Random Thoughts/Notes About the Middle East: Part 1

-Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in September 2005.

-Gaza elected Hamas into the government in free elections in early 2006.

-Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon May 24th, 2000 succumbing to international pressure and in compliance with UN Resolution 425.

-Lebanon tasked by international community and UN Resolution 1559 to take over southern border security and disarm Hezbollah.

-After Gaza withdrawal, Israel experiences continuous rocket attacks over the Gaza border. No international acknowledgement or condemnation.

-Israel occasionally responds by targeted assassinations of terrorist leaders. Often, many civilians are killed in these attacks. Palestinian terrorists operate almost exclusively in close proximity to civilians.

-In current war with Hezbollah, Lebanon has experienced extensive civilian casualties due to Israeli attacks.

-No international condemnation of the use of civilian human shields (from Hamas, Hezbollah). The groups themselves openly acknowledge this widely used tactic. Israel is condemned internationally for every civilian it kills.

-Essay question for Kofi Annan (and those of like mind): Explain/define proportional force.

-Essay question for Kofi: Scenario: Europe, September 1939. Germany invades Poland. If the UN existed, with you as Secretary General, what would your reaction be?

-First week of current war between Israel and Hezbollah: UN observation posts in southern Lebanon repeatedly report that Hezbollah rockets have been stationed and launched adjacent to UN stations.

-July 25, 2006: Israel bombs UN observation post in southern Lebanon, kills 4. Israel claims it was an accident, that Israel was taking fire from the area.

-Kofi Annan immediately calls the Israeli action “apparently intentional”. International community joins in the criticism of Israel and recalls previous Israeli attacks on UN assets.

-June 25th, 2006: Hamas crosses Gaza/Israel border and captures Israeli soldier. Israel responds by bombing the Hamas led government ministries and civilian infrastructure including a power plant. No civilians killed.

-Some T/F questions for Kofi:

-True or False. Using civilians as human shields is not a war crime.

-True or False. Launching missiles from Civilian buildings/homes is a war crime.

-True or False. The civilian casualties in Lebanon resulting from Israeli attacks constitute war crimes by Israel.

-True or False: Iran is involved in the current hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

-June 9th, 2006: Israeli ships accused of shelling a Palestinian beach and killing an entire Palestinian family. International condemnation follows. Later it is found that the family was killed as a result of “friendly fire” from a mine placed by Palestinian militants. No international recognition or condemnation of Palestinian militants.