The respected International Committee for the Red Cross has released a statement denouncing Israel’s blockade of Gaza as a violation of international law.
The ICRC stated today that
As the ICRC has stressed repeatedly, the dire situation in Gaza cannot be resolved by providing humanitarian aid. The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip is about to enter its fourth year, choking off any real possibility of economic development. Gazans continue to suffer from unemployment, poverty and warfare, while the quality of Gaza’s health care system has reached an all-time low.
The whole of Gaza’s civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.
It also denounced Hamas for its obstruction of efforts to see Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is about to enter his fifth year in captivity.
Part of the problem is that Israeli officials have made statements that the restriction on everything from candy to medical equipment to water systems has been in retaliation for both Shalit’s capture and the Hamas victory in the elections. That supports the claim of collective punishment and goes beyond searches for weapons.
Now, we may be seeing an even more dangerous confrontation as Iran sends ships to try to run the blockade.
Notably, Israel has just loosened restrictions on candy, spices, and shaving cream. It would have been better if those restrictions had not been in place for the outset. The strongest claim for Israel is the need to search for weapons. It has undermined its case for years through these other restrictions.
And you? Get back under your bridge.
And by the way, “counselor”, your assertions don’t equate to facts. There are other reports that completely contradict the “we came in peace” line of bullshit.
The UN has asked the blockade be ended.
The EU has condemned it.
But you believe the propaganda stance that Israel can do no wrong.
It’s kinda funny in a pathetic lap dog way.
Whose the Troll now?
A Troll is a Troll, regardless of what it is called.
DJ Spin
And you’re late for this argument. Read the thread.
And I’ll call you any damn thing I like. You act like a troll and I’ll call you one.
Buddah- come again? I specifically addressed this issue, yet apparently you didn’t read it or ignored it. To reiterate, I wrote:
“As to deaths, of course they are tragic and I wish that it didn’t happen; no one disputes that. However, the Israeli soliders were enforcing a JOINT blockade, the soliders first came on the boat w/ paint guns, and they were then attached by these “civilians” and only then did the Israeli forces use more force in their self-defense. As usual, Israel’s critics reserve for themselves and the Palestinians the right to self-defense but reject any such self-defense by Israelies.”
It was self-defense, not murder. The fact the Israelies first came armed w/ paint guns shows that their intent was not to kill but to stop the attempt to break the blockade.
Also, I’ve held my tongue and not resorted to petty name calling such as referring to me as a “troll,” all I ask is the same respect in return.
Thank you for proving my point that you aren’t addressing the question – murder. Act like a troll get treated like one. It’s ironic that you choose DJ as your name considering your blatant spin attempt. You want the argument for and against the blockade? Here’s your homework: http://jonathanturley.org/2010/06/08/hoax-video-showing-heavy-weapons-discovered-on-mavi-marmara-is-a-fraud/
Having decided that the Red Shield of David (Mogen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross) is not fit to be part of their international club because it incorporates “inflammatory symbolism” (the Jewish star that has been the symbol of the Jewish people for over 2000 years), I think the IRC lacks any moral authority when it comes to Israel or the Jews. Fuck them.
Buddah- again, thank you for proving my point that Israel’s critics resort to petty name calling, hyperbole and taunting rather than facing up to the issues and attempting to deabte in a rational manner. If I’m blindly pro-Israel, than your posts have shown that you are just as blindly anti-Israel.
BTW I’m in no way “blindly” pro-Israel, my second post clearly noted by agreement w/ you that the deaths were tragic; I’m more than willing to admit when Israel is wrong, I just see the problem being w/ the specific enforcement of the blockade on this occasion, not the blockade itself.
“you’re simply”
Cursed auto-complete.
I said get back to us when Egyptian military kills civilians. Not when you get your blindly pro-Israeli panties bunched up. When Egypt kills civilians with their military, I’ll take on Egypt. Until then, your simply a pantsload trying, as Mike put it, the “Johnny’s doing it too” defense. You must be some lawyer, sport.
Israel broke the law when they killed civilians and their blockade is in violation of the Geneva Convention whereas Egypt – the silent partner – only broke it by endorsing the action. Much like the US is breaking the Geneva Convention in tacitly endorsing the blockade action. If you’re going to tar Egypt along with Israel, you better get out the same brush to use on Washington for their part in the war crime. Not to mention the whole torture thingy. Guilt in a conspiracy to commit a crime is often relative, counselor. Some parties play bigger parts and hence earn greater punishment when brought to justice. You want Egypt held accountable for their part? Fine. See you at the Hague. I guarantee it’ll work out better for Egypt than Israel. Why? Because Israel killed civilians in direct contravention of the Geneva Convention. Not Egypt. Israel used indiscriminate rocket attacks on Gaza and white phosphorus shells on Gaza – both violations of the accord. Not Egypt.
War crimes are war crimes. There’s enough to go around.
Plain and simple.
But Israel shot, essentially executed, foreign nationals from ally countries in international waters in furtherance of the illegal blockade. That’s murder in furtherance of a war crime.
Why don’t you address that first, counselor. Instead of accusing me of disinformation.
Because I have chunks of troll tougher than you stuck in my teeth.
Mike Appleton- the point isn’t that Egypt’s doing it too, but that Israel’s critics can’t get even the most basic facts right. if they can’t get the “small” stuff right, how can we expect them to get the “bigger” picture right?
Also, the hypocrisy of Israel’s critics goes much farther than the joint blockade issue; that was but one glaring example of a host of example; read Bernard-Henri Lévy’s article in full more more examples.
