LM Report 2006

Israel

Key developments since May 2005: The Israel Defense Force destroyed 15,510 outdated stockpiled mines in 2005. Israel extended its moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines for three years in July 2005. Clearance operations were conducted in the northern part of the Jordan Valley in 2005, following the displacement of mines as a result of flooding.

Mine Ban Policy

The State of Israel has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. In May 2006, an official repeated Israel’s long-held position: it supports the humanitarian objectives and aspirations of the treaty, but landmines are still considered essential for security, given its hostile environment. The military does not believe it can ensure security without antipersonnel mines.^[1] In December 2004, Israel stated that it “supports the humanitarian goal to ultimately eliminate the consequences of indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines,” but “cannot commit itself to a ‘Total-Ban’ on landmines, as it is required to resort to defensive operations against terrorists to prevent attacks on its civilians.”^[2]

In November 2005, at the UN, Israel stated that mines used by non-state armed groups presented the primary humanitarian risk for innocent civilians, and that it was Israel’s position that non-state armed groups could not be permitted to use landmines. It said that it was the responsibility of member states to take all necessary steps to prevent the transfer to, and use of landmines by non-state armed groups.^[3]

Since 1997, Israel has abstained each year from voting on the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution supporting the Mine Ban Treaty, including UNGA Resolution 60/80 on 8 December 2005.^[4]

While Israel did not participate in the treaty’s intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005, or the Sixth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Zagreb, Croatia in November-December 2005, it did attend the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006.

Israel is a member of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on landmines. It participated in the protocol’s Seventh Annual Conference of States Parties on 23 November 2005, and submitted on 22 November 2005 a national annual report as required by Article 13.

Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use

Israel has said that it “ceased all production and imports of antipersonnel mines in the early 1980s.”^[5] In July 2004, Israeli officials disclosed for the first time that antipersonnel mine production lines have been dismantled.^[6]

Israel declared a moratorium on the export of antipersonnel mines in 1994 that was extended for three-year periods in 1996, 1999, 2002 and most recently, July 2005.^[7] Israeli officials anticipate that the regular three-year renewals will continue into the future.^[8]

The size and composition of Israel’s stockpile of antipersonnel mines remains unknown, but it includes both hand-emplaced and remotely-delivered mines. Israel reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed 15,510 mines in 2005 at a special ammunition disposal facility.^[9] It did not provide details on the types of outdated mines that were destroyed.

The last confirmed IDF use of antipersonnel mines was during its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000. Israel’s Article 13 report for 2005 states, “There were no newly emplaced minefields this year.”^[10] Similar declarations were made in the three previous annual reports.

Landmine Monitor has sought comment from the government on a March 2006 report that Israeli forces laid mines around a water station on Israeli territory adjacent to a road leading to Daher Al Jamal and facing Ramiah village in South Lebanon.^[11]

In May 2006, an Israeli official told the ICBL that Israel does not use antipersonnel mines against the Palestinians and has not placed antipersonnel mines on the dividing line with Palestinian territories. He said mines are used on the Lebanese border because of Hizbullah attacks.^[12]

Israel’s November 2005 Article 13 report stated that, “in the past year there were many occasions where terrorists used improvised explosive devices causing many casualties among Israeli citizens.”^[13] Unlike previous CCW reports, it made no mention of terrorist use of mines or booby-traps.^[14] In this reporting period, since May 2005, Landmine Monitor is aware of one allegation of possible use of an antipersonnel mine by Palestinian groups, and no allegations of use by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.^{[15 ]} In June and July 2006, there were reports that Palestinians were using antivehicle mines and improvised explosive devices during Israeli military action in Gaza.^[16]

Landmine and ERW Problem

Israel is a mine-affected country. Mines dating from World War II remain in Israel, and it has subsequently used mines along its borders, near military camps and training areas, and near infrastructure, including water pump stations and electric power facilities.^[17] A Jerusalem newspaper, the Haaretz Daily, reported that approximately 33,000 dunams (33 square kilometers) of land are mined or suspected to be mined in Israel, the West Bank and Golan Heights.^[18] Syria previously claimed that erosion of the hillsides in the Golan has caused mines to move downhill, reportedly affecting the population living in the valleys.^[19]

