IDF believes single Lebanese officer behind border shooting

what a farce!!

Wouldn't southern Lebanon have been commemorating, or maybe also celebrating, exactly 4 years since the 2006 war ended?

The fence is set back from the border. UNIFIL verified that. Tape showing IDF on other side of fence doesn't put them in Lebanese territory. It would be nice if the UN recognizes a violation of Israeli territory for once. Resolution thru normal diplomatic activity might lead to less forceful Israeli responses.

It's about time Israel stopped given Hezbollah a reason to be popular, don't they understand that this gives the Lebanese people the more reason why they should be armed! Peace not war! Enough is enough!

Whatever the reason was for this conflict, it looks like the war is coming! Iran may want to use Lebanon to increase the tension in this area to expel some potential threats or Israel and US might want to start a war in Lebanon first and spread it towards Iran. Wait and see.

Did Israel really send a LT and a Captain to trim bushes on the border? please enough of these blatant lies Israel.

Earlier yesterday, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) used snipers to fire at IDF soldiers in northern Israel, killing Lt. Col. Dov Harari from Netanya and wounding another soldier. The incident occurred east of the internationally recognized border, known as the "blue line," and west of the security fence, in Israeli territory. The land in between the "blue line" and the security fence is the same area where two soldiers were kidnapped by Hizbollah in 2006. The IDF activity yesterday was routine and coordinated with UNIFL; Lebanon was alerted about the procedure three hours in advance. Israel holds the Lebanese government fully responsible for this deplorable incident and clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Ok, so now what. Is this, another clear violation and and attempt to destabilize the region, as warned a few days ago by Syria's President B.Assad.? Or is it a case of certain friction amongst officers in the Lebanese Army.?

Several hours before Israel announced fatality and wounding, Al Jazeera already anounced high-ranking Israeli officer had been killed and another officer wounded... it was difficult to believe that such officers are sent on routine patrols... it was a dastardly unnecessary deed... just to give false "justification" to Hez hysterical verbal response...

This tragedy shows how incompetent Unifil is. where were they when this happened?

were they trimming the bushes or chopping down a tree on the lebanese side to put up cameras? either way, we don't care.

Don't try to cover up your complacency. All around you are the worst of the worst. Forever be prepared,before an incident, during an incident & after an incident. ..................... The Scout's Motto: "Be Prepared" should be one of the pillars of Zahal.

El Guapo: And uh... Dusty Bottoms: Pruned! El Guapo: ...pruned the, uh... Dusty Bottoms: Hedges! El Guapo: ...hedges of... Dusty Bottoms: Many small villages!

While occupying Beirut, IDF destroyed secular trees near the French University with tank shells. Many Palestinians orchards have been reduced to ashes. Now brushes along the border 's the fence ... What's wrong with you ?

There are also -three- politicians behind it: Benyamin Netanyahu Avigdor Lieberman Ehud Barak.

by a few foreigners. An IDF jeep draws up near the fence a few 100 meters away and shortly thereafter all have to start dodgeing IDF live fire.

What was the IDF doing inside the Lebanese boarders?! The IDF considered this operation as a regular operation. They enter the Lebanese boarders and no one interrupts them. BUT Lebanon has the right to defend itself and secure its boarders.

....well, honestly, you'll believe anything....

As usual the IDF propaganda machine rolls out. "According to information gathered by the IDF, the sniper fire was ordered by a commanding officer within the Lebanese army"........"However, it is known that the particular officer was influenced by inciting remarks against Israel made by the top commanders of the Lebanese army in the recent past. It would seem that the IDF has developed a new weapon.....TELEPATHIC PSYCHOANALYSIS.

lebanese officers and soldiers did what they had to do, peroid. u violate our land we defend it

(1) The UNIFIL commander is insisting that the Lebanese did *not* shoot first (2) The UNIFIL spokesman is insisting that the IDF did *not* co-ordinate their action with UNIFIL (3) The Lebanese Army spokesman is insisting that when the IDF's intentions were relayed through UNIFIL on Sunday the Lebanese Army objected to that request, and those objections were then ignored by Israel. All of which undercuts this narrative of Pfeffer's.

israeli "news" organizations disseminate IDF propaganda without even questioning the sources, revealing who they are, or providing any other viewpoint. Is this Haaretz or an IDF spokesperson?

