The IDF Disastrously Changes the Rules of Engagement

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8:00 am Israel time, Sunday, August 17 2015

**The daily Palestinian terror report:

There were more than 30 Palestinian terror attacks yesterday. Three Israelis were wounded–two IDF soldiers and one Border Guard. 

Here is a sampling:

At 1:30 pm near the Ofer checkpoint on Road 443, a terrorist stabbed an Israeli soldier in the back–who then managed to shoot the terrorist in the shoulder. The soldier was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

At 3:41 pm in the hills outside of Gush Etzion, terrorists were seen setting fire to a forest. Forest still smoldering at this hour.

At 5:59 pm at the Tapuach Junction, a terrorist stabbed a Border Guard who was critically wounded and evacuated for medical treatment.

The Border Guard who killed the terrorist–and the knife used in the attack.

The terrorist was shot by another Border Guard and killed.

At 6:52 pm at Wadi Ara, terrorists assaulted Israeli security personnel with “rocks” and other projectiles. 

At 7:55 pm at Issawiya, terrorists were captured by police after being spotted in a suspicious vehicle. A search revealed guns, knives, and ammunition.

Between 8:00 and 8:30 pm, terrorists attacked Israelis with “rocks” at Bethany, Issawiya, and Anwar. An IDF soldier was wounded by a “rock” thrown by a terrorist at Bil’in.

At 9:45 pm between Givat Assaf and Beit El, an Israeli bus was fired upon.

Note the bullet hole in the window and the police car outside (Photo: Communication Samaria).

Miraculously, no one was wounded physically.

At 10:32 pm near Beit El, terrorists attacked Israeli motorists with “rocks” and Molotov cocktails.

At 11:21 pm near Itamar, terrorists shattered windows of Israeli homes with “rocks” and other projectiles.

At 12:05 am (today) near Shiloh, terrorists attacked Israeli motorists with “rocks”.

How many of these attacks do you think were reported in the international media? How many were condemned by the United Nations, European Union, or the U.S. State Department?

TODAY’S BLOG:

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An increasingly common sight in Judea and Samaria. An IDF jeep set on fire by Palestinian terrorists throwing Molotov cocktails. However, according to the new IDF rules of engagement, such attacks are not life-threatening. (picture: mida.org.il).

Looking at the updates and pictures above, the obvious message of the day is that Palestinian terrorism is running increasingly rampant in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem. With an average of 20 to 30 terror attacks per day, hardly an hour goes by that does not see a “rock”, Molotov cocktail, stabbing, arson, or shooting attack. 

Particularly worrisome yesterday were the stabbings of the IDF soldier and Border Guard. The attack near Ofer was especially egregious. In that attack, the terrorist came up to the checkpoint and asked for water. When the soldier turned around to get him a bottle of water, the terrorist pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the back several times.

What you may not know is that the IDF dramatically changed the rules of engagement in Judea and Samaria this past week. The rules were changed as a direct result of the incident six weeks ago in which Binyamin Region Brigade Commander Col. Yisrael Shomer killed a terrorist who attacked him and his soldiers with “rocks”.

Idiotically, the IDF broadcast the new rules to anyone who was listening–including Palestinian terrorists.

1. Soldiers may now only fire at terrorists if “there is a clear danger to the life of the soldier.”

The problem here is exactly what constitutes “clear danger to the life of the soldier”. Is a “rock” being thrown at a soldier’s head a danger to his life? Is a Molotov cocktail thrown at a soldier or at a soldier’s vehicle a danger to his life? If a terrorist stabs at a soldier’s legs is that a danger to the soldier’s life? What about if a terrorist shoots a soldier in the hand? or in the foot?

You might be interested to know that the answer to the “rock” question above is “no”. The new rules of engagement specify that “rocks” are not “life-threatening”. The answer to the Molotov cocktail question is also “no”; soldiers have been ordered to only shoot at the knees of the terrorists if they shoot at all. The answer to the stabbing and shooting questions are “probably not”–it all depends on the situation.

2. Even if “there is a clear danger to the life of the soldier”, the soldier may only fire at the “lower body” of the terrorist.

Think about the absurdity of this. A soldier sees that a terrorist is trying to kill him or his fellow soldiers and he can only fire at the terrorist’s lower body (i.e. his legs)? Obviously, even if the terrorist is hit, he is likely to continue shooting, or stabbing, or whatever. Just as obviously, more IDF soldiers are likely to be killed.

3. If soldiers spot a terrorist and he attempts to flee, the soldiers are only permitted to fire a warning shot in the air–even if it means that the terrorist is likely to escape.

In essence, the IDF’s new role is to chase terrorists away–not to capture or kill them.

The general point is that the new IDF rules of engagement are meant to stop any IDF engagement with terrorists. In an attempt to be politically correct, the IDF General Command has only succeeded in increasing attacks on IDF soldiers–and increasing the likelihood that they will be killed by terrorists. 

In this context, the stabbings yesterday come as no surprise.

Also in this context, you can be sure that the stabbed soldier who shot the terrorist in the shoulder as well as the Border Guard who killed the other terrorist will both be summoned before IDF tribunals and reprimanded. 

It is a sad commentary on the current state of the IDF General Command, a command that is afraid of its own shadow and that has sunk into abject passivity.