By Ted Belman
In my article Israel should end the “occupation” of Gaza, I dealt with whether there was an occupation and regarding the SC ruling wrote,
The High Court in Israel just ruled that Israel is within its rights to reduce the supply of power and fuel so long as she still meet the humanitarian needs of the population. But the reporting of the decision leaves me with many questions.
The judges noted that Israel has had no effective control over the Gaza Strip since September 2005, and that therefore “it is not obligated to care for the welfare of the Strip’s residents or allow the transfer of unlimited amounts of goods and commodities.” They added, however, that Israel was obliged “to allow the supply of essential humanitarian aid”.
If Israel is not an occupier why must it “supply essential humanitarian aid”?
Dr Bell, Director of the International Law Forum at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, just published a major article on International Law and Gaza. In his opinion “there is no legal basis for maintaining that Gaza is, occupied territory”. Having stated that, he does acknowledge that many claim it is. In any event, whether occupied or not, everything Israel has done to stop the rockets is not in contravention of any law.
Yet I received today the legal opinion of the international lawyer Sara Gisha who brought the petition to the Court. She argues the Court was wrong and that occupation law applies. So I googled the issues and was surprised to learn at a book review of The International Law of Occupation
In 1990 Thomas Franck observed that “the extensive body of international `law'” on the use of force, “oft restated in solemn texts, … simply, if sadly, is not predictive of the ways of the world” (1990, 32). The same can also surely be said of this century’s international law of occupation. Indeed, it is tempting to question seriously whether any genuine “law” of occupation ever existed at least, if one understands “law” as “authoritative and controlling state practice”
Benvenisti, himself, appears at times nearly to embrace this conclusion. He concedes in his introduction, for example: “In exploring the phenomenon of occupation, I was struck by the fact that most contemporary occupants ignored their status and their duties” (p. 6). Later, in his discussion of World War II occupations, he admits that “there is sufficient ground to claim that in light of the recurring disregard of the law of occupation, the Hague Regulations had lost their legal authority by the end of the war” (p. 58). In reviewing contemporary state practice, moreover, Benvenisti writes:
Careful analysis reveals that in all of the recent cases of occupation, except for the Israeli control of the West Bank (not including East Jerusalem) and Gaza, the framework of the law of occupation was not followed even on a de facto basis. No occupant in the past two decades has established a temporary government that could effectively balance the conflicting interests of the occupant and occupied, nor did any occupant (except for Israel) invoke the Hague Regulations or the Fourth Geneva Convention to justify its measures. [..]
It is … my expectation that few future occupants will voluntarily recognize the applicability of the law of occupation. Occupants who deny its applicability are likely not to consider themselves bound by its commands, even on a de facto basis. Thus, the tendency to ignore the basic commands of the law of occupation seems to pose the most potentially destructive challenge to its survival. [..]
This sober assessment must cast some doubt upon the vitality of the international law of occupation, but it reflects as well the clarity and intellectual honesty that characterize Eyal Benvenisti’s excellent book.[..]
So Sara Gisha can go screw herself.
cont:What friends are you speaking of? We don’t have friends, America doesen’t have friends, we all have interests thats all! what you are saying is that Israel should abandon our interest in favor of a foreign powers interests? yea right so then we will be loved and be able to keep our 3 cell phones per person and our Plasma TV’s with nothing worthwhile to watch? I would opt for respect, and fear of what we night do if pushed to a place we ought not be in!
The EU is disintegrating before our eyes, Today they have close to 20% unemployment, a negative birthrate, a welfare system on the verge of collapse especially in Scandinavia. Workforce shrinking and entitlements rising!
Islam getting control and you are telling me about how We should listen to cowardly immoral Europeans, who have as as living philosophy Hedonism , nihilism and appeasement to evil as it visible attributes. They are also Lazy ,poor work ethics and not very trustworthy in Business today. most would sell their grandmothers for a few more days of 1 month annual vacation time. BY the way the cell phone is an Israeli invention. Motorola Israel. My first banana cell cost me 2ooo dollars.
Our Brain drain is our biggest problem that you mentioned and one way to plug the leak and bring back some of our loss to to attempt to be independent in all our Mil. and hi tech needs. This can be done albeit at the expense of our standard of living but it wouldn’t last long any down turn and the added value of our own production will create many jobs and job opportunities that do not exist in Israel at present!!
