It pays to read Hebrew

It pays to read Hebrew: Are IDF dogs trained to pounce all who say 'God is great' in Arabic?

[Middle East News Service Comments: Israel’s Haaretz newspaper has an enviable reputation for quality, but sometimes this has been undone by its much smaller English version where the tone, if not the content, of the some articles is different -- invariably presenting Israel and its institutions in a better light than the Hebrew version.

The following is a great case in point: There is very little different in the factual content between this and the Hebrew version in fact from the second sentence it is almost a word-for-word translation. The first sentence does not appear in Hebrew. While one can understand the need to explain the Arabic to non-Israelis who may be less familiar with Allah Hu Akbar, it is strange to read the assertion about denial of the allegations. In Hebrew the sentence about the original breaker of the story Carmela Menashe is followed by the comment “the IDF has not denied the allegations.”

Deliberate distortion, a different interpretation of the facts? Up to you to decide – Sol Salbe.]

The Israel Defense Forces has denied allegations that it trains its canines to attack anybody heard saying Allah Hu Akbar, Arabic for 'God is great.'

Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi on Monday told the Knesset plenum that at a canine unit ceremony held the day before, parents of the soldiers witnessed demonstrations proving these allegations.

"IDF dogs are trained to pounce and attack any Arab who shouts Allah Hu Akbar, as a Pavlovian reaction," said Tibi. "So here I say: Allah Hu Akbar. Are there any dogs here to attack me?"

View the rest of the article here: http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1139852.html

[The independent Middle East News Service concentrates on providing alternative information chiefly from Israeli sources. It is sponsored by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AJDS. These are expressed in its own statements]

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