As a result of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel is also contaminated by explosive remnants of war (ERW), with both abandoned explosive ordnance and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remaining in the areas of confrontation. A further hazard has arisen from Palestinian improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including homemade mortars, rockets, mines and roadside bombs.^[20] In addition, Israeli military training fields are at times improperly fenced or not fenced at all, and some UXO go uncollected.^[21]

Mine Action

There is no national agency to manage or coordinate demining efforts. The IDF Engineering Corps is in charge of clearing mines, ERW and IEDs. It is also believed that commercial Israeli contractors continue to clear mines, ERW and IED on an emergency basis, and on a more frequent basis when circumstances permit.^[22]

Strategic Planning and Progress

Israel reported that in 2005 the IDF Engineering Corps continued to implement its annual program of demining, monitoring and maintaining fencing and marking of minefields and suspected areas.^[23] Mined areas are said to be fenced and marked with warning signs in three languages (Hebrew, Arabic and English) clearly positioned on the perimeters of every minefield.^[24] Israel claims that the IDF has continued to improve its ability to record minefields by using the Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System devices.^[25]

Israel has declared that information on the location of minefields is provided to the Israeli Mapping Center (IMC) and that the IDF provides the IMC with updates every three months. Maps are reportedly available to the public and periodically updated by the IMC. Further information regarding minefield locations is provided by local municipalities to the general population in response to land rights and use inquiries.^[26]

Mine and ERW Clearance

In the northern part of the Jordan Valley (near road no. 90), floods in 2005 were said to have swept away mines that blocked access to the Jordan River. The Ministry of Defense and the IDF together with the Jordan River Drainage Authority reportedly surveyed and cleared the area.^[27] There is no report of any other clearance of mines or ERW in 2005. According to a civilian demining company, the army does not report on its clearance activities for security reasons.^[28]

In 2000, the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality approved a new public housing program that included two new high schools and a youth center in Tzur Baher, a small Palestinian village in the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem. The only land available for construction was contaminated with landmines laid by the Jordanian army in 1967. Responsibility for clearance of the land was disputed between Jerusalem and the IDF, which said its policy was not to clear minefields for civilians due to the risk to soldiers.^[29] In 2005, the Ministry of Justice decided that the municipality should fund and contract a civilian mine clearance company, while the IDF would assure the quality of the clearance undertaken. The Israeli company, Maavarim Civil Engineering Ltd., was selected to conduct the clearance. The company returned 50,000 square meters of mine-affected land to the community in November 2005 through both manual and mechanical clearance. No antivehicle mines were found; antipersonnel mines were found, but the number was not communicated to Landmine Monitor. Quality assurance was conducted using mine detecting dogs. The overall project was supervised by the IDF, which gave the final certification. Although the IDF does not usually follow International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), Maavarim’s standing operating procedures are reportedly based on IMAS and this operation was said to be conducted in accordance with IMAS.^[30]

Mine Risk Education

Israel has reported no new information since 2004 on activities undertaken to warn the population of the presence and danger of mines and to deter risk-taking behavior. Mine risk education (MRE) “is provided by local municipalities to the general population upon land rights and use inquiries.” Israel requires organizers of field trips (such as those conducted by schools, youth movements, work places and private citizens) to coordinate their routes with the relevant IDF command, in order to receive briefings regarding the location of actual and suspected minefields in the area. They are given “appropriate mine awareness instructions.” Commercially available maps by the Israeli Mapping Center clearly indicate the location of minefields.^[31]

Landmine Casualties and Survivor Assistance

In 2005 and the first five months of 2006, Landmine Monitor identified no new landmine casualties in Israel. Israel noted that, in 2005, IEDs caused “many casualties among Israeli civilians.”^[32] The last confirmed mine incident occurred in 2000, when an Israeli soldier was seriously injured while clearing landmines on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Most mine incidents occurred during the wars of 1967, 1973 and 1982.^[33]

