Apologize to Turkey?

Posted on August 4, 2011 by RKNEWS

Turkey refuses to participate again this year in joint US-Israel-naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, a project they had been part of in past years. Turkish PM Erdogan is demanding that Israel apologize for the deaths of the terrorists on board the Miva Marmara, infamous ship in the 1st so-called Gaza Flotilla.

Throwing Israeli Soldiers off the Turkish Mavi Marmara

Circle shows Israeli Soldier being thrown overboard from Turkish Mavi Marmara

In diplomatic circles in Israel, the US and Europe, there is divided opinion on this and they are all working overtime to find a way for Israel to ‘sort of’ apologize so that Erdogan and his Muslim terrorist supporters can save their honor.  However, not even all Turks agree with him.  All of his military leaders have ‘resigned’,  been fired or retired in light of their rejection of Erdogan’s policies and the rise of Islamic power in Turkey, a normally secular state of mixed religions. They also object to his realignment of their nation with the Arab nations and new distance between Turkey and the EU, not to mention the US and NATO.  These last two memberships were once prize plums for the Turkish military, industry and society.

Turkey’s historical western tilt had also given it an advantage in some alliances over the Greeks in issues of conflict.

Now, Greece is filling Turkish shoes in relation to both Israel and, in military matters, the US.   Erdogan

Erdogan & Ahmadinejad

Erdogan & Ahmadinejad - short-lived friends

thought he could make a big impression on Pakistan, Syria, Hizballah and Lebanon, giving him the ability to successfully challenge Iran’s power in these States.  It would also have given him an open door to Egypt and Hamas as a negotiator with Israel.

Problem was, in his arrogrance, he thought he could go toe to toe with Israel and come out the winner.

Now, in demanding that the defender apologize loudly and publicly to the obvious aggressor, the Turkish PM has backed himself into an impossible corner.

He didn’t win his bout with Israel and he hasn’t received the demanded apology. Now the UN has graciously delayed issuing the report on the Marmara to give Erdogan time to save face since, in this report and the eyes of the UN, Israel  is indeed found blameless.

In addition, in taking a public stand with Pres. Obama (probably thinking Obama could pressure Israel), he appeared to again align himself with the West and with NATO — who was then bombing the life out of Libya!

He  then tried to use the US to back him in a military adventure in N. Syria.  However, his military leaders were now in rebellion and the movement of Turkish troops to the border put him in direct conflict with Syria, causing Iran to issue a strongly worded warning.

Now Syria is angry with Erdogan and Iran has backed him down with threats which include his US backer, Obama.  Here too, he had to sheath his sword, as did Obama.

Finally, by flirting with Hizbollah,  Al Qaeda and  the Muslim Brotherhood while loudly declaring his support for Hamas — which set him off on his first (unsuccessful) adventure, Erdogan has succeeded in only one thing:  to alienate every side of every significant Middle East conflict and show himself as an unreliable partner for the West and anyone else.

Erdogan was not able to placate the Generals

Erdogan tries to calm the generals

It appears that the outstanding characteristic of Turkish PM Erdogan and his government is his arrogance in thinking he could manipulate leaders and replace Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, becoming the major force representing the Muslim world against the non-Muslim world.  His policies and diplomatic thrusts have so completely missed their mark, his failures have been so public and, in corridors of power, so humiliating to Turkey, that his military won’t back him and in the last election  he lost the majority he needed to solidify his power grab in Turkey. Meanwhile, as long as he is in power, he is a significant troublemaker and one more chaotic force in a very sensitive region crying out for stability.

So, what on earth could Israel gain by apologizing to Erdogan for the fact that all the Israeli soldiers didn’t surrender to slaughter on the high seas? So that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack can continue to sell arms to Turkey?

Is it true that PM  Netanyahu is trying to find a way to save face while apologizing?  Does Israel want to buy Erdogan’s ‘friendship’? Since when did it ever pay to bribe an arrogant bully.  The principle is the same, whether it’s the kid down the block or the Prime Minister of Turkey.  The best Israel can do is to continue to develop good relations with Greece and wait for the Turkish people to get sick enough of PM Erdogan to replace him.

