Yaalon: Lebanese Army Will Place Shooter on Trial

Arutz Sheva ^ | 18/12/13 | Elad Benari

[Eleutheria5]

The Lebanese army has arrested the soldier who shot and killed IDF soldier Shlomi Cohen near the border on Sunday night, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Tuesday evening.

Yaalon’s comments were made during a tour of the Jordan Valley.

"This is a serious incident and the Lebanese government and the Lebanese army are responsible for this," he declared, adding that there had been a meeting on Monday between the liaison officers of the Lebanese army and the IDF, attended by members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), during which the Lebanese army reported the findings of its investigation of the shooting incident.

"Apparently he was a rebellious soldier who made a decision on his own to leave his post, open fire at our military vehicle and unfortunately kill Master Sergeant Shlomi Cohen," Yaalon added.

The Defense Minister further stated that the Lebanese soldier, who turned himself in Monday morning, was questioned by the Lebanese Army and Israel has been assured that he will be punished "in accordance with the punishment handed out to those who go beyond what is permitted for a soldier to do."

Yaalon was asked whether Israel is demanding that the Lebanese government try the soldier who shot Cohen.

"That’s obvious," he replied. "First of all they arrested him. During yesterday’s conversation between the liaison officers we demanded that they take care of this soldier as any rebellious soldier would be treated and inform us of the results. The Lebanese army and the Lebanese government are responsible for their sovereignty and are responsible to ensure that our sovereignty is not violated.”

UNIFIL indicated following Monday's meeting that the border shooting appeared to be "an individual action."

.....

[Eleutheria5]

Note that the name of the shooter is not given, and that a trial is not a conviction. But if they do end up seriously punishing him, it might be a deliberate slap in the face to Hizbollah for their actions in Syria, and indicate that their hold on Lebanon is weakening.

Related: Lebanese Soldier 'Hands Himself in' After Deadly Shooting
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3102497/posts

Soldier Killed By Sniper Fire Near Lebanon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3102180/posts

Results of IDF Sniper Attack Investigation
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/282752#.Uq8TdtJDu4Q

[BenLurkin]

Interesting nonetheless.

[Paladin2]

...... and let Allah sort them out.

[DesertRhino]

You’re a young moslem, and think killing an Israeli will make you the big hero. Then politics ensures you go on trial for it, and prob get a firing squad or something. Probably the first arab soldier to ever be in trouble for doing THAT.

Sometimes, it just ain’t your day.

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, you know you’re really unlucky when this happens.

Ouch!