Israel doesn’t need to be told how to defend itself – editorial
The US government and the Israeli government are once again at odds.
The current confrontation comes after the IDF released the results of its investigation into the death of Al Jazeera Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, concluding that she was likely killed by IDF fire.
The Americans chose to focus on a specific issue: the IDF’s rules of engagement.
Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Tuesday that the US “will continue to press our Israeli partners to closely review their policies and practices related to rules of engagement and to consider additional steps to reduce the risk of civilian harm.” to mitigate, protect journalists and prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
That remark hit a sensitive button for Israelis.
Rules of engagement have made headlines several times in recent years. The most important was when Border Patrol Officer St.-Sgt. Barel Hadaria Shmueli was killed by a Palestinian gunman who shot him through a bullet hole in the security barrier along the Gaza border. The main criticism after Shmueli’s death was that the rules of engagement were too soft, not allowing him to react.
The rules of engagement debate, like everything dealing with soldier behavior, is sensitive because it is perceived as telling “our boys” what to do and how to fight back.
Israeli politicians react to the US
Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Secretary of Defense Benny Gantz expressed these sentiments in their statements opposing US statements.
“No one will dictate our harsh orders to us as we fight for our lives,” Lapid said Wednesday.
“I will not allow an IDF fighter who defended his life under attack from terrorists to be prosecuted just so that we get applause abroad.”
Prime Minister Yair Lapid
Gantz said that “the IDF Chief of Staff, and he alone, sets and will continue to set the rules of engagement in accordance with our IDF operational needs and values. These instructions are strictly implemented by the soldiers and their commanders.”
He then said that “there has been no political involvement in the matter and there will be none. IDF troops have my full support in their mission to protect the citizens of Israel.”
On social media, some Israelis pointed out “US hypocrisy” and mentioned the killing of innocent civilians in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
While that may be true, we need to remember how Americans view the situation: A journalist, dressed in full clothing that clearly read “PRESS” and who is also their citizen, was killed.
In their eyes, the battle did not take place in a war zone, but in a civilian neighborhood in an area that most of the world considers occupied and under military control.
They don’t know the IDF code of ethics, nor that our soldiers spend a lot of time during basic training learning how to think long and hard before pulling the trigger. Little do they know that IDF soldiers are taught from the very beginning of their service that they have the right – and the duty – to disobey an order that would result in harming innocent people.
What happened to Abu Akleh was tragic and devastating. A journalist should not be killed, even in a combat zone.
The IDF must learn lessons from the investigation and see how such outcomes can be avoided in the future.
Unfortunately, such incidents happen, especially in complicated places like Judea and Samaria. And while American criticism is to be expected – especially given that Abu Akleh held US citizenship – the IDF need not intervene when it comes to its rules of engagement.
No military in the world goes as far as Israel to spare civilian casualties. Check out recent operations in Gaza, as Israel called homes and buildings and gave known Hamas operatives time to evacuate before the attack.
Look at how the IDF has prosecuted soldiers for violating these rules in the past, and look at how this country sanctifies life – whether by opening a field hospital for Syrians or in Ukraine.
This is the Israeli way of fighting. We have a conflict and we have to do better. What we don’t need is to be told how to defend ourselves.