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Irish Times, Dec 13, 2000
Israel admits using excessive force
By David Horowitz in Jerusalem
Israel yesterday publicly confirmed that it is targeting the alleged leaders of Palestinian "shooting squads" in the West Bank and Gaza. Meanwhile, military officials privately acknowledged that the army has used "excessive force" against the Palestinians....
Mr Sneh, however, yesterday praised the one such killing for which Israel has taken responsibility - of a Palestinian militia commander who was blown up in a rocket attack last month, in which two women passers-by were also killed - as an example of a "precise hit."
The deputy minister's unusual candour yesterday coincided with the publication, in the Ha'aretz daily, of the first reports of Israeli military officials acknowledging "that Israel has frequently been using excessive force against the Palestinians."
Israeli officials have steadfastly denied this charge - which has been levelled by the UN, Palestinian leaders and its own human rights groups. But yesterday's article spoke of the "excessive severity" with which orders are being interpreted, and quoted a senior officer, anonymously, saying: "Nobody can convince me we didn't needlessly kill dozens of children."
Full article is at <http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/world/2000/1213/wor5.htm>
