Posted on 10/18/2002 4:40:32 PM PDT by Nachum
The Israel Defense Forces conducted an investigation into yesterday's incident in Rafiach during which eight Arabs, including two women and two children, were killed. The investigation shows that Arabs attacked an IDF unit, whose soldiers responded at first with light-weapons fire. After the Arab attackers then shot anti-tank RPG rockets at the Israelis, the latter fired three tank shells precisely at the houses from where the rockets were fired.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who met with Prime Minister Sharon before the latter departed for Israel last night, reportedly asked for an explanation of the incident. Sharon said, inter alia, "The IDF is the army with the highest level of ethics, and does everything not to hurt civilians."
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union), rejecting criticism of yesterday's operation, says that guilt for the death of the Arabs lies solely on the shoulders of the terrorists, "who purposely and pre-meditatedly fire on our soldiers from within civilian populated areas." Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson noted, "They have apparently decided that to be suicide bombers is no longer sufficient, and now insist that other Arabs be killed along with them as they try to murder Israelis."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.