From: "Allen L. Jasson" <Allen.Jasson@bigpond.com> To: <letters@jpost.co.il>, <letters@haaretz.co.il>, <editors@jpost.co.il>, <editor@haaretz.co.il>, <editor@maariv.co.il>, <chief-editor@maariv.co.il>, <pm_eng@pmo.gov.il>, <dover@pmo.gov.il>, <sar@mod.gov.il>, <info@mail.idf.il>, <sar@mofa.gov.il> Copies to: <info@gush-shalom.org> Subject: War Criminals Date sent: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 10:55:38 +1000 I agree with the comments issued by Gush Shalom: "Gush Shalom claims that the unit's commander and the pilot must have known that . the bomb to be used to kill Shehadeh - without a trial - would also be sure to kill a . large number of innocent people in the area. These officers had a duty to refuse to . carry out what was manifestly an illegal order, the peace movement argues." Further, I find great offence in the comments of IAF Commander Major General Dan Halutz.regarding the controversial July 23 air strike on a crowded Gaza neighborhood that killed.16 civilians including nine children, and injured more than 100 others in the course of murdering.Hamas military leader Salah Shehadeh, as recently published in Ha'aretz. . Halutz said "The decision making process was correct, balanced, and careful. The problem was with the information, the information changed. I reject all the criticism about this operation, before, during and after." He referred to the operation as "militarily and morally" proper. He said that it is legitimate to strike at a terrorist even if innocent bystanders will be hurt. "I have no doubt about it," he said. "Against a man who committed or is positively known to have the planning in hand for 'mega-terror,' my answer is categorically yes. How many people? I don't know." . All of this.declares this.action as the worst kind of war crime;.premeditated, conducted in full awareness of the probable outcome (large numbers of civillian deaths and injuries) and clearly, without remorse after the event. The perpetrators should be brought to justice. They are not soldiers, they are criminals. Yours Sincerely, Allen L. Jasson (Melbourne, Australia)