The total number of landmine casualties in Israel is not known. However, there are said to have been more than 2,000 traumatic amputations among IDF personnel and “several dozens of civilian victims of landmines, UXOs, improvised explosives and other devices.”^[34] Reportedly, there are approximately 50,000 war-disabled veterans in Israel.^[35] Civilian mine casualties are registered under the umbrella category of “Victims of Hostile Activities.” It is often difficult to determine from the occasional media reports of “mine” incidents if they involved antipersonnel mines or other explosive devices.

Israel has extensive experience in trauma surgery and rehabilitation. In December 2005, the Israel Trauma Coalition/Herzog Hospital, facilitated the first training in Chechnya on trauma counseling, for 22 child psychologists, organized by UNICEF.^[36]

The Ministry of Health provides some rehabilitation equipment and devices free of charge.^[37]

The Red Shield of David (Magen David Adom, MDA) has provided over 700 public ambulances, emergency treatment at first aid posts and mobile intensive care units in 95 locations in Israel. It has approximately 1,200 emergency staff and more than 10,000 volunteers; it is said to have the capacity to become a support system for the IDF during conflicts.^[38] In 2005, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided technical and financial assistance to MDA, including a blood bank and development of an emergency response strategy.^[39]

Hatzola provides first emergency aid and stabilization to conflict casualties via a network of nearly 100 ‘ambucycles’ (motorcycles containing emergency first aid equipment, a siren and emergency lights), in cooperation with MDA.^[40]

Yad Sarah provided services to people with disabilities and homebound people, including home assistance, physical and occupational rehabilitation, and transport for wheelchair-bound people. It runs a program lending mobility and medical devices free of charge; the mobility devices are made or repaired in the equipment maintenance workshops, which employ people with disabilities. Yad Sarah also operates a fitness center, a computer center for people with disabilities and five guidance and resource centers where they can obtain information about equipment and means of improving their mobility and independence.^[41]

Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO) provided sports and rehabilitation services to war-disabled and advocates for their rights. It has a membership of approximately 11,000 disabled war veterans and their families.^[42]

The National Insurance Institute of Israel covers the cost of treatment for all Israeli citizens injured by landmines.^[43] People with a physical disability unable to continue in their previous employment can receive vocational training; tuition fees, a living allowance, material and travel expenses are covered. Widows, orphans and parents of “victims of hostilities” are also eligible for training. People with lower limb disabilities also receive compensation for mobility expenses.^[44]

Bizchut, the Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, lobbies for the advancement of the rights of people with disabilities to enable their full integration and participation in society.^[45]

Israel has legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law (5758-1998) and its subsequent amendments.^[46] The Commission for Equal Rights of People with Disabilities, within the justice ministry, addresses discrimination cases, mainly in the areas of accessibility and employment.^[47]

