- The Israeli military has admitted that it lied about
a rocket attack on a Gaza refugee camp, which according to the army led
to no casualties, but which the Palestinians have claimed killed 14 civilians.
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- A leftwing member of the Israeli parliament, Yossi Sarid,
forced the confession from the air force chief after he threatened to release
evidence that the military had used a weapon more destructive and indiscriminate
than it had publicly claimed.
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- A month ago, the air force launched an assassination
strike against a Hamas activist who was driving through Nuseirat refugee
camp. The Palestinians claimed that the attack caused a large number of
civilian casualties, but the air force commander, Major General Dan Halutz,
produced video footage of the car being hit by two missiles that showed
no one standing near the wrecked vehicle as the rockets struck.
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- The military said that Hellfire missiles were used, producing
a concentrated explosion over a small area. Gen Halutz likened the effect
of the missiles to " two grenades". The video footage was widely
shown on Israeli television.
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- But the army now admits that it lied in briefings to
the Israeli and foreign press, because the second rocket was not a Hellfire
missile.
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- The military refuses to identify the weapon used, on
the grounds of "operational security". But the speculation is
that it was an American-made Flechette, which is illegal under international
law because it fires thousands of tiny darts over hundreds of metres, causing
horrific injuries. Israel has used similar weapons in Gaza in the past.
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- A political source said the air force had also admitted
that the weapon was not fired from an Apache helicopter as it had originally
claimed. The source said the information raised the possibility that the
Israelis were using a new type of aircraft or weapon. Evidence from the
attack scene indicated that the second missile exploded in the air, not
on impact, suggesting an intention to cause casualties in a wide area instead
of just destroying the vehicle.
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- The truth began to emerge a fortnight ago when Mr Sarid,
a Meretz party MP, asked the defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, in a parliamentary
hearing, what kind of ammunition was used in the attack on Nuseirat. Mr
Mofaz refused to answer.
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- Mr Sarid said that he had obtained information that the
missiles were not, as the military claimed, small explosives. He threatened
to go public with the information if questions on the issue were evaded.
The military reportedly tried to prevent him discussing the issue. But
he said: "I will not allow anyone to gag me."
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- In an attempt to stave off further revelations, Gen Halutz
met Mr Sarid on Wednesday. The general admitted that the military had lied,
but tried to persuade the MP that the missiles could not have caused large
numbers of casualties.
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- Afterwards the military released a statement, saying:
"For reasons of securing information and for operational reasons,
it was not possible to state completely events at Nuseirat. In any case,
the version shown and the explanation given regarding those hurt in the
action, along with the video footage, are correct."
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- Mr Sarid is unconvinced and is still threatening to go
public with the information he has.
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- "It is evident the number of casualties is higher
than the military claimed," he said. "It is now clear how incorrect
the information the military gave was. Further clarification is needed
to determine how deceptive the information was intended to be."
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- á The family of Tom Hurndall, a British peace
activist who was left brain damaged after being shot in the head by an
Israeli soldier, says a cheque from the Israeli government to cover his
treatment and repatriation costs has bounced. The family waited months
for the £8,370, but on receipt the London branch of the Bank of Israel
said there were insufficient funds in the government account. The Israeli
embassy in London later said it would ensure the family was paid.
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1089989,00.html
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