In blood and fire Judea fell!
In blood and fire Judea will arise
I couldn’t get in your CIA factbook as link you supplied came up 404, but it doesn’t matter much as within 3 years we will be producing our own oil from Negev plant converting shale to oil. Israel has enough shale as does Jordan , America and Canada to never have to drill another dry well. at current prices of crude shale conversion is very economical. Ecological problem is a concern but I am sure we can overcome this as well.
WHO EVER SAID THAT ANYTHING THE CIA PRODUCES IS OBJECTIVE, THEY HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY ANTI- ISRAEL FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER! There is a reason for our many sources of supply and that is Israel never wanted to be locked into a single source for its energy needs. I can buy Spot Rotterdam cheaper than most contractual agreements. If you have the money you can get anything you want or need today. Embargoes only raise the costs but can almost never deny access as in this world reality dictates money talks!!
I never advocated thumbing our nose at anyone except the Arabs. Declaring or not declaring but just saying no to America when asked to implement any policy not in Israels national interest and to expect to be treated as a sovereign nation with respect is not exactly thumbing ones nose. What is America going to do if we say no and why would they? They have much more to loose than we as I explained above. America is a declining Empire and superpower and the Future is Asia.
If I were to disect those Jews who Now live in Germany, I would find most are not real Jews according to Halacha and those that might be are so removed from Judaism that they are of little consequence, good riddance!
Yamit82, You are commenting in pure hypothetics.Sure Israel could thumb it nose at America, E. U. Turkey etc. etc., and still some how survive. But is there one credible political leader that has ever seriously proposed that they should go down that route? Israel is quite isolated in the world .To alienate America and the E.U. is not in the cards. Israelis are too much in love with their toys, computers, cell phones, and other high tech items to chance an economic down-turn. And that thumb-nosing gesture can create such a consequence.
Israel is already suffering a large outflow of very highly trained, well educated people. Case in point – Germany with a Jewish population of just 1,000 after 2nd world war has experienced a large inmmigration of Jews. Now the Jewish population , mainly Israeli and Russian is approaching 300,000. Germany’s pre 2nd world war Jewish population was in the
area of 500,00 .A situation of never ending war is only exacerbating this highly undesireable situation.
Yamit82, forget this muscle flexing attitude, Israel is in precarious position, it cannot afford to alienate its friends as it needs its friends more than most countries do.It might help you to feel better if keep you keep saying we are the greatest, but that is just not reality.
Just to indicate the importance for Israel having reasonable external relations with players other than just America, read the
following from C. I.A. factbook
Israel produces only a couple thousand barrels of oil a day, which means it relies on the global market for more than 99 percent of its consumption. It’s difficult to name all of the country’s suppliers—in 2004, Israel’s minister of national infrastructures admitted that “Israel’s situation is complicated. We don’t have diplomatic relations with most of the countries from which we import oil.” But over the past 25 years, significant fuel imports have come from Angola, Colombia, Mexico, Egypt, and Norway. In more recent times, the Israelis have turned to Russia, Kazakhstan, and some of the other -stans for the bulk of their oil.
I need go no further.
Hyman Peskin
sorry for all the typos I have a splitting migraine and didn’t proof read!
Peskin shalom,
lets play it your way for arguments sake; America wants and or demands and Israel says no! what do you think will then happen?
Whatever America could or would(not the same thing)do, do you think the consequences would be so delibitating that Israel would not survive it? Do you think Israels friends and supporters would just sit back and say and do nothing? The American congress based not on what is right or wrong would be in direct militant conflict (bi partisin) with the White House: In the past whenever Israel stood on its hind legs and said no to American attempts to bully her into positions not to Israels vital interests it was always America that backed down. Even a few years ago when Bush warned Sharon not to invade Gaza and the West Bank and Shook his finger at the Cameras saying I told Sharon etc…. next day or two another message was heard much nore concilliatory. It is up to Israel to draw the lines and the Leaders in office most often set the tone of the relationship and how far Israel will allow itself to be pushed around.
