Defying international law seems to be what Israel does best. The International Committee of the Red Cross recently released the following (from Al Jazeera):
“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has described Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip as a violation of the Geneva Conventions and called on the Israeli government to lift it.
In a statement released on Monday, the organisation called the blockade “collective punishment”, a crime under international law. It described Gaza as a territory plagued by frequent power cuts, a ruined economy, and a collapsed health care system.”
Collective punishment is illegal. There are no qualifiers to this statement, the actions being taken against the people of Gaza are illegal.
“In Luxembourg on Monday, foreign ministers from the European Union condemned the Gaza blockade as “unacceptable and counterproductive,” and called for immediate and unconditional opening of crossings for humanitarian aid.
“The most important part of what we can do is to try and provide support to actually get the crossings open and to … help people rebuild their homes, to provide for businesses, to try to support everyday things,” Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign affairs chief, said.”
Sounds like a reasonable starting point to me.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
7 comments
June 26, 2010 at 7:17 am
steve
That’s certified b.s. Just because the “International Red Cross” claims ‘collective punishment’ doesn’t mean the blockade is illegal. To say Israel isn’t allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza is an outright lie.
Israel eased up on the restrictions last week and let some Iranian ships in. The next thing we get from Iran is them sending in ships to completely break down Israel’s defense. The seconc Israel offers some relaxing in it’s defense, the wolves (or should I say pigs) pounce on that weakness.
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June 26, 2010 at 11:15 am
The Arbourist
Collective punishments
Article 33. 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.
“It described Gaza as a territory plagued by frequent power cuts, a ruined economy, and a collapsed health care system.”
Sounds like collective punishment to me and thus under the Geneva Conventions, illegal.
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June 27, 2010 at 7:11 am
Alan Scott
The Arbourist,
You know that once the Islamists destroy Israel, the next step is Canada. I hear there is a guy up there who has offended them with his website. It’s only what I hear.
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June 27, 2010 at 8:32 am
The Arbourist
Alan, you make it sound like Israel is the shield that is holding back the nefarious muslim tide in the Middle East. Let me assure you that as long as they continue to live over our oil, they will be kept in check. I certainly do not want to see Israel destroyed, but if they continue to oppress and demean another people in the name of their security it will ultimately backfire on them. Building walls and demolishing homes is certainly not winning the hearts and minds of the Palestinian people.
Canada is a secular democracy, it would take a great deal of effort to topple our government and have it replaced by a theocratic regime, although we may end up doing that internally if our right wing continues to follow the Republican model.
I poked around the Canadian interwebs and did not find any mention of that incident, did you have any more details Mr.Scott it would be greatly helpful if you had some specifics.
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June 27, 2010 at 10:11 am
Alan Scott
The Arbourist,
” Canada is a secular democracy, it would take a great deal of effort to topple our government and have it replaced by a theocratic regime, ”
It’s happening in Western Europe. Specifically Holland.
” Alan, you make it sound like Israel is the shield that is holding back the nefarious muslim tide in the Middle East. Let me assure you that as long as they continue to live over our oil, they will be kept in check. ”
You are hiding behind a Jewish and also a Christian shield, while you throw your rocks at the Muslims. We are also being hit by your stones, only we tolerate you like the Saints that we are. When we fall, your Atheistic Philosophy will then make you the primary target. After Israel and the United States disappear, the Islamic Republic of Canada will have the most beautiful Mosques and infidels such as yourself will not be happy.
” it would be greatly helpful if you had some specifics.” I fear for his safety and do not want to put him in danger more than he has done to himself.
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June 27, 2010 at 11:37 am
The Arbourist
AS:It’s happening in Western Europe. Specifically Holland.
Admittedly there is a good deal of strife going on in the secular democracies of Europe as they struggle to find the right balance between accommodating new immigrants and maintaining the character of their country. However the countries of Western Europe still remain secular in nature.
The nature of your comment seems to imply that you subscribe to the clash of civilizations hypothesis. I do as well to a limited extent, but in a more academic way as the hype around Huntington far outweighed the value of his hypothesis.
You are hiding behind a Jewish and also a Christian shield, while you throw your rocks at the Muslims. We are also being hit by your stones, only we tolerate you like the Saints that we are. When we fall, your Atheistic Philosophy will then make you the primary target.
Is this juxtaposition intentional? The situation you seem to be describing seems drawn from a sort of bunker mentality. That is, that every action taken by the US is justified in the name of self defence. The US in geopolitical reality has taken pretty much the opposite stance, overthrowing regimes, occupying countries and going to war for its own national interest.
Christianity has a minor role in American Foreign Policy compared to other priorities. Maintenance of global hegemony and imperialist/colonial forces across the globe are of a much higher priority than spreading the good word.
I think the word I am looking for is fatalism. It seems to run in a couple of your statements. Do you really see the fall of the United States happening within your lifetime?
the Islamic Republic of Canada will have the most beautiful Mosques and infidels such as yourself will not be happy.
I think this is a rather extreme vision of the possible future and not particularly likely to happen. What troubles me more is that you might be suggesting that Christianity is our only hope and that to save myself (literally as opposed to mystically) I need to throw my lot in with the deluded against the greater evil of the Muslim hoard.
Is this a rational solution to the problem? I mean is becoming fundamentally christian any better than being fundamentally islamic? Both sides reject Reason as a means of dealing with the world’s problems, and both would rather spill blood than negotiate in a civil manner. It does not seem reasonable to contribute to a hypothetical divide like that because victory for either side is highly unlikely. What is more likely is the destruction of the species, since that is well within our current capacity.
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June 27, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Alan Scott
The Arbourist,
I am not as current as I should be on the Islamic threat in Europe, but as the populations of Islamic immigrants has increased and native populations have decreased, Islam has become a force in Countries such as Holland. Certain Dutch politicians have been threatened with prosecution for hate speech, when they have spoken out against the influence of Islam. Now you can argue whether this is alarmism, bigotry, or truth, but in America it would be free speech. I’m not sure about your Country. I’ve heard disturbing stories out of the Great White North too.
At any rate, Dutch politicians are marked for murder when they go after Islamic influence. Pim Fortuyn ( you’d probably approve of this guy ) was murdered I think in 02 by a left winger. Mr. Fortuyn was a gay ex Marxist professor.
In 04 Theo van Gogh a film maker was murdered in Amsterdam.
I am glad that you believe this stuff could never happen in Canada. I “pray” you continue to be right.
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