International opinion towards Israeli counterterrorism is biased and reflects a double-standard.
Israeli policy is to demolish the houses of Palestinian suicide bombers to exact a significant enough cost so that others choose not to emulate them. The policy is divisive, even within Israel. Critics argue that, if a bomber's family had no idea of his plans, why should it be punished. Israel examines each situation individually, but with bombers taking the lives of dozens of innocent Israelis with them, Israel is left with little choice but to try to deter more attacks.
The United Nations has condemned the practice and called upon Israel to "respect its obligations under international humanitarian law...not to undertake demolition of homes."
The U.S. State Department has said the "demolition of civilian structures deprives Palestinians of shelter and the ability to peacefully earn a livelihood" and "make[s] more difficult bringing an end to violence." However, with bombings now halted, it seems demolitions expedited, not prevented, an end to violence.
For several years, Nigeria has suffered from a pandemic of kidnaps-for-ransom, mostly of foreign-company workers in the oil-rich Niger Delta. More recently, however, as foreign workers have taken security precautions, kidnappers have begun to target more often local political leaders, the wealthy, and others.
Recently, the government of Nigeria's Enugu State announced that "any house used to harbor [kidnapped] hostages or found to be a hideout for kidnappers...will be demolished while the certificate of occupancy...will be revoked and the property seized by the government." The State's Governor said the government "would not accept any excuse from anybody.... No one is above the law. We will tackle the problem of kidnappers and violent crime in the state [one] hundred percent, not with kid gloves."
The announcement has prompted not one word of criticism or condemnation from the U.S. State Department, United Nations, or others. Nor should it. As long as Israelis are not doing the demolition, house demolition appears to be an internationally-acceptable strategy of helping to ensure public safety.
Showing posts with label United Nations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United Nations. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
US Double-Standard Hits Home
Why is it that Israel must not build new apartments for Jewish residents of its capital city, while Palestinians not only are allowed to but praised for building an entire new city in the disputed West Bank?
President Obama, in November, said Israel's construction of 900 new apartments in a Jewish section of East Jerusalem -- annexed by Israel as part of its capital city after the 1967 war -- could invite Palestinian violence. He said the new housing risked "embittering Palestinians in a way that could end up being very dangerous."
Meantime, Palestinians are being praised for building 6,300 housing units in an entirely new city dubbed Rawabi, five miles north of Ramallah, on the West Bank, whose final status is still subject to negotiations. The city eventually will have schools, a hotel, a shopping center, health clinics, and up to 40,000 residents. Palestinian and Israeli officials, and foreign investors, among them Jews, maintain the city is critical to nurturing a Palestinian middle-class, which probably will be important to weening Palestinians away from violence and toward co-existence.
But why cannot Israel build on land it acquired in a defense war? Why the double-standard allowing only Palestinians to build, in areas not yet legally theirs? The European Union, Americans, United Nations, and others who have challenged the legality and propriety of Israeli construction ought to be held to account for their biased opposition.
President Obama, in November, said Israel's construction of 900 new apartments in a Jewish section of East Jerusalem -- annexed by Israel as part of its capital city after the 1967 war -- could invite Palestinian violence. He said the new housing risked "embittering Palestinians in a way that could end up being very dangerous."
Meantime, Palestinians are being praised for building 6,300 housing units in an entirely new city dubbed Rawabi, five miles north of Ramallah, on the West Bank, whose final status is still subject to negotiations. The city eventually will have schools, a hotel, a shopping center, health clinics, and up to 40,000 residents. Palestinian and Israeli officials, and foreign investors, among them Jews, maintain the city is critical to nurturing a Palestinian middle-class, which probably will be important to weening Palestinians away from violence and toward co-existence.
But why cannot Israel build on land it acquired in a defense war? Why the double-standard allowing only Palestinians to build, in areas not yet legally theirs? The European Union, Americans, United Nations, and others who have challenged the legality and propriety of Israeli construction ought to be held to account for their biased opposition.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Israel: Over-Experienced, Under-Appreciated
In grade school, there were students who had all the answers and volunteered them in class, saving all the others the embarrassment of being called upon to supply an answer they did not have. Despite being helpful, the students with the answers were ridiculed for being "too" smart and shown no appreciation or respect.
