RIGHTs

January 2009

Israel has a right to defend itself.
Outcome at the end of this month:
More than 1300 + 14; or 1300/14; or 1300 - 14; or?

Meanwhile:
The election committee of Israel's parliament decided to exclude the two main Arab parties from the parliamentary elections in February alleging that they are disloyal to Israel. The decision has been overturned by the Israeli judiciary. Thanks.

On 25 January, Herbert Pundik wrote in Politiken:
"The principle was, as admitted from the military side, to soften the opposition by overwhelming firepower before an attack in order to save Israeli soldiers’ lives. Since many of the Hamas guerrillas had sought a position on the roofs of Gaza City, from where they shot at the Israeli forces, Israeli artillery shot at the houses to kill the shooters, leading to the result , which can be seen on television. Entire neighbourhoods were laid flat." (My translation from Danish)
Israel has a right to defend itself. HOW?

According to the English language web-site of Ha'aretz on a secret report prepared by the Government of Israel (accessed 31 January):
"An analysis of the data reveals that, in the vast majority of the settlements - about 75 percent - construction, sometimes on a large scale, has been carried out without the appropriate permits or contrary to the permits that were issued. The database also shows that, in more than 30 settlements, extensive construction of buildings and infrastructure (roads, schools, synagogues, yeshivas and even police stations) has been carried out on private lands belonging to Palestinian West Bank residents." According to international law, the colonization of occupied land by the occupying power is illegal. Israel, however, does not consider itself as an occupying power in the West Bank. Its is now public that Israeli law is regularly broken and even neglected by the Israeli Government in the settlement process in the West Bank. Lawlessness rules. There are similarities with the situation in Guantanamo, but also differences - for example in the scale.

With what RIGHT can Israel claim its RIGHT to defend itself?

Asking that question is not to say that anybody has a RIGHT to fire rockets or other dangerous devices at Israeli civilians and non-combatants. It is also not to wish the death of any Israeli soldier.