Khaleej Times, 8/25/02

JERUSALEM - Israeli public radio on Sunday quoted fresh reports by reservists of Israeli troops looting Palestinian homes during a major army incursion into the West Bank last spring.

According to the reports, soldiers stole cash, including forged money, and jewellery in the towns of Jenin and Ramallah during Operation Defensive Wall. An officer forced his men to give the stolen goods back, but it was not clear if they were returned to their Palestinian owners, the radio quoted the reservists as saying.

Soldiers were also found guilty of acts of vandalism for which they have not been punished, while others were reported to have ignored orders to hand in weapons confiscated from the Palestinians.

A spokesman said the army had opened 35 different investigations into allegations of looting since the beginning of 2002. Chief of Staff Moshe Yahalon had vigorously condemned the violations and called for the culprits to be punished, the spokesman said.

In May, shortly after the end of Operation Defensive Wall, five soldiers were sentenced to up to five months imprisonment and demoted from their senior rank. - AFP