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[1] ICBL meeting with Joshua Zarka, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN in Geneva, Geneva, 9 May 2006.
[2] Letter from Roey Gilad, Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, Israeli Embassy in London, to Handicap International (UK), 6 December 2004.
[3] “Fourth Committee Approves Text Urging Assistance for Mine-Affected Countries; Recommending April 4 As International Day of Mine Awareness,” US Fed News, 8 November 2005. This summarized different states’ remarks on a draft mine action resolution.
[4] Eighteen non-signatories voted in favor of the resolution, including Azerbaijan, China, and Kuwait for the first time. Lebanon for the first time voted for a draft of the resolution in the UNGA First Committee, but was absent from the final vote.
[5] Email from Meir Itzchaki, Regional Security and Arms Control Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 February 2003. In the past, Israel produced low metal content blast antipersonnel mines, bounding fragmentation mines, and Claymore-type directional fragmentation munitions, designated M12A1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6.
[6] Interview with members of the Israeli delegation to the Eighth Session of the CCW Group of Government Experts, Geneva, 8 July 2004.
[7] Email from Meir Itzchaki, Deputy Director, Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 19 September 2005. He indicated Israel had notified the UN Secretary-General of an extension until July 2008. See CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form F, 22 November 2005.
[8] Interview with members of the Israeli delegation to the Eighth Session of the CCW Group of Government Experts, Geneva, 8 July 2004.
[9] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form C, 22 November 2005.
[10] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[11] “Israelis are laying mines around a Water Station Facing Ramiah Village,” Al Nahar (Lebanese newspaper), 22 March 2006.
[12] ICBL meeting with Joshua Zarka, Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN in Geneva, Geneva, 9 May 2006. He made similar remarks during a meeting with ICBL Diplomatic Advisor Amb. Satnam Jit Singh during CCW meetings in Geneva in November 2005. See report on Lebanon in this edition of Landmine Monitor.
[13] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[14] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, 9 November 2004, p. 10. The Mine Ban Treaty prohibits not only antipersonnel mines, but also explosive booby-traps and other improvised explosive devices that are victim-activated. Media and others are not always clear whether the devices used are victim-activated or command-detonated and often use terms interchangeably, citing the use of bombs, landmines, booby-traps and improvised explosive devices without making a distinction.
[15 ] See Palestine report in this edition of Landmine Monitor.
[16] See, for example, Scott Wilson, “Preparing for Battle and its Victims in a Palestinian City,” Washington Post (Beit Lahiya), 7 July 2006.
[17] “Israelis are laying mines around a Water Station Facing Ramiah Village,” Al Nahar (Lebanese newspaper), 22 March 2006.
[18] Jonathan Lis, “IDF refuses to clear landmines from land for Arab school,” Haaretz Daily (Jerusalem), 8 September 2003.
[19] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1014.
[20] Email from Kaj Stendorf, Police Advisor, European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUCOPPS), 30 August 2005.
[21] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, pp. 442-443, www.minesaction.org; see report on Palestine in this edition of Landmine Monitor.
[22] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 766; CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[23] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[24] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form A, 22 November 2005.
[25] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[26] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form A, 22 November 2005.
[27] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[28] Email from Ben Zion Telefus, Marketing Manager, Maavarim Civil Engineering Ltd., 6 June 2006.
[29] Jonathan Lis, “IDF refuses to clear landmines from land for Arab school,” Haaretz Daily (Jerusalem), 8 September 2003; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1014.
[30] Maavarim Civil Engineering Ltd., “Mine Field as a school ground: The Tzur Baher Minefield clearance project,” (undated); emails from Ben Zion Telefus, Maavarim Civil Engineering Ltd., 5 and 6 June 2006; for more information on Maavarim, see www.maavarim.co.il; Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 616.
[31] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form A, 22 November 2005, repeating Article 13 Report, 9 November 2004.
[32] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[33] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1015.
[34] CCW Amended Protocol II Article 13 Report, Form B, 22 November 2005.
[35] ZDVO, www.zdvo.org, accessed 16 June 2006.
[36] UNICEF, “Activity Report,” No. 104, www.ocha.ru, accessed 10 May 2006.
[37] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 767.
[38] MDA, www.mda.org.il (in Hebrew), and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magen_David_Adom, accessed 16 June 2006.
[39] ICRC, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 315.
[40] Hatzola, www.hatzolah.org.il, accessed 16 June 2006.
[41] Yad Sarah, www.yadsarah.org, accessed 16 June 2006.
[42] ZDVO, www.zdvo.org, accessed 16 June 2006.
[43] See Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 677.
[44] National Insurance Institute of Israel, “Disability Insurance,” and “Mobility Benefits,” www.btl.gov.il, accessed 16 June 2005.
[45] Bizchut, www.bizchut.org.il, accessed 16 June 2006.
[46] Center for International Rehabilitation, “Rights of People with Disabilities: Israel,” ww.cirnetwork.org.
[47] US Department of State, “Country Report on Human Right Practices-2005: Israel and the occupied territories,” Washington DC, 8 March 2006.