[IDF] Tanks to use non-lethal 'stun shells'

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 24, 2004 | ARIEH O'SULLIVAN

[yonif]

The IDF is equipping its tanks with locally produced "stun shells" to be fired to disperse Palestinian demonstrators, military and industry sources said on Tuesday.

The army decided on the procurement following last May's operations in Rafah when a tank fired a conventional shell toward a crowd of Palestinians. The shell killed eight people and wounded dozens, many of them children. The incident drew criticism from around the world.

Military sources said the new shells would be operational "in the coming months".

The shells are being manufactured by TASS Israel Military Industries and have already passed the development stage, said a TASS IMI official, who could not be named. The official said the shells are currently being supplied to the IDF.

The shells are made of fiberglass and disintegrate in the air creating a loud noise aimed at dispersing crowds. TASS IMI has long produced non-lethal stun and flash grenades used by the IDF and other security agencies around the world. The official said the products are unique to Israel.

The IDF has, for some time, sought non-lethal weapons for its troops, but has often determined that available products are not suitable or are too lethal for operations in the territories.

It might seem strange to dispatch a tank to a potential area of conflict with the Palestinians and then arm it with what are essentially "blanks". But senior officers in the ground forces defend the use of tanks, saying that they possess sophisticated sensors and other equipment which are extremely useful for locating and fighting against guerrilla squads.

IDF tanks in the territories have occasionally used highly lethal flechette rounds which disperse thousands of darts. Human rights organizations have contested the use of this weapon, on the grounds that it is prohibited in urban areas by international rules of war.

On May 19, an IDF tank attempted to ward off an approaching Palestinian mob by firing such a round during a major operation to destroy tunnels used by arms smugglers in Rafah. Images of dozens of bloody casualties flooding local hospitals drew angry reactions from around the world. The incident also delivered a severe blow to the army's public relations efforts aimed at emphasizing that IDF commanders were using painstaking caution to avoid civilian casualties. At the time, the army apologized for the deaths, but criticized the Palestinians for allowing gunmen to mix with a civilian crowd.

[Fast1]

Should load them with fried Pork Rind

[mr.pink]

The IDF is equipping its tanks with locally produced "stun shells" to be fired to disperse Palestinian demonstrators, military and industry sources said on Tuesday.

That's great news as the more America can remove itself from the "supply end" of Israeli brutality the better.

Here's to hoping Israel can develope it's own bulldozers and tanks ASAP. I'm sure China could help with cheap slave labor production if necessary.

[joesnuffy]

WOW imagine being hit by a 155MM "stun round"......

Yassir you look......Simply Stunning.....

[Belisaurius]

Oh wonderful, One of our resident anti-Israel cranks weighs in. I heard Wolfowitz is a technical consultant on this project.

[mr.pink]

One of our resident anti-Israel cranks weighs in. I heard Wolfowitz is a technical consultant on this project.

Well, when one of FreeRepublic's greatest fighting age (but somehow just can't manage to make it to the enlistement office) warmongers posts a article like this, I just can't resist the temptation to look on the upside and ponder just how much better off America would be if it could divorce itself from the "supply side" end of a socialist, natonal, and racist, democratic state.

[Belisaurius]

Well, when one of FreeRepublic's greatest fighting age (but somehow just can't manage to make it to the enlistement office) warmongers posts a article like this,..

LOL! I'm an active duty CPO at a NROTC unit. I've been deployed to both Iraq wars and for the Bosnian thing as well.

But somehow, I just can't get that worked up about a 19 year old sophmore posting an article about Israel trying to find another nonlethal method to use against the Islamofascists. Of course, I generally support the worldview of those wicked neocons, so I'm probably ideologically suspect.

[mr.pink]

LOL! I'm an active duty CPO at a NROTC unit.

I was not referring to you with that comment...but rather the poster of the article.

I generally support the worldview of those wicked neocons, so I'm probably ideologically suspect.

I applaud your convictions and wish you safety and sucess when you go off to fight. I have great respect for the few neocons who are willing to put their own bodies on the line in pursuit of an imperial America sacrificing lives to ensure an Israeli dominated region.

[Belisaurius]

I know who you were referring to. Not sure why you have such a beef with Israel and a 19 year old college kid.

[mr.pink]

Not sure why you have such a beef with Israel and a 19 year old college kid.

My "beef" is that there are a hell of a lot of American "19 year olds" sitting in a goddamn ME cesspool...who are there because of the dishonest instigations of the those who are of the mindset of this poster.

My "beef" is a belief that fighting age men who advocate "war" as an impulse response should have the integrity to put themsleves in harm's way as well.

My "beef" is with people of unkown allegiance (or citizenship for that matter) arguing for wars that are always primarily for the benefit of a nation that is not named America.

My "beef" is in a nutshell...put up or shut up.

I respect you for "putting up". My "beef" is not with you.

[Belisaurius]

That's part of being in the military. Sitting in cesspools is what we do. We're not in Iraq for Israel. I hope you understand that. You may not agree with us being in Iraq or the reasons for us being there, but the people who do, including neocons, genuinely believe that toppling Saddam helps the war on terrorists.

You don't have to agree with that assessment. You wouldn't be the only one. I'm telling you though, Saddam had to go away. The Iranians are next, in case you're wondering...

We can agree to disagree.

The people I have a real beef with are these A.N.S.W.E.R. clowns and their ilk trying to pull a Kerry on our effort in Iraq. Maybe I just have an aversion to North Korean front groups.

[mr.pink]

You don't have to agree with that assessment.

I do not agree with that assessment, but I appreciate your up front and honest arguing of your position.

Good luck to you in all your pursuits.