From 2005 Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The rights group's report for 2004 says Israeli forces have killed some 700 Palestinians - including 150 children - mostly in unlawful circumstances. The report lists "reckless shooting, shelling and air strikes in civilian areas... and excessive use of force". Amnesty's accusations against the Israeli army include unlawful killings, torture, extensive and wanton destruction of property, obstruction of medical assistance and targeting of medical personnel. Amnesty also says Israel has continued to use Palestinians as "human shields" during military operations, "forcing them to carry out tasks that endangered their lives", despite an injunction by Israel's high court banning the practice. The report accuses Israel of offering impunity to soldiers and settlers who commit crimes against Palestinians. "In the overwhelming majority of the thousands of cases of unlawful killings and other grave human rights violations in the previous four years, no investigations were known to have been carried out," the report says.

who needs to address what happened when we know you will throw the pity party without anyone's help? besides, where is YOUR report on how YOUR forces behaved and acted in the war? maybe YOU can discuss YOUR war crimes against israe., hmm?

after all there is a car bomb somwhere with his name on it.

Just a few months ago this guy 's army bombed a palestinian camp for weeks and killed untold number of people. But I forgot, arabs killing arabs is not a crime.

So let me get this right - the toothless PM of a country where politicians are killed by car bombs a couple times a month, where a rogue terrorist group effectively controls a major portion of his country has the nerve to say Israel has not learned it's lesson?

Israeli forces have systematically failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians in their military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said in its report . The pattern of attacks in more than 20 cases investigated by Human Rights Watch researchers in Lebanon indicates that the failures cannot be dismissed as mere accidents and cannot be blamed on wrongful Hezbollah practices. In some cases, these attacks constitute war crimes.

It was not the task of the Winograd commission to add to its report recommandations for a solution of the Israelo-Arab conflict. However, if we want to stop the killings and avoid future wars we should have the courage to consider realistic original solutions. One of these possibilities is described at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/01/win-win-solution-to-arab-israeli_7104.html

Israel does not have a strong political leadership olmert's one and only interest is OLMERT not our state! He is the weakest PM Israel ever had Siniora should go into acting, he reminds me if Tim Kazurinsky from Saturday night live and Police Academy!

Human Rights Watch researchers found numerous cases in which the IDF launched artillery and air attacks with limited or dubious military objectives but excessive civilian cost. In many cases, Israeli forces struck an area with no apparent military target. In some instances, Israeli forces appear to have deliberately targeted civilians. In one case, an Israeli air strike on July 13 destroyed the home of a cleric known to have sympathy for Hezbollah but who was not known to have taken any active part in the hostilities. Even if the IDF considered him a legitimate target (and Human Rights Watch has no evidence that he was), the strike killed him, his wife, their 10 children and the family’s Sri Lankan maid.

You state that Israeli forces had systematically failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians in their military campaign, but you didnt mention that HEZBOLLAH WERE USING THE CIVILLIANS AS SHIELDS AND WERE NOT IN UNIFORM. Majority of these so called citizens that you claim were killed, were actually Hezbollah fighters out of uniform. You also fail to mention how Hezbollah instigated the war in the first place and how they fired thousands of missiles at populated civilian areas in Israel. Your hypocracy is unbelievable, just like Amnesty and that traitor to the Lebanese, Siniora!.

Last time I saw him he was crying his eyes out. As the ineffectual leader of a failing state, Mr Siniora would do better figuring out a way to prevent Hezbollah from taking over his country, a sure-fire recipe for another war. Rather than talk about Israel, perhaps a few words on Syrian involvement in all the assassinations would be more appropriate. But Israel-bashing plays well to his brainwashed audience - you can't go wrong criticising Israel in an Arab country while all the while ignoring your real problems.

