Others within the Israeli government should be sought to bring pressure for a peace negotiation. The extremists have the power and they are putting Israel in the direct path of a conflict. That is completely unwise and lends to extremist views.
March 6, 2016
By Mike Smith
Jerusalem (AFP) - Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot's (click here) mother said he was destined to be a wise man, but some of Israel's rightwing politicians were not so sure after a recent speech.
The plainspoken military chief of staff, with his familiar greying buzzcut, said what in other situations may seem obvious, but it touched a nerve in Israel.
"When there's a 13-year-old girl holding scissors or a knife and there is some distance between her and the soldiers, I don't want to see a soldier open fire and empty his magazine at a girl like that, even if she is committing a very serious act," he said.
March 6, 2016By Mike Smith
Jerusalem (AFP) - Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot's (click here) mother said he was destined to be a wise man, but some of Israel's rightwing politicians were not so sure after a recent speech.
The plainspoken military chief of staff, with his familiar greying buzzcut, said what in other situations may seem obvious, but it touched a nerve in Israel.
"When there's a 13-year-old girl holding scissors or a knife and there is some distance between her and the soldiers, I don't want to see a soldier open fire and empty his magazine at a girl like that, even if she is committing a very serious act," he said.
"Rather he should use the force necessary to fulfil the objective."
Many have described his comments as common sense, but the remarks were only the latest from Eisenkot to stir debate.
The 55-year-old, who recently marked a year as Israel's top soldier, has won praise from those advocating a moderate approach in the face of calls to crack down more harshly on Palestinians.
But rightwing politicians, including members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, have called such comments inappropriate.
The controversy has come amid violence since October that has killed 181 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.
