Actually, Peretz didn’t rule out an inquiry but he didn’t rule it in either. He’s just waiting to see how bad the international reaction gets. If it persists then he might relent. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Peretz has deeply disappointed as defense minister. I thought he might rein in the worst excesses of the IDF. Instead, he seems to have gotten sucked into the whole IDF all-out war mentality.

You are of course totally right about Israeli internal investigations. In incidents such as this they either never happen or, if they do, they invariably exonerate the perpetrators (as they’ve done in this case).

If they’re innocent, I suppose Peretz & Halutz would be begging on their knees FOR an independent investigation, which would clear IDF and put the blame on the Palestinians.

But Israeli “investigations” clears the army 99 times out of 100 from any wrongdoings.