"Israel is not obligated to sell water or power to Gaza just as no other country is obligated to do so"
With the blockade likely to lead to a public health emergency, Amnesty International called for an immediate lifting of the blockade on fuel, humanitarian aid and basic necessities, as well as other restrictions that have effectively prevented entry or exit of people and goods from the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized control in the territory in June 2007.
Israel already lifted the blockade but will not continue to do so if Hamas can't control the missles being fired from Gaza. No other country in the world would put up with it.
Laukev7, I am just curious - What do you mean when you refer to there being a lot of "Israelis" in the Bush cabinet?
Which Bush cabinet members were born in Israel?
30: I gave you numerous examples - so I did answer your question. I am deeply sorry about your epilepsy. However, either I refer you to a website, or I just type here. What is the difference? In order for me to give you examples, you have to read the examples. Laukev7 also gave you numerous examples, posted in this forum. Do you want me to copy and paste Amnesty International's report??? I understand reading is hard with your epilepsy, but can't you just read PART of the report, just like you are reading what we are saying in this forum? Yes, the Amnesty International report is longer, but why can't you just read A FEW of the examples listed there?
"Israeli forces carried out air and artillery bombardments, killing nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of children. Israeli forces also destroyed tens of thousands of homes and commercial properties, mostly in south Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut; and targeted and damaged main roads and bridges throughout the country."
"In the course of the conflict Israeli forces committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes. In particular, Israeli forces carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on a large scale. Israeli forces also appear to have carried out direct attacks on civilian infrastructure intended to inflict a form of collective punishment on Lebanon's people, in order to induce them and the Lebanese government to turn against Hizbullah, as well as to cause harm to Hizbullah's military capability."
Those are a few examples from the website I linked you to. We have to have an international standard, otherwise countries can do whatever they wish. Israel has repeatedly violated international law and committed war crimes.
You say "Many Israeli soldiers have been punished for doing things they should not do just as American soldiers have been punished."
The problem is that these Israeli soldiers have not been punished. Find me the record that says that when Israeli soldiers have committed massive human rights violations and war crimes, they have been punished. I haven't found it. It is a matter of systematic Israel government policy to carry out war crimes.
"There's a reason why special roads were built, why the wall was built and why there are closures on Gaza. It was done to stop suicide bombers."
Of course that is what the Israeli government will tell you. But repeated refusals to accept international law requests and repeated massacres of civilians on a scale that makes it OFFENSIVE (as opposed to DEFENSIVE - goes way beyond retaliation), proves otherwise. The suicide bombings are terrible, and inexcusable. However, they do not justify Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and disproportionate mass killings of their own.
Thank you. It's easier for me to take one thing at a time. I never took debate and I don't claim to be a debater.
"Israeli forces carried out air and artillery bombardments, killing nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of children. Israeli forces also destroyed tens of thousands of homes and commercial properties, mostly in south Lebanon and in the suburbs of Beirut; and targeted and damaged main roads and bridges throughout the country."
Syria, Hezbullah, and the PLO did more damage to Lebanon than Israel ever did. Hezbullah can't fire rockets for years and expect Israel not to react. Israel did not kill hundreds of children.
When Syria killed an entire city of people in Syria no one blinked an eye. When Jordan killed 10,000 people no reaction.
What cabinet posts do Dov Zackheim and Richard Perle hold, and where did you get your info that Perle holds Israeli citizenship? Neither of them are in Bush's Cabinet.
He is treated no differently than the way Americans deal with their own spies. The Arabs torture then murder their spies. I'd rather be oppressed than dead. You guys must all live in Utopia.
39 - That's very insulting but I'm not here to discuss my personal difficulties, and I don't think over 90% of the people participating in this forum are here are for any other reason than to discuss the Palestinian cause. With respect, there is a USA group I believe, along with several forums to discuss US and other countries' politics.
EDIT: Guess then it would have been more pertinent to post that link I just gave in the Israel forum, but I get the feeling it would go down like a lead balloon.
Laukev7
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