Rules of Engagement Changed: IDF May Not Shoot Back in Gaza
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Architects of the Gaza victory: Defense minister Ehud Barak tours the southern command with it's commander Maj. Gen. Tal Russo.
Photo Credit: Ben Avraham/by Defense ministry/Flash90
One week after the conclusion of operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza, the security reality alongside the Gaza Strip border is being reshaped, the IDF has been instructed to show restraint, farmers on both sides are permitted to stretch their tilled lands all the way to the border fence, and should a Hamas or Islamic Jihad cell aim a rocket launcher at Israel, Israeli soldiers would not be allowed to shoot at it before going through channels, Maariv reports this morning.
The rules of engagement have been altered radically. In the recent past, IDF soldiers were instructed to shoot at once at any Gaza resident who approached the fence. Now there is no such thing as firing at will, even if the person approaching engages in sabotaging the security fence. The IDF must treat them now as suspects to be arrested, as is the protocol in Judea and Samaria, and shooting at those suspect is limited to the legs and not beyond.
The rules of engagement have also been changed regarding terrorist cells in the process of launching a rocket. In the past, the IAF would be alerted and a plane would be sent directly to attack the target. Now the attack may tale place only should the terrorist cell actually initiate the process of launching.
Last Wednesday, according to Maariv, two hours after the ceasefire had gone into effect, IDF commanders in the field identified a cell which was setting up a rocket launcher and requested the approval of GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Tal Russo to shot at it, but Russo would not give his approval.
Sources in the IDF told Maariv they were surprised at the immediate and complete quiet that took place soon after the ceasefire.
General Russo, who is competing these days for the job of IDF deputy chief of staff, said yesterday: “It will take some reasonable period of time until we know whether we have achieved our objectives. For the time being, the change on the ground has been extreme. We reached a type of normalcy with the campaign, and we have complete quiet.”
For future reference, we should remind ourselves of the Hamas’s magical ability to put a lid on all the rest of the terrorist organizations when it served its objectives.
We should probably also ask General Russo if he heard the one about the guy who jumps off the Empire State Building and at the 20th floor he says: So far everything is fine.
tell a friendAbout the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.
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4 Responses to “Rules of Engagement Changed: IDF May Not Shoot Back in Gaza”
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Utterly ridiculous! If this is the way the Government is going, my plans for Aliya and IDF service are going on hold…
WHY DON’T WE TAKE THE GUNS AWAY FROM OUR SOLDIERS ALSO HANDCUFF THEM SO THAT THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO SLAP THE ENEMY AND HURT THEM. AIM ONLY FOR THEIR LEGS?? SOMEONE HAS LOST IT!!HOW DISGUSTING.IF I WERE A YOUNG MAN READY FOR ARMY CALL UP I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY!! BEING THE MOTHER, MOTHER IN LAW AND SAVTA OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, ARE SERVING AND WILL SERVE I AM SHOCKED. YES I KNOW I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE. NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT OUR BOYS.
There is no question that these rules of engagement are ridiculous. But, what is equally or even more ridiculous is Israel's adherence to rules and proposals made from outsiders such as the U.S. For example, you have the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, who went to Gaza during the conflict to express his support for Hamas becoming the mediator between Israel and Hamas. This is absurd, but why Israel agreed to it is just as bad. Why did Netanyahu capitulate to Obama's demands of a cease fire, this will only encourage more violence. What Netanyahu should have said was we will decide for ourselves what is in our best interest, not you. There have been thousands of innocent Israeli citizens murdered at the hands of Hamas and the only way to ensure the safety of our people is to completely root out Hamas. I noticed it was suggested by the U.N. for Israel to show restraint. Israel has shown restraint for the last twenty plus years since Hamas was created. Netanyahu should have said don't tell us about restraint tell Hamas and all the other Arab goons. These rules and many others placed upon Israel is biased and unfair but it compounds the problems when Israel agrees with the stipulations. Israel must learn to become much more proactive in securing their rights, otherwise they will continue to get screwed. Regardless what Israel does, they will be ostracized, but the focus must not be on what others think and believe, it must be what is right for Israel.
There is no question that these rules of engagement are ridiculous. But, what is equally or even more ridiculous is Israel's adherence to rules and proposals made from outsiders such as the U.S. For example, you have the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, who went to Gaza during the conflict to express his support for Hamas becoming the mediator between Israel and Hamas. This is absurd, but why Israel agreed to it is just as bad. Why did Netanyahu capitulate to Obama's demands of a cease fire, this will only encourage more violence. What Netanyahu should have said was we will decide for ourselves what is in our best interest, not you. There have been thousands of innocent Israeli citizens murdered at the hands of Hamas and the only way to ensure the safety of our people is to completely root out Hamas. I noticed it was suggested by the U.N. for Israel to show restraint. Israel has shown restraint for the last twenty plus years since Hamas was created. Netanyahu should have said don't tell us about restraint tell Hamas and all the other Arab goons. These rules and many others placed upon Israel is biased and unfair but it compounds the problems when Israel agrees with the stipulations. Israel must learn to become much more proactive in securing their rights, otherwise they will continue to get screwed. Regardless what Israel does, they will be ostracized, but the focus must not be on what others think and believe, it must be what is right for Israel.