Israeli citizens know the Turkish street. They have had good relations with Turkish citizens for many years and historically.  But Israel cannot insult the Israeli commandos who faced down the enemy on an extremely difficult battlefield; Israel cannot go shuffling in hat-in-hand to beg forgiveness from the terrorists on that ship nor from the one who officially funded and sent them. No self-respecting nation would do such a thing.

If this small nation Israel doesn’t show self-respect when it is legally and morally in the right, neither will any other nation respect it.

That would be the way to ensure a long line of Erdogens waiting at the door!

God forbid!
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Al Qaeda in Sinai – Threatens more than just Israel

Posted on August 2, 2011 by RKNEWS

News: Al Qaeda strikes Egypt-Israel gas installation in Sinai.  Fifth time since February, 2nd time this month (yawn). Obviously, Israel knows it can no longer depend on gas imports across Sinai. Jordan and Syria, also served by these lines,  must be making alternative arrangements by the 5th attack.

Gas Pipeline Explosion

Gas Pipeline Explosion

What most reports don’t tell you is how different this attack was and what it means to the world, not just Israel.

On the 29th of July, the news was that 7+ people had been killed and 30+ injured in a terrorist attack on El Arish, the capital of Sinai (pop. ~115,000).   Debka reports that this governmental center and popular tourism site is but 20 km from the MFO base where ~1000 Canadian and US troops are stationed in order to “keep the peace” in Sinai.   Egyptian soldiers were also holed up in a nearby base.

This was a military-style attack of a large force bent on random killing, destruction and intimidation.  They withdrew with nightfall, but all expect them to return.  Obviously there will be no resistance.  The following day, they blew up the gas installation also in a military-style operation.

Al Qaeda in El Arish

Al Qaeda staging Takeover in the Streets of El Arish July 2011

It’s known to anyone who is interested in finding out that Al Qaeda is in the Sinai (with Bedouin cooperation) and that they are in Gaza.   This however, is the first attack to expose their organization, training, and probably numbers.  It also exposes their intent to take over Sinai. This makes it world business.  An Al Qaeda-ruled Sinai is a real military threat to Suez, Egypt and Israel.  All Red Sea traffic will be vulnerable to piracy, increased smuggling and to overt military operations.

Reports from Cairo are that the gas companies who own the installation are going to sign up local Bedouin to guard the installations and the pipelines. Isn’t that like paying protection to the mob so the mob won’t hit your store? And even if they find a tribe not sleeping with Al Qaeda, do they really believe the Bedouin can/will hold off Al Qaeda.  Really, this must be a joke or news for fools.

El Arish in Sinai, Suez, Egypt, Israel

Sinai - a strategic location for controlling Suez and staging attacks on Israel, Egypt, and crucial shipping lanes

Israelis who vacation in Sinai know well that El Arish is 2 1/2 hours drive from Tel Aviv. It means that the threat of rockets, missiles, terrorist infiltration will soon be as strong from Egypt’s Sinai border as the threat from Gaza and stronger than the current threat from Hizballah’s Lebanon.

Should we mention that the Border Fence between Israel and Sinai is not finished? Should we mention that the US and others use the Suez for military traffic between the Arabian Sea and the Mediterannean? Should we mention that oil tankers and other critical shipments cross through the Suez Canal?  And should we mention that the Somalian pirates already threaten these shipping lanes at the Gulf of Aden?

If the US and Canadians are not concerned enough about their soldiers in the MFO force within 15 minutes of El Arish, perhaps they will care that the price for oil and gas and those of many imports will sky rocket with Al Qaeda in control of critical shipping lanes.

Still yawning?

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Israel-Lebanese Border – Renewed Tensions

Posted on August 1, 2011 by RKNEWS
Syrian-brder-Naqba-day-2011

Syria hides behind Israeli border protesters

Today the Lebanese Goverment has commended the Lebanese military for firing at Israeli soldiers this morning in a new Israel-Lebanon border ‘incident’.  No Israelis were injured, 1 LAF soldier was reported wounded.  It’s not clear whether this was, again, a rogue soldier claiming Israelis crossed the border (like last year) or whether this is the beginning of a new series random attacks such as Hamas carries out from Gaza. Who knows? Maybe it was even directed from Beirut.

