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Last update - 02:09 30/04/2008 Deep regret would suffice By Uzi Benziman Tags: IDF, Israel, Palestinians On April 17, 1996, during the Grapes of Wrath campaign, Israel Defense Forces artillery fired a number of shells at the Lebanese village of Kanna. One hundred and two Lebanese villagers were killed in the attack. Israel cut short the military campaign and withdrew its forces. In retrospect, the shelling is seen as a decisive mistake which completely upset the campaign and prevented its objectives from being reached. The reactions on the part of the senior brass in the IDF reflected some embarrassment: Accusations were traded between Military Intelligence and the Northern Command over who was responsible for the serious error. The tragic attack, two days ago, on the Abu Muatak family in Beit Hanoun shows that the IDF has not learned a thing but has forgotten a great deal. The IDF's first reaction concerning the killing of the mother and her four children was one of denial of any involvement in the tragedy. Southern Command sources fed alternative information to radio broadcasters: There was no shelling from a tank on the house next to the one in which the family lived; there was firing from the air but it was aimed at armed men; if people who were "not involved" were hurt, the reason for this apparently was extremely powerful explosives that were being carried by the armed men who were hit from the air. These explanations were accompanied by a laconic expression of regret over the fact that there had been casualties and that Hamas chose to wage its struggle against Israel from inside areas densely populated by civilians. This pattern of response - to cast doubt about the very information that arrives from Palestinian sources about the circumstances of the killing, to avoid accepting responsibility for an unfortunate event, to produce a version that describes the chain of developments in such a way as to place the source of the tragedy on the enemy, and to create a demonic image of the adversary as someone who is capable of purposely causing bloodshed among his own people so as to achieve diplomatic gain, or as someone who does not hesitate to stage a horrifying arena of death so as to besmirch Israel's name, repeats itself every time tragedies of this nature occur. Advertisement Here are a few reminders. In December 2000, the young boy Mohammed al-Dura was killed in front of the cameras of the French TV network, France 2. The first reaction then on the part of Yom-Tov Samia, who was at the time the head of Southern Command, was: There is no certainty that the boy was shot by the IDF. Ever since then, Israel has officially denied responsibility for the boy's death. Those who have forgotten should be reminded that it was this hair-raising event that fuelled the flames of the second intifada. A not too short list of foreign peace activists and foreign journalists have been wounded or killed by our fire (including Rachel Corrie, Tom Hurndall, Brian Avery, James Miller and Fadel Shana). In all these instances, the IDF at first denied responsibility for the tragedy and placed it instead on the behavior of the victims. Even when the IDF opened investigations, the conclusion generally was that none of the soldiers needed to be brought to trial. Only in a few cases, when there was pressure from the families of the victims and from foreign countries, did the army's version change. That is what happened in the cases of the death of Hurndall and of Miller, which recently concluded with an agreement to pay a large amount of compensation to the widow. When 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli shells in Beit Hanoun (18.11.2006), Major General Yoav Galant, the head of Southern Command, stated: "There is no certainty that all of them were killed by IDF fire." When seven members of the Ali Ghaliya family were killed on the Gaza beach (9.6.2006), Galant said that they may have been hit by an old mine (in fact it transpired that they were hit by a fresh Israeli shell). During the Second Lebanon War, the Israel Air Force hit a building in the village of Kanna and dozens of people lost