'Cluster bombs used in self-defense'

[Purveyor]

By HERB KEINON

Israel used cluster bombs in self-defense during the past summer's war in Lebanon, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Sunday.

Regev's comments came in response to reports that a preliminary US State Department report found that Jerusalem violated US-Israel arms agreements governing the use of cluster bombs. Congress is expected to be briefed on the conclusions of the report this week.

"We have an open dialogue with the US," Regev said. "We have provided them with information, and tried to be as forthcoming, detailed and transparent as is possible. Our understanding is that the use of these weapons was done within the framework of self-defense in dealing with rockets designed to kill Israeli citizens."

Regev said that Israel took the American concern about this issue "very seriously," and felt it had satisfactorily replied to the US concerns. He added that outgoing Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz had ordered an internal IDF investigation into the use of the weapon as well.

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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467833654&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[breakaleg]

1. Of course they did. Just like they invaded Lebanon in self defense.

They are so complacent they don't even bother to come up with original excuses anymore.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Right. Sure. Self defense. Do they think we are stupid?

[Benhurst]

3. Cluster bombs as a defensive weapon. What bullshit!

[RC]

4. Cluster bombs and land mines use needs to be made crimes

against Humanity. If we can make smoking socially unacceptable, why not war? A step at a time.

[rurallib]

5. Makes as much sense as invading Iraq

after an attack by Saudis.

[Scurrilous]

6. U.S.: Israel may have breached cluster bomb agreement during war

<snip>

"The United States said on Monday Israel may have violated an agreement with Washington in its use of U.S.-made cluster bombs during last July's war with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

"There were likely violations," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

The State Department said it had delivered a classified preliminary report to the U.S. Congress on Monday indicating possible violations of a "use agreement" between the United States and Israel over the cluster bombs.

McCormack declined to say how Israel violated U.S. rules in its use of U.S.-made rockets armed with cluster bombs in Lebanon, saying such information was classified.

A probe was opened last year after reports that three types of American cluster bombs were found in southern Lebanon and were responsible for civilian deaths."

<snip>

"The rights group Human Rights Watch said the results of the preliminary report should trigger an immediate cut-off of all U.S. cluster bomb sales to Israel and it urged the United States to outlaw such weapons because of the harm to civilians.

"We've investigated cluster munitions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, but we've never seen use of cluster munitions that was so extensive and dangerous to civilians," said Steve Goose, director of the group's arms division.

He said the Reagan administration imposed a six-year ban on cluster weapons sales to Israel in 1982 after a Congressional investigation found that Israel had used them in populated areas during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/819096.html

[Tom Joad]

7. Statement from ADC on Cluster bombs.

ADC Press Release:
Preliminary State Department Report Finds Possible Israeli Weapons Violations

Washington, D.C. | January 29, 2007 | The American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is pleased with statements
concerning the possible Israeli violations of bilateral weapons
treaties with the United States. The possible violations were included
in a preliminary report delivered to Congress today by the US
Department of State. The report indicates that the Department of State
may have found evidence that Israel violated bilateral weapons
agreements when it dropped US-made cluster bombs on civilian
populations in Lebanon last summer.

Stressing that the findings were preliminary and further investigations
and action against the Israeli government would be determined in
consultation with Congress, State Department spokesperson, Sean
McCormack said, "There may...likely could have been some
violations."

During its conflict with Hezbollah last summer, Israel dropped the
majority of unexploded ordinances during the last 72 hours of the
conflict before an impending cease fire deadline. Reports from
international human rights groups have determined that Israeli Defense
Forces dropped more than 130,000 cluster bombs containing 1.2 million
cluster bomblets in 498 locations in villages throughout southern
Lebanon. These cluster bombs added to those already in southern Lebanon
from previous Israeli operations. Long after hostilities have ended,
the Lebanese civilian population continues to be killed and maimed by
these American-made weapons.

Last August, ADC welcomed reports that the State Department had
commenced an investigation into possible violations of Israel's use of
US-made cluster bombs in its conflict with Hezbollah. ADC urges
Congress to seriously investigate whether Israel violated the Arms
Export Control Act and other bilateral weapons agreements between the
two nations. The nation's largest Arab-American grassroots organization
further asks Congress to consider legislation to ban federal funding
for cluster bombs until the US Department of Defense articulates a
clear policy on their permissible use.

[Tom Joad]

8. "insane and monstrous" said one Israeli commander.

"What we did was insane and monstrous," one Israeli commander admitted to the newspaper Haaretz. "We covered entire towns in cluster bombs."

http://www.counterpunch.org/makdisi10232006.html

"What's shocking and, I would say to me, completely immoral," he said, "is that 90% of the cluster-bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict, when we knew there would be a resolution, when we really knew there would be an end of this."

[Tom Joad]

9. AIPAC thought US support for Israel attack on Lebanon was one of their great success stories.

http://www.stopaipac.org/aipaclebanon.htm