IDF dogged by a credibility gap, and eroding consensus

By Amos Harel | Haaretz

While the Israel Defense Forces continue to maintain that the soldiers who shot and wounded demonstrator Gil Na'amati at the separation fence near Masha failed to realize that the demonstrators were Israeli, many ordinary civilians - and not necessarily "leftists" - are convinced the army is lying. That gap in perceptions should worry the IDF.

As in the case of the bombing of the Nusseirat refugee camp last October, the army's credibility is now at stake. Many of those who watched the videotapes of the Masha incident made by the anarchist group came to the conclusion that the soldier fired in cold blood, knowing full well that the target on the other side of the fence was an Israeli.

There is, of course, a moral problem with the expectation that the rules of engagement should be different for Israelis and Palestinians, even when the situations are similar. It appears to be racial discrimination. But in practice, given that the most important element of the open-fire orders is the judgment of the commander in the field, it is clear that Israeli demonstrators pose less of a threat as far as the soldiers are concerned. Despite mounting extremism, it is difficult to assume that an Israeli leftist would open fire at an IDF soldier - something that has happened during all-Palestinian demonstrations. The demonstrator seen in the video shouting "we are your neighbors" was also aware of that.

some eyes may be opening...

that running over an unarmed peace activist with a bulldozer, shooting another in the face, then leaving yet another comatosed and brain-dead would have opened eyes. But that's just me.

Maybe it's the obvious racism in the shooter, who said that he would not have shot had he known there was an Israeli, which has caused some to finally take notice, who knows. I doubt that many beyond the committed peace and justice groups and human rights observers are paying much attention anyway.

it does seem no one cares. maybe people would wake up if they were ever told the amount of money that the Israeli government sucks out of the taxpayer in the guise they are our friends. "friends" they are not.

how many times have you ever heard on your regular news program someone demanding accountability for the billions of dollars we send to Israel that winds up being used for their daily killings of civilians?

Not often. In fact-- never.