Israel

Mine Ban Policy

The State of Israel has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. In 2007, an Israeli official reiterated to Landmine Monitor that “while Israel supports the humanitarian goals of the convention, it is unable to disregard its specific military and security needs, it cannot commit to a total ban on anti-personnel mines as they are a legitimate means for defending its borders against possible incursions such as terrorist attacks and therefore is not in a position to consider membership.”^[1]

Since 1997 Israel has abstained each year from voting on the annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, including Resolution 62/41 on 5 December 2007.

Israel did not participate as an observer in the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Jordan in November 2007, but it did attend the treaty’s intersessional Standing Committee meetings in June 2008 in Geneva. It did not make any statements.

Israel is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its Amended Protocol II on landmines. Israel attended the Ninth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II and submitted an annual report in accordance with Article 13 in November 2007. Israel is not party to Protocol V on explosive remnants of war.

Israel did not attend the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions in May 2008.

Stockpiling, Production, Transfer, and Use

The size and composition of Israel’s stockpile of antipersonnel mines remains unknown, but it includes both hand-emplaced and remotely-delivered mines.^[2] Israel has said it “ceased all production and imports of antipersonnel mines in the early 1980s.”^[3] It has dismantled its antipersonnel mine production lines.^[4]

Israel declared a moratorium on the transfer of antipersonnel mines in 1994 that was extended for three-year periods in 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2005.^[5] Israeli officials anticipate that the regular three-year renewals will continue.^[6] Landmine Monitor has not yet received confirmation that the moratorium has been extended beyond the July 2008 expiration.

On 31 December 2007, the Defense Export Control Act entered into force in Israel. The Act “criminalizes, inter alia, any violation of the export without an export license or contrary to its provisions. This Act serves as Israel’s statutory framework for the implementation of its obligations under the CCW regarding restrictions and prohibitions on transfer and the Moratorium on any sales of APL’s.” ^[7]

The UN Mine Action Coordination Center South Lebanon (UNMACC SL) said that it determined that Israel laid antipersonnel mines during the July–August 2006 conflict in Lebanon. UNMACC SL said that its investigation “confirms that these mines were laid during the recent conflict by Israeli troops with intent to interdict access to the immediate area.” Israel denied the charges.^[8] The last confirmed use of antipersonnel mines by Israel was during its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

Landmine/ERW Problem

Israel is affected by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Mines date back to World War II, and Israel has since used mines along its borders, near military camps and training areas, and near civilian infrastructure. The exact extent of overall contamination is not known, but unconfirmed press reports have suggested that some 33km² of land are suspected to be mined in Israel, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.^[9] According to United States Department of State estimates, there are 260,000 mines in Israel primarily along the borders with Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and territories captured in the 1967 war.^[10] During 2007, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Engineering Corps initiated a program of “GPS [Global Positioning System] measuring of minefields, as well as preserving of minefield’s history.”^[11]

As a result of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, some parts of Israel are also contaminated by both mines^[12] and ERW^[13]—both abandoned explosive ordnance and unexploded ordnance (UXO)—in areas of confrontation and near military training areas. A further hazard has arisen from Palestinian improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In addition, Israeli military training fields are said to be sometimes improperly fenced or not fenced at all, and some UXO go uncollected.^[14] Another problem is mines whose location has shifted from one side of a conflict line to another, for example as the result of flooding.^[15]

Israeli policy requires that minefields must be clearly marked on maps and fenced. Israel stated in November 2007 that mined areas in Israel are fenced and marked with warning signs in Hebrew, Arabic, and English clearly positioned on the perimeters of every minefield.^[16] The IDF Engineering Corps and the Israeli Mapping Center (IMC) are said to maintain regular bilateral cooperation.^[17]