Is Israel sure that UNIFIL relayed the notice to the Lebanese forces? It has been neither effective nor impartial in the past.

Is Israel ever guilty of wrong doing???I am not surprised that the IDF is accusing the Lebanese army as they have a habit of accusing the other side, even when those on the other side are bunch of kids or peace activitists.

Isn’t Strange that when the International Tribunal is close to submit details on who killed the former Lebanese PM and all those people (Hezbollah, Syria...). Which may lead to a better relationship between those 2 countries, that Israel provoked this incident (by lowering the hand of the crane over Lebanese Border, as shown in many photos)! Which makes you think; Israel likes having Hezbollah around so it can continue to persist with its aggressive nature, in other words; Hezbollah and Israel have common goals: no peace just clashes every now and then. I hope one day both our countries enjoy peace...

bibs response to the killing of jews is wimpish and encourages more of the same. Lebanon should have been carpeted with fire. They should have been left shaking and in fright lest it happen again. Bibi should step down as he does not notice the dead jews. If he wishes to turn the other cheek he should leave judaism.

Let's just say Israel's version is true. Well, Israel should not complain as when simple sheep herders in Gaza are "hundreds" of meters near the separation wall on Gaza's side, Israel still shoots at them. If Israel's version is true which I doubt, then they got a taste of their own medicine. Now, they spokesmen says the Lebanese army yelled repeatedly to which Israel ignored before fire erupted. That tells you Israel feels they can do whatever they want with impunity including violating other nation's sovereignty. In this case, they got a bloody nose because Lebanon isn't Gaza.

Which ironically means, I might love Israel.

these were not yelling, these were warnings, but the arrogant israeli troops chose to turn a deaf ear... next time they will listen more carefully.

Whenever Israel commits yet another atrocity, its defenders are quick to redirect public attention away from the grisly crime scene

All of Israel's current problems can be traced back to their disastrous relationship with the Phalange that was formed during the late 1970's . despite the Mossad urging caution, both Labor and Likud leaders allowed Israel to be suckered into the Lebanese quagmire by both Pierre and Bachir. 30 years of failed Lebanon policies have resulted in Eli Geva singlehandidlydestroying IDF morale forever, Sabra and Shatila, the introduction of lopsided prisoner exchanges, letting the Shiite genie out of the bottle, the murder of Erez Gersten, the hasty May 2000 IDF withdrawal and abandonment of the SLA allies, the July 2006 fiasco and so much more. It's time for new and creative thinking with repect to Lebanon.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-blames-u-s-france-for-arming-lebanon-1.305848 "Le Roy did not blame either side for the incident, nor did he accept Israel's claim that the Lebanese troops opened fire first." Pfeffer is insisting that the Lebanese sniper fire came first, and UNIFIL (who was there, unlike Pfeffer) is disputing that "fact".

Israel is always starting something the creation of israel or the stealing of the palastining home land i should say was the darkest day in world history and has just produced misery ever since let us remember no palastining got on a boat or plan and traveled to another continent to kick jews from their homes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't the use of Tanks, Artilliary and planes look a bit of overkill now??? Trigger happy? Or does Israel really want war?

The Israelis regularly shoot Gazans who even come near the border fence with Israel, so the Israelis can't complain when the pics clearly show the IDF on the wrong side of the border fence, and violating Lebanese territory.

This burst of needless violence is not just a single Lebanese officer. It seems that the Iranians are trying to distract their people away from their collapsing economy by starting trouble on our borders. It will take some very smart moves to defuse this provocation.

