Hannibal Lecture

NYT finally with full piece on the controversial Hannibal Directive, under which Israeli forces are allowed to take great risks that could lead to death of one of their soldiers if taken captive.   The last time this came up in a Times story a few days ago the reference was later cut, with no explanation from the paper why.  This piece seems to accept the IDF claim that the dead/captured soldier Goldin was not killed by Israeli fire or shelling although others have raised that as a real possibility--but the Times presents no evidence and admits Israeli spokesman dodges key question.  The Times reporter herself says it "appears unlikely"--how's that for hedging a bit?

Originally the Times and Israel claimed the soldier was blown up by suicide bomber but Haaretz cited a source saying not true and now this is left vague.  The fact that it took DNA probe to ID remains of body suggests to some that poor Goldin perhaps was blown up, and not by suicide vest.

Now see major new Haaretz story which includes this:  "The information available to Haaretz on the events is partial and based on sources from the Israeli side only. Realizing the possibility of legal proceedings abroad, the IDF is in no hurry to volunteer all the details." It too is hazy on what killed Goldin.  It does note that a soldier tossed grenade into a tunnel where Goldin might have been taken.  In any event, Israel's all-out response led to the deaths of over 120 Gazans.