Demining

There is no national mine action center in Israel,^[18] although the IDF Engineering Corps is said to serve as the de facto mine action center.^[19] The IDF Engineering Corps is responsible for implementation of demining and maintaining and monitoring protection of minefields and suspected hazardous areas (SHA) in accordance with the provisions of Amended Protocol II.^[20] The IDF requires any civilian organizations undertaking clearance in Israel to follow the Engineering Corps standing operating procedures.^[21] The Engineering Corps is responsible for external quality assurance and handover of cleared land.^[22]

There is no information available on any mine clearance operations in Israel during the reporting period. In November 2007, Israel reported that it had conducted a demining course in cooperation with Vietnam during the past year.^[23]

Landmine/ERW Casualties

In 2007, Landmine Monitor identified two mine/ERW casualties in Israel. On 5 May, one soldier was injured in a mine explosion near Eilat while on a routine security patrol.^[24] This was the first such casualty recorded by Landmine Monitor since 2000. On 20 April, a civilian contract worker was injured by an unknown explosive device along a security fence near the village of Beit Jamal, south of Beit Shemesh.^[25]

Casualties continued to occur in 2008: on 23 May, an 11-year-old boy was killed and his father injured by an unexploded shell while hiking near Ramat Hovav in Negev.^[26]

Data collection

The total number of mine/ERW casualties in Israel is not known as there is no publicly accessible mine/ERW casualty database. Also, some incidents can be classified for security reasons. Civilian mine casualties are recorded by the IDF under the umbrella category of “Victim of Hostile Activities,” which includes people involved in other explosive incidents.^[27] Casualties are reported in Israeli media, although often the device type remains unknown.^[28] In November 2007, Israel again reported “over 2,000 traumatic amputations within the IDF and several dozens of civilian victims due to landmines, UXO, improvised explosives and other devices.”^[29]

The Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization reported there are around 50,000 war disabled people in Israel. The Rehabilitation Unit of the Ministry of Defense has records on 54,000 injured soldiers, including mine survivors. Within these totals, the number of mine/ERW survivors is not known as the cause of injury is not recorded.^[30]

Landmine/ERW Risk Education

In 2007, mine/ERW risk education (RE) continued to be provided on an ad hoc basis. RE is part of special terrorism awareness sessions in Israeli schools. All Israelis in the army receive RE.^[31] In addition, regular awareness is provided on national television and radio.^[32] The level of awareness on civil defense issues is high among the civilian population.^[33]

Local municipalities provide information on minefield locations to citizens inquiring about land use and land rights. Field trip organizers (for schools, companies, etc.) are obliged to coordinate their routes with the relevant IDF area command, and are briefed on mine awareness and the location of mined areas or SHAs. A series of regional maps is available “marked with tracks and paths, covering all territory open for recreation activities, where all the suspected and known minefields are thoroughly marked.”^[34]

Victim Assistance

Israel has a good healthcare system and vast experience in emergency healthcare, trauma surgery and rehabilitation.^[35] However, at times voluntary organizations are approached to fill service gaps.^[36] Mine/ERW survivors are not differentiated from other persons with disabilities.^[37]

“Victims of hostile activities” including mine survivors are entitled to benefits, rehabilitation, and grants under the Benefits for Victims of Hostilities Law of 1970.^[38] Medical, rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration costs can be covered by the Israeli National Insurance Institute. Reportedly, the level of coverage for mine/ERW survivors depends on the incident location and activity. Negotiating appropriate compensation can be time consuming and difficult. Israelis injured during military service are eligible for compensation and rehabilitation from the Ministry of Defense.^[39] Psychological assistance to victims of trauma and hostile activities is provided at several facilities in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.^[40]

Israel has legislation protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. However, discrimination in employment and housing has been reported.^[41] Israel signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 30 March 2007, but not its Optional Protocol. As of 31 July 2008, Israel had not yet ratified the convention.

The number of mine/ERW survivors assisted in 2007 and 2008 was not reported. The NGO Yad Sarah provided medical equipment and transportation for persons with disabilities. In 2007, Bizchut, the Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities, provided information and assistance to persons with disabilities.^[42] Information about other organizations working with persons with disabilities is available in previous editions of Landmine Monitor.^[43]