He is stating that the Lebanese Army fired warning shots into the air, and the IDF responded by firing tank shells and rockets directly at the Lebanese, killing the three soldiers and that reporter. It was only **then** that the Lebanese responded with sniper fire at the observation post and (a very important point, this) he is claiming that the order to fire back came from Beirut.

why were they on the wrong side of the border in the first place?

Lt. Col. Dov Harari. Rest in peace. You are a hero for defending your country.

props to leb army for actually standing up ti israeli crimes and aggressions against lebanese soverignity.

At least according to one report in a rival Israeli newspaper, the incident occurred on Israeli territory, which, if accurate, would put the blame on Lebanon in this situation.

A threshold question, if you will. According to news reports, this all started when IDF personnel cut down a tree. OK, on who's property was that tree? Was it on Lebanese territory or Israel territory? I think that may be pertinent to the issue of fault.

They insist that they fired warning shots when they saw IDF soldiers crossing the fence, and it was the **Israelis** who responded to that demonstration with shoot-to-kill force i.e. the Lebanese soldiers were already dead when the Lebanese Army responded with sniper fire on that observation post.

there is an old yiddish expression that when you spit at a prostitute she says it is raining. Avoiding the truth does not solve problems. Absolving the Lebanese official and others of the murder of an Israeli soldier will only encourage more of the same.

Can somebody explain to me what those useless UNIFIL cowboys are doing aiming at the Israeli patrol, instead of at the Lebanese maniac who started the shooting?! 12,000 useless clowns covering the Hezbollah build-up at the border.

but the IDF shouldn't have been there to be shot at! Simplez! PS Haven't you guys heard of weedkiller etc?

Refer to the other articles and see nataliie's comment "Good for Lebanon". See how she draws irrational connections, and see how she laughs in the face of jews after one of our brothers has been murdered with no provocation.

Of course the Israel bashers will condemn Israel. It's clear Israel is right on this one. But there are those that will believe those lying bastards. Remember the "Jenin Masacre" that never was?

... And now for something completely different. The 'sniper' theory provides a cover for the ill-executed operation that was fully photographed and publicized, as we see its detailed pictures in the Washington Post today. So, it is not that the Lebanese Army managed to defend their territory and deal a serious blow to the IDF but it does seem that the Lebanese Army is ready to stand up to Israel's plans... This is a double whammy. Israel can claim it has succeeded, through its 2006 failed attack on the Lebanon, not only to strengthen Hizbullah, but to bring in the Lebanese Army, now armed and modernized by the US... well, sort of, with new trucks and jeeps!

It just seem everybody picking on poor little Israel. They never do anything wrong EVER! Right? This just seems like another in a long line of, when the facts play out, Israeli provocations. But who knows Israel might be telling the truth this time, stranger things have been known to happen but I’m not holding my breath. Because I’ve been reading the News and listening to the politicians and beginning in spring it had became evident that Israel was looking for a war to sidetrack the laughable Peace Process. Well surprise, surprise! War is knocking on the door. All that’s left to question is, what the body count is going to be before Israel and her peace loving society is satisfied, and Whether Turkey and Syria will get evolved and what that blood bath will turn into?

And you won't get shot. Simple as that. Other baloney is completely irrelevant.

This is what happens when you say WOLF WOLF? but how true is it?

Time to finish this once and forever !

I don't trust the American Military, nor the Israeli, nor any other Military which has a tremendous vested interest in itself. We need to have impartial neutral investigations into events like this [and the gaza flotilla], otherwise it's just going to keep inspiring more people to mistrust these nations which keep going on in such an archaic middle-aged fashion.

Or are you waiting for Israel's self-defense response?

Can anyone verify the sequence of event? Just spinning the event after the fact is travesty to the dead and those who serve in the IDF

Can the Lebanese soldiers go into Israel territories and trim some bushes that had grown along the fence?