It’s doubtful that even security services know what lies ahead. The change since the last attack is highly signigicant:  Hizballah now controls the Lebanese government and its military services.  Last year the Lebanese government ‘handled’ the situation making it a one-time only event — the UN confirmed that Israelis had not crossed the border and that ended the situation.  This time the army has received praise for the attack.

In addition, while Syria’s Assad is on full war footing against the now well-armed revolutionaries with 150+ killed, 1000+ injured in Sunday pre-Ramadan assault,   Turkish forces sit on the Syrian-Turkish border with attack plan in hand. But they can do nothing. They have been essentially neutralized by the en masse resignation of the top ranks of all branches of the secular Turkish Defense Forces in response to the arrest many ranking officers (charged with plotting to overthrow the government).

Meanwhile, as critical as the situation is for the future of Turkey and its NATO allies, the fallout is immediate and deadly for Syrians. It has provided a window of opportunity, one Assad is using to go full bore against the rebels and indiscriminantly against Syrian civilians in rebel areas without worrying about Turkish intervention.  While Iran is helping keep the West in check, even US protege Turkey is now stymied.

It is difficult to predict the actions of the heavily-armed Hizballah directing the Lebanese military who regularly patrol the border with Israel.  It’s also not clear  what Iran’s instructions to Hizballah will be as Tehran tries to prop up Assad both directly and through Hizballah.  It wouldn’t be the first time that a  mini-war with Israel would be used to divert world attention from Syrian slaughter or Iranian machinations. They have little fear of real defeat: They’ve been able to count on the West and the UN to call Israel off when they are ready.

Is Israel the Cause or the Cover?

What so many western politicians and opinion-makers miss is that even were there no Israel, this region would be a powder keg. Unfortunately, there is oil and there are always those with the motives of money and power, ready to create the local version of class warfare  to fulfil their own lusts no matter how many die or suffer.

Some of the more obvious factors creating the clouds of war:

  1. The Saudi’s  ‘proxy’ war that pits the Syrian rebels against Assad in hopes of replacing Iranian (nucs) hegemony in Syria
  2. The unpredictable actions of destabilizing Al Qaeda cells in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, India (nucs), Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, etc.
  3. Muslim Brotherhood and Taliban (with Al Qaeda’s help) attempting to completely take over Pakistan (nucs), Afghanistan
  4. Continued chaos in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Iraq
  5. Jordon standing on the precipice with more than 50% Palestinian citizens
  6. Conflicts within conflicts:  The infighting between the Sunni and Shi’i, not to mention, religious, Persian/Arab and ancient tribal conflicts — which have been going on for thousands of years…yes, even before Islam

While before blood, death and destruction were localized, now our modern ‘humane’ era provides the ability to slaughter more with less, weapons that threaten all of mankind.

Israel may well be in midddle of the cauldron with the makings of a conflagration and total chaos on her northern, eastern, western and southern borders.  But no one on the planet will be able to escape the results if those stirring the pot aren’t stopped.

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History Written in the Stones of Israel

Posted on July 31, 2011 by RKNEWS

 

BRIEF FACTS THAT SHOULD IMPACT  THE ISRAELI CONFLICT TODAY….

by Donald D. Farshing Director, FEEDS, UNF 4567 St Johns Bluff Road, South Jacksonville, FL 32224-2666 Take a minute to be informed!

HISTORICAL FACTS:

 

Digging around the Ancient Walls of Jerusalem

Ancient sites above even older ones cry out the truth of thousands of years of Jewish civilization.

1. Nationhood and Jerusalem. Israel became a nation in 1312 BCE, two thousand years before the rise of Islam.

2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.

3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BCE, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.

4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 CE lasted no more than 22 years.

5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.

6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran.

7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.

8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.

9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier!

10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.

11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.

12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the ONLY refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people’s lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey.

13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.

14. The PLO’s Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.

15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.

16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.

17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.

18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.

19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

These are incredible times. We have to ask what our role should be. What will we tell our grandchildren about we did when there was a turning point in Jewish destiny, an opportunity to make a difference?

Given the situation today, many other relevant facts could be added to Dr. Farshing’s list. In the interest of brevity and clarity, we’ve presented the list as he, described as a Christian North Florida University Professor, wrote it.