their lives as a result. In this case too, the IDF at first denied its responsibility for the event and presented what appeared to be contradictions in Hezbollah's timetable detailing the way in which things developed. The IDF also claimed that Hezbollah had staged the display of the bodies opposite the cameras. Later on, the event was described by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as a significant diplomatic turning point that had a negative effect on Israel's status in the war. Since these events tend to repeat themselves, and since Israel, unlike its adversaries, feels embarrassment when it harms innocent people, it would be better once and for all to formulate the text of a fitting response that would first and foremost include accepting responsibility for a tragedy, expressing deep regret and empathy for the families, and mentioning the part of the enemy in creating the conditions in which the event took place. Ehud Olmert's remarks during yesterday's cabinet meeting are a suitable pattern to be adopted. It is a shame just that it took 24 hours to find the right formula. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Siniora vs. Hezbollah The Lebanon prime minister accuses Hezbollah of staging a coup. Plant down - again Palestinians say tha Gaza power plant has closed due to a fuel shortage.   1.   Uzi Benziman, A man in search of a fitting form letter 09:22  |  Natallie Durson 30/04/08   2.   The haaretz hired hacks are absolutely insane 09:26  |  Denise Thompson 30/04/08   3.   Lying is what Israel does best 09:27  |  Clickfool 30/04/08   4.   What embarrassment? 09:32  |  Marilyn 30/04/08   5.   The lie about Mohammed al-Dura.... again 10:30  |  Yerushalimey 30/04/08   6.   Who is lying ? 10:32  |  Altalena 30/04/08   7.   For Altalena # 6 10:48  |  Clickfool 30/04/08   8.   IDF always targets civilians for the hell of it. 10:51  |  El-Birawi 30/04/08   9.   Clickfool 10:55  |  Sarah 30/04/08   10.   #1- Natallie not ashamed to support terrorists 11:01  |  Sue 30/04/08   11.   IDF panicking a tremendous sign of "weakness"...... 11:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 30/04/08   12.   People don`t believe the IDF`s denials any more. 11:04  |  Michael 30/04/08   13.   For Clickfool & El birawi: How convenient 11:26  |  Altalena 30/04/08   14.   Israel/Jewhaters target daily for lack of worthwhile job like 11:30  |  lily 30/04/08   15.   Al- Dura was a LIE 11:34  |  Elihu 30/04/08   16.   (Everybody )Telling the truth is a good first step ... 11:40  |  Elihu 30/04/08   17.   Knight in shining armour,Uzib,bucles chastity belt on Israel 11:45  |  Absolute Sweden 30/04/08   18.   Why not bring both Hamas and IDF to international trial? 11:48  |  El-Birawi 30/04/08   19.   Put your empathy to the place where the fallafel`s final destiny 11:56  |  Andreas 30/04/08   20.   mohammad al durah blood libel once again raises its ugly head 12:07  |  Denise Thompson 30/04/08   21.   el birawi somehwere. assad mubarak and sauds 12:07  |  justicejustice 30/04/08   22.   Arafat, Assad, Lebanon and US to trials. 13:29  |  El-Birawi 30/04/08   23.   #19 Malak-Andreas and the falafels 13:56  |  Hastaroth 30/04/08   24.   Only US Zionist goyim believe what IDF says 14:00  |  Chanalau, Tova 30/04/08   25.   I do and don`t agree with this article 14:42  |  Mary 30/04/08   26.   The most moral millitary in the world vs baby killing scum 14:47  |  Denise Thompson 30/04/08   27.   Just one of Benziman`s ludicrous statements 15:03  |  Realist 30/04/08   28.   Benziman`s views 15:04  |  howiej 30/04/08   29.   Civilians are killed in wars. We owe no apologies. 15:05  |  Chaim 30/04/08   30.   #2 Denise Thompson on `hired hacks` 15:18  |  hubal 30/04/08   31.   Hubal the amuser 15:49  |  WWACD 30/04/08   32.   Over 2000 dead like this in 8 years. People see through this now 15:51  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 30/04/08   33.   #18 El! You are really a brave person. 15:53  |  John Allen 30/04/08   34.   #26 Denise, great blog. Thanks 15:56  |  John Allen, 30/04/08   35.   #30 hubal. Illegal bombing? 16:04  |  John Allen, 30/04/08   36.   http://youtube.com/watch?v=4U03h2oEZd0 16:14  |  Gil 30/04/08   37.   