"Israel
cannot impose collective punishment every time one of its people is
hurt or dies. Yet it does that almost every time, in contravention of
international law."
[AS
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Jul 01, 2014
Jordan Times Editorial
Dangerous development
The
discovery of the bodies of the three Israeli youth kidnapped more than
two weeks ago has increased tension between Israelis and Palestinians,
taking it to a more dangerous level.
The
killing of the three young Israeli settlers is bound to give the
Israeli-Palestinian crisis — reached as the obstinate Israeli prime
minister refused to talk peace after the Palestinian Authority and Hamas
formed a unity Palestinian government — a new, ominous, dimension.
Yet,
it should not be forgotten that Israel’s “declaration of war” on Hamas
and the PA after they struck the accord to form the new government is
greatly responsible for creating a dangerous environment and may have
contributed to the killing of the three Israeli youth.
The
very recent exchange of heavy fire between Hamas and Israel threatens
to start a new cycle of violence that both sides will have difficulty
containing, if at all.
Israel
cannot impose collective punishment every time one of its people is
hurt or dies. Yet it does that almost every time, in contravention of
international law.
Already
many Palestinians were killed during the futile searches for the three
kidnapped Israelis, and many more died in the aerial strikes conducted
by the Israeli air force against Gaza over the past few days.
Worse, Israel is contemplating further punitive military action against Gaza and its people.
This exaggerated use of power is only conducive to more aggressive behaviour. Surely Israel knows that.
It
is not even known who is responsible for the death of the three young
men, which makes indiscriminate killing by Israel an act of intended
cruelty.
The
blame for the death of Israelis and Palestinians alike should be put on
the lack of an environment of peace, the result of Netanyahu’s refusal
to engage the Palestinians in real and constructive peace talks that
would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.
It
is the absence of peace between Israelis and Palestinians that breeds
hatred and violence, and it is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land
that deprives its citizens of security.
Not difficult to figure out, is it?
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