"The State of Israel is fighting against severe terrorism, which plagues it from the 'area.' The means at Israel's disposal are limited. The State determined that preventative strikes upon 'terrorists' in the 'area' which cause their deaths are a necessary means from the military standpoint. These strikes at times cause harm and even death to innocent civilians....the State's struggle against terrorism is not conducted 'outside' of the law. It is conducted 'inside' the law....(We) cannot determine in advance that targeted killing is always illegal....that it is prohibited according to customary international law."
This and comparable High Court rulings have stunning implications. They affirm Israel's claim to be above the law with the right to conduct willful state-sponsored killings. The Court's justification was that the State is waging armed conflict against Palestinian "terrorists." Their members are civilians who aren't protected under international law. To be afforded such protection, "A civilian....must refrain from taking a direct part in the hostilities." Those who violate "this principle (are) subject to the risks of attack like those to which a combatant is subject, without enjoying the rights of a combatant."
Executive Director, Hannah Friedman, of The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel responded to the decision. She stated: "We are concerned that today's High Court of Justice ruling will worsen the current situation and create a dangerous path that will lead to an increase in the number of innocent civilians who are killed or injured." In the past 14 months, it's been horrendous as violence escalates, international law is ignored, and the world community is mute about mass-murder crimes, overwhelming human suffering, and can barely say more than both sides must end violence and resume peace negotiations.
Israeli Violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention
Israel is a serial international law abuser. Specifically, it commits grave violations of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention that protects civilians in times of war and has done it for decades:
-- Article 2 states that "the present Convention shall apply to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the High Contracting Parties, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them. The Convention shall also apply to all cases of partial or total occupation of the territory....even if the said occupation meets with no armed resistance;"
-- Article 3 prohibits all kinds of assaults on life or physical security;
-- Article 27 refers to "protected persons" and states "They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence....,"
-- Article 32 prohibits murder, torture and corporal punishment, and
-- Article 33 prohibits collective punishment and "all measures of intimidation or....terrorism."
Geneva and other international human rights laws guarantee what Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: that everyone "has the right to life, liberty and security of person." It also affirms Article 6 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 stating that every "human being has the inherent right to life." Violations of Geneva and other internationa laws are crimes of war and against humanity. Israel is a serial offender but has yet to be held to account.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights documented its extra-judicial executions from September 29, 2000 through December 2007 and updates it weekly on its web site - pchrgaza.org. Below are examples, but first some background.
Some Brief History of Israeli Targeted Killings
Without cause, these executions target specific individuals with explicit government approval, and Israelis have done it for decades. During the Mandatory Palestine period, Stern Gang (later renamed Lehi) and Irgun members were underground terrorists with very committed aims - to drive out the British (seen as occupiers), allow unrestricted Jewish immigration, remove indigenous Arabs, and establish the Jewish state of Israel. They carried out killings and bombings, some of which were notorious like Lehi's 1944 assassination of Britain's Lord Moyne, the military governor of Egypt. Another was Irgun's infamous 1946 King David Hotel bombing killing 91 Brits, Arabs and Jews and injuring many more.
Two of their leaders became future prime ministers - Lehi's Yitzhak Shamir (1983 - 84 and 1986 - 1992) and Irgun's Menachem Begin (1977 - 1983), but they were wanted men before 1948. The New York Times called Irgun a "terrorist organization," and the World Zionist Congress in 1946 strongly condemned "the shedding of innocent blood as a means of political warfare." It was just beginning.
In the 1950s, targeted killings were common and were used to halt fedayeen resistance attacks from Egypt. In 1967, after Gaza and the West Bank were occupied, Palestinians became the favorite target, inside and outside the Territories, and by various means:
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
"Hamas has proposed a cease-fire many times and has been clear that it would have to include a cessation of all hostilities: Hamas would cease and impose a halt to all rockets and mortar shells from Gaza provided Israel would end its "targeted liquidations", military incursions and its siege of Gaza...if Israel’s goal is to end rocket attacks from Gaza, the most logical and beneficial step it could take would be to respond positively to Hamas’ repeated cease-fire proposals for a complete end to rocket fire on Israel, most recently, on February 23rd, when Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Hamas will consider any initiative that will bring about a ceasefire. Hamas claims it has secured the agreement of all factions to halt rocket fire and promised to impose the cease-fire provided that Israel reciprocates. Israel’s Prime Miniser Ehud Olmert immediately rejected the cease-fire offer, even though a growing number of Israeli politicians and security officials are calling for Israel to accept a cease-fire. Israel’s current operations are clearly about much more than securing Israeli civilians lives. Israel could easily end the rocket fire by accepting a cease-fire."-Dr. Steve Niva; Member of the Faculty, Middle East Studies, The Evergreen State College
PLEASE dear reader, Do Something and phone, email, FAX your reps and this Administration to demand a Bilateral Ceasfire and Dialogue with the 'enemy' to end the seige on Gaza which is the only way to security for Israel and hope for peace in the Middle East
How true about all you say. Hamas has bent over backwards to accommodate Israel, but, of course, Israel and Washington scorn peace and justice and that cuts to heart of problem. How can there be peace when only one side wants it and dominant media reports lies. The old blame the victim game. Israel didn't end hostilities today. It just paused before the next act of aggression and when victims defend themselves they're called "terrorists."
by
Stephen Lendman (252 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 76 comments)
on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 8:28:45 AM
We living Orwell's nightmare-government and corporate contolled media are in bed together but we are also living in a revolutionary time and our weapons are words disseminated on the world wide web.
Muckrakers like you give me hope, and we the people are better than our current leadership, but as Edward R. Murrow warned 50 odd years ago, as TV went in the direction of mindless entertainment and neglected programs of enlightenment we would end up with a dumbed down republic.
Dissent is what keeps democracies healthy, and in a vibrant democracy the politicians are afraid of the people and the citizenry is well informed and active!
In totalitarian regimes the people are afraid of the government and are kept so busy by Big Brother [Govt. + Media] with mindless entertainment and must work many hours just to keep food on the table, there is no time or energy to THINK DEEPLY, question and dissent.
Keep on fighting the good fight, for "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. ... Genius will not. ... Education will not. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."- Calvin Coolidge
"Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all...and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave...a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils." George Washington's Farewell Address - 1796
In solidarity "we have it in our power to begin the world again."-Tom Paine
by
Eileen Fleming (146 articles, 51 quicklinks, 266 diaries, 580 comments)
on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 10:11:38 AM
What if..Hama takes out its genocidal charter provision against Israel? What if .. after the withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas would have enterted into negotiations for peaceful co-existence instead of raids and rockets into Israel. What if ..Hamas would have consulted Israel on the industries within Gaza instead of destroying them? What if .. Hamas would return Israeli soldiers they kidnapped? What if .. instead of smuggling lethel weapons Hamas would bring vital supplies to its people? What if .. Hamas favored peaceful co-existence in its education instead of preaching jihad and genocide? Did you two ever think of that?
by
philip rosen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 93 comments)
on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 9:01:53 AM
4 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
