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New Israeli Army Head Implicated in War Crimes

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has announced the appointment of Major General Dan Halutz as the next chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Halutz’s appointment must be confirmed by the Israeli cabinet, expected some time in the next two weeks.

Peace groups in Israel have been quick to protest the appointment, noting that Halutz, an airforce pilot, has been implicated in war crimes, including the July 2003 “targetted assassination” of a Hamas leader. Halutz gave the order to drop a one ton bomb on an apartment building in a crowded Gaza neighbourhood - besides the Hamas leader, 14 people were killed in the attack, the majority children. Peace activists, including the “refusnik” IDF soldiers and pilots who have refused to serve in the occupied territories have petitioned the High Court of Justice asking it to intervene and ban Halutz’s appointment. The petitioners write that "Halutz is responsible for one of the most grave acts in the IDF's history,” and deplore making “someone who expressed himself that the large scale killing of innocent children and women is well within the moral standards of the IDF” the deputy commander of all IDF soldiers.

The petitioners are referring to an interview Halutz gave shortly after the July 2003 bombing. Speaking to a reporter from Ha’aretz newspaper, Halutz dismissed criticisms of the operation, describing it as “militarily and morally proper.” Halutz claimed that IDF intelligence led them to believe the apartment building would be empty except for the Hamas leader and his guards, but also said it was legitimate for the IDF to carry out targetted assassinations even if they know there will be civilian casualties. When asked directly how many civilian casualties would be too many, he replied “I don’t know” and added the end of assassinating a Hamas leader had justified the means.

Halutz was also asked for a response to the suggestion put forward by the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom that IDF pilots who carry out these kind of missions should be tried as international war criminals. Halutz suggested it was the peace activists who should be tried – for treason “What I have to say about those people is this: We live in a democratic country, and expressing an opinion is always allowed, but betrayal is not allowed. …The proper offense [for their call to have IDF pilots tried at the Hague] as defined by law is treason and they should be tried in Israel.”

Following the bombing, Israeli peace activists also launched an internal campaign, plastering posters and buying billboards around the country that featured a picture of the Major General and the caption “Fly Halutz home – restore the IDF’s combat ethics” and circulated a petition calling for Halutz to be barred from holding any senior position in the IDF.

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