quote:

Israel admits phosphorus bombing Israel has for the first time admitted it used controversial phosphorus shells during fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon in July and August. Cabinet minister Jacob Edery confirmed the bombs were dropped "against military targets in open ground". Israel had previously said the weapons were used only to mark targets. Phosphorus weapons cause chemical burns and the Red Cross and human rights groups say they should be treated as chemical weapons. The Geneva Conventions ban the use of white phosphorus as an incendiary weapon against civilian populations and in air attacks against military forces in civilian areas. Hospitals Mr Edery says he confirmed during a parliamentary session last week on behalf of Defence Minister Amir Peretz that the weapons were used in fighting. "The Israeli army made use of phosphorus shells during the war against Hezbollah in attacks against military targets in open ground," he said. No information was given on when, where or how the shells were used. Lebanon had accused Israel of using the weapons but at the time Israeli officials said they were only for marking. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said in late July: "According to the Geneva Convention, when they use phosphorus bombs and laser bombs, is that allowed against civilians and children?" Doctors in hospitals in southern Lebanon had said they suspected some of the burns they were seeing were being caused by phosphorus bombs. Israeli forces said the arms used in Lebanon did not contravene international norms.

Source: BBC

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"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

there was a documentary recently with eye witness accounts of third parties and human rights organisations contesting that Israel were targetting civilian houses and convoys where there were no Hezbollah in the area, :/

and i heard a few people are dieing every day because of the unexploded cluster bomb bomblets that were scattered throughout civilian areas of lebanon?

Last edited by tathi on Oct-30-2006 at 04:45

Isnt it amazing how everything is peacefull and normal in middle east / Plaestine.. Hamas no more a problem, no more 'terrorists' attacking Israel..

and than suddenly one day Israel will again roar its tanks into Gaza/West Bank and Palestines will be blamed again.

Israel decides when it wants peace and when it dosent.

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While i do sympathise with the Palestinians over the Israelis, no conflict is ever that one sided. Neither side truly wants peace.

Well, this puts to bed yet another myth promulgated by Israel, namely that Hizbullah fighters were hiding amongst civilians and using the latter as shields (which allegedly led to the enormous amount of casualties on the Lebanese side).

If you want to read the entire 249 page report from Human Rights Watch, click here.