High Court: IDF must protect Palestinians' lives, honor

[Gimel]

Supreme Court President Aharon Barak on Sunday issued a ruling that defines guidelines for the Israel Defense Forces' obligation to honor humanitarian international law during warfare.




"In internalizing humanitarian laws, the duty of a military commander does not end in avoiding harming the Palestinian's lives and honor," the High Court ruled Sunday. "He must also defend the lives and honor of local residents."

The verdict was handed down in response to a petition submitted by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and the Physicians for Human Rights group.

The petition was submitted ten days ago while IDF troops were operating in Rafah, and said that the Palestinian residents there were denied basic rights such as access to water, electricity, medication and food, as well as the ability to evacuate the wounded and the dead.


Haaretz

Improving awareness of the rights of civilians and training soldiers to have more respect in protecting those rights, is a trend in the right direction.

[SandyUSA]

1. This issue is also discussed at this thread here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x71002

[Gimel]

2. This thread

the times on the posts show that this was the first.

In response to your comment (on the other thread), I don't think the ruling is cosmetic. It will pave the way for upgrading IDF criterion for battle in the urban areas that they are operating in. It will necessitate additional training hours, but will be mandatory now, as the law will have to be respected.

[newyorican]

3. "as the law will have to be respected."

That's funny. Like the law against using civilian human sheilds has been "respected": Inquiry after Israeli forces caught using boy as shield (on Jeep)

This is little more than the usual day after hand-wringing in a vain effort not to look like vengeful savages. A failing effort, that is...

Stange there is always an "Inquiry" or "Investigation" announced and that's the last anyone hears about it (eg. whitewash/memory hole).

[Gimel]

4. Law breakers

There will always be people who break laws. There are laws that are little understood, and laws that are very vague.

How often is a felony committed in the USA? If you want to hear the end of the story, just stay tuned.

[newyorican]

6. Hello...is this thing on...*tap*tap*...

There will always be people who break laws.

People is one thing, the military arm of a govt. systematically flouting laws as decreed by their own High Court is something else.

There are laws that are little understood, and laws that are very vague.

There may be, but this isn't one of them. What is vague about, "do not use civilians as human Shields"?

How often is a felony committed in the USA?

That and the price of rice in China will add so much to this dialog. :crazy:

If you want to hear the end of the story, just stay tuned.

What are you talking about? Bedtime stories? Hello...*tap*...hello...*tap*tap*

[Gimel]

7. I'm here

your concern with this child (yet living and unharmed) is admirable.

Are you concerned about the punishment of the organized crime that brought about the deaths of the 5 members of the Hatuel family?

Or how about this item that I just copied from the Haaretz site:

21:36 Border Police troops near Hebron arrest Palestinian wanted for murder of Israeli Dov Deriban six years ago


If you want immediate satisfaction, return to your bedtime reading.

You would probably like E A Poe. That tapping sound again.

[newyorican]

9. Interesting...

I cannot count the number of times I have commented on others concern for children only to have the post deleted...perhaps it's my aversion to the alert button...or it could be something more nefarious...

Be that as it may, I assume you have some proof that child in question is' "living and unharmed"? I have no such proof as the prerequisite "investigation" (eg. whitewash/memory hole) is currently ongoing. However, I will conditionally accept your "admiration" though I do not seek nor covet it.

Are you concerned about the punishment of the organized crime that brought about the deaths of the 5 members of the Hatuel family?

Not as long as you get the right people, instead of lashing out in bloodthirsty revenge at anyone that doesn't look Jewish. Are you concerned with the abject stupidity (bordering on child abuse) in bringing children, unprotected, into a war zone on a colonial misadventure? That stupidity doesn't warrant a death sentence, but they would all be alive if some common sense were exercised.

Or how about this item that I just copied from the Haaretz site:

21:36 Border Police troops near Hebron arrest Palestinian wanted for murder of Israeli Dov Deriban six years ago

How many people killed Dov Deriban?
A good example of this current stage was the assassination of 48 year old Issa Dababseh, on 7 November, in the village of Yata. The excuse: a never proven claim that Dababseh killed settler Dov Deriban during a heated argument in 1998. The IDF claims that this father of ten, a poor agricultural laborer not associated with any Palestinian organization, aimed a weapon at soldiers who came to arrest him, and was consequently shot to death. source
Or did the IDF arrest a dead man, or did they killed the wrong man, or is this just a convenient excuse for another dead Palestinian? So many questions, and you seem to only be able to answer what hasn't been asked...oh well, such is life.

If you want immediate satisfaction, return to your bedtime reading.

Well now, that would depend on the length of the book...

You would probably like E A Poe. That tapping sound again.

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door! - EA Poe

What is wrong with Poe?

[Gimel]

10. The arrested suspects

How many people killed Dov Deriban?

Yes it took three of them to bludgeon one Israeli to death. One of the brothers was shot while resisting arrest, now two have been captured. They will have a fair trial.

Driben, a bear of a man, had been shot and bludgeoned to death by the Dababsa brothers, apparently in a feud over grazing rights. Security officials also said the brothers were politically motivated. Murder

As for "the child in question" and proof, the photograph shows him alive, and there was no claim that he had been actually injured. Only that there was a potential for injury from Palestinian protesters. That was never proven either.

BTW, I would never recommend reading something that was not good lit. Enjoy.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Excellent

The IDF can't start soon enough.

[bemildred]

8. Yeah, what's not to like?

Let's get started.

[Scurrilous]

11. I can see why this was needed:

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/434068.html

Border Policemen held for alleged abuse of Palestinians

<snip>

"Three Border Police officers were arrested this week for allegedly abusing two 17-year-old Palestinians about a month ago, in an incident that included beating the youths and forcing them to commit humiliating acts.

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended the suspects' remand Tuesday, and the suspects are due to be indicted Wednesday.

The Border Policemen have admitted to detaining the minors in Kfar Qatana near Abu Gosh and taking them to a nearby forest, where they allegedly abused them.

The officers - Itay Briar from Or Akiva, Arik Gladati from Bat Yam, and Lior Klaberis from Ramle - admitted to punching the minors, hitting them with sticks, pouring dairy products over them, and forcing them to kiss shoes and chew sand and stones."