Using Human Shields Equates Morality In Israel

</U>Political Theatrics


</B>
http://www.uruknet.org.uk/pic.php?f=...y_soldiers.jpg
</U></I></B></STRONG>October 10, 2009

We hear it often said that the Palestinian militia groups,be it Hamas or otherwise, use "human shields" when attacking Zionist forces ? this contention is typically broadcasted to the masses in order to deter any and all empathy from being dispersed to the Palestinians themselves. After-all, if the Palestinians are using human shields then why should we feel sorry for them ? right?
Now,how many of you have heard of Israel?s use of human shields? Not many I assume. But yes, Israel does indeed use and has used human shields ? including most recently in the Gaza 'Operation Cast Lead? massacre.
Human Rights Watch claims that the IDF (i.e Israeli Defense Forces) used Palestinian civilians as human shields during the 2002 Battle of Jenin. The Israeli human-rights group B?Tselem reported that "for a long period of time following the outbreak of the second intifada, particularly during Operation Defensive Shield, in April 2002, the IDF systematically used Palestinian civilians as human shields, forcing them to carry out military actions which threatened their lives".
During the 2008-2009 Gaza invasion known as Operation Cast Lead, Israeli military forces continued using civilians as human shields. According to testimonies, Israeli forces used unarmed Palestinians including children to protect military positions, walk in front of armed soldiers; go into buildings to check for booby traps or gunmen; and inspect suspicious objects for explosives.
Israel has obviously denied any and all claims of using them as human shields but there is one trump card being used against the IOF (i.e Israeli Occupying Forces)- A group called Breaking the Silence, an "organization of veteran Israeli soldiers that collects testimonies of soldiers who served in the Occupied Territories during the Second Intifadah", released 54 testimonies by some 26 Israeli soldiers who participated in the Gaza massacre of recent, including confirmation of the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields.

Here?s how one soldier described it:
"It was the first week of the war, fighting was intense, there were explosive charges to expose, tunnels in open spaces and armed men inside houses. Warfare was slow and basically a very small area was occupied. Every unit, every force had a rather small designated area of several dozen houses only, which they had to take over, and that took a whole week. That is warfare and that took a whole week. They really moved slowly. Close in on each house. The method used has a new name now ? no longer 'neighbor procedure.? Now people are called 'Johnnie.? They?re Palestinian civilians, and they?re called Johnnies and there were civilians there who stayed in spite of the flyers the army distributed before it went in. Most people did leave, but some civilians stayed to watch over the houses. Perhaps they had nowhere else to go. Later we saw people there who could not walk, some simply stayed to keep watch. To every house we close in on, we send the neighbor in, 'the Johnnie,? and if there are armed men inside, we start, like working the 'pressure cooker? in the West Bank."

When asked to explain what was meant by the "pressure cooker terms the soldiers replied that it meant sending in a civilian to check on the "presence of armed men, or using "Johnnies" to smash walls for Israeli troops to storm through."

Israel?s Use of Human Shields

Palestinian Boy Used As A Human Shield
Hiding Behind Civilians
"Military Juntas" For 500, Alex
What Kind Of "Soldiers" Hide Behind Civilians?
In 2006,former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert states that he rejected any criticism of the morality of the IDF.
"The IDF is the most moral army in the world," the prime minister said. "It does not and never has made a policy of targeting civilians."
I on the other hand,beg to differ.



:: Article nr. 58795 sent on 11-oct-2009 03:55 ECT


www.uruknet.info?p=58795</I>

Link: politicaltheatrics.org/2009/10/10/using-human-shields-equates-morality-in-israel
/</I>

:: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website.

Hi,

I find your thread header deeply misleading:
>Israeli : The best soldiers in the world.<

It is also dangerous ground to enter due to the fundamental dishonesty of Zionism, which MUST NOT be confused with Judaism, all too readily Zionist cowards will try to brand honest men and women as 'anti semetic' or some such for having the timerity to criticise the obscene behavior of the Zionists in Palestine and the ongoing land grab by their State sponsored terrorist force the IDF.

Acting as an occupying army the IDF serially commits war crimes and crimes against humanity - the treatment of the indigenous peoples is in and of itself an obscene act of terrorism by the Zionist occupying army.

The fascist style repression of the peoples draws much in similarity to The Warsaw ghetto and it is all too easy to forget the attrocities of Shabra and Shattilla.

The Zionist behaviour and their state sponsored terrorists the IDF bring shame on Judaism a shame which is renounced by Jews around the world.

Regards,
Greg L-W.