Israeli soldiers walk free in Gaza human shield case

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM — Two Israeli soldiers received suspended sentences and demotions on Sunday for using a Palestinian child as a human shield during the 2008-2009 Gaza war, an army spokeswoman said.

The soldiers were convicted on October 3 for forcing a nine-year-old boy to search bags believed to be booby-trapped during Israel's 22-day war on Gaza which erupted in December 2008.

The two, who were not identified, were each given suspended terms of three months imprisonment and were demoted from the rank of staff sergeant to sergeant.

"The two Givati soldiers will be on probation for two years and any violation will result in three months in prison. Their rank will be dropped from staff sergeant to sergeant," she said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i0v0IpX9xdH8xMWCmIhsFRASGLaA?docId=CNG.2220387bb052d60699dd2d159d3489ca.d1

[Crunchy Frog]

1. Nice to see justice being served in this case.

[oberliner]

4. What do you think would have been a fitting punishment? nt

[Crunchy Frog]

14. Oh, I don't know. Maybe take away movie privileges?

Send them to bed without dessert?

[sellitman]

2. At least one side has laws against using children as shields

We know the other doesn't.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. I kind of wonder what the punishment would be if they used a settler brat that way.

[sellitman]

21. They have no laws

But you knew that already. They use women and children as human bombs without blinking an eye.

[Crunchy Frog]

23. I meant an Israeli soldier. It's not inconceivable that there could at some point

be violent clashes between Israeli authorities and radical settlers. What would happen if an Israeli soldier were to use a settler child in that way?

For that matter, how would Israel punish a Palestinian who used an Israeli child in the exact same manner?

It's beginning to look like nobody in the region has any laws that mean anything.

[Tripmann]

3. Well THERES an incentive to stop the worlds most moral army (tm) using children as human shields

in the future. In the unlikely event you're caught you'll be let off with a slap on the wrist.

:sarcasm:

[oberliner]

5. What do you think would have been a fitting punishment? nt

[Tripmann]

8. Do you think a suspended sentence is fitting punishment for war crimes oberliner?

[oberliner]

9. No, I think the punishment was too lenient

What are your thoughts?

[Tripmann]

11. I think NOT throwing the book at them sets a dangerous precident, giving a carte blanche for the

next time.

[oberliner]

25. Agreed

They should have received a much harsher punishment.

[whosinpower]

13. Dishonorable discharge for starters

At the very least - dishonorable discharge. These two soldiers DISHONORED not only the rights of a young boy, but dishonored the character of the IDF.

[LeftishBrit]

19. I think they should have had a prison sentence...

also been dishonourably discharged, not just demoted.

[oberliner]

20. I agree

That would have sent a strong message.

[Shaktimaan]

26. I very much agree.

This sentence is a travesty.

[arcticken]

6. This was TWO guys out of a whole

army. Use some common sense for G-d's sake.

[Tripmann]

7. They're the two guys that got caught. Use YOUR common sense.

[arcticken]

16. Looks like you are saying it's rampant

and of course that's foolish without proof which we all know you ain't got so stick to my initial advice.

[Tripmann]

18. Nope. I'm stating that given the IDFs penchant for using and abusing children, its highly unlikely

that the two soldiers let off with a slap in the wrist for using a 9 year old as a human shield are the only two to commit the offense. I'll point out to you as well that every time theres an incident involving IDF soldiers theres always somebody on here bleating about how it was only one/two soldiers involved, willfully ignoring the fact that it is the number of incidents, not the number of soldiers involved per incident, which has given the IDF the reputation they deserve. The failure of the powers that be to properly punish these two soldiers for war crimes just reinforces the fact that such behaviour can be excused.

[arcticken]

22. See there you go with "penchant." pffftttttt!! n/t

[Donald Ian Rankin]

10. Now there's a surprise...

The most they could have got was still grossly lenient.

Forcing a child to open a bag you suspect contains explosives should lead to a jail term of 10+ years.

[azurnoir]

12. well then IDF will never ever do anything like that again

the severity of the punishment should put the fear of something into them :sarcasm:

[arcticken]

17. You people slay me. It's like you don't

realize that orgs are microcosms of the world; some good and some bad. There was a time honest rational people knew that. What happened to you?

[Crunchy Frog]

24. Who exactly are "you people"?

People who think there's something wrong with using children as human sheilds? People who think Israel is capable of wrongdoing? People who think this sort of behavior should come with some sort of penalty? Progressives who post on a progressive message board? Who are "you people"?

I don't expect a response.