Castro has thumbed his nose at America for decades and is still breathing. Chavez wants to stop selling oil to America, Iran will get the Bomb with American zeo response,the Saudis will continue to spread their wlath around, on the one side aiding all terror groups against America and the West and with their other hand buy Americas most Advanced weapons, Most Strategic commercial and Industrial companies, subvert American Univerities and colleges in building an internal 5th column. The chinese are olowing ahead with massive development and growth in all spheres including the military. The Russians are trying to regain their lost International position as a Superpower directly in opposition to America and American Global interests and hegemony.
All of Americas allies and so called frinds in thge Middle East and Asia especially those of the reactinary variety are wobbly and set up for a fall to more radical destabilizing forces.
Americas and Europes economies are in big trouble and will in all likelyhood get much worse shortly.
The Israel of the 21st century 2008, is not the same as in past decades. Israel more than America has bought intp Globalization and we are thriving from it. We being small but diversified economy can better whether sharp fluctuations in the worlds economic cycles. Israel much more than America and eons ahead of Europe can virtually change directions on a dine with min. disruptions to overall economic shifts and trends. FITCHES ONLY TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS ELEVATING ISRAELS CREDIT RATING WHICH WILL ALLOW ISRAEL TO MAKE DEBT PAYMENTS IN SHEKELS. THIS MEANS WE DO NOT NEED HORDS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE PAYMENTS. IT ALSO SAYS THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME OUR CURRENCY THE SHEKEL IS STRONGER THAN THE DOLLAR. iF ONE WERE TO DISCOUNT THE ARAB AND HAREDY SECTORS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WE WOULD BE SHOWING ALMOST FULL EMPLOYMENT OF OUR AVAILABLE WORKFORCE. TEVA ISRAELS FLASHIP PHARM. GIANT TODAY ANNOUCE 11 BILLION IN SALE FOR 2007 WITH OVER 2 BILLION IN PROFITS.AT LEAST 50% OF ISRAELS COMPANIES ARE GLOBAL IN NATURE AND OPERATE IN A MYRIAD OF COUNTRIES, THEREFORE ESSENTIALY BOYCOTT PROOF. ISRAEL HAS MORE COMPANIES LISTED ON NASDAQ THAN ANYBODY ELSE EXCEPT USA AND CANADA. ANY MOVE AGAINST ISRAEL BY THE STATES WILL CRASH NASDAQ AND RESULT IN BILLIONS IN LOSSES.
THE MILITARY IS THE ONLY REAL LEVERAGE THAT AMERICA HAS OVER ISRAEL BUT A PROLONGED EMBARGO AGAINST ISRAEL, MIGHT ENCOURAGE ISRAELS ENEMIES TO TAKE CHANCES THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT! WOULD FORCE ISRAEL TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO WHAT THEY CANNOT GET FROM AMERICA AND HERE THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS INCLUDING RUSSIA, CHINA, INDIA,BRAZIL AS WELL AS UPGRADING ISRAELS ALREDY HIGHLY DEVELOPED MIL. INDUSTRRIES, WHICH IN THE LONG RUN WOULD BE A GOOD THING. oNCE aMERICA LOOSES ISRAEL AS A CUSTOMER FOR ITS MIL. IT WON’T GET HER BACK LATER AND AS A BYPRODUCT ISRAEL WOULD THEN COMPETE DIRECTLY WITH THE AMERICAN COMPANIES FOR OUR OWN MARKET SHARE. THERE IS VIRTUALLU NOTHING ISRAEL NEED IT CANNOT EITHER BUY ARE PRODUCE ON HER OWN IF SHE SO DECIDED. BUT LAST BUT NOT LEST ISRAEL WOULD THEN IN A WORST SCENARIO CASE WITH AMERICA RELY ON HER NUKE CAPABILITY AND WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO DECIDE TO USE THIS DEFNSE IN SITUATIONS NOT YET ENVISIONED. IDO NOT THINK THIS IS WHAT EITHER AMERIC OR YOU HAVE IN MID OR HAVE CONSIDERD THOROUGHLY. WE DON’T HOLD ALL THE CARDS BUT ENOUGH TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA SHOULD EITHER PARTY FORCE THE ISSUE.
Hyman
Essentially you are saying Israel is being raped so it should lie back and enjoy it.
I prefer that Israel fight what may or not be inevitable.
Who gives up without a fight.
No one would argue that Israel’s relationship with America is a one way street. However it would be quite incorrect to think that there is some sort of parity of interests and strengths between the two powers.. America is a world power and it has many involvements in nunerous parts of the Globe.America can easily live without Israel, the reverse is hardly the case. Israel is despite its technical achievements, a small power, with few resources, and is strongly dependant on America for diplomatic and economic support.