Who TO BLAME FOR ROCKETS SDEROT? 16:16  |  B 30/04/08   38.   John Allen not sure what there is to `understand` 16:21  |  hubal 30/04/08   39.   WWACD 16:37  |  hubal 30/04/08   40.   #39 Hubal - sounds like somebody has a crush 17:15  |  WWACD 30/04/08   41.   #32 dont ignore the following in the uk 17:38  |  v hardman 30/04/08   42.   To 37 same lame justification 17:40  |  C.J 30/04/08   43.   ?IDF always targets civilians for the hell of it? !!! 17:45  |  Israeli 30/04/08   44.   WWACD 17:47  |  hubal 30/04/08   45.   Pal terrorists are responsible for everything 17:47  |  KUTW 30/04/08   46.   If the answer to these crimes is #41 then the charade has lifted 18:08  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 30/04/08   47.   It works both ways 18:27  |  Steven 30/04/08   48.   #23 Israeli 19:06  |  Chicago Arab 30/04/08   49.   Hi http://youtube.com/watch?v=kxdBaPDEq8o 19:16  |  Gil 30/04/08   50.   RUITERS http://youtube.com/watch?v=iJuz5MkR-gY 19:25  |  Gil 30/04/08   51.   #46 dont ignore your own hump and mind your own ! 20:35  |  v hardman 30/04/08   52.   Its a War, and its not fought for the media 20:47  |  Realist 30/04/08   53.   Elihu/Eilat 22:08  |  shosha 30/04/08   54.   Benziman, disengenuous as usual 22:31  |  FOX 30/04/08   55.   Note the swastica below the story. That says it all! 23:04  |  Murray the Mongoose 30/04/08   56.   to chicago arab 23:49  |  Israeli 30/04/08   57.   also to chicago arab 23:51  |  Israeli 30/04/08   58.   Natallie 00:38  |  Avi 01/05/08   59.   Israeli government propaganda twists the truth 03:20  |  Jerry 01/05/08   60.   Time for Denise Thompson to move to Israel... 05:57  |  Silvienne 01/05/08   61.   Always the same old story from Israel... 06:01  |  Silvienne 01/05/08   62.   # 2 to denise thompson in ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN 06:06  |  eric 01/05/08   63.   the big problem with israel`s "regrets" 07:27  |  eric 01/05/08   64.   #62 eric to Denise "remove them from the face of the earth..." 08:23  |  hala 01/05/08   65.   #55 Muray the Moongoose 08:29  |  hala 01/05/08   66.   #62 ERIC PEEPES OUT FROM UNDER THE STONES OF NM 08:39  |  v hardman 01/05/08   67.   Question for Denise Thompson # 26 09:11  |  Clickfool 01/05/08   68.   For Silvienne, on Denise Thompson # 60 09:16  |  Clickfool 01/05/08   69.   #68, Clickfool...actually, Click... 17:53  |  Silvienne 01/05/08   70.   A Response 18:12  |  Larry Snider 01/05/08   71.   #65, hala...my goodness! 00:02  |  Silvienne 02/05/08   72.   # 66 to victor hardman 05:20  |  eric 02/05/08   73.   # 64 to halas regarding palestinians in israel 06:41  |  eric 02/05/08   74.   #71 Silvienne--I am honoured! 04:26  |  hala 03/05/08   75.   #74, hala...I hope for peace too... 05:48  |  Silvienne 03/05/08   76.   "miss" denise thompson 02:33  |  joe 04/05/08   77.   Mickael-UK: People beleive Pali lies all the time. 23:57  |  Polarik 10/05/08

Read & React Hezbollah fighters start withdrawing from Beirut Responses: 635 British PM: Israel`s creation one of 20th century`s `greatest achievements` Responses: 350 Ahmadinejad: Israel is a 'stinking corpse' doomed to disappear Responses: 389 Key witness 'fears Olmert may seek to harm him' Responses: 101 Jews bend over backward to stay neutral in U.S. vote Responses: 134 Jerome Segal: Through tough love, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be ended Responses: 156 More Headlines 01:57 Hezbollah claims victory as Lebanon gov't U-turns 02:13 ANALYSIS: Clashes in Lebanon have yet to affect Israel 05:37 PM's defense: This is about campaign financing, not bribery 22:16 21 Qassams hit the Negev on Saturday, lightly hurting five 03:03 Organizers hope Olmert probe won't cast shadow on Peres conference 01:16 Jewish Republicans are jockeying to win McCain's favor 01:06 ANALYSIS: Hezbollah, Lebanon gov't are boxers girding for next round 03:02 Kfir brigade leads in W. Bank violations 03:24 Tales from a N.Y. cabby: 'My first wife was Muslim, my second Jewish' 04:09 U.S. may offer Israel powerful new missile radar Previous Editions Select Day 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr

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