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British Military Hero Richard Kemp Explains Why He Defended Israel, Challenged Goldstone Report

(Ynet News) Modi Kreitman - Col. Richard Kemp, 51, served in the British army for 30 years. He commanded the British forces in Afghanistan, participated in the Gulf War, and served on the exclusive COBRA council, charged with advising the government in times of emergency. In January 2009, a video clip showing him defending Israel during an interview with the BBC during the Gaza operation was posted on YouTube. Kemp explained that Israel had no choice but to engage in the Gaza operation, and stressed that the actions the IDF was taking in order to avoid civilian casualties were exceptional. Later he defended Israel's reputation during testimony before the Goldstone committee. On Tuesday Kemp arrived in Israel to take part in a conference at the IDC's International Institute for Counter-Terrorism. Asked about the Goldstone report, he responded that it significantly harms the abilities of Western states to defend themselves against terror. "In a roundabout way the report gives legitimacy to tactics used by terror organizations all over the world, and legitimizes their ability to hide behind civilians. In this way it turns any action by Israel in its war against such terrorists into an illegitimate act, and indirectly encourages the prolongation of this tactic," Kemp said. If Western states adopt the conclusions of the Goldstone report, they will be left with no "realistic way" to act against terror anywhere in the world.
2010-09-17 09:14:44
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