The Israeli government has blamed Hezbollah for the high civilian casualty toll in Lebanon, insisting that Hezbollah fighters have hidden themselves and their weapons among the civilian population. However, in none of the cases of civilian deaths documented in the report by HRW is there evidence to suggest that Hezbollah was operating in or around the area during or prior to the attack. “Hezbollah fighters must not hide behind civilians – that’s an absolute – but the image that Israel has promoted of such shielding as the cause of so high a civilian death toll is wrong,” the report said. “In the many cases of civilian deaths examined by Human Rights Watch, the location of Hezbollah troops and arms had nothing to do with the deaths because there was no Hezbollah around.”

On July 16, an Israeli aircraft fired on a civilian home in the village of Aitaroun, killing 11 members of the al-Akhrass family, among them seven Canadian-Lebanese dual nationals who were vacationing in the village when the war began. Human Rights Watch independently interviewed three villagers who vigorously denied that the family had any connection to Hezbollah. Among the victims were children aged one, three, five and seven.

That's what you get if you hide Hizbullah in your country. You want Peace - get rid of Nasrallah.

Whether you're one of those selfloathing idiots favorable to a cause with people who hate your guts, but never mind, your blindness will kill you, moron, or you're one of those barbarians hiding in a Londonistan hole and giving you a "composture" using a western name... You know what the whole word, and I mean the civilized world, not the barbarian and its followers, do not give a sh...t about lefties gangs such as A.I., ACLU, and others that are paid nicely in petroeuros.. Stay away...and quiet...5th column!!!

siniora is an israeli / amerian puppet. you guys should take it easy on him. and if you guys are intersted in him you can take him any time you want. please find him a nice bank to work in with lot's of Kleenex. siniora is olmert right hand man

First, Israel did not win the war, as it did not achieve the ambitious goals it set out for this war. But it certainly was not "defeated" by Hizbollah. The IDF killed five times as many Hizbollah fighters, as Hizbollah killed IDF soldiers. Hizbollah's compounds were totally demolished. Nasarallah is living like a rat underground, and Hizbollah is prevented from settling near the border. Next, Seniora is blaming Israel for preparing for another war? And what does he call Nasarallah vowing to liberate all of Palestine?... Or arming itself with even more rockets than before the war? I'm sure Hizbollah wants peace now, and plans no future attacks on Israel, right?.... This hypocrisy is astounding!

Alex, "That's what you get if you hide Hizbullah in your country. You want Peace - get rid of Nasrallah." Yeah, and if you want peace, and want Americans safe anywhere in the world, get rid of Bush, otherwise you Americans get what you deserve-at least according to your logic. You obviously don't understand Lebanon at all, but then again, I wouldn't expect you to. I thank you for telling us we need to get rid of Nasrallah--I mean, why didn't Lebanese think of that before? Geez. Well, you're basically calling for a civil war--maybe we're heading for that anyway, because if it's not civil war, we have the IDF bombing the shit out of our country for Hizbullah's stupid actions--even in Christian areas. So Alex, thanks for your advice from your cozy home in the USA, but unless you come and live here like we all do, Israel or Lebanon, I suggest you keep your "insightful" comments to yourself. Yes, Hizbullah is a major problem, but I find it laughable when Israel fails to get rid of Nasrallah and stop Hizbullah, that you think the Lebanese can do it. As I said, you don't understand Lebanon at all.

lubricating his wheel

Hey Nadine I must admit that as an Israeli your response made a lot of sense. However, I think that Lebanon would have had the chance to get rid of Hezbullah had it cooperated with Israel, when the latter was willing to actively help. Sometimes I wonder what's stronger: some of your people's hatred for Israel or their love for Lebanon. I hope its the latter. Unfortunately, it may be too late to cooperate right now.

