IDF troops cleared in death of Reuters cameraman

In April, 24-year old 'Palestinian' cameraman Fadel Shana was killed after taking a direct hit from an IDF tank shell. For those who have forgotten the incident, you may want to go here and here to refresh your memory.

On Wednesday, the IDF sent a letter to Reuters indicating that the army investigation had concluded that the soldiers acted reasonably under the circumstances.

"In light of the reasonable conclusion reached by the tank crew and its superiors, that the characters were hostile and were carrying an object most likely to be a weapon, the decision to fire at the targets ... was sound," Brig. Gen. Avihai Mandelblit, the IDF's top prosecutor, said in a letter sent to Reuters. The news agency made the letter public on Wednesday.

In a statement issued at its London headquarters, Reuters said the army probe could effectively give soldiers a "free hand to kill," without being sure of the identity of their targets.

"I'm extremely disappointed that this report condones a disproportionate use of deadly force in a situation the army itself admitted had not been analyzed clearly," said David Schlesinger, Reuters' editor in chief. "They would appear to take the view that any raising of a camera into position could garner a deadly response."

Reuters is applying a full-court press on the IDF on this issue, and Reporters without Borders (RSF) is more interested in Shana than in journalists being (including at least one Israeli) targeted on the Russian - Georgian front.

Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the findings of an Israeli investigation into the death of Palestinian cameraman Fadel Shanaa, clearing the soldiers involved of any responsibility. The Israeli military advocate-general, Brig. Gen. Avihai Mendelblit, notified Shanaa’s employer, the British news agency Reuters, of the results of the probe in a letter today.

Gen. Mendelblit said the Israeli tank crew that fired shells at Shanaa and soundman Wafa Abu Mizyed during an incursion into the Gaza Strip on 16 April respected the rules of engagement and will therefore not face legal action. Mizyed sustained only minor injuries.

“The tank crew was unable to determine the nature of the object mounted on the tripod and positively identify it as an anti-tank missile, a mortar or a television camera,” the letter said. “In light of the reasonable conclusion reached by the tank crew and its superiors that the characters were hostile and were carrying an object most likely to be a weapon, the decision to fire at the targets was sound.”

Gen. Mendelblit claimed that the soldiers were too far away to see the “Press” lettering on the car and flak jackets of Shanaa, 23, and Mizyed, who were filming the Israeli army incursion.

Reporters Without Borders said: “The findings of the Israeli investigation are confusing and offer no convincing explanation of the circumstances that led to the Reuters cameraman’s death. The Israel Defence Forces never want to admit they are wrong in such cases. Israeli soldiers enjoy an impunity that endangers many journalists covering their operations.

“Only an impartial analysis of what happened would be able to prevent this kind of tragedy from recurring. Instead of reassuring the press, the Israeli military is fostering an unacceptable climate of fear and danger.

“If journalists are wearing flak jackets, keeping a reasonable distance from the belligerents and clearly displaying press markings, there should be a change in the behaviour of the soldiers in areas where civilians, including journalists, are present.”

Shanaa and Mizyed were about 1 kilometre from the tank that fired shells at their car. Their flak jackets were not effective against the steel flechettes released by one of the Israeli shells.

And here's al-Reuters' reaction. This is about as biased a piece of 'journalism' as you will find anywhere. Let's go to the videotape. I'll have plenty more to say and show after the video.