Israeli Army Says It Will Halt Its Use Of White Phosphorous Shells

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel's army said Thursday that it would soon halt its use of white phosphorus shells after years of international criticism for using the incendiary munitions in crowded Palestinian areas.

The army said in a statement that it would replace white phosphorus shells with ones based entirely on gas. Officials didn't offer further details, nor give a specific date for when they would retire the shells.

Israel came under heavy criticism after the three-week winter war in Gaza in 2008 and 2009 against the territory's Hamas for using white phosphorus shells. During the conflict, shells were used against a U.N. warehouse where more than 700 Palestinians were sheltering.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israeli-army-says-it-will-halt-its-use-of-white-phosphorous-shells/2013/04/25/23f2edbc-addf-11e2-b240-9ef3a72c67cc_story.html

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[Purveyor]

1. Israel Claims Syria Used Chemical Weapons, But Israel Has Used White Phosphorus

Israeli web magazine +972 reported Thursday that the Israeli army has stopped using white phosphorus because it “does not look good” internationally. Israel was widely criticized after its use of white phosphorus in Operation Cast Lead in 2009 caused the civilian deaths. That was four years ago, but this announcement coincides with evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria. It could be part of a strategy to make Israel look good while pressing for international action on Syria.

White phosphorus burns on contact with air, emitting smoke. When it comes into contact with skin, it causes severe chemical burns that may extend down to the bone, that are difficult to heal because they may reignite when exposed to oxygen. The chemical has been used by international forces in Afghanistan, where an 8-year-old girl was severely burned on her head and neck by a white phosphorus shell in 2009.

In 2009, Human Rights Watch claimed that Israel’s use of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas of Gaza during Operation Cast Lead was evidence of war crimes.White phosphorus is legal because, even though it is a dangerous incendiary, it is primarily used to provide smoke cover for troops. However, the HRW report said that their researchers found clear evidence that the Israeli military fired white phosphorus over dense urban areas where troops weren’t present and safer alternatives were available. As a result, the shells killed twelve civilians and wounded dozens of others.

The Israeli military responded at the time that its use of white phosphorus was in line with international law. Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons allows white phosphorus because it only restricts weapons “primarily designed” to set fires or cause burns. White phosphorus munitions’ primary military uses are to provide smokescreens for troop movement and to provide target markers, not as an incendiary.

MORE...

http://www.policymic.com/articles/37761/israel-claims-syria-used-chemical-weapons-but-israel-has-used-white-phosphorus

[kelliekat44]

17. "soon halt?" how does that grab you?

Soon after what? Using them one, two, three..more times? nt

[Fuddnik]

2. They came out and finally admitted to war crimes.

Our Defense Dept should admit it too.

[hack89]

6. The use of WP is not automatically a war crime.

there are legitimate uses for it.

That being said, using WP in urban areas is asking for trouble. Finding less lethal alternatives to generate smoke screens is a wise choice.

[kelliekat44]

18. Please name one. nt

[hack89]

19. Smoke screens. That is what WP does - it instantly creates dense walls of smoke

In addition to its offensive capabilities, white phosphorus is also a highly efficient smoke-producing agent, burning quickly and causing an instant bank of smoke. As a result, smoke-producing white phosphorus munitions are very common, particularly as smoke grenades for infantry, loaded in grenade launchers on tanks and other armored vehicles, or as part of the ammunition allotment for artillery or mortars. These create smoke screens to mask movement, position or the origin of fire from the enemy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus

[Tx4obama]

3. Kick n/t

[Blue_Tires]

4. I'm almost scared to think about what would be the new substitute...

[hack89]

7. There are a lot of ways to general thick smoke for smoke screens

without using chemicals that stick and burn like WP.

[leftynyc]

5. According to you

they are also responsible for the supposed chemical attacks in Syria. Too bad Israel seems to be the only country in the region that ever does anything wrong - the rest are run by benevolent puppies who coddle their people.

[Purveyor]

8. Of course you are wrong on this. I do not believe israel used chems on Syria, they are the ones

pushing this chem-weapons report however.

[leftynyc]

9. You can try and fool whoever you want

but you were asked who you thought used the weapons and you posted a very large pic of bibi. You can try and run from that idiocy but it's there for anyone to see.

[Purveyor]

10. I was using bibi as the example of the bullshit he comes up with but have it as you may. I could

really care less.

[leftynyc]

11. Yes, I'm sure you could care less

and that blaming the Jews is hilarious - and I'm sure you consider yourself a very good progressive also.

[Purveyor]

12. Well now you are just getting ridiculous so I think its best I 'ignore' you for awhile. See ya!

[leftynyc]

13. Awww - got called on your crap

and now go running like a baby. How sweet.

[byeya]

21. Israel is an apartheid state and should be shunned by any country with a pretense

to being democratic.

[leftynyc]

22. Yawn

Never going to happen. Let me know when you find a western woman who would rather not live in Israel than in any of her neighboring states....you may want to concentrate on those kinds of issues if you are any kind of progressive.

[Archae]

14. But ask Hamas to stop sending their home-made rockets from Gaza...

And all we'll hear is excuses and lies.

[rug]

15. That's thoughtful of them.

[Brimley]

16. Well, someone give that Bibi a Nobel

[daleo]

20. Replace with shells based entirely on gas?

Not sure what that means, but it has an ominous sound.

[HeiressofBickworth]

23. Before we get on our high horses about the use of white phosporous

check out this quote from Wiki:

"In April 2004, during the first major U.S. assault on Fallujah after the fall of Saddam Hussein's government, Darrin Mortenson of the North County Times in California reported that white phosphorus was used as an incendiary weapon. Embedded with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Mortenson described one Marine, Cpl. Bogert, and his mortar team in action:

"Bogert is a mortar team leader who directed his men to fire round after round of high explosives and white phosphorus charges into the city Friday and Saturday... The boom kicked dust around the pit as they ran through the drill again and again, sending a mixture of burning white phosphorus and high explosives they call "shake 'n' bake" into a cluster of buildings where insurgents have been spotted all week."

I certainly am not advocating that prior use by the US makes it ok for Israel to use it. Perhaps we should be looking at who provided the white phosphorous to Israel and work to cut off the supply at its source rather than having an established supply line for the next time Israel wants to use it.