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Why Israel Should Not Divide Jerusalem

Posted on July 31, 2011 by RKNEWS

If the US and Europe do not want the chaos of Lebanon, the slaughter of civilians as in Bosnia and the former Yugoslavia to occur in Israel; if they do not want world-threatening warfare as not seen in 70 years, they should think again about the desirability of dividing Jerusalem.

The article below from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz was written to increase awareness of the Israeli public to the importance of upcoming decisions on the status of Jerusalem. The impending Israeli elections will determine the policies of Israel with regard to the “Land for Peace” issues on the table — and to the very existence of Israel as a State.

Gilo School

School in Jerusalem with walls to protect from snipers. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Scoop 80, 2000

Note the photo of Jerusalem School in Gilo neighborhood protected from terrorist Beit Jala snipers by sandbags and steel reinforced concrete walls.

However, it’s not only voting Israelis who need this information: Millions of supporters of Israel around the globe need to know the facts. There must be no pressure on Israel to take decisions that will bring about national suicide — or a 3rd world war. Natav Shragai wrote in an article entitled “THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW” that “the day after a new government is formed in Israel, the issue of Jerusalem will come up again.” Now, with Obama in the White House, it is uncertain what kind or amount of pressure will exerted on Israel and on the issue of Jerusalem, in particular. He noted that “25 years ago lashed out at the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Samuel Lewis, telling him Israel was not a banana republic and that Israel would make do with bread and margarine if necessary, but would not accept dictates?” What the news media in Israel and abroad never mention is the proximity of Arab neighborhoods to Jewish neighborhoods, especially within and around the city of Jerusalem. Shragai continued:

“Every neighborhood on the seam line has an adjacent or nearly adjacent Arab “outlying neighborhood.” Jabal Mukkaber, for example, is a stone’s throw and a gunshot away from the homes of Armon Hanatziv. The Qassam rockets fired on Sderot and Ashkelon would seem like child’s play compared to what would happen here if such outlying neighborhoods are given up. It is enough to recall the firing from the Arab neighborhood of Beit Jala on the neighboring southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo – which went on for years, multiplying the point of friction and distributing it to hundreds of points along a dividing line dozens of kilometers long – to understand what a bizarre reality, one our politicians tend not to talk about, would be our lot.”

Jerusalem is the next “front line” in the war for world-control by Muslims. If they militarize the Jerusalem borders as they have the Gaza borders, WWIII may be reality in our time! Israel cannot cede all of Jerusalem and continue to be a safe haven, a homeland, for the Jewish people. Those who would pressure Israel continually to ‘compromise’ to give more and more ‘land for peace’ are setting the stage for a war they will not win. As you will see below, they not only pressure Israel to compromise, they compromise at home, in their own schools, streets and court systems. We already see that there are no limits to the barbarity of the methods employed in the Islamic struggle for control — first in the Middle East, then Europe and finally (or not finally!) in the US. They work from without in bombings and terror attacks and from within to weaken the determination of the politicians and population to fight the Islamization of their societies. For now, the focus is on Israel, but they also have written that historically that Spain must be Islamic:

There is now a widespread feeling among Muslims that the territories they lost during the Spanish “Reconquista” still belong to them. That they have a right to return and establish their rule there. This is based on the Islamic idea that terrorities such as “Palestine” and Southern Spain which were once occupied by Muslims must remain under Muslim domination forever. “The Rapid Re-Islamization of Southern Spain [“Al-Andalus”]”

But it’s not limited to Spain: They have flooded France with immigrants who are even today marching in the streets, burning and pillaging to ensure control over French policies. All over Europe, in Norway, Germany, Netherlands, and England, just to mention a few, political policies have had to accommodate the demands of the Muslims, to the point of allowing some levels of Shari’a Law to be enforced in England! In some western countries, taxi drivers had to be forced to pick up blind passengers with their guide dogs. If people of non-Muslim countries do not wake up and actively oppose the tactics of Islamization, they will lose their own culture and freedoms. There is no need for the Muslims to wage western style warfare and no way for the West to use it as an effective defense: terrorism, guerrilla attacks and the exploitation of Western courts to limit freedom of speech and even thoughts are destroying the legal protection until now enjoyed by free peoples. Worse, even now Islamic radicals are stealing the children of these countries through the growth and marketing of drugs, radicalization of rebellious youth and criminals (even in prison), the brainwashing of children under the name of Islamic education: These are all very successful methods being employed now in the US and in every European country (though not limited to them). Please…….