Much of Israel’s value to America has been eroded with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Prior to that event Israel was America’s main middle eastern ally, in the waging of the cold war.That has ended, a fact that yourself and others have a great deal of difficulty accepting.,
Ted you are kidding yourself if you think that America is not calling the shots here. America desparately needs and wants a middle east peace agreement. And Israel is expected to comply. And Israel, no matter who is in charge, is in no position to do otherwise.
You may draw all kinds of scenarios, such as Israel annexing the territories and perhaps expelling the Arab population, etc. etc. It is a fun game, but it is not worth a bag of beans.Reality seems to always get in the way.
h peskin
a ds and
h peskin:
Economic indicators supersede political and security considerations by overseas investors
1. ISRAEL RANKS 3RD in the world, following California and Massachusetts, ahead of New York and Texas in the volume of high tech investment.
According to Price Waterhouse-Coopers, $626MN was invested by VC funds in Israel’s
high-tech (161 companies) during the first half of 2007 – the highest since 2001 ($885MN). $618MN was invested during the first half of 2006 (149 companies). ISRAEL IS A PREFERRED SITE – along Canada, China and India – for investments by 46% of US VC funds, which invest overseas (The Marker, July 16, 2007). According to Israel Venture Capital, $842MN was invested in Israel’s high-tech during Jan.-June, 2007 (Globes, July 17, 2007).
2. ALL TIME HIGH INVESTMENT IN ISRAEL’s REAL ESTATE by overseas investors – $784MN during Jan.-June, 2007 ($1.57BN annually), compared with $1.44BN in 2006 and $1.2BN in 2005 (Globes, July 10).
3. UBS’ CHIEF ECONOMIST, Reinhardt Klaus: “9/11 demonstrated that Israel was not the most risky site on earth, and that the entire globe is a risky place for business. Political uncertainties do not deter investors, since –
unlike most other sites – they would be satisfied with the political alternative to the current government. Notwithstanding the absence of natural resources, Israel’s economy is stronger than all background noises in the Middle East. Growth, low deficit and decreased unemployment have been
sustained in spite of regional and domestic events. Investors who did not enter the Israeli market during the Lebanese War, and in its aftermath, could only watch the market booming.(The Marker, June 21).
4. AIG’s CEO, Martin Sullivan: Israel’s economic indicators supersede political and security considerations, when it comes to investment decisions. When I examine Israel I notice a superb human factor, an impressive progress in the high tech and pharmaceuticals areas, a major flow of overseas investments – including from the US – and a negative inflation. Israel is a potential site for investments.” (Globes, June 19).
5. LEHMAN BROS.: “Israel’s economy is strong enough to withstand a probable Tony Blair’s inability to produce an Israeli-Palestinian agreement, disturbing findings by the Winograd Commission and a series of legal-ethical scandals. The world is reacting more moderately to political instability and
hostilities” (Globes, July 5).
6. CISCO’s Sr. VP, Cliff Meltzer: Cisco’s R&D center is the second largest outside the US next to India (which includes marketing and sales). 750 are employed in Israel, 100 hired last year. CISCO ACQUIRED 9 ISRAELI COMPANIES in recent years, in order to acquire breakthrough technologies – which are
difficult to be found in other countries – stay ahead of the competition and benefit from the Israeli innovative entrepreneurial spirit (July 9).
7. NOKIA-SIEMENS NETWORKS is hiring 60 R&D personnel, in addition to its 350 employees in Israel, defining Israel as a key country for future technologies (The Marker, July 3).
8. $172MN raised by Israel’s ATAC (a Blank Check company) on AMEX (The Marker, June 25). $170MN raised by Israel’s Park-Plaza at London’s AIM (Globes, July 13). $48MN raised by Israel’s Limco (subsidiary of T.A.T) on
NASDAQ (Globes, July 20).
9. AUSTRALIA’s BABCOCK & BROWN acquired Israel’s Yellow Pages for $123MN,
while also assuming a $122MN debt (Globes, Aug. 2). BOSTON SCIENTIFIC acquired Israel’s Remon for $80MN (Globes, June 22). The US-based LIVE PERSON has acquired Israel’s Kasamba for $40MN (Globes, June 27). American investors acquired Israel’s Discount-Mercantile Pension Funds for $18MN (July 31). 21ST VENTURES acquired 29% of Israel’s Hadas for $4MN (Globes,
Aug. 2).
