Happy Face

"People were not instructed to shoot at everyone they see, but they were told that from a certain distance when they approach a house, no matter who it is - even an old woman - take them down," said another. Many of the testimonies are in line with claims made by human-rights organisations that Israeli military action in Gaza was indiscriminate and disproportionate. Amnesty International has accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during the 22-day conflict. Israeli officials insist troops went to great lengths to protect civilians, that Hamas endangered non-combatants by firing from civilian areas and that homes and buildings were destroyed only when there was a specific military need to do so. 'Ill discipline' According to testimonies from the 14 conscripts and 12 reserve soldiers: • Rules of engagement were either unclear or encouraged soldiers to do their utmost to protect their own lives whether or not Palestinian civilians were harmed. • Civilians were used as human shields, entering buildings ahead of soldiers • Large swathes of homes and buildings were demolished. Accounts say that this was often done because the houses might be booby-trapped, or cover tunnels. Testimony mentioned a policy referred to as "the day after", whereby areas near the border were razed to make future military operations easier • Some of the troops had a generally aggressive, ill-disciplined attitude • There was incidents of vandalism of property of Palestinians • Soldiers fired at water tanks because they were bored, at a time of severe water shortages for Gazans • White phosphorus was used in civilian areas in a way some soldiers saw as gratuitous and reckless • Many of the soldiers said there had been very little direct engagement with Palestinian militants The report says Israeli troops and the people who justify their actions are "slid[ing] together down the moral slippery slope". "This is an urgent call to Israeli society and its leaders to sober up and investigate anew the results of our actions," Breaking the Silence says. Israel said the purpose of the 22-day operation that ended on 18 January 2009 had been to end rocket fire from Gaza aimed at its southern towns. Palestinian rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation. Thirteen Israelis died in the conflict, including 10 soldiers serving in Gaza. According to the UN, the campaign damaged or destroyed more than 50,000 homes, 800 industrial properties, 200 schools, 39 mosques and two churches. Investigations Reacting to the report, Israeli military spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said: "The IDF [israel Defence Forces] regrets the fact that another human rights organisation has come out with a report based on anonymous and general testimony - without investigating their credibility." Thousands of Gazans were made homeless by Israel's operation She dismissed the document as "hearsay and word of mouth". "The IDF expects every soldier to turn to the appropriate authorities with any allegation," Lt Col Leibovich added. "This is even more important where the harm is to non-combatants. The IDF has uncompromising ethical values which continue to guide us in every mission." There have been several investigations into the conduct of Israel's operation in Gaza, and both Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that runs the territory, have faced accusations of war crimes. An internal investigations by the Israeli military said troops fought lawfully, although errors did take place, such as the deaths of 21 people in a house that had been wrongly targeted. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has requested more than $11m (£7m) in compensation from Israel for damage to UN property in Gaza. A limited UN inquiry blamed Israel in six out of nine attacks on UN facilities, resulting in casualties among civilians sheltering there. Meanwhile, a fact-finding team commissioned by the Arab League concluded there was enough evidence to prosecute the Israeli military for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and that "the Israeli political leadership was also responsible for such crimes". It also said Palestinian militants were guilty of war crimes in their use of indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilians. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8149464.stm

Apparently they received the tickets on Monday and they were posted out that night. If they aren't on my mat tonight....

Anyone received their tickets yet? I've been on hold for 10 minutes on the £13 per minute ticket office line to see what the hold up is with delivery.

Getting an iphone is like getting married or having a bairn and deserves congratulation now?

Enthusiastic contrafibulations

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry, an abused and mentally unstable child, being punished for throwing a cake at a woman (and blaming a pixie), takes revenge by throwing his abusive step-father from a second floor window. Following the incident he has a complete mental breakdown. While incarcerated he imagines the juvenile detention centre as a world of wizards and magic. He gets into fights in the yard claiming only to be partaking in a violent game to catch a winged ball that flies. He also talks to himself incoherently, kills a cat and several people which he blames on the memory of a man who died 11 years ago (just after he was born). In the end he sticks a shiv in the eye of an inmate who he insiists is a 64 foot snake. Rather than the violent actions of a psychopath he sees this as an heroic validation of all that he's done before. He celebrates in the mess with Bubba, a 28 stone violent murderer with a penchant for under 13s. Dark.

Your company needs to hire some cleaners. Why would you pay someone a decent office wage to mop up the kitchen? You and the main director want to concentrate on what you're being paid for.

Sorry, it was Renton....always confuse you two.

I wouldn't worry about it. Fish has only got 14 or 15 albums anyway. Who needs more than that?

Aye. Seems to be an effort by the players to get out a story a day starting with the most senior players. Tomorrow, Nicky Butt reveals why he has to go....and 40,000 rush to help him pack.

Really?

I've got no problem with him going easy on Ashley. But I've got far more of a vested interest in Newcastle than Blair and even I don't think it's a "tragedy" No surprise to see Blair spin though.

Twat talks shite.

Happy Birthday. .com tell us you share your birthday with Albert Stubbins. Who appeared on the Sgt Pepper cover of course. Legend. Unfortunately it's also Gordon Lee and Craig Bellamy's birthdays.

Ladies choice this weekend, Happy Face? It was me that applied for tickets for the first one and downloaded the latter.

Class. I listened to Wolf in Sheeps Clothing five or six times last week. KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap too.

The Proposal Sandra Bullock forces Michael Owen to marry her and goes to meet his parents (Clara Clayton and Coach) and Grandparent (Rose the Golden Girl). Proper wifey film we got free tickets for. I wouldn't say there were laughs in it...a few exhalations of breath at best. Marley and Me Rachael (the Friend) and Owen (bonky nose, freakish face) Wilson get a dog who lives with them while they start their family. Depressing stuff.

"Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jazzment in my mind"

happy face knows have you heard In C? Nope. Google's drawing a blank too. I've only got Koyaanisqatsi and Aguas da Amazonia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_C check yr pms That sounds....interesting. Cheers for the PM, I'll take a look when i get home. Flint and Steel - Summer Mix http://www.zshare.net/download/625359786691f2e6/

happy face knows have you heard In C? Nope. Google's drawing a blank too. I've only got Koyaanisqatsi and Aguas da Amazonia

...while the cost of air guitars will go up to £23.75

Finding out in a week is the new 3pm press conference.