Israeli troops are tops

Re: “Overhaul attitude,” Letter, July 19.

Contrary to Barry Fisher’s suggestions, Israel is certainly deserving of its reputation for being the most moral military in the world.

Col. Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, who served with the UN and NATO, said in a 2009 address to the UN Human Rights Council: “... based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare. Israel did so while facing an enemy that deliberately positioned its military capability behind the human shield of the civilian population.

“The truth is that the IDF took extraordinary measures to give Gaza civilians notice of targeted areas, dropping over two million leaflets, and making over 100,000 phone calls. Many missions that could have taken out Hamas military capability were aborted to prevent civilian casualties. During the conflict, the IDF allowed huge amounts of humanitarian aid into Gaza. To deliver aid virtually into your enemy’s hands is, to the military tactician, normally quite unthinkable. But the IDF took on those risks. Despite all of this, of course, innocent civilians were killed. ... There have been mistakes by the British, American and other forces in Afghanistan and in Iraq, many of which can be put down to human error. But mistakes are not war crimes.

“... Hamas deliberately tried to sacrifice their own civilians. Mr. President, Israel had no choice apart from defending its people, to stop Hamas from attacking them with rockets ... the IDF did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”

Mike Fegelman, Toronto Mike Fegelman is executive director of Honest Reporting

Canada.