10. INSTITUTIONAL VENRUE PARTNERS led a $30MN round by Israel’s Quigo (Globes, June 29). CORAL, INTEL CAPITAL, KODAK, HITACHI, EVERGREEN participated in an $18MN 5th round by Israel’s Exanet (The Marker, June 26). WARBURG-PINCUS invested $12MN in 2nd round of private placement by Israel’s Vringo (Globes, Aug. 1). BENCHMARK CAPITAL and CHARLES RIVER VENTURES participated in a $10MN 3rd round private placement by Israel’s Qlusters
(Globes, Aug. 2, 2007). RED POINT VENTURES co-led a $10MN round by Israel’s
AdapTV (Globes, July 12). FRANCE’s LEADING VC FUND, SOFINOVA, NORWEST
VENTURE PARTNERS and BENHAMO GLOBAL VENTURES led a $9.6MN 1st round by Israel’s ConteXtream (Globes, July 19). SOFTBANK CAPITAL invested $6MN in
Israel’s InsightTix (Globes, July 27). LANDING CREOS CAPITAL led ($3MN) a $5MN round by Israel’s PrinTar (Globes, June 27). SEQUOIA CAPITAL co-led a $5MN round by Israel’s Silent Communication (Globes, July 9). CISCO
invested $4MN in Israel’s Optir (Globes, July 24). GLIDE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT and SIERRA VENTURES participated in a $4MN round by Israel’s WebCollage (The Marker, June
Statements made by and the conduct of Israel’s leaders since 1993 create the false impression that Israeli-American ties constitute a one-way relationship.
The presumption is that America gives and Israel receives, leading to Israel’s inferior position and the alleged compulsion to follow the State Department dictates.
However, Former Secretary of State and NATO forces commander Alexander Haig refuted this claim, saying he is pro-Israeli because Israel
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is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.
On our 60th Independence Day, Israel and the United States enjoy a two-way relationship. Israel is like a start-up company that enjoys the kindness of the American investor, but yields much greater profits than the investment.
Every day, Israel relays to the U.S. lessons of battle and counter-terrorism, which reduce American losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, prevent attacks on U.S. soil, upgrade American weapons, and contribute to the U.S. economy.
Senator Daniel Inouye recently argued Israeli information regarding Soviet arms saved the U.S. billions of dollars. The contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America is greater than that provided by all NATO countries combined, he said.
Innovative Israeli technologies boost U.S. industries
Meanwhile, the vice president of the company that produces the F16 fighter jets told me Israel is responsible for 600 improvements in the plane’s systems, modifications estimated to be worth billions of dollars, which spared dozens of research and development years.
Israel’s utilization of American arms guarantees our existence, but at the same time gives U.S. military industries a competitive edge compared to European industries, while also boosting American military production, producing American jobs, and improving America’s national security.
Japan and South Korea, for example, preferred the “Hawkeye” spy plane and the MD-500 chopper, both purchased and upgraded by Israel, over comparable British and French aircraft.
Indeed, innovative Israeli technologies have a similar effect on American civilian and agricultural industries, which view Israel as a successful research and development site.
As early as 1952, U.S. Army Chief-of-Staff Omar Bradley called for the integration of Israel into the Mediterranean Basin area, in light of the country’s location and unique capabilities.
In 1967, Israel held back a radical Arab, pro-Soviet offensive, which threatened to bring about the collapse of pro-American Arab regimes and disrupt oil supply, thus severely undermining the American standard of living.
In 1970, Israel brought about the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Jordan, at a time when the U.S. was tied up by wars in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, thus preventing the fall of the pro-American Hashemite regime and a possible domino effect that could have reached Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
Israel shares counter-terror lessons
The 1976 raid in Uganda that freed Israeli passengers of an Air France flight hijacked by terrorists provided America with a backwind in the war on international terror, while in 1977 Israeli intelligence provided the intelligence information that foiled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s plan to assassinate Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
Notably, Sadat would later go on to make peace with Israel, paving the way for other agreements between Israel and the Arabs.
