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Comments (0)Israel’s military has implemented operational changes designed to further minimize future civilian casualties, according to an update on Israel’s investigation into the Gaza war.
The update, the second update to the original July 2009 government report, was released Tuesday and delivered to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The report appears on the Israeli Foreign Ministry website.
New procedures have been adopted by Israel’s military to ensure further protection of civilians during urban warfare, according to the report. They include continuing to emphasize that the protection of civilians is an integral part of an IDF commander’s mission, as well integrating a Humanitarian Affairs Officer in each combat unit. New procedures also have been adopted to regulate the destruction of private property in cases of military necessity.
Israel’s investigations have produced results, according to the update, including 11 more criminal investigations, bringing to 47 the number of such probes relating to the Gaza war in the winter of 2008-09. Some of the investigations have resulted in criminal indictments.
Pollution May Close Jordan River Baptism Site
A baptism site in the lower Jordan River is in danger of being closed due to pollution.
Israel’s Ministry of Health has urged the Ministry of Tourism and the Nature and Parks Authority to ban baptism in the lower Jordan River due to the serious health risks from the highly polluted water.
Most of the river’s fresh water is diverted by Israel, Syria and Jordan; untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and saline water are returned in its place.
The environmental group EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East called on regional authorities to stop the baptisms until water quality standards for tourism activities are met.
“Attempts of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and Israeli Nature and Parks Authority to lower health standards in order to enable baptism in the Jordan are completely unacceptable,” said Gidon Bromberg, the group’s Israeli director. “The issue is one of public health not to be compromised by short-term economic interests.”
Jesus is believed to have been baptized in the Jordan River by John, who immersed his followers to symbolize their purity before God. More than 100,000 tourists visit the site near Jericho each year.
Johnny Rotten Keeping Tel Aviv Gig, Despite Hate Mail
Johnny “Rotten” Lydon, the former Sex Pistols front man, will not cancel his Aug. 31 show in Tel Aviv despite receiving hate mail.
In his announcement last week on BBC 6 Music News, Lydon said he would not let “the political powers-that-be” dictate his audience.
Other performers, including Carlos Santana, Elivs Costello, The Pixies, The Klaxons, The Gorillaz, Dvendra Banhart and Gil Scott-Heron, have canceled performances in Israel.
Lydon said he would ignore the hate mail and stir up trouble musically.
“I’m anti-government ... and I shall be making that loud and clearly proud once I’m in Israel,” Lydon told the BBC.