To Buddha Is Laughing- Thank you for proving my point. I see you conveninetly side stepped the entire thrust of my post; it’s not an “Israeli” blockade, it’s a JOINT Egypt/Israeli blockade, and you don’t dispute this fact and the fact that Israel’s critics conveniently fail to state that it is a JOINT blockade. So yes, “distorted facts” indeed.
As to deaths, of course they are tragic and I wish that it didn’t happen; no one disputes that. However, the Israeli soliders were enforcing a JOINT blockade, the soliders first came on the boat w/ paint guns, and they were then attached by these “civilians” and only then did the Israeli forces use more force in their self-defense. As usual, Israel’s critics reserve for themselves and the Palestinians the right to self-defense but reject any such self-defense by Israelies.
Furthermore, the “civilians” were blatantly attempting to break a JOINT Egyptian/Israeli blockade, which they knew was being enforced by the Israeli military w/ the consent of the Egyptians. If you confront a military blockade, reason suggests that you very likely will expose yourself to a military response and you take your own risks in doing so.
Bernard-Henri Lévy says it much more elegantly than I:
“The very idea of a “total and merciless” blockade (Laurent Joffrin’s June 5 editorial in the French daily Liberation) “taking hostage the humanity [of Gaza]” (former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin in Le Monde on the same date) also constitutes disinformation. We mustn’t tire of reminding others: the blockade concerns only arms and the material needed to manufacture them. It does not prevent the daily arrival, via Israel, of between 100 and 120 trucks laden with foodstuffs, medical supplies and humanitarian goods of every kind. Humanity is not “in danger” in Gaza, and it is a lie to state that people are “dying of hunger” in the streets of Gaza City.”
“It is debatable whether or not a military blockade is the right course of action to weaken and, one day, bring down the fascislamist government of Ismail Haniyeh. But it is an indisputable fact that the Israelis who man the checkpoints between the territories night and day are the first to make the elementary but essential distinction between the regime (that they seek to isolate) and the population (which they are careful not to confuse with the regime, and in particular not to penalize as, once again, aid has never stopped passing into Gaza).”
“Disinformation: the utter silence, throughout the world, about Hamas’ incredible attitude now that the flotilla has carried out its symbolic duty − to trap the Jewish state and relaunch, as never before, the process of demonization. In other words, now that the Israelis have carried out their inspection and brought the aid cargo to those for whom it was supposedly intended, Hamas’ attitude in blocking that aid at Kerem Shalom checkpoint, allowing it to slowly rot, is met with silence.”
DJM, I’ve never been particularly impressed with the defense that begins with “Johnny’s doing it too.” If you read my earlier post, you will have noted that my objections to the blockade are policy-based. Furthermore, as Buddha notes above, “elementary honesty” entails the recognition that the approval of Egypt is purely a matter of political cover. I am reminded of the coalition of the clueless patched together by Bush and Cheney to pretend that the invasion of Iraq was an exercise in genuine outrage by the free nations of the world. Please.
Lines from the movie “Battle of Algiers” by Gilo Pontecorvo:
Journalist: Isn’t it a dirty thing to use women’s baskets to carry bombs to kill innocent people?
Larbi Ben M’Hidi: And you? Doesn’t it seem even dirtier to you to drop napalm bombs on defenceless villages with thousands of innocent victims? It would be a lot easier for us if we had planes. Give us your bombers, and we’ll give you our baskets.
Distorted facts?
Get back to us when Egyptian troops kill civilians.
I’m a jewish lawyer, as liberal as they come. But, on the issue of Israel, etc. the facts make me more conservative. It’s obvious from many of the comments here and elsewhere that when it comes to israel, her critics throw out the facts and resort to hypocrisy.
How can these critics have any legitimacy if they avoid the most basic facts of the controversy? For example, the blockade of gaza was NOT an “Israeli” blockade, it is/was, in fact a joint Israel/Egypt blockade. Where’s the criticism of Egypt for imposing this blockade? Israel’s critics select the facts most convenient for them and disregard the simple reality of the situation.
Don’t believe me? Then how about one of the foremost philosophers in the world? Bernard-Henri Lévy:
“The catchphrase being trotted out ad nauseum refers to the blockade imposed “by Israel.” The most elementary honesty, however, requires one to make clear that this blockade has been undertaken by both Israel and Egypt, conjointly, along the borders of the two countries that share frontiers with Gaza, and with the thinly disguised blessing of all the moderate Arab regimes. Saying the blockade has been imposed by Israel alone can only be described as disinformation. The moderate Arab regimes, of course, are only too happy to have someone else contain the influence of this armed extension, this advanced base and, perhaps one day, this aircraft-carrier of Iran in the region.”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/it-s-time-to-stop-demonizing-israel-1.294833
Critics have every right to make their criticisms, but they do not have the right to base their criticism on dubious, distorted “facts.” There can be no honest debate if one side picks the facts favorable to its argument and disregards other facts that don’t fit so well.
Can we therefore agree on one thing- since it’s a joint blockade can we call it a joint Israel/Egypt blockade and not simply an “Israeli” blockade? Perhaps if we start w/ the facts, a more open and honest debate can be maintained.
Mike A. and Swarthmore Mom,
You guys hit the nail on the head. The Israeli approach will just create more terrorists. Just like our war in Iraq and our over use of unmanned drone attacks.
Who Is Afraid of a Real Inquiry?
http://www.counterpunch.org/avnery06142010.html