Comments (0)Israeli Military Officials Disciplined Over Gaza
February 2, 2010Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Two senior Israeli military officials were disciplined for “exceeding their authority” during the Gaza war, a government report found.
The official 46-page Israeli government response to the Goldstone Commission report that was given to the United Nations last Friday said that a brigadier general and a colonel “jeopardized the lives of others” by ordering the firing of artillery shells near a United Nations Relief and Works Agency compound in Gaza “in violation of the rules of engagement prohibiting use of such artillery near populated areas.”
The report also says that the shells were white phosphorus smoke munitions, which are permitted only in unpopulated areas and cause severe burns, though the army on Monday disputed this claim.
Ynet said the punishments for Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Ayal Eisenberg and former Givati Brigade Commander Col. Ilan Malka were not disclosed.
There were no casualties in the incident, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Meanwhile, the IDF announced Monday that a sixth team was appointed to investigate the treatment of Palestinian detainees during Operation Cast Lead last winter and look into individual incidents. Five other teams completed their investigations about six months ago.
Explosive-Filled Barrels Found on Israeli Beach
Two explosive devices in barrels were discovered on beaches in southern Israel.
The barrels were discovered Monday in Ashkelon and Ashdod, according to reports, and deactivated by police sappers.
Police told the Israeli media that they believe the barrels came from the Gaza Strip, Haaretz reported. The barrels, which were discovered by people walking on the beach, each weighed about 175 pounds.
Israeli civilians were barred from the Ashkelon and Ashdod beaches.
Meanwhile, a senior Palestinian source told Ynet Monday evening that the explosives were to be used to attack an Israeli oil rig in southern Israel. The source told Ynet that the attacks were a joint operation of several Palestinian terror groups.
Israeli Arabs Indicted for Planning Civilian Attack
Two Israeli Arabs were indicted for planning a terror attack on civilian targets in Israel.
Merad Namar and Merad Camal, both 25, had been arrested early last month at the Beersheba Central Bus Station, where they were found with a portable computer memory card that included detailed plans for terror attacks on Israeli civilian targets.
The targets included the Jerusalem Central Bus Station, the Tel Hashomer Medical Center, the tourist hotel area in Tel Aviv and the Malha Mall in Jerusalem, as well as soldiers’ bus stops in Jerusalem and Mevasseret Tzion, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces.
An indictment against the men was filed Monday in Jerusalem District Court following the lifting Sunday of a gag order on the case. The men were charged with conspiracy with foreign agents, membership in a terror organization, aiding the enemy and espionage.
Investigations by the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, revealed that Hamas had recruited Namar and Camal in Jordan, where they studied in university, and Dubai, where the suspects had been staying before they returned to Israel, according to the IDF.
The two had met in recent months with Hamas agents in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey, and had been scheduled to receive weapons and explosive devices in order to carry out the attacks.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.