Mofaz halts demolition of homes belonging to terrorists

[bemildred]

Eh, what's not to like? Isn't it nice they finally figured out
that routinely pissing innocent people off is a bad idea?

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday evening adopted the recommendation made by a military committee to end the policy of demolishing houses belonging to terrorists' families.

A military committee appointed by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon to examine the policy of house demolitions has recommended stopping them. The interim conclusions of the committee were presented last week to Ya'alon, who asked for some more information for the final draft.

Mofaz ruled that he will also put on hold the army's prerogative to use home demolitions as a warning to terrorists. He said, however, that should circumstances change dramatically, it is possible that Israel would reconsider its policy on house demolitions.

The committee was headed by Major General Udi Shani, of the General Staff. The chief of staff asked the committee to find out if the demolition of the homes of families that include a terrorist, especially suicide bombers, was achieving its goal of deterring other Palestinians from getting involved in terror activity.

Haaretz