IDF soldiers in combat battalions and special forces units have long complained that the rules of engagement directives and orders from their commanders are confusing, which often means they don't know how to respond in an actual event.
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The issue rose to the forefront yet again last week after a soldier from the elite Egoz unit was assaulted and had his weapon stolen during a solo night navigation exercise in the country's north. Although the IDF inquiry determined the soldier attempted to fend off his attackers and followed protocol, other combat soldiers believe the writing was on the wall and that the incident, while relatively severe in nature, was not isolated amid a general trend leading to a total lack of deterrence.
"From the day you enlist, you are hammered with safety and rules of engagement directives. Before any guard duty or patrol, they tell you the protocols and no one really understands when you can and when you can't open fire. The directives are confusing and vague. Every incident comes with inquiries. Soldiers are afraid of using their weapon; they're scared of being investigated by the Military Police and Military Prosecution," one soldier told Israel Hayom.
It appears this confusion is not unfounded. A look at the army's rules of engagement shows a significant difference between the rules of engagement a soldier receives while on duty in Judea and Samaria, which also account for a broad range of scenarios, and those given to soldiers on duty inside the Green Line, which are left open to interpretation and consequently lead to confusion on the part of the soldiers.
As it pertains to the apprehension of weapons thieves, the IDF's rules of engagement guidelines stipulate that inside the Green Line, soldiers "should try their best to apprehend the thief while avoiding the use of force and through the use of reasonable force that does not require the use of their firearm." It also says that "opening fire will be done as a last resort; after all other means have failed." A soldier can open fire only if a thief or attacker "exhibits obvious, immediate and malicious intent with a hot or sharp weapon."
"The sense is that the soldier needs to wait until the last second and only then shoot," says P, a soldier currently undergoing infantry training.
According to G, another soldier: "We're told we need [to identify] a weapon, intent and ability, but look at the case of the [Egoz] soldier – none of those were present and they still posed a threat to the soldier. There's no clear definition of who the enemy is and how to act against him."
"Torat Halehima," a religious pro-IDF organization, said, "It's unacceptable that commanders in the field have their hands tied due to directives from the Military Advocate General, which were written in an office somewhere, and which restrict freedom of action and neuter deterrence."
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response: "The rules of engagement are suited to the operational needs. If a soldier is assaulted and his life is in danger, he is permitted to take any action necessary and apply live-fire rules to neutralize the danger."
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