The video showing IDF soldiers fleeing Arabs, who are pelting them with rocks, has sparked a response.
Some soldiers, who spoke on condition of anonymity explain they are in a “no win” situation, for the operational orders one receives before going into the field are “intentionally vague” to the point “whatever you do, you lose”.
There are many cases in which soldiers responded to a threat or assault in a fashion viewed as reasonable, yet they later faced charges and at times a criminal conviction and prison as the weight of the left-wing media often outweighs a justified response to a threat.
Soldiers explain too often they are prohibited from using riot control adjuncts such as tear gas or rubber coated bullets for fear of the media response.
Deputy Prime Minister (Shas) Eli Yishai is calling for a special cabinet meeting to discuss the situation. He feels operating orders should be clear and succinct, permitting soldiers to respond appropriately if and when the situation demands.
Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz, a former IDF chief of staff and former defense minister stated the photos are unacceptable, calling upon the military to renew and review its standard operating protocol, along with open fire orders. He warned images of soldiers fleeing as seen in the video are an embarrassment, and serve to compromise the deterrence power and effectiveness of the IDF soldiers operating in the field.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
If the media is hampering IDF’s operations, the media should be removed or their film confiscated.
The readers of Matzav should apply some pressure by leaving comments here and everywhere they could demanding the change of this crazy operational protocols. Stones are a weapon and soldiers should be not only allowed by required to return life fire at the rioters who pelt them with stones.
This nonsense of disproportionate response should be abolished from the army. If the enemy throws a stone at you they want to kill you, and if they would have had guns they would have shoot at you without thinking twice. Thus, it is your duty to kill the enemy first before he kills you, especially when HaShem Yisboarah sent you good weapons, you should use it.
Nothing changed,
I remeber 1987 when I first served in Gaza after the Intifada broke out, but we all know who runs the show, don’t we?