"After a round of yelling, unanswered by the Israeli troops, " anyway, where was that tree or bush? Shooting at shepherds in that part of Lebanon (?) is usual.

i heard a lebanese journalist who was a first-hand witness to the skirmish tell a very different story (on BBC). both can't be true - it's totally confusing. who fired the first killing shots is important. they may both have misunderstood each other before it came to that, but each side claims it was the other one who killed their people first, to which they then responded in turn.

Lebanon has every right to protect its borders!

I wonder who arrived first (see picture). This is a perfect example of using the UN (by the Leb army) or two unbelievable stupid UNIFIL soldiers, beeing in the same place as the Leb army. Nothing learned from the UNTSO Khiam tragedy....

The IDF thinks and thinks but cannot proof anything. I think the IDF sented their own soldiers with the knowledge and hope the Libanees army would fire.

It takes an analyst in Israel to figure out that an officer ordered a soldier to fire on trespassers! How intelligent is that!

The exchange of fire began when Israeli soldiers approached the border in order to trim some bushes that had grown along the fence.

So you can draw an obvious conclusion: there was no violation or border crossing. So based on this, one of 2 scenario exist: It is either complete incompetence and ignorance of the Lebanese army interpretting topographical maps and navigation principles (where the average education level of a Lebanses soldiers is grade 4). Or, this was a pre-panned provocation orchestrated by the "real Lebanese army", ie Hezbo. I would go with the 2nd option as it is so similar to numerous unprovoked attacks by Hezbo on Israelis civilians inside Israeli territory. Ambushing unsusspected soldiers is the easiest thing to do, since they cannot win face to face with us. If this will flare up, they can wave goodbye to Lebanon/Hezbanon. But this is theic choice.

I wonder at the lack of follow-up on the 'coordination' with UNIFIL. Is all reporting in Israel simply regurgitating the IDF story? No quotes from the other side or even the soldiers involved? Why does this story resemble other IDF fictions?

DONT FORGET TO ORGANISE A BLOODY ASHURA PARTY THE NEXT DAYS! BE A GOOD NAIGHBOUR! HAHAHAAAHAMMAS!

In response to naked cowardly attack by Lebanon, Israel should have killed dozens of Lebanese soldiers in retaliation.

A first ceasefire was requested by the LAF so they could tend to their wounded. Israel agreed. Then about 30 minutes later, the Lebanese fired an RPG. And Israel responded. This was naked Lebanese aggression, from start to end.

It took the IDF too long to make a story up! But it's finally here. The masters of fantasy never let us down!:)

Take em down. The only way Israel's enemies have ever understood the countries right to exist is to use force. The rest of the world sees the response and that there was disproportionate end result. You cant blame the Israel for getting shot and killed for defending itself. They coordinated with the UN force. But yet the UN force didn't come right out in the news cycle and say that, they let the world get the first coverage of Israel on a border breach. So much value for life that they killed over a tree being trimmed via cherry picker. Not even feet on the ground. O yeah, that part of the border is still in Israel. If the UN and the world doesn't condemn Lebanon then you have your answer. Next time that a rocket is fired, a shot is fired, a solider is killed. YES collective punishment is fine. Yes, lay down some hurt. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Israel just wants to be left alone to contribute to the world and live. They did not start the wars that caused the loss of land. They just won them against all odds. They have a military forces out of necessity and not desire.

Th is was obviously not a lone officer commanding a lone soldier to fire on IDF soldiers 100 yeards away. It was a trained sniper whose only purpose was to probe an Israeli military response.

this shows why the mighty Israeli forces needs a FULL RANGE of weapons from the smallest rubber bullet to the mightiest techno possible and the popular and political support it deserves....

Didn't see the Lebanese planning the hit, didn't see the sniper positioning his rifle, didn't see the officer giving the order, etc. etc.

