The expert group on Khiam finalised its report
Government Communications Unit
Press release 403/2006
10.11.2006
On the basis of the material available, the Khiam expert group has no reason to question Israel’s explanation that the destruction of Patrol Base Khiam resulted from an error. Nor does the expert group have any evidence that the attack on the UN in Khiam was intentional.
This is the main conclusion drawn by the expert group that submitted its report to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen on Friday, 10 November 2006. The group was chaired by Director General Irma Ertman from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The report focuses on the destruction of Patrol Base Khiam in Lebanon and assesses the content of the reports provided by Israel and the United Nations.
Four military observers serving in the UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) operation were killed in the strike. Finnish Lieutenant, Senior Grade Jarno Mäkinen, was one of them. The other victims were from Austria, Canada and China.
The expert group has had the reports of both Israel and the UN at its disposal. Based on these, a number of further questions on technical military matters were put to both parties in writing. No written replies were received.
Israel admits that the loss of the military observers was a consequence of errors made by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The Israeli government has expressed its regrets and offered an apology for what happened. It has also stated that it will take measures to ensure that such errors do not occur in future.
The Israeli and UN reports are logical but not exhaustive. It is not possible to form a full and detailed picture of the destruction of Patrol Base Khiam on the basis of the reports provided. The task is made even more difficult by the fact that the area was not sealed off for investigation directly after the bombing. The expert group welcomes the decision taken by Israel and the UN to provide the states representing the deceased military observers with the material relating to the incident.
Israel has stated that the incident was due to an operational error. According to Israel's report, the Israeli division-level targeting centre operating in the area had a computer problem. Because of this the centre had to enter data into the targeting system manually. Due to an error that occurred in connection with the manual entry of the data, the information on Patrol Base Khiam was not indicated in the system as that of a UN location. As a result of this error, the location of Patrol Base Khiam was chosen as one of the targets for the IDF’s fire in preparation for the ground manoeuvre.
Israel’s report contains elements that give rise to a number of questions on technical military matters. It would seem that an error arose in connection with the IDF command and liaison officer’s work, as a result of which a division that had recently arrived in the area did not receive more precise information on the location of UN bases. The IDF should have paid greater attention to its air force targeting after receiving warnings through the communications channels of UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, about bombings that could jeopardise the safety of UN bases. The decision not to monitor the use of fire when the intended target of artillery and air force fire is situated only a few kilometres from Israeli territory is surprising.
According to the expert group the security of UN staff is seriously endangered by the activities of illegal military groups and firing in the vicinity of or at UN bases. In the future, this problem must be given particular attention when the mandate for an operation is defined, including the provisions on safety zones, and also in the running of an operation. The activities of illegal military groups in the vicinity of peacekeeping bases must be prohibited. The commitment of all parties to these internationally agreed principles is fundamental and that must never be allowed to be forgotten.
The communications systems between UNIFIL and the Israeli and Lebanese defence forces should be strengthened by the appointment of liaison officers at the tactical level of the chain of command. The expert group concludes that this would make it easier to ensure that warnings about firing are properly taken into account at the appropriate level.
The role and activities of the Observer Group Lebanon, OGL, in relation to the strengthened UNIFIL, should be re-examined to ensure that its action supports the needs of the UN’s UNTSO and UNIFIL military observer operations.
Israel has stated that the incident was due to an operational error. The expert group considers it improbable that criminal proceedings will be launched against any individuals. Israel is, however, responsible for the personal injury and material damage brought about by the destruction of the patrol base.
Further information: Irma Ertman, Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5700 and Olli-Pekka Jalonen, Head of Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 9 1608 8154