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Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Daniel Bar-On / Jini)
Last update - 22:47 02/03/2008
Barak to hold meeting on legality of striking civilian areas in Gaza
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Gaza 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet Monday with legal experts in the military and government to examine whether the Israel Defense Forces can legally target populated areas from which Qassam rockets are being fired at the western Negev.

Barak asked Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann at Sunday to determine the legality of these attacks. The defense minister will discuss the issue Monday with Friedmann, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, Military Prosecutor Brig.-Gen. Avihai Mandelblit, the Defense Ministry's legal adviser and various elements from within the Foreign Ministry.

During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Vice Premier Haim Ramon asked why the IDF was not directing massive fire at the areas from which Qassams are being launched.
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"According to international law, you can do that," he said. "In the Second Lebanon War it was clear that if they shoot from within a village, we can fire on them even if the area is populated."

Following Ramon's comments, Barak asked Friedmann to examine the issue in order to determine whether the IDF indeed has such an option.

IDF: 90 of 100 Gazans killed were militants

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told ministers that of the 100 Palestinians killed in recent days, 90 of them were militants, mostly from Hamas.

He said that the IDF distributed notices in Gaza before the operation warning the civilian population in rocket-launching areas of the upcoming attacks.

Ashkenazi told ministers: "In one incident we saw an elderly Palestinian leaving Jabaliya with a wagon, in which was hidden a Grad missile. He stopped 'as if coincidentally' next to an orchard. Two militants then arrived there, took the missile, position it on the launcher ? and fired."

The IDF chief added that despite the operation, the IDF would continue its efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure a regular supply of wheat, flour and petrol though the border crossings.

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      1.   You can`t be serious! 22:25  |  Yossi 02/03/08
      2.   Int. law clearly states no attacks on civilians even if militants 22:27  |  anti-racist 02/03/08
      3.   Barak sat paralalysed during suicide bombings until he was replac 22:33  |  Absolute Sweden 02/03/08
      4.   He did not have enough time to clarify the law? 23:49  |  db 02/03/08
      5.   Litle liar from Canada,google on Geneva Conventions 00:02  |  Absolute Sweden 03/03/08
      6.   #2 Civilians? OR Militants? 00:12  |  MaryRose 03/03/08
      7.   #2 anti-racist (wink, wink) 00:16  |  Moshe 03/03/08
      8.   Ehud, read it yourself!!! 00:17  |  MaryRose 03/03/08
      9.   Int`l Law Clearly States Areas Used for Attacks are Valid Targets 00:26  |  McArthur 03/03/08
      10.   2 anti racist,elections are coming up &Barak has to impress the 00:40  |  lakshmi 03/03/08
      11.   #5 I see the sublties escape you, Absolute Swede 00:45  |  Johnboy 03/03/08
      12.   #2 `anti racist` 00:46  |  vik 03/03/08
      13.   What a crock of shit, a joke 00:47  |  El-Birawi 03/03/08
      14.   Absolute Sweden, you got nothing you big liar 00:51  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      15.   Moshe (wink, nod, point... but not at all in a rude manner) 00:54  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      16.   #6, #7 You Are Both Wrong 01:07  |  Johnboy 03/03/08
      17.   Have olmert and rice to hold there meeting in sedrot 01:21  |  chet 03/03/08
      18.   #4 You simply do not understand, db 01:49  |  Johnboy 03/03/08
      19.   #2 is wrong 01:59  |  Melech Gendin 03/03/08
      20.   antirascist 02:04  |  danny 03/03/08
      21.   The REAL problem.... 02:37  |  Webster 03/03/08
      22.   Ah. That`s okay then. 02:45  |  Colin Wright 03/03/08
      23.   90% of casualties were militant Hamas? 03:03  |  DP 03/03/08
      24.   #2 No, anti-racist is perfectly correct 04:03  |  Johnboy 03/03/08
      25.   Big liar from Sweden (maybe) still can`t find the truth 04:05  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      26.   VIK, here are some simple facts 04:11  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      27.   Danny boy 04:22  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      28.   Internartional law does not apply 05:01  |  Sabra 03/03/08
      29.   DP canada 05:04  |  Sabra 03/03/08
      30.   My posts aren`t being posted so I cant prove who is really lying 05:38  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      31.   One more attempt to beat censorship. To Absolute, Vik & Danny 05:52  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      32.   Moshe, to find out how wrong you are read the Geneva Convention 05:53  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      33.   question for VIK and everyone 06:12  |  anti-racist 03/03/08
      34.   When would they learn? 07:07  |  Mike 03/03/08
      35.   Silly Silly People 10:47  |  kal 03/03/08
      36.   #9Johnboy,thanks for this clear explanations. 14:24  |  Ahmad Ali 03/03/08
      37.   These are Legitimate Military Targets !! 14:49  |  John Fellows 03/03/08
      38.   18# Anti racist.Israel has DECIDED to write its one GConvention. 15:04  |  Suleyman 03/03/08
      39.   #8 vic 15:17  |  Advocate4Liberty 03/03/08
      40.   #14 Webster 15:20  |  Advocate4Liberty 03/03/08
      41.   #29. Ahmad Ali.Majority of Israelis believe that Talk 15:30  |  Mark 03/03/08
      42.   To anti-racist Canada 16:55  |  kal 03/03/08
      43.   Legailty of bombing civilian areas 23:05  |  Yvonne Wackernagel 03/03/08
      44.   Antiracist 06:23  |  Jim 05/03/08
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