[Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News] An IDF officer destroys a libel

A person asks a loaded, biased question on Quora:

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in 2015: Why is there no condemnation of Israel's use of flechette projectiles on civilians?http://www.theguardian.com/world...IDF used these bombs on civilians in Gaza and no one uttered a word ocondemnation.

Noam Kaiser (Israeli. And a damn proud one too) answered:

For the same reason there should be no condemnation of Jewish squeezing of live Christian baby blood for Matzos on Passover.

It isn't true.

I'm an operations officer of an armor brigade in the IDF and participated in Operation Protective Edge.

The type of armament you describe was not used in the operation by a single tank in Gaza. But I suspect the OP [original poster - EoZ] already knew that.

50 minutes later, I dug deeper and now I see exactly what is going on here. Before elaborating, here are two anti-israeli tactics that you (the readers) have just witnessed live:

1. Take a single event and make it look like common conduct to smear the IDF's image.
2. Tell short lies, it will force the Israelis to answer long, and no one will listen to them.

Now, as always, I give Quora users more credit than that, so here is the long truth:

1. The OP wrote "IDF used these in Gaza" to make you believe this happened in Operation Protective edge, July 2014. The attached article by the Guardian dates to 2009.
2. Flechettes are an ammunition that in 2009, matched only one type of tank in the IDF used by only one of it's northern units, Brigade 7 in Lebanon, and the ammo was in use up until a few years ago. It is the oldest tank in the IDF, all others have larger size main guns, and - yes - no flechette ammo.
3. In Lebanon flechettes were used against Hezbollah, as they were engaged in the valleys of South Lebanon outside of cities and villages.
4. In December 2008, after an ongoing bombardment of the Israeli south by Hamas rockets, the IDF launched operation Cast Lead.
5. One of the Brigade 7 regiments was rushed south from the northern front, with the ammo its tanks carried.
6. On the 14th of January 2009 (third week of the operation), one of the regiment's tanks, whose commander never served in Gaza and was unaware flechettes were not to be used in Gaza, fired three rounds at Hamas Gunmen. He did not "target" civilians with flechettes.
7. This tragedy came known to IDF southern command the same day in debrief, and the tanks from the one regiment that had them were ordered to ensure they are not in use, during the operation, which ended three days later.
8. Note: The IDF made the decision not to use flechettes in Gaza in 2002, this remained in place even after the Israeli Supreme Court concluded in 2003, they were not a weapon banned by any international treaty.

Anyone who knows something of urban warfare knows, that sterile combat is not a real option - especially facing terrorists organizations like Hamas which expose civilians intentionally (more on that later), and unfortunately two civilians were also hit.

Now, the OP would have you believe the following:

1. Firing flechettes in Gaza is common conduct.
2. It happened recently.
3. Civilians are "targeted".

These are three lies. But it takes time to explain that.

As elaborated earlier, I am an IDF armor corps officer, ranking major. I have served for 5 years in regular service, and another 15 in reserves, which I still do. I served in Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Lebanon, engaging in Combat against Hamas, and Hezbollah terrorists, in urban setting as well, several times.

I know much more than the OP what the IDF does to avoid civilian casualties and what Hamas does to increase them.

Another officer, British Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded NATO forces in several fronts,  knows much more than me and of course,  more than the OP, about this challenge.  Here is what Kemp had to say about the IDF - and Hamas - in the Gaza conflict of 2009:

"Hamas is Expert at Driving Media Agenda," British Commander Tells U.N. Debate          

Long answer, I know.  But I'm sure you prefer it over short lies.

(h/t L. King)



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Posted By Elder of Ziyon to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News at 2/27/2015 05:20:00 PM