JERUSALEM, July 15, 2009
Ex-Israeli Troops: Reckless Force in Gaza
Government Rejects Latest Claim that Excess Firepower Used, Damage Inflicted During Incursion
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An Israeli soldier holds his machine gun as he walks near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
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Photo Essay Gaza Clashes' Heavy Toll Casualties on both sides of Israel-Gaza border as bloody offensive continues.
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Fast Facts Israel Learn about the people, economy and history.
In testimonies collected by the organization Breaking the Silence, formed by Israeli army reservists, soldiers who participated in the Gaza fighting describe demolishing homes for no reason and using firepower beyond what was necessary given the relatively light resistance they encountered. None of the soldiers are identified.
The Israeli military rejected the report in a strongly worded statement, questioning its veracity and accusing the group of "defaming and slandering the IDF and its commanders."
The military "regrets the fact that yet another human rights organization is presenting to Israel and the world a report based on anonymous and general testimonies, without investigating their details or credibility," read the statement.
Breaking the Silence said the Israeli public, which overwhelmingly supported a military operation aimed at halting years of rocket fire from Gaza at Israeli towns, needed to know what soldiers saw during the fighting.
"We believe that the existence of a moral society clearly requires a profound, honest discussion, of which the voice of soldiers on the ground is an inseparable part," the group said in the report.
More than 1,400 Palestinians, including more than 900 civilians, were killed during the three-week offensive, according to Gaza health officials and human rights groups. Israel puts the death toll closer to 1,100 and says most were armed fighters.
Thirteen Israelis also were killed, including three civilians who died from rocket fire.
© MMIX, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- If you treat the Son of God like that any wonder you treat your neighbors the way you do and justify it with Apparteid and Celebrate it with Special Olympics.
- Reply to this comment
- by YuSoWrong July 15, 2009 3:03 PM EDT
Were you there as a snake? ...
That Guy Jesus sure is gonna carry a grudge when he comes back u know. - Reply to this comment
- Were you there as a snake?
- Reply to this comment
- by YuSoWrong July 15, 2009 1:26 PM EDT
I'm surprised YOU even spelled "employed" without the "un" before it.
I was unemployed one time, for 2-1/2 months, since February 1986. And the only reason it was that long, is because I got out of the Army and moved back home - it took me a little while to get settled back in and looking for a job.
You? - Reply to this comment
- YuSoWrong July 15, 2009 2:46 PM EDT
We are talking about the real world, d-bag. Not sure how your typically racist and misguided BS hasn't driven you mad by now. Now THAT'S sad..
well wasnt there some guy named Jesus killed by the jews?
who happened to be the Son of God? - Reply to this comment
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- Oh, yes, the sacrifice of the innocent on behalf of the guilty, and this is called morality -- and which, if it wasn't a suicide instead of a murder, would mean either the residents of Judea had supernatural powers (and perhaps still do?), or else the son of god is not the son of god.
But as we know from your emails, there were no Jews living in Judea, which is why they have no claim to this real estate now.
- Greater Syria was divided into modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Gaza. You have never given a reason for your love of the Kings and Criminals who rule most of this: the Syrians have been ruled by the same crime family for 40 years.
The fact that the Jews of Israel don't want to be subjects of the Caliphate makes them more like Americans than anyone else in the region. In fact, more like Americans than some people on this blog.
My friends in Texas don't want to be part of Mexico either. History works like that.
- Oh, yes, the sacrifice of the innocent on behalf of the guilty, and this is called morality -- and which, if it wasn't a suicide instead of a murder, would mean either the residents of Judea had supernatural powers (and perhaps still do?), or else the son of god is not the son of god.
- We are talking about the real world, d-bag. Not sure how your typically racist and misguided BS hasn't driven you mad by now. Now THAT'S sad.
- Reply to this comment
- YuSoWrong July 15, 2009 1:56 PM EDT
Didn't we see you in the Special Olympics?
dont confuse me with a goat roper from Ruzzia.
Did you win at the Parting of the seas event?
if so theres a large kosher pickle for you to suck on. - Reply to this comment
- let the special Olympics carry on...
- Reply to this comment
- How quickly this story disappeared from the CBS home page!!!
Typical! - Reply to this comment
- by YuSoWrong July 15, 2009 1:04 PM EDT
Hey baby, where you goin' with that suitcase? The street ain't gonna be kind to someone like you.
Someone like him?
You mean "employed"?
What would you know about it? - Reply to this comment
Pesident Obama's
