Israel

[expat]

Does Israel recognise the IWCC? I think it has its own...remember John Demanuck(sp?) ...for WWII crimes - but I don't think it recognises the UN or International Court at all.

One just needs to look at their definitions of War Crime and Enemy Combatant to see that it has its own versions of UN and Geneva conventions.

Like its protector the USA, which also does not recognise these international institutions, for the same reason: they don't want to attempt agreement or collaboration with anybody else, because they don't even know what it means.

[realityhack]

I refer the contributors to the image posted earlier in the thread. I feel it illustrates a part of the current problem with Hamas beautifully (Let's not generalise too much here).

I'm having a great debate about this with a friend of mine who lectured in Economics in Tehran before he and his family had to flee the country. As with any long term hostilities, horrendous acts perpetrated by all sides, and a point-blank divergence of views.

However, it pays to do a fair bit of reading around the subject, trying to understand the history pre 1948 and events since... Then you can reach the stage I'm at right now: Even more confused.

[shaunbhoy]

Lets face it, IDF are indiscrimately killing innocent non HAMAS civilians. At a ratio of about 3:1, 5:1 in this current skirmish? Two wrongs don't make a right. How many Hamas militants are believed to be in poeration in Gaza, enough to warrant a full scale invasion force? or would a squadron of commandos have been the better option?

By all means fight back specifically at Hamas, but too many innocents have died in the last 2 weeks for anyone to sympathise legitamately with israel.

When people take exception, its not to side with Hamas, its the poor women and children we are concerned for.

That is easier said than done. We are talking about people that have no qualms about detonating themselves in restaurants. Do you seriously imagine that they will refrain from positioning themselves amongst schoolkids whilst launching rocket attacks? To their mind they cannot lose. Either the Israelis refrain from retaliating, in which case they simply continue with the attacks, or the Israelis do respond and innocents get killed, which inflames worldwide public opinion. There is no Marquis of Queensberry here I am afraid. For a bit of balance, try and put yourself in the position of an Israeli fighter pilot whose wife and kids were killed in a suicide bombing at a Pizza Hut.

[Churchill]

That is easier said than done. We are talking about people that have no qualms about detonating themselves in restaurants. Do you seriously imagine that they will refrain from positioning themselves amongst schoolkids whilst launching rocket attacks? To their mind they cannot lose. Either the Israelis refrain from retaliating, in which case they simply continue with the attacks, or the Israelis do respond and innocents get killed, which inflames worldwide public opinion. There is no Marquis of Queensberry here I am afraid. For a bit of balance, try and put yourself in the position of an Israeli fighter pilot whose wife and kids were killed in a suicide bombing at a Pizza Hut.

I sincerely hope he wouldn't be allowed anywhere near his plane!

[expat]

That is easier said than done. We are talking about people that have no qualms about detonating themselves in restaurants. Do you seriously imagine that they will refrain from positioning themselves amongst schoolkids whilst launching rocket attacks?

The Israelis know all about this kind of terrorism, since it worked so well in the prising of control of Palestinian land from the Palestinians in the 1940s.

[Clippy]

I refer the contributors to the image posted earlier in the thread. I feel it illustrates a part of the current problem with Hamas beautifully (Let's not generalise too much here).

I'm having a great debate about this with a friend of mine who lectured in Economics in Tehran before he and his family had to flee the country. As with any long term hostilities, horrendous acts perpetrated by all sides, and a point-blank divergence of views.

However, it pays to do a fair bit of reading around the subject, trying to understand the history pre 1948 and events since... Then you can reach the stage I'm at right now: Even more confused.

Suggestion

[Cyberman]

Forget about history. Let's just see all muslim terrorists wiped off of the face of the planet before they wipe us out.

[ace00]

Like its protector the USA, which also does not recognise these international institutions, for the same reason: they don't want to attempt agreement or collaboration with anybody else, because they don't even know what it means.

They don't recognise the UN as it is hopelessly biased by the Muslim bloc.

International courts are also a bit of a fallacy - makes us Europeans feel all warm because we're "doing" something. Let's see if Omar al-Bashir goes to court shall we?

As for pre-war Jewish history in Europe it was marked by periods of acceptance and periods of pogroms and killings. Britain was quite a good place to go and surprisingly and sadly, Germany .
You should understand that as part of understanding Israel - the comment piece in the Times yesterday makes that point.

[Churchill]

Forget about history. Let's just see all muslim terrorists wiped off of the face of the planet before they wipe us out.

How do you know which ones are terrorist and which ones are freedom fighters?

[Cyberman]

How do you know which ones are terrorist and which ones are freedom fighters?

Easy. All terrorists are muslims.