This is from a BBC video report about a documentary that was apparently shown in Israel (to its credit) and caused much outrage. However, it seems to have got next to no coverage outside the Middle-East, so I'm posting it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/u...bbwm=1&bbram=1

If that doesn't work, open up the video console, go to the 'world' section and its currently at the bottom.

All the footage was filmed by the IDF and have been leaked. All my quotes below are from either the soldiers on the ground or the commander in the watchtower.

For those of you who don't have broadband, the sequence of events is like this:


The report opens by informing the viewer that this girl is in the area, and then cuts to the video footage

One soldier broadcasts on the radio that "she's behind a mound, she's dead scared" and the fire continues for several more minutes - the bullets flying right past her mound. None of the soldiers make any attempt to communicate with her, or even cease firing once the fact she is a little girl is made clear.

On the ground, then an officer goes towards the girl, who's lying on the ground at this point, presumably injured. The officer who did the actual shooting said he shot the girl twice at close range, then shot again to "confirm the kill" firing a further ten bullets into her body. ABC news reports that she had 15 bullet wounds when her body is recovered.

Then the commander on the video is heard broadcasting on the radio as saying "anything that moves in the area, even if it's a three year old should be killed".

The usual IDF manequin Sharon Feingold apologised for the "very severe phrasing that the Commander used" and said how "shocked they were to hear that wording" but didn't offer any sort of apology about the death of course.


I'm not going to bash the Israeli's over this - it's no surprise for me, and the video speaks for itself, as does the half-arsed apology. You can watch it and make your own conclusions.

I shall therefore limit my comments on this to a single observation:

This is how terrorists are made.

[ 11-23-2004, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

This was the part that interested me. It's starts at 1:30 minutes into the footage: She says, "The fact that the girl was identified about 70 metres from the outpost in a place that has previously been used by terrorists is very suspicious."

One does wonder if that's supposed to mean anything ...

I imagine that she was trying to imply that the girl was a terrorist.

Presumably if she was though, they'd have hurried to publish pictures of the explosives strapped to her body.

And also, if that was what they suspected, why not cease firing, shout from the watchtower on a loudspeaker for her to come out into the open with her hands on the head and deal with it from there...

[ 11-23-2004, 06:59 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

What was the girl doing out there by herself in the first place? Would there have been a sign saying that the area is restricted?

It doesn't say anything about warning signs that I noticed, so I can't answer that one.

Her mother says that she wandered away on her way to school, and the fact that she was unarmed with no explosive devices on her would seem to confirm that story I guess. Maybe she was just curious? Children do some crazy things sometimes.

I have to agree with shamrock_uk, that's how terorrist are made...

<font color=plum>I have no desire to watch the video, but based on the account given of the events, I can't see any justification for the action taken.

I know I'm not in the situation, but it sounds very evident that the girl presented no threat whatsoever.

The IDF should be shamed by their actions and disciplinary action should be taken against the officer.</font>

Now you seem to think that such things are done on a regular basis. They are not.

REGARDING THE SUPPOSED APOLOGIZE OF MINE:


As an IDF soldier, i do not feel any need (yes, you read it correctly) to apologize for this misbehaviour. As i have previously stated, such things are an exception from the general rule. The shooting officer is nuts. If the entire IDF acted like that, than i would have said-"i feel terribly ashamed". Well, i am not. IDF moral code (which i strongly disagree with, but forced to act according to it), is much more advanced and much more human, than any moral codes of other armies combined. You do not notice it, merely because no army (except USA, UK and now France) apart from ours had any serious long war engagement. When i hear about the acts done by the USA army i think-"Where are the Unwanted Nobodies? Why do not they for a change lecture about the nicities (not neccessaties. (sp?)) of war to somebody else?

You all seem to look at our army that is constantly under the watchfull eyes of the Democrazy's Hounds of Bascerville (sp?). Yet i hardly hear USA citizens apologizing for their so called "war crimes" commited by USA army.

I wonder-how many terrorists did USA made when it bombed mosques in Iraq?
Notice that we could have killed Yassin all the time we wanted to, but since that he was in a mosque we chose not to do it.

Tommorrow i will be back in the army.
Do not expect an answer from me any time soon.

<font color=skyblue>Alright, cool down there Black Baron. Nobody asked for you to apologize for your army's behavior. A little girl was killed and the proof is on video and that will obviously concern people all over the world. Some will make the mistake of blaming people who have nothing to do with it, but you will have to excuse them and not take personal offence, as none was intended.

To everyone on this thread...let's not judge a nation because of the acts of a few misfits. It would not be fair to certain members of our website.

</font>

Just emphasizing what Larry said above. Black Baron is not personally responsible and the entire army is not necessarily bad because one bad apple is there.

Be aware of this when you post your indignant replies.


As for the incident.. I'm appalled that this kind of thing happens and hope the officer who did it faces charges, which is most likely going to be the case.