FYI the occupation is not illegal, post-war occupations happen all the time, they are absolutely legal and are not prohibited by international law. International law recognizes that there are legal reasons to go to war. For example, states have the right to defend themselves against overt external aggression, in the form of an invasion or other attack. There is not a general consensus that Israel had legal reasons to go to war in the first place, therefore the following occupation would not be legal. Bush's war with Iraq had no international or UN mandate, which is why many see the occupation of Iraq as also illegal. The international perspective, excepting the U.S. in some cases, is that: * The annexation of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem are illegal and not recognized by international law * The West Bank and Gaza are "occupied," because: o They were captured by force of arms and against the will of their populations o The residents in these areas were stateless o Israel has put the territories under military rather than civilian administration, creating a de facto state of occupation * Non-Jewish residents who reject Israeli citizenship and/or hegemony have the right to self-determination
This is not cartoon; Sameh Amira is escorted by heavily armed Israeli soldiers on a door-to-door sweep in Nablus, providing some of the strongest evidence to date that the Israeli army is still using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Photograph: Alaa Badarneh/EPA
What is so ironic is that when the the Jewish people defended their homes and neighborhoods in the Warsaw ghetto. they were called heroes even though they were surrounded by their own families and children. When an israeli occupation force shells complete neighborhoods then send their brave zionist killers, fortified in tanks, to our neighborhoods; we are called criminals for defending our ghettoed towns and villages. How ironic and what level of truth manipulation mastery these zionists achieved!
Looks to me like the guy is leaving, not entering the house. Looks to me he was just arrested, not used as a human shield. Looks to me no one is hiding behind the guy's back, any militant/sniper can easily pick off both Israeli soldiers. If this picture is to be taken seriously then any time an israeli soldier is photographed next to a palestinian you can claim that he is used as a human shield. But you said this is "some of the strongest evidence" you have... And I agree.
So, you don't accept that Israeili soldiers use Palestinians as human shields? Or are you just refuting this one example?
UN resolution 242 requires Israel to end the occupation in exchange for peace and recognition and not earlier. If nothing else this makes the occupation de-facto legal until the resolution's requirements are met by both sides. Let alone the fact that Israel was not denounced by the UN despite multiple attempts by the arab world, let alone the fact that "a general consensus" on Israel can never be achieved as 100 or so muslim countries will never side with Israel on any issue, the rest of the world pretty much agrees that Israel's pre-emptive attack was legitimate and justified. Let alone the fact that the arab world replied to resolution 242 with their famous 3 nos in 1967: "No peace, no recognition, no negotiations" and their attitude still stands today.
I imagine there are bad apples in the IDF but as a matter of policy and ROE the IDF don't use human shields. Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations do use human shields routinely. Placing rocket launchers in school yards and bomb factories in basements of residential buildings is de-facto use of human shields. Let alone their use of ambulances to transport weapons and terrorists.
End the occupation, it doesn't state that the occupation is legal....defacto or otherwise. Just show me something from the UN that states that the occupation is legal. There are complaints of an illegal occupation all over the world, even in the USA... " the rest of the world pretty much agrees that Israel's pre-emptive attack was legitimate and justified." This is complete bullshit... The rest of the world is pretty much non Arab, non Jew, non White, non Christian, non Western, and wasn't asked their opinion... See what China's opinion is, India, Africa, South America... You are about as myopic as it gets...
You guys have lost all credibility... especially when you sent your Pipes, Gafney and the rest of your hard core Zionists to promote the idea that it is part of our culture to be violent. Do not come crying wolf now DDD! You wanted to promote a war between the world's biggest two religions to advance your agenda and it backfired on you. Do not act stunned please...As far as I am concerned...publisher is your baby.