I may know more that you think about Lebanon, having spent time both in Beirut and Haifa. You make many valid points. - Israeli government failed miserably in eliminating Hizbullah and did not help the cause of peaceful and united Lebanon. - I think that Bush, while being very inarticulate, understands the basic threat of Islamic fundamentalism. At least give him credit for that. - I get your point about the civil war. Nobody can wish for that. However, at the end of the day, the Lebanese need to decide if they want to be a country or not. No country in the world can allow an independent group of terrorists make war and peace decisions. Hizbullah first and foremost a threat to Lebanese independence. I hope that this way or another, you will get rid of monstrosities of Hizbullah and Nasrallah, put Syria in it's place - out of Lebanon and sign peace with Israel. Of all its neighbors, Lebanon is the most likely true Arab ally of Israel. It's a beautiful country with proud and freedom-minded people. I hope for the best for both countries. But Nasrallah and his missiles have to go.

you can put it in a pile and set a match to it. Why? Because the Israelis do not communicate with Amnesty, Palestinians do. And what are the Palestinians going to to say about the IDF? The truth? Come off it.

Richard, Condolences to the maids family. Am Yisrael Chai

It is a known fact that Arabs who speak to human rights organizations about supposed Israeli crimes against civilians tell lies on cue in order to show maximum Israeli culpability and minimum human-shield-taking by their own terror groups. What do you think they are saying now in Basra about the former British occupational military presence there? Kind words? How would you like a Human Rights Watch report about British veangeful incineration of German children in Dresden without mentioning the London blitz? You are really off your rocker. A real joke.

The saddest thing i saw on this page is the advertisement of "" Islam conquers Jerusalem""....hahah Jerusalem isnt urs 4 us to conquer u illiterate uneducated hater(he whoever did this AD) ... anyway to get back to the main subject....im definitely with seniora not nassrallah but if the idf wanna keep on messing with Lebanon...which they have been doin since 1982...then go nasrallah !! why?...u say we kill civilians....well u kill more n more everyday ....as much as i hate iran n what its doin to my country ....im with iran against israel...dont get me wrong i want peace but ur country wont stop until it gets everything...n i mean everything !!! so as a lebanese citizen im with iran syria lebanon palestine & terrorism (if thats what u call us then IM PROUD TO BE 1)....israel is not a country !!! its an army that wants to look like a country so u ppl gotta understand....give us sheb3a n nassral goes....but no u wanna keep everything !!! anyway if u want another war with hizbullah u will definately loose....the only way u can win is by war planes....on land we r the winners....why do u think israel left beirut after a huge seige of our capital in 1982...its because we know our country better than u do n same goes for the south of lebanon which u will NEVER conquer....n btw 4 the ppl who think that u can get rid of hizbullah (well u cant) cause they r a part of the country weather we or u like it so it just gets down to thi ....GORILLA WARFARE !!!...

Since the creation f Israel invading Lebanon was like a promenade to Israeli Army. Even there was a joke among Israeli solders, that to occupy Lebanon it is enough the military orchestra. Whenever they want they come and Lebanese government cry to the United Nation and the American Vito is waiting, More than 45 resolutions against Israel being vetoed by America. Now what, Hizbollah liberated Lebanon in year 2000 from occupation and humiliated Israel and withstand the strongest Army in the region for 34 days. Winograd made clear message that Israel is preparing another aggression against Lebanon as revenge. Here we all should be behind Hizbollah fighter to teach Israeli Lesson for the 3th time that this small and for some time was weak country is no longer. Bent Jbeil entered the Jewish memory like Stalingrad for German.

is that when we have another prime minister in place of the US puppet there right now, who isn't going to hold back..that Lebanon will not be the Paris of the middle east..it won't even be the swamp of the middle east...it will be just another desert. But I guess the people of Lebanon don't mind having a bunch of thugs tell them what to do. Smart!!!

including Nadine...what you say sounds good...where are your protests? haven't seen them. where are your editorials? haven't seen em. where are the people getting rid of the gangs/thugs called hizbully? don't see em. So, sadly, your country, civilians, soldiers, etc will all pay the price for a continued bombing by your military (hizbullies..), since Siniora and so many Lebanese consider them as protectors of your country...and then we must respond...we were very precise last war..so had a tough time..I suggest you find a deep hole or shelter next time...there won't be much left. Think: Dresden bombing, only worse. Sorry to inform you of reality.