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U.S. should not support Israelis in Palestine-Israel conflict
Ali Mirza
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Commentary
Israel's recent assault on the Gaza Strip demonstrated once again the brutal nature of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. In the Israeli military offensive, 1,434 Palestinians, including 960 civilians, were killed, according to the Palestinian Human Rights Center in Gaza. Three Israeli civilians and 10 soldiers were killed in the same operation. A recent report by Amnesty International comprehensively details various Israeli war crimes during the three-week conflict. Israel stands accused of committing numerous war crimes, including the wanton destruction of homes and targeting of civilian infrastructure, blocking the entry of essential goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip, as well as the use of white phosphorous and cluster munitions in densely populated areas.
A recent article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz featured the testimonies of Israeli soldiers who described how the rules of engagement were loosely adhered to during the assault. The report includes one soldier's account of witnessing an elderly woman being shot by a sniper.
According to the squad leader, "The sharpshooter saw a woman and children approaching him, closer than the lines he was told no one should pass. He shot them straight away. In any case, what happened is that in the end he killed them."
Following the ensuing argument between the squad leader and the commander, the squad leader recounts, "After the orders were changed, the soldiers complained, 'We should kill everyone [in the center of Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist.'"
The Amnesty report went on to classify the blockade against Gaza as collective punishment. "The prolonged blockade of Gaza…which had already been in place for some 18 months before the current fighting began, amounts to collective punishment of its entire population."
The Fourth Geneva Convention specifically prohibits collective punishment under Article 33, which states, "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."
A recent article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz featured the testimonies of Israeli soldiers who described how the rules of engagement were loosely adhered to during the assault. The report includes one soldier's account of witnessing an elderly woman being shot by a sniper.
According to the squad leader, "The sharpshooter saw a woman and children approaching him, closer than the lines he was told no one should pass. He shot them straight away. In any case, what happened is that in the end he killed them."
Following the ensuing argument between the squad leader and the commander, the squad leader recounts, "After the orders were changed, the soldiers complained, 'We should kill everyone [in the center of Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist.'"
The Amnesty report went on to classify the blockade against Gaza as collective punishment. "The prolonged blockade of Gaza…which had already been in place for some 18 months before the current fighting began, amounts to collective punishment of its entire population."
The Fourth Geneva Convention specifically prohibits collective punishment under Article 33, which states, "No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 13
joelsk44039
posted 4/06/09 @ 5:27 PM EST
Chomsky is notorious as an anti-Israel and anti-Zionist zealot. Israel only responds to the terrorism expertly delivered by the Palestinians, particularly Hamas and Hezbullah. (Continued…)
thor
posted 4/06/09 @ 6:48 PM EST
David,
The author is referring to the 21st century, and how incredible it is that even after a century of the most horrific examples of genocide in human history, the current international relations order is still allowing this to take place. (Continued…)
Harry
posted 4/06/09 @ 9:47 PM EST
It is wonderful to see more and more people speaking truth on this subject.
Thank you to the writer and editors for braving this.
Peacemaker
posted 4/06/09 @ 10:37 PM EST
This guy is parroting the standard extremist speak. We support the Israeli "regime" because it's the only democracy in the Middle East and the only country in the area that shares our ideals: e. (Continued…)
David
posted 4/06/09 @ 11:34 PM EST
Then what exactly is ethnic cleansing? The systematic removal of an ethnic group or religion. That is NOT what Israel is doing. In fact, according to many sources the Arab population in Israel is rapidly growing (http://en. (Continued…)
nelson
posted 4/06/09 @ 11:44 PM EST
Glad that Israel's actions are being called out here for what they are: barbaric.
I look foreward to Dr. Finkelstiens lecture on tuesday: Truth to power. (Continued…)
gobarb
posted 4/06/09 @ 11:52 PM EST
David,
Look it up yourself, there is no doubt that Israel initiated an ethnic cleansing campaign in the 1940s. What is happening now (in what little is left of what was palestine) is an apatrheid policy in which palestinians are laid seige to. (Continued…)
Webby
posted 4/07/09 @ 12:04 AM EST
I mourn deaths on all sides, but it is sad that Israel is given a free pass to do essentially whatever they want, because they are a US ally. It actually encourages Israel to be cruel, since if they provoke other countries and groups in the Middle East into attacking them, the United States will spring to their defense and take care of anyone Israel doesn't like. (Continued…)
James
posted 4/07/09 @ 1:08 AM EST
Mr Mirza,
There is NO occupation in Gaza.
960 civilian dead....well, Hamas does not wear uniforms nor do they wear shirts with the letter H.
Hamas is targeting Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians . (Continued…)
poo
posted 4/27/09 @ 9:33 AM EST
???
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