WAKE UP! BE INFORMED! TAKE ACTION! NOW!

(This article last modified 2009-02-01 and as relevant today as it has been since 1967)

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The Real War That Rarely Makes the News

Posted on July 28, 2011 by RKNEWS
Bushehr Nuclear Reactor

The Reactor the world can see....like a display window, it represents much more.

Last year the Stuxnet virus was all the talk. Then the world got bored with it and the news faded except for the infrequent headline. While reassuring the world that all was well,  the Iranians and Russians frantically and unsuccessfully tried to repair the damage.

Recently, without much fanfare, it was announced that Iran had, at great cost, replaced all its centrifuges. Russia continues to assist Iran.  The missile and the warhead technology continues to advance and are greatly increasing in range and accuracy. In some cases, Iran is show casing successful test, in others, claiming far more progress than the tests show.  There is no accurate assessment among nations spy agencies of the status of Iran’s bomb. They vary from 1 to 2 years before total capability to stating that 4 warheads are ready and mounted. Iran has kept the truth buried in an smothering cloud of propaganda and misdirects.

Meantime, several high level Iranian and Russian nuclear scientists have been killed in ‘accidents’ and in daring attacks. It’s likely that Iran’s tight nuclear community may have been penetrated either by foreign agencies or local dissidents. Either way, it’s a strugggle to the end: A  failed murderous regime or a worldwide nuclear war.  There is not one world leader with the guts to take action and openly tip the balance. The Saudis are the only ones to stand toe to toe with Iran.  Given the repressiveness of the Saudi regime, this should give everyone pause.

Blessings on the mysterious ones carrying out the hidden war – but if they don’t win, what does that say about our future?

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Rockets Red Glare

Posted on July 18, 2011 by RKNEWS

By the time people see a missile in the sky, there is no longer the red glare of ignition, just a gray stream parting the clouds or glowing in the sun. But some will see the ultimate red glare — the explosion and fire of impact and the eery glow as it incinerates all unfortunate enough to be in its way.

Double launchfire in the cityHamas launches Qassams

Most Americans who sing of the Rocket’s Red Glare in the national anthem have never seen such a thing, except perhaps in the movies. Only a few have seen the long gray tail streaking across the sky in the ominous arc unique to a missile’s trajectory after its launch. Of course, soldiers who defend their nations have seen it all, from the red burst of ignition to the fire on impact, with its deadly explosion obliterating the target. Many have died trying to keep their loved ones from becoming familiar with such things.

But there are thousands of civilians in Israel who have seen what only soldiers of other countries see. There are thousands who have felt the shock and suffered the heat, breathing the stench of death as their loved ones are blown out of existence or maimed, leaving them to live in suffering and pain. Many of these are childrens who were in their kindergartens and schools or playing football with their friends. Many are mothers and fathers at work or home, grandparents and family.

A few of the first rocket victims (2004-5):

Ella age 17 SderotYuval age 4 SderotDana age 22 Sderot

Ella, 17*;     Yuval, 4*;     Dana, 22*

And today, 2011, the rockets are still targeting Israeli civilians

Every time a Red Siren sounds its warning, panic sets in.  By then, there is no time and no way to protect loved ones or prevent someone from dying.

For all these, the Rocket’s Red Glare is a daily reality.  When the news announces that the rocket hit an open field or beach, when the announcers says, ‘we were lucky’, ‘the rocket just missed a school’, or ‘the children had already left’, or ‘the school bus was already empty’, the Jewish population of tiny Israel (and some who stand with her) breath a collective sigh of relief…..but there is no chance to relax and go on. For the next one may strike in 5 minutes or 30, in 1 day or 2, but it will certainly come.

Only by the Grace of God has the kill ratio of these murderous attacks has been low. But as a result, the world has become so used to the reports that they no longer really hear them, or if they do, they just shrug it off as inconsequential…far less important than the mundane tasks of seeing a friend, taking the kids ot school or going to meetings.