The war of 1982 came about as a result of aggression from Lebanese territory, as did The 2006 war; every incident in between has been started by attacks from Lebanese territory.The Lebanese seem to crave war; when they can't find someone else to go to war with, they start in amongst themselves - their ten year civil war was one of the bloodiest on record. Since then, every so often when they get bored they go after each other for amusement. Why is that?

Israel has been bantering about war with Lebanon..and they expect everyone to think that Israel is not going to try and incite one or start one outright? When you kill Gazans for farming hundreds of yards away from the border you have appropriated from their lands dont think your lives are going to be any more special than theirs when you get close to someone elses border.

Stop painting Lebanese army like a messy group of armed thugs. They are brave soldiers defending their nation.

One single officer influenced by hate remarks from his higher command line. If that is not a reason to wipe teh entire LAf out nothing is. Either this L:Af is professional or it is an army of fools. Fools cause wars and this may still yet happen

Funny that the Lebanese would start shouting -- since they had been informed and all. Also -- given that Israel had no expectation that this incident would occur -- funny that the IDF immediately has such detailed, intimate knowledge of exactly what transpired on the Lebanese side. As I say, could be -- but given the IDF's track record, I see no particular reason to believe this account.

Lebanon as far as it is well known, never provoked Israel, it has always been the other way around.Every day Israel flies many sorties above all Lebanon and breaks the sound barrier creating panic in the sitizenry. It is also well known that the Lebanese army is one of the most diciplined in the Middle East. That is why they were able to defeat the Islamists in Tripoly with very little ammunition. So all those mentioned reasons in the article does not make any sense. Lebanon has the right and the obigation to deffend its citizen ( this is an israeli liene ) against its enemies, afterall Israel still occupy Lebanese territories and refuses to give it back as requested by the U.N. and my country the USA. Israel should not play with fire as it risks burning it fingers.

Arabs really want another war. Who knew.

And you know that how?

sounds like a story fabricated by the Mossad!

So Israeli soldiers trimming bushes witihn Israeli territory are shot at, and shooting back is labeled 'harsh'? I for one think the response was too muted.

If Israel wants a 400 meter wide shooting range without obstacles, it must create that within its own borders. You cannot expect another country to allow that on his own terrain, especially without asking permission. This is not the Westbank.

When the Unifil people warned Israel that they were firing too close to a UN compound---Israel went ahead and bombed it anyway. Yep --Unifil is handy when you need them as an alibi. But worthless when it suits you. Seriously--who can believe one word emanating from a Zionist orafice.

I think behind Israel bunch of morons! Next time Hezbollah is waiting u ... and i appreciate if u post my comment and thank u

Ofcourse Israeli "truth "is THE "truth " Believe it yourself, but don't think that non israelis, so goyim are nuts

do not cut down border bushes, napalm them for deterrence, from afar.

Should be last for Lebenon.Israel should apply full fire power and in 5-6 hours lebenon stop to exists. And no more provocations. Lebenon government should be aware of it.

Israel probably knows his name,rank,cellphone number,home telephone,home address,family members etc. No doubt he should be arrested and charged for murder. Unless the darker forces of Mossad catches him first. What a disgrace, go and get him CHEVREI.

this story has undergone more makeovers than joan rivers in the past 5 hours. also, i like how the unifil now was totes aware of the whole trimming business. an hour ago you said that they had specifically asked the idf to go away. oh, hasbara!

Not a coincidence. He is behind it.

They were clipping the hedges! It was a clear violation of Resolution 1701! Israel must not provoke the Arabs by clipping the hedges! This outrage must not go overlooked! YAAARHGHGHGHG

Guns of August?

Spare us the whining IDF.. ok? Lebanese TV showed the video and it was clear that IDF was trying to violate the Lebanese territory and cut a tree. Now you can whine and say you didn't expect the Lebanese to kick your butt but don't think for a minute anyone will believe this was a planned ambush by Lebanon against poor peaceful IDF. Now that you learned a lesson, do you want some cheese with that WHINE??!!

Nothing new