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IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz
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"Nakba Day" clashes on Syrian border- Surprise?
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IDF: No external probe into 'Nakba Day' border incident

Criticism from within as IDF chief decides GOC Northern Command internal inquiry into events on Syrian border, Majdal Shams sufficient. 'It is inconceivable,' says one officer

Ynet has learned that IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz decided not to appoint an external probe into an incident Sunday in which Syrian civilians broke through the border fence and crossed into Israel as part of the 'Nakba Day' protests.

 

Even though much of the military was involved in the preparations for the events, and despite the importance of including an objective officer in any inquiry, the GOC Northern Command will be conducting its own probe, Gantz said.

 

Senior officers in the IDF reserves have criticized the decision and told Ynet that in the past, smaller and less significant incidents were followed by independent inquiries.

 

"This isn't about 'heads will roll' and dismissals but it is important that the chief of staff receive a comprehensive and objective evaluation of the present situation so that incidents like these do not repeat themselves in the future," one officer told Ynet. He said the independent inquiries were "an important tool".

 

The officers, some of whom took part in probes into specific events in Operation Cast Lead, believe that the decision to leave the inquiry in the hands of the GOC Northern Command is flawed as other military sections such as intelligence, operations branch, GOC Army Headquarters among others, were also involved.

 

"It is inconceivable that only GOC Northern Command will be examined," a senior reserve officer said. "It's a good thing when each branch uses self scrutiny but that won't give you the bigger picture."

 

'Reps from relevant departments needed'

Murmurs of hinted criticism were also heard from within the IDF, with some asking to examine why intelligence received by the military, including intelligence received on the day of the incident, wasn't properly evaluated. "It is appropriate to have representatives of the relevant departments on the team to review and determine where mistakes were made," one military official said.

 

The officers say that it isn't enough to make generalized statements claiming responsibility for the events, it is essential to understand what came in the days and hours that preceded the incident.

 

For example, claims made by Golan regiment commander Colonel Eshkol Shukrun immediately after the incident that "this was not a complete surprise", raises questions over whether attempts were made to minimize his commanders' omissions.

 

The IDF Spokesperson has said in response that "the IDF's various departments and commands prepared in advance for the 'Nakba Day' events. The preparation was based on operational situation evaluations and intelligence data. All these were expressed in an IDF operational plan of action in the different sectors.

 

"As is customary, immediately following the events the IDF launched an in-depth and professional operational inquiry procedure with the purpose of learning lessons from the preparation process and the way the IDF dealt with the events."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.18.11, 15:15
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