God willing, the Rocket’s Red Glare will not become a daily occurance in the lives of most of the world’s children, but should it be so one day, everyone should remember the daily cross-border rocket attacks started in Israel,  seemingly insignificantly in a far away place where there seems to have always been wars, and when these children died, not many cared. There was no flotilla and no NATO. There was neither hunger strikes nor international outcry by the human rights organizations and the the protectors of the oppressed were silent.

Even now this evil is spreading to other lands.  While Israel will defend her innocent civilians, as long as others deny the threat is real, as long as they pretend that there is no danger to themselves, the rockets will fly today here, tomorrow there, in every land the red glare of the conflagration will engulf all — if not today, then tomorrow. And no one should think they are too isolated, distant or protected: where the rockets cannot yet reach, their will be bombs and fires — in forests, in homes and cars — in indiscriminate attacks meant to create fear, destroy and inflict suffering on humans, animals, the economy and the environment.

Our message to those who think they can placate, appease, or bribe the agressors back into a peaceful life: KNOW  it is an illusion, a deceit and a lie. They will not stop until they rule — Israel, the West, the poor and yes, even the powerful. They will own the entire world, through intimidation, torture, fear. The constant red of blood running in the streets and fiery explosions of their missiles striking indescriminately in every far corner of this world is the reality they seek.

Wake up and stop it while you still can.

 

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Cluster Bombs

Posted on May 10, 2007 by RKNEWS

Hizbollah inserted nails and metal balls into the heads of the Ketyusha rockets that they rained down on civilian population centers in northern Israel. These rockets were specifically designed to cause maximum injury and death to all persons in proximity to the bomb’s impact. Yet the international headlines today make little or no mention of Hizbollah’s Human Rights Violations. It’s all about Israel and Cluster Bombs. However, international law does not prohibit the use of ‘cluster bombs’. With survival of the Nation hanging in the balance, Israel daily made decisions which endangered her soldiers in order to spare civilians. Unfortunately, the “civilians” were often the enemy firing on Israel.

Behind the Headlines: Legal and operational aspects of the use of cluster bombs

 

5 Sep 2006 Israel Foreign Ministry

International law does not prohibit the use of ‘cluster bombs’. Consequently, a discussion of Israel’s use of such weaponry should focus on the method of their use, rather than their legality.

  1. The accepted legality of cluster weapons
    Both international law and accepted practice do not prohibit the use of the family of weapons popularly as ‘cluster bombs’. Consequently, the main issue in a discussion of Israel’s use of such weaponry should the method of their use, rather than their legality.

    A 2002 report by Human Rights Watch on explosive sub-munitions – the category of weapons to which cluster bombs belong – states that these weapons are stocked by 56 countries and have been used by at least nine (including the US, Britain, Russia, and Israel). There are 208 types of sub-munitions, which are manufactured by 33 countries. The US used cluster bombs during the Gulf War, as did NATO forces in Serbia and Kosovo.

    One of the arguments used by those who support the use of cluster bombs is that this weapon causes in most cases less damage than that caused by a regular (250-1,000 kg) bomb.

  2. The legal method of use

    It goes without saying that any use of weapons in warfare must comply with the international laws of armed conflict concerning legitimate targets (the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians), avoidance of deliberately harming civilians, the principle of proportionality, and the need to take reasonable care. In addition, it is prohibited to use weapons that cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, and weapons that are inherently indiscriminate.Cluster Bomb

    The legal method of use

    It goes without saying that any use of weapons in warfare must comply with the international laws of armed conflict concerning legitimate targets (the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians), avoidance of deliberately harming civilians, the principle of proportionality, and the need to take reasonable care. In addition, it is prohibited to use weapons that cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, and weapons that are inherently indiscriminate.

    When examining the legality of an attack on a legitimate military target, additional parameters may also be examined, such as the extent of incidental injury to the civilian population in the vicinity of the target and the military advantage achieved in attacking the target. The balance between the two determines the legality of the entire attack.

  3. Israel’s use of weapons in compliance with international law
    These considerations of compliance with international norms were paramount features of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) operations in Lebanon, in which strenuous efforts were made to ensure that these were carried out in complete accordance with international law, both with regard to method and weaponry.

    IDF operations are directed only against legitimate military targets (the terrorists themselves, the places from which they launch attacks against Israel, facilities serving the terrorists, and objectives that directly contribute to the enemy’s war effort).

