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Last update - 11:40 25/11/2009
IDF to Palestinians: Bring forth Gaza war complaints
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: IDF, Israel news 

The top commander of the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday that the army was carrying out numerous investigations into its soldiers' conduct in the Gaza Strip, and was willing to look into any complaint of misconduct.

"The [Goldstone] report and the claims that came out of it necessitate some sort of response," said IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, of a UN-commissioned report that accuses both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during the offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

"The report accuses the Israeli government of acting against the civilian population and of punishing activities. I have personally appointed five investigative committees, and we have found errors," he added.
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The IDF chief said that the army was open to probing any complaint whatsoever regarding the offensive, adding, "our research is thorough, reliable and truthful. I am not the commander of an army of criminals, rapists and looters. We found no instance of soldiers aiming their weapons directly at a mother and child purposefully."

"Our criminal investigation division is in the midst of reviewing 45 complaints," he said. "I invite all Palestinians to testify if they have complaints. As of now, 60 Palestinians have delivered their testimonies."

"Because of the nature of the battlefield... we unintentionally hurt civilians as well, just like we hurt our very own soldiers and officers," Ashkenazi said.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives condemned the 575-page report, drafted by South African jurist Richard Goldstone, as irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy.

The United Nations, however, has endorsed the report.

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      1.   Not gonna be nearly enough. 13:42  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
      2.   Appropriate Punishment for the Guilty 13:52  |  Rollin 10/11/09
      3.   Ridiculous 14:00  |  Z 10/11/09
      4.   How often have IDF soldiers been serioupunished for killing Pals? 14:04  |  Michael 10/11/09
      5.   How often IDF soldiers seriously punished for killing Pals? 14:06  |  Michael 10/11/09
      6.   Israel can`t investigate itself 14:06  |  Khaled Amayreh 10/11/09
      7.   All this cringing and apologizing ,thanks Almighty Eisenhower was 14:24  |  Absolute Sweden 10/11/09
      8.   let me see if I get this straight. 14:34  |  rm 10/11/09
      9.   Let`s see Hamas investigate itself 14:46  |  x-ray 10/11/09
      10.   #5 Michael - UK Here`s a more serious question 14:52  |  *BEN JABO 10/11/09
      11.   #9 x-ray 14:57  |  BDS 10/11/09
      12.   Sacrificing the pawns 14:59  |  r cummings 10/11/09
      13.   Ben 10. Just answer the question mate. 15:04  |  Michael 10/11/09
      14.   ben jabo 10 15:13  |  potobac 10/11/09
      15.   #10 Ben Jabber--name one Arab state that claims 15:14  |  enri igguns 10/11/09
      16.   Show me one other country that publicly investigates itself... 15:29  |  ben 10/11/09
      17.   to mike #13... how many UK officers are in Jail? 15:46  |  ben 10/11/09
      18.   Late but laudable response; now the turn for the top brass... 16:55  |  Esther 10/11/09
      19.   Ben #16 18:42  |  Esther 10/11/09
      20.   Know facts 21:00  |  Mike 10/11/09
      21.   and when will the palestinians start investigating their 21:26  |  saul a. readner 10/11/09
      22.   #Ben Jabo. Name one Western democracy who has... 22:34  |  Maureen Ann 10/11/09
      23.   Sounds like an admission of guilt 22:46  |  Canuck 10/11/09
      24.   Michael`s question 23:11  |  Peter 10/11/09
      25.   Complain away, conclusion already determined 23:30  |  binny 10/11/09
      26.   Someone might want to look up the meaning of the word `credible` 00:54  |  Richard Pearce 11/11/09
      27.   KHALED AMARYEH UNLIKE you Israelis have an independent judiciary 01:17  |  PETER SM 11/11/09
      28.   This is Purely Political Theatre 01:17  |  Maki 11/11/09
      29.   MICHAEL UK How many Arabs have been punished for killing Israelis 01:21  |  PETER SM 11/11/09
      30.   Bring forth Gaza War Complaints 01:21  |  Issa 11/11/09
      31.   Enri igguns 01:26  |  Philippe 11/11/09
      32.   enri igguns # 15 02:48  |  Philippe 11/11/09
      33.   Response to #10 03:46  |  Joe 11/11/09
      34.   Ben. notice the word that was used "similar" 04:11  |  linfei 11/11/09
      35.   Vivre la difference!!!!!!!!!!!! 04:53  |  Dan 11/11/09
      36.   KHALED AMARYAEH Goldstone report says it can.Israel has an 08:09  |  PETER SM 11/11/09
      37.   This is Purely Political Theatre. 08:55  |  Maki 11/11/09
      38.   flagpole 11:24  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      39.   guilty 11:26  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      40.   war crimes 11:29  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      41.   Hamas 11:32  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      42.   26 11:41  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      43.   war crimes 11:44  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      44.   33 11:47  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      45.   34 11:51  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      46.   facts 12:03  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      47.   Hamas 12:09  |  Samuel 11/11/09
      48.   CUMMINGS:READ slowly"The report accuses the Israeli government of 12:51  |  PETER SM 11/11/09
      49.   Will the UN adopt the IDF findings? 13:57  |  a wandering Jew 11/11/09
      50.   Answer to Peter 24. 15:13  |  Michael 11/11/09
      51.   Maureen Ann - Name the date you`re leaving 17:16  |  *BEN JABO 11/11/09
      52.   Re Johnboy 05:52  |  shlomog 12/11/09
      53.   RE khaled 05:54  |  shlomog 12/11/09
      54.   RE Maureen 06:05  |  shlomog 12/11/09
      55.   wandering jew, IDF is not objective, nor independent... 06:12  |  BBSNews 12/11/09
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