IDF restricts media exposure of soldiers (They are aware that much of their behavior in the occupied territories qualifies as war crimes under the Geneva Convention)
By Amos Harel
Against the backdrop of the establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague on July 1, the Israel Defense Forces has begun changing its media policies. Following recent discussions, the IDF has decided to impose restrictions on the publication of identifying particulars of soldiers taking part in the fighting in the territories.
Consultations on the matter have been continuing for a number of months and have involved representatives from the Justice Ministry, the office of the Judge Advocate General, the IDF Spokesman's Office and additional elements.
Various measures, including a gag order on the publication of the names of senior officers in command of sectors in the territories, were considered; however, for now, the IDF has decided to take steps to protect rank-and-file soldiers.
According to the new directives, soldiers who are interviewed in the media or appear in reports from the territories will be identified only by their first names. The reports will not carry the soldiers' surnames, places of residence or details on the exact role they are fulfilling.
The restrictions come to protect the soldiers from the possibility, which the IDF deems unlikely at this stage, that they could be brought up on charges before the ICC in the future.
Similar regulations will be adopted with regard to junior and middle-rank officers, while the senior officers will, for the meantime, remain "exposed" in the media. Proposals to reduce the number of appearances in the media by such officers have been considered.
At this stage, it has been decided not to impose a ban on photographing or filming the faces of soldiers who are participating in operations in the territories. A few weeks ago, a television report drew harsh criticism from senior officers after it prominently showed the face of a soldier serving as a sniper in the Nablus area. The officers feared the exposure could be used against the soldier in the future.
Military sources told Ha'aretz that the decision was "a precautionary measure" only. According to the sources, the future policies of the ICC are still an unknown and the decision has been taken both in light of fears that the Palestinians may choose to use the ICC as a public relations platform, and so as to protect the soldiers from possible legal entanglements. |
