Purity of Arms

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The code of purity of arms (Hebrew: טוהר הנשק, Tohar HaNeshek) is part of the Israel Defense Force's official doctrine of ethics. It stipulates that:

The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purpose of their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property. [1]

The purity of arms doctrine is controversial. Some rabbis oppose the stipulation of avoiding harm to non-combatants, arguing that Jewish law specifically rejects this requirement during wartime. For instance, rabbis associated with the Israeli settlement movement in the West Bank and Gaza demanded in 2004 that terrorism must be fought without regard for the safety of the enemy civilian population. [2] In August 2006 the main organization of Modern Orthodox rabbis in the United States called on the Israeli military to be less concerned with avoiding civilian casualties on the opposing side. [3]. They argue that because Hezbollah hides among the civilian population, it would be immoral not to attack Hezbollah -- as Hezbollah poses an extreme threat to the Israeli civilian population. Thus, it would be unreasonable to not attack Hezbollah, which will result in allowing Hezbollah to kill Israelis, all based on the premise of avoiding Lebanese casulties. Critics sometimes cite the story of the Convoy of 35. In this case a group of Jewish fighters allegedly chose not kill an elderly Arab shepard, who thereafter informed his fellow villagers; this lead to the killing of the Jewish fighters.

Others argue the doctrine is insufficent. In particular, there are objection to the wording that apparently allows the use of force against prisoners of war, which would violate the Geneva Conventions.