Report: IDF implemented Hannibal Protocol right after kidnapping
A report by Israel Radio's military correspondent Carmela Menashe reports that the IDF implemented the Hannibal Protocol after Hadar Goldin was kidnapped this morning. This is from the first link (the second link is a lengthy post of mine from 2011 that explains what the Hannibal Protocol is).
Israel Radio military correspondent Carmella Menashe reported that the
moment it was realized that Second Lieutenant Hadar Goldin may have been
kidnapped that the IDF engaged in massive fire in the area where the
terrorists might be with Goldin.
Such a move would be consistent with what is known as the IDF "Hannibal
Protocol"
The following is a report back from 2011 with a link to the audio:
The IDF Hannibal Protocol - IDF Commander Briefing Troops
For audio:
http://youtu.be/BvlP6yM15ws
"The strategic weapon, the "Judgment Day Weapon" that Hamas wants to
acquire, is to capture a soldier.
But no soldier in Battalion 51 will be kidnapped at any price.
At any price. Under any condition.
Even if it means that he blows himself with his own grenade together with
those trying to capture him.
Also even if it means that now his unit has to fire a barrage at the car
that they are trying to take him away in.
There is no situation. No situation that they will have this weapon."
Golani Battalion 51 commander briefing his troops on the eve of their entry
into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead.
Video report broadcast on Israel Television Channel 2 News 16 October 2011
http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/security/Article-778ae8d014e0331017.htm
Three weeks ago, the IDF said it was going to standardize the Hannibal protocol, a long-standing IDF procedure for preventing soldiers' kidnapping in light of the denouement of the Shalit kidnapping, and in light of the fact that commanders have long given differing interpretations to the protocol. Now, that standardization has been completed.
Under the new work being conducted within the IDF, officers are writing clearer guidelines for what soldiers are expected to do in the case of an abducted soldier.
One scenario is if a soldier is grabbed from a tank along the Gaza Strip – similar to the way Schalit was abducted – and is put into a car, once in Gaza. The first stage, one officer explained, would be for a nearby tank to try and target the car’s engine to prevent the terrorists from fleeing with the abducted soldier.
If that does not work, they would have to then consider firing at the center of the car, even at the risk of injuring their comrade.
The IDF is concerned that Hamas and other terrorist organizations like Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah are currently plotting to kidnap Israeli soldiers.
Fearing future abductions of soldiers, the IDF on Sunday held a large-scale exercise in the Jordan Valley to prepare a response for the potential kidnapping of a soldier.
Gantz oversaw the drill, which took place throughout the Jordan Valley with the purpose of reviewing the readiness of Division 162, which is stationed along the border.
The scenario included a soldier being abducted by Palestinian terrorists and moved between a number of vehicles as well as a number of villages in the Jordan Valley area. On the sidelines of the kidnapping, the scenario included a terrorist infiltration into an Israeli settlement in the area.
Here's the problem: No one believes we won't do another Shalit deal (or worse) and as long as the terror organizations believe they have something to gain by kidnapping IDF soldiers, the kidnappings will continue.
IDF to develop universal interpretation for Hannibal protocol
You will recall that in a post last week, I discussed the Hannibal Protocol, a guideline for IDF commanders that prefers dead IDF soldiers to kidnapped IDF soldiers. It seems that until now, the Hannibal Protocol was open to interpretation by individual commanders. That's about to change.
The "Hannibal protocol" became official in the 1980s. It stipulates that IDF soldiers must prevent the abduction of a living soldier at any cost including opening fire at the abductors' vehicle. The protocol takes into consideration the fact that the captive soldier may be killed, with the guiding principle being that a dead soldier is better than a kidnapped soldier in the eyes of the State of Israel which will be forced to pay a heavy price for the captive.
In practice, each commander gives his own interpretation of the order to his men. On the eve of Operation Cast Lead, for example, a Golani battalion commander told his soldiers that if they find themselves in danger of being kidnapped they must blow themselves up using a grenade.
Former Nahal Brigade commander Col. Motti Baruch instructed his men to do everything in their power to prevent kidnappings including firing at the abductors' vehicle while endangering the captive's life.
However, not all commanders agree with the protocol. Some claim that human life must be treasured and therefore ignore the subject in briefings, leaving their soldiers to exercise their own judgment.
Gantz will be forced to form a clear and unified policy next week which will no doubt prompt a public discussion. Meanwhile IDF officials stressed that the protocol will not be changed but procedures will be revisited to prevent any misunderstandings.
Maybe it's time that we worry more about shooting to kill the terrorists before they can kill or abduct us. How about teaching some Torah to the IDF!
Waxing philosophical about Gilad Shalit's release, Alan Dershowitz comes up with this:
While the preference for life over death may appear to be a weakness in the ability of democracies to fight against terrorism, in the end it is a strength. It is a strength because it signals a democracy's commitment to value the life of every single one of its citizens. Israeli and American soldiers go into battle knowing that their countries will do everything in their power to rescue them, even if it means taking extraordinary risks. Nations that are committed to such humanistic values tend to have superior armies, as the United States and Israel do.
I guess Dershowitz doesn't know about Bowe Berghdal either. Other than Herman Cain, has anyone in the US suggested clearing out Gitmo for Berghdal? Does anyone in the US know who Berghdal is?
IDF soldiers told to blow themselves up or kill their comrades rather than allow another Gilad Shalit
This is the consequence of the lopsided trade that Israel is about to conclude with Hamas for Gilad Shalit, There will be no more IDF soldiers captured by Hamas. Even if the IDF has to kill them itself. This is known as the IDF's Hannibal Protocol.
If you don't believe me, here's a video that was played on Israel's Channel 2 this evening.
Let's go to the videotape. A transcript follows.
"The strategic weapon, the "Judgment Day Weapon" that Hamas wants to acquire, is to capture a soldier.
But no soldier in Battalion 51 will be kidnapped at any price.
At any price. Under any condition.
Even if it means that he blows himself with his own grenade together with those trying to capture him.
Also even if it means that now his unit has to fire a barrage at the car that they are trying to take him away in.
There is no situation. No situation that they will have this weapon."
Golani Battalion 51 commander briefing his troops on the eve of their entry into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead. Video report broadcast on Israel Television Channel 2 News 16 October 2011
Thanks to the very lopsided prisoner swaps, the IDF policy today is to do everything possible to kill IDF soldiers who appear to be in the process of being captured by terrorists.
That’s right. Kill.
A prisoner trade would only take place if the IDF failed to kill the captured IDF soldiers first.
This is what every IDF soldier knows today when he is ordered to advance and engage the enemy.
Does this knowledge have a positive or negative impact on the performance of the IDF in battle?
One thing is certain: knowing that your own comrades will try to kill you if you get in trouble is a far cry from having confidence that the nation will stand behind you in your time of need.
The Israeli officials and media talking heads commenting on the Shalit deal in the coming days should not insult our intelligence by claiming otherwise.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
