International law governing the conduct of war is based on the traditional model of two armies on a battlefield. It fails to apply effectively to ‘terrorist conflicts’ and provides insufficient response to the ethical dilemmas that arise.
Until effective international law is developed to regulate the ‘war on terror’, no decisive ethical code will exist. This is not only a challenge for the Israeli military. It is shared by all Western armies fighting to preserve core democratic values.
The above is the thesis of an Israeli foreign ministry briefing published March 25 in response to allegations that Israel flouted the rules of war in its Gaza offensive Dec 27-Jan 18 against Islamist militants led by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Here are a few excerpts. It may be noted that the docmuent does not define “terrorist” or allude in any way to the political, religious, national or other causes underlying “terrorist” activities. You can read the full document (one and a half pages only) here.
“Terrorists have developed a number of strategies … to offset their military inferiority … at the same time they place the value of propaganda above the value of human life.”
“Terrorists attempty to deligitimize the actions of their state targets: by protraying themselves as victims, by accusing the state of unfair play, and by waging war in densely populated areas and causing panic among the populace with the ultimate goal of obtaining media coverage.”
“To confront ethical dilemmas arising during counter-terrorist operations, the IDF (Israel Defence Force) developed a moral code, The Spirit of the IDF .
The code is composed of Israeli values, democratic Western values and commitment to international laws. It is deeply integrated throughout each IDF soldier’s education.
Spirit places a high standard of personal judgement when targetting terrorists who seek shelter among civilians.
Until an effective international deterrent exists, terrorists will continue to use civilians as human shields. The advantages to amoral forces of operating from densely-populated urban areas are clear, as are the media advtanges arising from international condemnation of counter-terrorist operations in these areas. As a result, international legal attention to this issue is vital.”
(PHOTO: An Israeli soldier covers his ears as a mobile artillery unit fires a shell towards northern Gaza from its position outside the Gaza Strip January 16, 2009. Israel said its Gaza offensive could be “in the final act” on Friday and sent envoys to discuss truce terms after Hamas made a ceasefire offer to end three weeks of fighting that has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (ISRAEL))
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7 comments so far
It does not matter how you define it, what resolutions are passed and what codes are written. izrael will continue to violate them. Its clear that the self proclaimed “most moral army” in the world, is a joke and they are about as moral as the taliban. for decades now, humam rights groups and NGOs have openly presented proof and evidence of war crimes commited by izrael, yet the media always ignored it. well now that finally good and decent IDF soldiers who are standing up to their governments lies and propoganda are coming out, these crimes can no longer be hidden.
- Posted by sidneyUntil an effective international deterrent exists, terrorists will continue to use civilians as human shields. The advantages to amoral forces of operating from densely-populated urban areas are clear, as are the media advtanges arising from international condemnation of counter-terrorist operations in these areas. As a result, international legal attention to this issue is vital.”
- Posted by cSomeone not experienceing the war and not able to understand what the war is about will say what you say.
The last paragraph makes it clear to me that you do not understand what the war is about and conditions the soldiers have to fight in. It is easiest to make a judgement from afar and to justify your observations while having predjutice feelings about a specific nationality when you don’t need to save your own family or country as they do.
hmm, let’s see so its israel trying to fight and protect their families from economic blockades that are starving women and kids?, its israel that has to go thru check points?, its israel that is having their land stolen?, their basic rights violated?, its israel who is having their schools, hospitals and mosques bombed? its hamas and palestine who posses nuclear weapons and the latest weaponry and chemical weapons and use against their defensless population? its best if you educate yourself on the history of this issue first, most of the world knows this conflict did not start a few month ago with the firing of home made fire crackers. its clear who is guilty of what, especially now that we know that voices of morality and descency from within israel are starting to speak out against these crimes. hopefully the media does not silence them like they do everyone else.
- Posted by hassanThis information could help to explain that being biased towards one side or the other isn’t necessarily and politically correct. Try to have an open mind and relise that we are not involved in the war and we do not see it first hand nor is it all truth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar /23/gaza-war-crimes-hamas
Human rights groups urge inquiry into conduct of both sides during three-week war
- Posted by cThe real spirit of Israel’s good ol’ boys:
“IDF raps soldiers for images of dead Palestinian babies on t-shirts”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075 348.html
- Posted by Nu'man El-BakriI understand and know of every war having crimes against humanity and animals. I remember the Nicholes case in OK and how many suffered at the hands of our own soldiers.
- Posted by cIt is in every war zone and every training situation. It isn’t that no one cares on the contrary…most do care and if they get the chance to change it they will and do.
Sometimes it isn’t known but broadcast on UTube or other means to either brag it up or expose it. Thanks for the heads up.
The entire idea is a conflict of terms.
- Posted by MichaelThere already is a code of war ethics.
But war is war. It isn’t pretty. There will always be collateral damage, blue on blue incidents, and civilian casualties. It’s not entirely avoidable. It can only be minimized. And there will always be a very small percent of soldiers who don’t care and will commit war crimes. But you can’t blame the army or country they belong to for their actions. And you can’t judge the entire country, army, batallion, or other smaller unit based on the actions of those few.
Michael, USAF