"The Israeli military has failed to investigate its forces for killing dozens of Palestinian civilians in recent years, spawning a climate of impunity, a human rights group said on Tuesday. "Soldiers who kill Palestinians in the occupied territories are almost never held accountable, even if the circumstances raise a grave suspicion that they acted criminally," the Israeli group B'Tselem said. "This policy permits soldiers and officers to act in violation of the law, encourages a trigger-happy attitude and shows a flagrant disregard for human life," it added.
B'Tselem said that from 2006 to 2009 the military had opened investigations into just 23 of 148 cases submitted by the group. The cases concern the killing of 288 civilians. Another 41 of the cases were dismissed, while the military has yet to issue any decision on the remaining 84. No criminal charges have been brought in any of the cases, B'Tselem said." (thanks Olivia)