IDF soldier charged with killing woman during Gaza war

Oh hell yes! makes all the sense in the world - and of course IDF soldiers are KNOWN for being extremely poor shots. Hey! Maybe that explains the 1/1(friendly/hostile) casualty ratio it experienced during the Gaza offensive.

Nahhhh! It ain't gonna happen. This is the same old show the IDF uses whenever there's a murder it can't easily brush under the rug. And the outcome will be no different. This killing of civilians - like most that happened during Cast Lead - did NOT happen in the heat of battle, but was instead a much more casual act. Now take a look at the possible charges he faces: "a manslaughter charge, or a lesser charge of negligence"? This means that IF it ever comes to trial, the charge will be some petty offense like "misuse of a firearm" - a charge the U.S. army might use against someone for shooting jack rabbits - and would no doubt have a stiffer penalty.

Just a scapegoat.

The Al-Samouni family killings was one of the worst atrocities of Cast Lead. The villagers from Zeitoun , mainly extended Al-Samouni family members, were herded into a house and told they would be safe. The house was shelled, the IDF refused to let ambulances near the house for 4 days. Of the 100 children in this village 60 lost one or both parents, and many of the children were seriously injured, with dead bodies of relatives around them for days. Most lost siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents. These particular children are suffering extreme psychological trauma and it's about time justice was served for them.

First, if Hamas would not have bomber Sderot for more than 7 years all this would have been avoided. Second, one can send police like forces, trained to deal with situations involving civilians, only in small places with small resistance (like one shooter in one building). To deal with all of Gaza, and stop the shootings, one needs the army. The army consists of tens of thousands very young soldiers involved, they are trained to win against other armies. Not to fight terrorists hiding within civilian population. The truth is, that single no country today has the necessary tools to fight such a huge army of terrorists hiding within civilians, and to do this in a "surgical mode". Lawyers simply look for something that does not exist. They look for an entity composed of 50% soldiers, 50% lawyers, and smart bombs capable of automatically distinguish good guys from bad guys. It is not fair to ask for an 18 year old soldier, to think in a split second, in life threatening situation, in the same way as a committee of relaxed 50 year old lawyers, pondering on the situation on espressos after a lavish meal, and having as much time as they need. But returning to the main point: Hamas generated all this chain of events.

Encouraging but who is being held accountable for the over 300 Gazan children that were killed during Operation Cast Lead? That is the question the international community wants an answer to. Fluff will not suffice.

In Orwell world we are talking about HUMAN SHIELDS are we not? My double speak double think dictionary is red hot and smoking with over use. PEACE EVER?

So did the japanese WW2 and when the yanky came close he blew himself up, maybe some of you have not heard of female suicide bombers, when you are in the heat of batle it is not easy to remain calm and opjective and misteeks happen,so it is in all the wars that went before.joseph

Scapegoat.

Is there nothing intrinsically treasonous about subjecting your own serviceman to discipline for acting within an environment of hostility that was created by top level people in the first place? The people doing the punishing, and the top level power brokers, are more to blame, under any moral, ethical or legal context, than the soldiers who carried out their orders or within the context of rules of engagement that were set out by officers. There is much testimony from former IDF soldiers and officers relating how orders came form the top down to do horrible and atrocious things to Palestinians. Most of these soldiers went AWOL due to the fact that they couldn't humanely carry out the acts they were being asked to carry out in the name of Israel and Zionism.

A war is when two armies oppose each other and engage in combat. What happened during Cast Lead was more akin to a gorilla stamping on a mouse and as such a shameful abuse of power

For some people it is hard to hear the warcrimes of the IDF. That army is realy not clean as many people think.

Since when have the Palestinians been anything other than pathological liars. If the court based it's decision on the testimony of our enemies, that is repulsive.

1400 people died, only one of them deviated from explicit orders? That means the 1399 others who died, were were killed by orders from above. It is time to indicte Barak and the Generals.

After all, the govt that ordered the IDF to go Gang-Busters on Gaza without much concern for civilian casualties was also democratically elected. Does that make ALL Israelis fair game when it comes time to face justice upon the war criminals amongst them? I would suggest that by YOUR logic the answer is "Yes, all Israelis leaders are culpable for the war crimes of the IDF".and must stand trial for war crimes in Hague

If Israel has not committed any war crimes, if the IDF has a perfectly good conscience, then what do you have to fear? The more rage you demonstrate fighting the report, the more guilty you appear. Make an inquiry into the charges and prove to the international community that they are wrong. This is the only way you will convince the world. Not by lobbying against Goldstone could do.

Logios is absolutely right. They're going after the low-level soldiers who were simply following orders in order to protect the policy-makers who openly encouraged the attacks on civlian infrastructure and in fact, directed the attacks.

I am all for justice being served in the IDF, but the length of that has passed since Cast Lead is so long that these investigations seem politically motivated to appease the likes of Saudi Arabia and other oil interests more than the act of serving justice. Why must Israel harass it's soldiers to appease US oil handlers is beyond me?

... but so far the IDF is investigating only the small fish. The highest ranking officer accused is a Lt. Col. I suspect that other Goldstone accusations of war crimes, such as "attacks on the foundations of civilian life in Gaza: destruction of industrial infrastructure, food production, water installations, sewage treatment and housing", will not be investigated since they involve the highest level officers and the civilian leadership. Perhaps the goal of the IDF investigation is to show the Security Council that Israel is really doing an investigation, so the issue should not be sent to the Hague. But the low level of the accused may work against this strategy.

Islamic regime pressure their own soldiers. This is ridiculous

Yes I know, it was a funny joke... Irony that Israel's enemies rely on Israel's binding of Law to weaken the battle, where the other side could care less how much Jewish blood is spilled, where it is and on what circumstances... Ironic indeed.

As expected, a few cases involveing low rank soldiers and officers will lead to criminal proceedings. But the more serious policy crimes will go uninvestigated, despite their massive impact on civilians life and property. Fool the world, but one can't fool oneself!

As a kid wearing a false gentile name I have seen such circumstances from German troops when US and UK army landed in 1944. I did not think the country for which father uncle fought would recall me of them.

The IDF are charging soldiers with war crimes to prevent the senior echelons of the IDF and Israeli politicians being arrested and sent to The Hague. Nothing to do with the IDF investigating itself and being willing to charge soldiers wit war crimes, and everything to do with The Goldstone report and the fact that it hasn't gone away unlike previous International enquiries pertaining to Israel. This is Israel trying to avoid International justice by charging the small fry, even then it is doubtful that the trial will conform to International norms, with Gazans allowed out of Gaza to testify.

which is only show and tell but not really seriously

Or is the army rewarding do-nothing officers?

The bringing of charges against the soldier demonstrates the willingness of the IDF to engage in self-assessment and self-criticism. It is difficult to imagine a Hamas militant facing the same charges in a Hamas court for causing the deaths of Israelis.

The goal is apparently, to cripple forces with regulations designed to protect the enemy and then blame them for failure. Here is some news, if a "Civilian" becomes a combatants by "Hiding Terrorists and their Weapons in their Homes", then there are very few Civilians left in Gaza or Southern Lebanon. Just because you did not fire a Missile Today, doesn't mean you did not fire a missile Yesterday.

... maybe there could have been a bit more circumspection, before condemning beleagured Goldstone so roundly...