Israel conducts ‘human shield‘ probe

clipped from www.localnewsleader.com Military police are investigating a high-ranking West Bank commander on suspicion his troops used Palestinian civilians as human shields in violation of an Israeli Supreme Court order banning the practice, military officials said. investigators want to determine how much Golan knew, and whether he explicitly authorized the practice. Golan is commander of the army‘s West Bank division. the case was reported in several Israeli newspapers Wednesday. In a landmark 2005 decision, Israel ‘s Supreme Court banned the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in general, and specifically outlawed taking Palestinian civilians on searches. Since the Supreme Court decision, Palestinians have accused the army of continuing the practice, but proof was elusive spokeswoman for the Israeli human rights group B‘Tselem, said the new reports that the investigation is targeting senior officers was an encouraging sign the army is taking the matter seriously. complaints have been denied or dismissed