There is no question that these rules of engagement are ridiculous. But, what is equally or even more ridiculous is Israel's adherence to rules and proposals made from outsiders such as the U.S. For example, you have the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, who went to Gaza during the conflict to express his support for Hamas becoming the mediator between Israel and Hamas. This is absurd, but why Israel agreed to it is just as bad. Why did Netanyahu capitulate to Obama's demands of a cease fire, this will only encourage more violence. What Netanyahu should have said was we will decide for ourselves what is in our best interest, not you. There have been thousands of innocent Israeli citizens murdered at the hands of Hamas and the only way to ensure the safety of our people is to completely root out Hamas. I noticed it was suggested by the U.N. for Israel to show restraint. Israel has shown restraint for the last twenty plus years since Hamas was created. Netanyahu should have said don't tell us about restraint tell Hamas and all the other Arab goons. These rules and many others placed upon Israel is biased and unfair but it compounds the problems when Israel agrees with the stipulations. Israel must learn to become much more proactive in securing their rights, otherwise they will continue to get screwed. Regardless what Israel does, they will be ostracized, but the focus must not be on what others think and believe, it must be what is right for Israel.
Jarrod – please don’t let the government and its decisions represent Israel for you… we’d love to have you here with us, brother!
This sounds like the same sort of political acumen that derailed the U.S. operation in Vietnam. Of course in that instance Vietname was not aiming missiles at mainland America.
This is insanity–and a direct result of cultural Marxism!
Israeli leaders agreed to this evil–because they are evil!
Showing any restraint toward Islamic Arab terrorism–is extreme folly; and the door is now wide open for more innocent Jewish blood being spilled!
Israeli leaders are evil!? I think don't think that fits! Fool, at least!
WHAT THE HELL? This is not the Israel Defense Force! This is the Israel Defeatist Force!
I agree, appeasement will bring about the end of Israel, and changing the rules of engagement is defeatist.
At least, Ehud Barak has resigned, ending his political career and nay future damage to the IDF.
Obama controll of ISrael!
It's pretty easy to see why it might not be a good idea to start firing just two hours after the cease fire began. Israel is much better off having gotten a cease fire than it would have been with an invasion. Even if an invasion could have destroyed 100% of Hamas's weapons, Iran would just resupply them after the IDF left. For a long term solution, I don't think anybody really knows what to do. Some completely fresh thinking is needed. Further negotiations along the lines that have been tried for years will produce the same results that have been produced for years.
This is terribly sad for the IDF, having to succumb to ridiculous orders for very short term political gain
This is purest folly! It seems that Mr. Obama's reelection did not change his desire to put all blame on Israel for Hamas attacks and for peace.
What I do not understand is why Israel does not just surrender now? This hacking away of the Government's and the IDF's own courage and common sense is leading inexorably to defeat. If Israeli leaders do not care for the safety of their own people, to keep a sham peace with Egypt and a relationship with the US whose own foreign policy activities are themselves weak and defeatist, what then do they care about?
I have been convinced for a long time that Israeli leaders care more about power than in advancing the cause of their own people. They severely divide the Israeli populace so that power is divided and weak governments are created. The leaders join, quit, and form new parties all the time just to maintain themselves in power.
As a good Jew and supporter (including financially) of Israel, I think that their political system is broken, needs new blood, and needs to send a message of unity and not division on the home front. I know that the population has some natural differences, but to use those to preserve power instead of bridging them.
These questionable policies against terrorists and Arab intentions seems like an ostrich with his buried head in the sand. Every step of the way, in the past few years, Israel has stopped short of accomplishing much at all in destroying their enemies.
In my opinion they have accepted Christian values as the definition of how to solve this problem, and have not been steadfastly Jewish in their approach. The Christians really have never, until recently in Europe, made a peace that did not end in bloody warfare. Why listen, and take the abuse, of people who do not know what they are doing? They simply do not appreciate the laws of consequences. They cannot see beyond tomorrow or next month, and are clueless about long-term consequences. Obama is the same.
I suspect that the U.S. made under-table-promises, but to trust that when the time comes to deliver on them they will keep their word, flies in the face of everything we know about this administration. They even allowed their own people to be murdered in Benghazi without lifting a finger. Do the Israelis believe that such people will lift such a hand for an entire country of Jews. I would not count on it.
Give peace a chance.
Alan ! what peace ! do you realy belive Hamas is finished ? Iran is not supplying weapon's ? Israel will alway's be in danger !
Alan ! what peace ! do you realy belive Hamas is finished ? Iran is not supplying weapon's ? Israel will alway's be in danger !
Israel is a danger to world peace and security, stop being damn brainwashed.
Give peace a chance.
Israel herself is making herself indefensible. The one thing that is missing from Israel’s demise is putting up a large WELCOME posters on the fence between Gaza and S’derot, and be done with it! Israel is insane and that leaves many to wonder is the country worth supporting? Some in Israel think there was Gaza victory. Go figure that out!
Israel Defeat Forces = IDF
Showing maximum restraint initially, may be a good idea for Israel. If the cease fire fails then no restraint can be expected!
Israel has spent 64 years stepping back from the brink of real victory! Part because of U.S. and world demands, and part because Jews are too into being "the light upon the nations" mentality!
Iron wand had successfully shot down a missle the other day. Did u see the video?
I don't think anyone should be referring to the IDF as the "Israel Defeatist Force". I think that hurts the feelings of everyone in uniform when they make so many sacrifices. They are following the orders of their military commanders and democratically elected government. Take it out on the government but don't name call the IDF. Personally when I saw that expression, I for one felt really bad. If there is one thing that is true about Israeli soldiers, they are not defeatists but always trying to figure out how to get stuff done so everyone can come home safely from the mission. They are the best in my opinion.