Use of Cluster Bomb By Israel Deemed 'Legal'

According to the Israeli military prosecutors, the deployment of cluster bombs by army in last year’s Lebanon war which has been highly criticized was deemed legal under international law. Many of these bombs fail to explode and remain a danger.

As the Israeli military prosecutors say that it was legal under international law to use cluster bombs, the officers who used them would not be indicted. This comes after a year-long enquiry. “The use of the weaponry was a concrete military necessity,” according to the statement. Israel’s use of the cluster bomb was deemed shocking and immoral according to the United States (UN). They added that most were used in the last 72 hours of the fighting as a resolution was already imminent. Most of the cluster bombs were dropped in open areas according to the head of the Israeli army’s Defense College. It is also explained that the use in urban areas was a response to target areas used by Hezbollah rebels to launch their attacks. Avihai Mandelblit, the army’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) accepted the findings. According to the UN, about four million cluster bomblets were dropped on Lebanon during that 34-day conflict in 2006. It is reported that over 30 people have been killed by explosions by cluster bombs and landmines since the war. While they are legal to use under wars of law, their use in populated areas counts as attacking civilians indiscriminately. Many bombs fail to explode when dropped and continues to be a danger to civilians.