http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3235870,00.html
Ynet exclusive: Comprehensive report shows rules of engagement open to various interpretations; some commanders issue their own instructions, add to confusion. Army: Orders clarified as result of findings
Hanan Greenberg
Army confusion: IDF rules of engagement are unclear and are open to various interpretations by soldiers, according to a document distributed among senior officers and obtained by Ynet Monday.
The damning report highlights severe flaws in one of the most sensitive matters faced by IDF troops – when and how to use their weapons.
"There's a difficulty in internalizing the rules of engagement in light of their complexity…and lack of training simulating various scenarios and responses by the soldiers on an individual basis," the report said.
The troubling findings led to a recommendation to prepare special kits and test troops on the subject.
The rules of engagement constitute some of the most significant codes of conduct when it comes to combat soldiers. Slight deviations from orders can lead to the death of innocents and may result in severe punishments.
Notably, the rules of engagement are characterized as classified information and are not revealed to the public. The orders change depending on the various fronts and are carefully worded by legal advisers following consultations with senior commanders and with the approval of top army officials.
Recently, various human rights groups charged that the IDF does not have orderly instructions when it comes to rules of engagement, with decisions sometimes taken by commanders and troops on the ground in accordance with circumstances.
The groups demanded that the IDF publish the rules of engagement so they are clear to everyone, and particularly to the Palestinians, in an effort to avoid incidents that lead to needless deaths. However, IDF Judge Advocate General Avihai Mandelblit rejected the claims and said the rules of engagement are clear, but their publication could endanger the lives of IDF soldiers and prevent them from completing their missions.
IDF: Rules clarified
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response that "the IDF is a professional body that scrutinizes itself on several levels. That is the purpose of the defense establishment comptroller and the Supervision Division. The monitoring reports are internal and not intended for publication. An inspection regarding the rules of engagement was indeed performed in March 2005, and the report was distributed in May 2005."
"The general evaluation was that there is high sensitivity regarding the issue of the rules of engagement, but nevertheless the report stated that the instructions and updates that have been relayed were not yet fully assimilated in all the units. In light of these findings, the guidelines to soldiers have been made clearer, specific instructions were formulated to address the gaps found in the rules, teaching software on rules of engagement has been developed and distributed to soldiers, and all other flaws have been addressed," it added.
"Since the inspection, the Supervision Division has been monitoring the flaws regularly among subordinates and the general staff's divisions. Familiarity with the rules of engagements is being checked as a requirement in each inspection," the IDF stated.
'Soldiers prefer to kill activists'
In recent years, dozens of soldiers have been put on trial after they allegedly violated the rules of engagement. Some have been charged in military courts with harming Palestinian civilians, and several soldiers have been convicted.
One of the recent examples reflecting the lack of knowledge regarding the rules is an incident where a Palestinian woman shepherd was shot to death by Armored Corps troops in February of this year. The judge advocate general instructed last week the military Criminal Investigation Division to launch an investigation into the incident, after he came to the conclusion there is reasonable suspicion the shooting violated the rules of engagement.
Another example was provided by the Palestinians Monday morning, when they claimed IDF forces killed an al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Bethlehem, even though according to witnesses he posed no danger to the soldiers and could have been apprehended alive.
Human rights organization also stated that IDF troops have in recent months often preferred to shoot Palestinians suspects instead of detaining them.
Ali waked contributed to the report
Ynet exclusive: Comprehensive report shows rules of engagement open to various interpretations; some commanders issue their own instructions, add to confusion. Army: Orders clarified as result of findings
Hanan Greenberg
Army confusion: IDF rules of engagement are unclear and are open to various interpretations by soldiers, according to a document distributed among senior officers and obtained by Ynet Monday.
The damning report highlights severe flaws in one of the most sensitive matters faced by IDF troops – when and how to use their weapons.
"There's a difficulty in internalizing the rules of engagement in light of their complexity…and lack of training simulating various scenarios and responses by the soldiers on an individual basis," the report said.
The troubling findings led to a recommendation to prepare special kits and test troops on the subject.
The rules of engagement constitute some of the most significant codes of conduct when it comes to combat soldiers. Slight deviations from orders can lead to the death of innocents and may result in severe punishments.
Notably, the rules of engagement are characterized as classified information and are not revealed to the public. The orders change depending on the various fronts and are carefully worded by legal advisers following consultations with senior commanders and with the approval of top army officials.
Recently, various human rights groups charged that the IDF does not have orderly instructions when it comes to rules of engagement, with decisions sometimes taken by commanders and troops on the ground in accordance with circumstances.
The groups demanded that the IDF publish the rules of engagement so they are clear to everyone, and particularly to the Palestinians, in an effort to avoid incidents that lead to needless deaths. However, IDF Judge Advocate General Avihai Mandelblit rejected the claims and said the rules of engagement are clear, but their publication could endanger the lives of IDF soldiers and prevent them from completing their missions.
IDF: Rules clarified
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response that "the IDF is a professional body that scrutinizes itself on several levels. That is the purpose of the defense establishment comptroller and the Supervision Division. The monitoring reports are internal and not intended for publication. An inspection regarding the rules of engagement was indeed performed in March 2005, and the report was distributed in May 2005."
"The general evaluation was that there is high sensitivity regarding the issue of the rules of engagement, but nevertheless the report stated that the instructions and updates that have been relayed were not yet fully assimilated in all the units. In light of these findings, the guidelines to soldiers have been made clearer, specific instructions were formulated to address the gaps found in the rules, teaching software on rules of engagement has been developed and distributed to soldiers, and all other flaws have been addressed," it added.
"Since the inspection, the Supervision Division has been monitoring the flaws regularly among subordinates and the general staff's divisions. Familiarity with the rules of engagements is being checked as a requirement in each inspection," the IDF stated.
'Soldiers prefer to kill activists'
In recent years, dozens of soldiers have been put on trial after they allegedly violated the rules of engagement. Some have been charged in military courts with harming Palestinian civilians, and several soldiers have been convicted.
One of the recent examples reflecting the lack of knowledge regarding the rules is an incident where a Palestinian woman shepherd was shot to death by Armored Corps troops in February of this year. The judge advocate general instructed last week the military Criminal Investigation Division to launch an investigation into the incident, after he came to the conclusion there is reasonable suspicion the shooting violated the rules of engagement.
Another example was provided by the Palestinians Monday morning, when they claimed IDF forces killed an al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member in Bethlehem, even though according to witnesses he posed no danger to the soldiers and could have been apprehended alive.
Human rights organization also stated that IDF troops have in recent months often preferred to shoot Palestinians suspects instead of detaining them.
Ali waked contributed to the report