In 1982, Israel destroyed Soviet anti-aircraft batteries in Lebanon that were considered immune to American weapons. Israel promptly shared the operation’s lessons, estimated to be worth billions of dollars, changing entirely the global balance of power in the process and contributing to the Soviet Union’s eventual disintegration.
In 1981, Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor, providing the U.S. with the option of engaging in conventional wars with Iraq in 1991 and 2003 and preventing a possible nuclear war and a terrible price of thousands killed.
In 2005, Israel provides America with the world’s most extensive experience in homeland defense and warfare against suicide bombers and car bombs. American soldiers train in IDF facilities and Israeli-made drones fly above the “Sunni Triangle” in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, providing U.S. Marines with vital intelligence.
Without Israel, the U.S. would have been forced to deploy tens of thousands of American troops in the eastern Mediterranean Basin, at a cost of billions of dollars a year. Had Israel been located in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. would have been spared the need to send hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the region, thanks to Israel’s deterrence and operational capabilities.
Indeed, Congress leaders, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld are aware of Israel’s unique contribution to U.S. interests. In fact, they all wonder why the post-1993 Israel does not use its impressive contribution as leverage, in sharp contrast to the pre-1993 Israel.
Israel Gave a long term oil contract to Egypt as a sop to locale political Interests and a hope that it would support the peace Agreement with Egypt. in fact we get most of our oil from Mexico and have contractual clause of increasing the quantity. Sinai Oil is a low grade oil and cost more to refine as opposed to Mexicos
I would if I were you do a rethink and find other reason why Israel seems to be in Americas back pocket! Maybe Israels stupid leaders want this impression?
The statement that Israel will be blamed for whatever happens in Gaza, and so it might as well do as it wishes.
Wake up Ted, Israel is morally,economically, politically,diplomatically and in every which way is indebted to America,up to its eyeballs. And to a great degree has lost its independance. Condi has more control over its foreign affairs than any Israeli politician.It is not for naught that the term shnorrer nation, to describe Israel has come into vogue.
And as if that was not enough, Israel by virtue of its associate membership in the European common market, must take into account the views of E.U. before dealing with the Palestinians.
That is not the end of it , Israel receives close to 70 percent of all of its oil supplies from Egypt. So here Egypt’s opinions must be heeded to
And on and on we go.
Ted Belman can talk tough and make his one sided recommendations. Israel, on the other hand must balance all options before acting.
h peskin
Peskin
We will be blamed in any event by Muslim extremists if we do or not.
Why not? your arguments are not convincing!
Lets recall that Israel’s position changed drastically after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prior to that event Israel was opposed by Arab nations such as Egypt and Syria who in turn were sponsored by the Soviets. Israel then received the almost wholehearted support of America and Europe, who viewed Israel as a defender of western interests in the mid- east. Now of course Israel is now seen as part of the problem.
America and E. U. have an interest in ensuring that the Gazans are treated humanely. Otherwise the Muslim extremists can point to Israel and America as the tormentors of a suffering Islamic population-hardly a position helpful in the war on terrorism.
Whether Israel wants to or not, it just cannot withhold vital supplies and services to the Gazans.
This isn’t too surprising. When you are the victor, the plight of the defeated doesn’t count for much. History is written by the victors. And its only relatively recently that regard has been shown to the enemy, for what I submit is a misplaced sense of compassion. Of course Sara Grisha is wrong – if the positions were reversed, the Jews would be simply be exterminated and more to the point, the Arabs wouldn’t trouble themselves overmuch about the niceties of international law. Its time for Israel to get its head out of the sand and begin treating the Gaza Arabs as an enemy that deserves the fate of an enemy – complete and utter destruction.
There must be a parallel universe inhabited exclusively by Israel and Israel bashers…
No country in world history has ever maintained a group that: 1) wants to ethnically cleanse them, 2) has declared in its charter and in ongoing open warfare and terrorist acts that they plan to eradicate them, 3) has requested to break away from its host country, is granted its request in every way, has an internal civil war to establish terrorist rule and then bombs its neighbors non-stop and with something close to impunity.
Does Israel have an obligation to feed and provide them with energy for survival? No, but it has a right to protect itself from being targeted by them. Does Israel occupy or have any say in Hamas government or anything else related to the way Gaza is run? No. Does Israel need to worry about the health and welfare of a terrorist entity? No.
Well put