Israeli Cluster Bombing Ruled Within the Law

[AP/Washington Post] Josef Federman - Israeli military prosecutors have determined that Israel's use of cluster bombs during last year's war in Lebanon did not violate international humanitarian law, the army said Monday. The army's chief investigator, Maj. Gen. Gershon HaCohen, determined: "It was clear that the majority of the cluster munitions were fired at open and uninhabited areas, areas from which Hizbullah forces operated and in which no civilians were present." Cluster bombs were used in residential areas only "as an immediate defense response to rocket attacks by Hizbullah" and Israeli troops did everything possible to minimize civilian casualties. "The use of this weaponry was legal once it was determined that, in order to prevent rocket fire onto Israel, its use was a concrete military necessity."


2007-12-25 01:00:00

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