In the drive to rebut the Goldstone report, Israeli Military Police interrogated dozens of IDF’s alleged Palestinian victims. The questioning was conducted at the Erez Crossing, which is only possible with Hamas’s cooperation.
The investigation includes allegations of… property damage. If IDF decides to punish its soldiers for breaking Palestinian TVs and fridges, that would certainly position us as the most moral army in the world. Or the most stupid.
Well, the purpose of the investigation seems pretty formal – just to show everybody that, yes, we will do our best to punish guilty, but in fact nothing will be done – it is hard to believe that IDF will punish its soldiers just for property damage.
I’m surprised that Hamas officials even speak with UN representatives… I thought they deny any communication with the world community. Anyway I hope that UN will solve the problem.
The whole situation is quite hilarious, to tell the truth. Since the UN commission responsible for this act consisted of a good number of human rights advocates with no wartime experience and Colonel who have also never participated in any meaningful military actions, I find their speculations not quite legitimate. I am sure they are all excellent professionals in their respecitve fields, but some things should only be judged by people who know the situation first hand.
What is really the use of punishing soldiers for breaking Palestinian TVs and fridges? I see no moral in it.
Well, the whole Goldstone report looks like a mere joke. And Israel should just take it as a joke, instead of trying to prove it wrong. The UN seems to pursue their own goals churning out a report that contradicts the obvious facts. As for the IDF’s decision, my opinion is that property damage is a part of the war routine and it can hardly be avoided. If anybody is to be blamed for the damage, it’s those commanders-in-chief who sent the troops to the attack.
Quote: “that would certainly position us as the most moral army in the world. Or the most stupid.”
Living in Israel for almost 10 years, I’ve learned one thing: Israeli solders are, most probably, the most bravest in the world. Israeli army commanders and Israeli media are the most stupid in the world as well. The world will continue to hate us, if we will regret the actions that were taken during any of the Israeli wars. What is done is done. Nobody, who lives on the other side of the Israeli border, shall know by what cost we’ve got current “piece”. There is no another country that opened a war in past decade who was judged like Israel. So why are we judged differently? Why are we trying to protect ourselves and then say sorry?
I was living on the both sides of the Israeli border and before I came to Israel, I thought about this country and its people the same way as the whole world thinks now. And why? Because of Israeli media. There are things that should not be discussed at all. Israel is not as big and powerful as USA, that the photos of American soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners will be forgotten very soon.
Well, no war could be civilized but its better if generations later people would say: Those soldiers fought for idea, for their people not just to steal,damage and agress. They were soldiers with dignity.
I think that IDF mustn’t hurry in its conclusions. It must think over in what circumstances its soldiers were. And only after those investigations IDF must decide to punish its soldiers or not.
It’s really strange to hear that people care so much about their property, not their health or lives. There’re things that are much more important than broken furniture or kitchen equipment. But on the other hand Palestinian victims try to remind us that there’s law that protects human rights and it shouldn’t be broken no matter what the situation is. Although their accusations sound petty.
There is a saying that if you want something to be done well, do it yourself. So, it would be much better for IDF to launch an immediate inquiry into allegations of war crimes during the war in Gaza than let ICC probe the case on its own. Whoever is found to be guilty, he or she should be punished.
Well, the situation is really difficult. And at the moment I do not really know any solutions to stop confrontations between Jews and Palestinians.
But it is good that UN tries to help. As we see at the moment their help is not usefull at the moment but hopefully attention of medias will play an important role.
At the same time I don’t believe that peace is possible untill Hamas reigns in Palestine. I don’t see them trying to stop confrontation. As for me they are just driven by hostility to Jews.
I wonder if that is the case of “the means not justifying the end”? Israel wants to rebuff the report, sure thing – after all, it’s far from being flattering and possibly, not very well balanced either. Still, as a response to it, the IDF investigation sounds somewhat ridiculous to me. Moreover, it seems that its absurdity is quite obvious to a great number of people – what’s the point then? The war is actually official, are people really expected to complain about broken fridges in circumstances like this? It would be amusing if it weren’t so sad… I wonder what the UN’s reaction to this is going to be like!
I disagree with the last statement in the article.
The main principle of any army in any country is to protect and serve its government. I don’t think that breaking fridges and TVs is part of their job. This action only shows lack of discipline among the solders and their urge to “romp around” with someone else’s property like little kids. So I suppose it would be fair to punish those who cannot keep their hands in the pants. I don’t think it’s stupid. It will teach the others a good lesson.
I believe that IDF is just trying to comply with all formalities and demostrate concern for the Palestinians before the world community. Blaming soldiers for property damage at war is simply ridiculous. IDF is obviously trying to prevent possible accusations, bringing the situation to the point of absurdity. Perhaps it’s better to take care of people than fridges?
The property damage always happens during the war. It’s not surprising. It’s not good, but I think it’s impossible to stop it. If soldiers will be punished, who will be at war? The best way to stop the pillage is to stop the war.
If it’s only the problem of PROPERTY damage, then why punishing soldiers? Let “the most moral army in the world” simply pay its former (?) enemies. Money makes the mare go, you know. As for war victims, they’d get some pecuniary recompense and a hope for justice.
It is impossible for any army to be more or less moral. There is no way for property damage compensations to make people “forget” their mudered and injured friends and relatives. That is why this investigation is nothing but another attempt to make this conflict look “more civilized” in front of the international society. So, if IDF really decides to punish its soldiers, it would never position Israel Forces as the most moral army in the world.
If the Goldstone commission was intended to trigger the peace proccess, I guess they didn’t do their job properly. Hamas is a terrorist organization that should be held responsible for the sufferings of both Palestinian and Izraeli people. Did they forget to investigate Hamas’s crimes?
Besides, their petty accusations leave the Israeli military practically defenceless against the terrorist attacks. So much for the noble motives of the Goldstone mission.
Goldstone report jokes are extremely funny and not only for Israel. Palestinians talk too much as some 0f the Jews do, which is evident from Goldstone report jokes.
Goldstone’s report is absolutely disgusting but if remember that Arabs really believe in the existence of borders of Palestine, then there’s nothing special about this report either, no matter how unpleasant it is for Israel.
Hamas investigations Goldstone has triggered so to speak, will have no positive results. If Arabs have an opportunity to charge IDF soldiers with some crimes, they’ll do their best to have as many of them as possible. That’s why Hamas investigations Goldstone has initiated are doomed.
After such events Hamas may reconsider their decision to provide Israel with 88% of $540 million.