR) New poll: Is it legitimate for Israel to cut electricity to Gaza? The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Clinton or McCain? That's a tough one More Headlines 15:44 Palestinians fire at least 22 rockets at Negev 16:31 Sources: Blair 'shocked' by Dichter fears of arrest in U.K. 17:24 Egypt boosts troop security on Gaza border amid Hamas abduction threat 13:18 Iran helps Syria develop missile that can target Israel better 06:48 Grave near Kiev is reminder of 20th century's only blood libel 15:10 Report: Tehran says it is building a second atomic power plant 15:59 Davis Cup: Israel leads Sweden, 1-0, after Sela beats Bjorkman 14:48 Dollar falls as Fischer says won't intervene in currency market 13:11 Palestinian PM says he sees no peace accord with Israel in 2008 13:05 Shas preparing for elections it expects will be held this year Previous Editions Select Day 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan

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