The only thing worse than an American Liberal is a Jewish Liberal. To denegrate the whole IDF is reckless and irresponsible. Israel is being outgunned in pr and needs the help from anyone and especially nonjews. You and the Dumborats are crazy with your never ending appeasement strategies. Cowards and losers all. even nonJews .

What is it exactly when someone speaks out in defense of the soldiers in the IDF because their superiors have castigated them in order to perpetuate the myth of the moral army? That both sides use human shields is nothing new to warfare, but rather an inherent part of its filth. Why then casts stones at the writer for coming to the defense of the foot soldier? Is this one more example of how ideology must triumph over truth? For those who choose to delude themselves of this being an isolated incidence...try looking at the number of people who have died at the hands of the IDF. It is good to see that the voices of reason are still valiantly fighting on in Israel. For those of you who would refer to atrocities committed by suicide bombers as a means of avoiding responsibility... it is a fool's game. Indoctrinating people to commit suicide and target civilians is abhorrently inhumane.That there are those within Israel who seek justice when wrongs are committed in her name is laudable, casting aspersions on those justice seekers is not.

...is a win win situation for Israel. Those ynutters who'd prefer Golan and Breaking the Silence either left the country or shut up will merely reduce the country to the same neaderthalic level as as Hamas run state. Speaking out is a robust indication that Israel is the liberal democracy it claims to be, and in the long run will attract, rather than isolate, international allies. Transparency is a good thing. Operating the copuntry like a pressure coooker isn't

And I'm all in favor of preventing war-crimes, and making sure those who made lethal mistakes or deliberate wrongs pay the price for it. And yet Ms. Golan's organization is more focused on quantity than on quality. It has consistently spread anything it heard on soldier misconduct - anything at all, and has often repeated Hamas sanctioned reports in the process. It's why the IDF ignored them altogether, until such a time as it found evidence of its own of misconduct. Had Breaking the Silence focused on gathering real testimonies and real evidence, rather than just on publicity, it would have actually done something good. Instead, they've been one of the worst enemies of their own supposed cause.

As an IDF veteran and Israeli citizen, I'm all for transparency of the IDF's actions. What I am against is organizations that use second-hand "evidence", unconfirmed rumors and "I heard that..." stories from anonymous sources--the tactics of "Breaking the Silence" (among others). Honest criticism is constructive; dishonest criticism is not only harmful, but can also be criminal. Irresponsible publication of unconfirmed rumors presented as facts crosses the line from criticism to slander and libel.

whereas by Hamas, using human shields is the RULE. Its a BIG difference, and with all that we have against us, we should not be highlighting the actions of certain individual soldiers. There are bad soldiers in every army and isreal is no exception

Why would not Dana demand apology from Turkey for Lying that that the flotila has only peace activists and no weapons, both lies.

If the army defends its soldiers considering them innocent until proved guilty, Breaking the Silence does the opposite, giving hearsay evidence. We don't need you to protect us against our own.

Does anyone remember the total and justified belief t;he Israeli public had in the IDF Spokesman during the Six Day War? Whatever happened since then? When did lies become policy, and silence become necessary to hide the lies?