ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER and the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process both condemned an Israeli soldier for killing a "Subdued" terrorist" who was wearing that the soldier and several bystanders suspected was a bomb vest.
The NGO, B'Tselem, is notoriously pro-Palestine and anti-Israel. (See end of blog on B'Tselem background.)
The NGO acquired, and quickly posted on the Web a video - sans sound - of the two Palestinians wounded by soldiers. The video can be found in multiple places on the WWW, mostly - albeit not exclusively - on Muslim web sites.
Based on that video, Netanyahu and Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process immediately condemned the soldier.
Shortly after, a second video appeared, with sound, that paints an entirely different picture of the events.
B'Tselem claims that medics failed to attend to the terrorists and that a soldier used his boot to turn over one of the terrorists.
On the second video we hear the medics being told to "stay back" until sappers (bomb defusers) can determine if the terrorists have bombs or other weapons that could be used against the medics.
The terrorist the soldier shot in the head was wearing a heavy, bulky sweater during a warm day; a costume terrorists often use to hide explosive vests and belts. The soldier - and those standing nearby - apparently thought the wounded terrorist was about to explode a bomb.
As far as a solder using his boot to turn over an enemy, anyone who was in Vietnam knows that bodies often are bobby trapped to explode when moved.
NOW
The soldier MAY be guilty of a crime; it could be he was following a higher up's orders to kill a terrorist before the courts release the terrorist to try kill again after a short time in an Israeli prison - where he gets a stipend from the PA and where, in additi9on to food, clothing, and health care, he can get a college degree, all the the Israeli taxpayers' expense.
But, if it turns out the terrorist had a bomb underneath his bulky sweater, then the soldier will b e a "hero" for preventing deaths and injury. If that's the case, will the UN's "coordinator for the Middle East peace process" and Netanyahu publically apologize for so quickly condemning the soldier? (Anyone holding their breath?) What about the media that almost without exception jumped on the "the soldier is a murderer" bandwagon.
Israeli jurisprudence is based on English law and an Israeli Jew can spend a very long time in jail before charges are made.
This is NO My Lai and the soldier is no Lt. Wm Calley. This soldier killed an enemy who tried to kill Israelis. Since the terrorist wore no nation's uniform, he didn't deserve to be treated as an enemy combatant with all that entails. He was neither "civilian" nor "uniformed military"; he was a terrorist and a coward.
Those who wear raincoats and winter coats in warm weather usually are not "flashers," exhibitionists; they are terrorists armed with bombs, guns, and knives, all hidden under bulky clothing.
Based on past experience in Israel, the soldier had every right to suspect the terrorist that was "subdued" was wearing a bomb and, since he apparently was moving his head, able to detonate the explosive..
The medics who failed to rush to his aid were told to stay back until the bomb squad arrived; it is NOT a medic's job to treat a wounded enemy until the enemy is proven to no longer be a threat. (Ex-USAF medic writing this.)
B'Tselem is a far left NGO and can be expected to condemn the soldier.
The UN is so blatantly anti-Israel that nothing but condemnation could be expected.
But immediate, no evidence needed, condemnation by Netanyahu and the IDF brass is inexcusable and makes the Prime Minister's Office and the military brass look worse than fools.
ALSO SEE
NGO Monitor
B'Tselem
Founded in1989 by “a group of prominent academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members,” largely from the Meretz and Labor Parties.
In their own words, B'Tselem “acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.”
Netanyahu, IDF, MKs Condemn Shooting of Subdued Palestinian Terrorist
