It would be absolutely stupid for a legitimate journalist to consort with armed militants for professional & safety reasons. I’m dubious about this till more evidence comes out.

Finally, it would be in the IDF’s interest to make precisely the claim you’ve made here because it would get them off the hook big time. Yet they haven’t. If there was any truth to yr supposition the IDF would’ve advanced it already.

Forgive me if I sound like one of those conspiracy theorists, but the footage does seem to indicate that either Reuters is doctoring footage to make it seem that there was at least one armed militant at the scene, or Fadel Shana was indeed consorting with terrorists when he was killed - which would surely vindicate the IDF and render your criticism of its conduct in this incident less cogent.

(1) Type up your comment in a text editor like Notepad (not in a word processor like Microsoft Word).

(2) (a) Bold text with either the b or strong HTML element, e.g.
<b>Hello World</b>
(b) Italicize text with either the i or em HTML element, e.g.
<i>Hello World</i>

(3) Cut and paste your comment into the Comment textarea box, and then submit.

At least I got it to work.

Bolding
B element test: Hello World
Strong element test: Hello World

Italics
I element test: Hello World
Em element test: Hello World

Escaping
Single escape: <hr />
Double escape: &lt;hr /&gt;
Triple escape: &lt;hr /&gt;

“I suspect that *When In Doubt, Shoot!” isn’t an acceptable way of doing things…”
I think it’s fair to assume that the tank had observed some kind of activity in an area where no activity would normally be expected (the shelling seemed to affect an area of country road) and that something - PERHAPS the photographer pointing a camera - spurred the tank to fire. We know only that a photographer was killed; we don’t know if, for instance, he was standing next to a rocket-launching crew at the time. One picture of victims depicts what appears to be a teenage boy and his bicycle. I’m certainly not insisting that this proves the presence of a rocket-launching crew, but something attracted these people to the empty stretch of road and - forget the notion of human shields - if I were a teenage boy living in Gaza I’m pretty sure I’d bike over to watch a rocket being launched. Again, I’m just offering a possible scenario.

“What’s important is how the IDF distinguishes between militants and innocent civilians.”
Yes, that’s important. But SOME people would counter that what’s more important is that Israel’s enemies do not distinguish between militants and innocent civilians at all. Which is why the IDF MAY have a tendency to “Shoot when in doubt…”

One way to do italics or bolding might be to write your comment as a Word document and then copy it onto the comment space.

Here’s what I don’t get. If the gunner could see Shana and a bulky camera which they could have mistaken for a weapon, how could they have not seen the very clearly marked vehicle which he was standing next to?

Y: “I don’t know how to tell militants from innocent bystanders. Would you mind explaining your technique? ”

I know you asked Richard that question, but I think it doesn’t matter one iota how people like you or Richard can tell. What’s important is how the IDF distinguishes between militants and innocent civilians. Surely there must be some rules of engagement that they use, because I suspect that *When In Doubt, Shoot!” isn’t an acceptable way of doing things…

btw, does anyone know how to do italics or bolding in these comments?

Thanks too for your good wishes for Pesach though you might have avoided the zinger about my eating treif if it was really meant to be sincere.

A zis’n Peysach to you too

RS: “How do you know that the cameraman was filming the tank?”
You’re right: I don’t.He may have been filming the building or the fields. Perhaps if Reuters releases the rest of the footage shot before the attack we’ll be able to get some clue as to what Fadel Shana was working on.

RS: “And besides is there anything wrong with filming an Israeli tank? ”
I personally don’t think so. But I’m pretty sure that Israel’s military - like any other country’s military - for security reasons doesn’t like to have its installations, weaponry and personnel photographed (except for parades, etc.). Tragically, the fact that Shana was pointing his camera in the general direction of the tank may have been what caused the shelling to occur in the first place: a cautious or nervous tank gunner or spotter who sees someone pointing a bulky camera at him may mistake the camera for a weapon. Again,I’m not asserting the cameraman brought his death upon himself by filming an Israeli tank; I am, like you, trying to make sense out of it.

RS: “Again, the IDF claims there were militants attacked but I see no militants in the vicinity injured or killed.”
(Although others have responded to this already, because you were responding to me, I’ll add my two cents.)
I don’t know how to tell militants from innocent bystanders. Would you mind explaining your technique? Perhaps if militants/terrorists would be obliging enough to wear distinctive uniforms when firing rockets or carry placards identifying themselves it would make everyone’s life easier wouldn’t it? Instead the rascals have been known to pretend to be IDF soldiers and Red Cross/Crescent personnel.

Thank you, by the way, for adding the Reuters clip that I pointed out to you to the body of your text. Since you are in the habit of rewriting your posts would you mind being as courteous as other bloggers who credit the people who contribute to their columns by giving me credit - a “Hat tip” is I think the conventional term - in the body of your text? I do so want to be considered as your friend!

I’d like to wish you the traditional “Happy and Kosher Pesach.” But since you are an avowed pig-eater, let me amend that to a “Happy and Chametz-free Pesach….”

I’ve contributed to J Street and sent out a solicitation to friends, family & colleagues. It’s important to me.