They did target civilians

/Photo: A UN observer inspecting an unexploded cluster bomb-laden rocket in southern Lebanon. (AP)/

IDF admits targeting civilian areas in Lebanon with cluster bombs
According to testimony of an MLRS battery commander published in Haaretz, MLRS rockets were heavily used, even though they are known to be very inaccurate - the rockets may deviate up to 1,200 meters from their target - and a substantial percentage of the bomblets are known not to explode, thus becoming mines. In light of this, most experts view cluster ammunitions to be "non-discerning" weapons prohibited for use in a civilian environment.

According to the officer, in order to compensate for the rockets' lack of precision, they were told to "flood" the area with them. "We have no option of striking an isolated target, and the commanders know this very well," he said. +++ /more/

Comment: The only reason this is coming out now is that Israel and the IDF know that this kind of use of cluster bombs is a global PR disaster, and will have to try to do something "cosmetic" to make it look like they have taken care of the problem. But don't count on the IDF not to use these munitions exactly the same way, in any future military action. -- Remember? Miri Eisen, the spokesperson of the Israeli government who declared in July: "Israel does not target civilians...." (In case you've missed it, the videoclip is on our Blog.)
A little lie here and there, ... nobody will notice it. And if they find out we lied, we shall try a little damage-control. Right?