    The IDF does not deliberately attack civilians and takes steps to minimize any incidental collateral harm by warning them in advance of an action, even at the expense of losing the element of surprise. This measure, which is not obligated by international law, proved itself in practice by in fact reducing injury to civilians.

  4. Hizbullah use of civilians as human shields
    This concern for civilian welfare points out one of the clearest distinctions between the IDF and a terrorist organization such as Hizbullah, which cynically exploited Israel’s humane practice by deliberately operating among civilians, using them as human shields by storing and even firing missiles from inside their homes.

    The use of human shields is banned by international law, which states that hiding a terrorist objective in the heart of a civilian population does not afford it immunity against attack.

  5. Clean-Up efforts after hostilities
    On conclusion of hostilities, questions arise from both sides regarding unexploded ordnance left behind on the battlefield. For example, many deadly explosives fired by Hizbullah against northern Israeli population centers still remain unexploded. Israeli civil defense authorities are consequently making great efforts to locate and disarm these weapons in order to protect Israeli civilians from further harm. Israel regards the welfare of Lebanese civilians in same manner. Immediately after the cease-fire the IDF gave UNIFIL maps indicating the likely locations of unexploded ordnance, to aid the international attempt to clear these areas and avoid injury to the population. Furthermore, immediately after the cease-fire the IDF distributed warning notices to the residents in the areas of warfare, and recommended that they wait a few days before returning to the south until the UNIFIL forces were deployed there and the area had been cleared of unexploded ordnance.

 

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Hizbollah Prepares for War

Posted on May 10, 2007 by RKNEWS

History

Tunnels under the security fence, bombs alongside, fortresses, anti-air missiles, upgraded arms and equipment and well-trained man-power: In addition to the preceding, add active financial support from Syria, Iran and Russia along with North Korea and China, and you have a more powerful war machine than that which tested Israel’s readiness and will to fight in the summer of 2006, and found an Israel militarily unprepared to fight and politically unwilling to win.

While the West whines, argues, and complains, Jihad forces realign, re-arm and gain popular support in preparation for the next round.” Hizballah waited only one day after Israel’s final pull-out to set up checkpoints and declare its retaken strongholds with rockets “closed military zones,” which neither the Lebanese army nor UN peacekeepers have dared to enter.”  The Israeli government for some time delayed informing the public of these developments which effectively dismiss UN Security Council resolution 1701 which demanded Hizballah’s disarmament and UNifil’s enforcement! However, with the recent placement of bombs in Israeli territory along the security fence, the message is so belligerent and brazen that even the UN couldn’t ignore it!!. [read entire article at Debka.com]

last modified 2007-05-10 21:39

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)

Naqoura,
3 October 2006

UNIFIL Press Statement

UNIFIL is steadily enhancing its operational capabilities in order to fulfill its responsibilities under Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). More than 3,000 additional troops, for a current total of around 5,200, plus an Interim Maritime Task Force, have been deployed so far. UNIFIL personnel are patrolling the area of operations, monitoring the cessation of the hostilities, and assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which have already deployed five brigades in the south. Yesterday, UNIFIL confirmed the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to south of the Blue Line, except in the area around Ghajar, and ensured a seamless and smooth takeover by the LAF.

Should the situation present any risk of resumption of hostile activities, UNIFIL rules of engagement allow UN forces to respond as required. UNIFIL commanders have sufficient authority to act forcefully when confronted with hostile activity of any kind. UNIFIL has set up temporary checkpoints at key locations within its area of operations. Permanent checkpoints are being established by the LAF to stop and search passing vehicles. In case specific information is available regarding movement of unauthorized weapons or equipment, the LAF will take required action. However, in situations where the LAF are not in a position to do so, UNIFIL will do everything necessary to fulfill its mandate in accordance with Security Council resolution 1701.

In implementing their mandate, all UNIFIL personnel may exercise the inherent right of self-defense. In addition, the use of force beyond self-defense may be applied to ensure that UNIFIL’s area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities; to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent UNIFIL from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council; to protect UN personnel, facilities, installations and equipment; to ensure the security and freedom of movement of UN personnel and humanitarian workers; and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence in its areas of deployment, within its capabilities.

For further information, Please contact Alexander Ivanko, UNIFIL Spokesman, at (+961) 70 910064.

 

 

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