Israel is today's school know-it-all and no more respected.
Early this year, Israel fought Hamas in Gaza. Known for dozens of deadly suicide bombings in Israel earlier this decade, Hamas this time had been shooting rockets into southern Israeli cities. Israel was forced to act. Still, a United Nations report accused Israel of war crimes. This type of criticism, unfortunately, has become the norm.
The irony is that the world has so much to learn from Israel's experience. Yet, that experience is constantly and consistently under attack.
Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that a dual U.S.-Egyptian citizen living near Boston had planned to attack shopping malls. A mall representative acknowledged, "it is difficult to prevent someone from carrying out an act if they do not care about dying in that act." True, but vigiliant Israeli security has foiled many an attack on Israeli malls, and the Israeli experience could be instructive here.
Similarly, NBC News reported tonight that U.S. authorities on the Arizona-Mexico border have discovered 18 underground drug-smuggling tunnels this year. One tunnel passed beneath a church playground, reminiscent of Hamas weapons-smuggling tunnels in Gaza some with entrances and exits in Palestinian childrens' bedrooms. Like those dug by Hamas, drug tunnels found were elaborate, with wood frames and ventilation systems. (Are Mexican drug-smugglers taking a lesson or two from Hamas?) U.S. authorities say it is a "daily struggle, a cat-and-mouse game" to disrupt the tunnels, and they admit the border is "not secure." U.S. and Israeli military forces are training together in the U.S. on new techniques to locate and destroy underground tunnels. Again, we can and are learning from Israel's experience.
Israel is also routinely criticized for its policy of demolishing homes of terrorists and their families as a deterrent. However, other countries now facing terrorism inside their own borders are adopting the same technique. The Wall Street Journal reported today that Pakistani troops are "facing stiff resistance" with militants "fighting for every space" in that country's stepped-up campaign against the Taliban. Sounds a lot like Israel's battle against Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank city of Janin in 2002, during which Israel was falsely accused of massacring civilians. Interestingly, the Journal reports that Pakistani troops "demolished the houses" of a Taliban leader and a "main trainer of [Taliban] suicide bombers." Pakistan has taken a page from Israel's counterterrorism playbook.
The next time countries like Pakistan are called upon at the UN to condemn Israeli actions against terrorists, they would be well-advised to recall their own actions. Unfortunately, Israel has a lot to teach the world about successfully fighting terrorism. It's about time the world show some gratitude and respect.
(A few days after I wrote this entry, the Israeli daily Yisrael Hayom essentially made the same points, suggesting that the UN learn from Israel's experience and "adapt the acceptable laws of war to the situation of countries -- and Israel is not the only one -- that are fighting terrorist organizations. It would be better to ask how they would have us act next time that terrorists shell us.... so that perhaps [Israel might receive] a little respect.")
Israel is today's school know-it-all and no more respected.
Early this year, Israel fought Hamas in Gaza. Known for dozens of deadly suicide bombings in Israel earlier this decade, Hamas this time had been shooting rockets into southern Israeli cities. Israel was forced to act. Still, a United Nations report accused Israel of war crimes. This type of criticism, unfortunately, has become the norm.
The irony is that the world has so much to learn from Israel's experience. Yet, that experience is constantly and consistently under attack.
Today, the Wall Street Journal reported that a dual U.S.-Egyptian citizen living near Boston had planned to attack shopping malls. A mall representative acknowledged, "it is difficult to prevent someone from carrying out an act if they do not care about dying in that act." True, but vigiliant Israeli security has foiled many an attack on Israeli malls, and the Israeli experience could be instructive here.
Similarly, NBC News reported tonight that U.S. authorities on the Arizona-Mexico border have discovered 18 underground drug-smuggling tunnels this year. One tunnel passed beneath a church playground, reminiscent of Hamas weapons-smuggling tunnels in Gaza some with entrances and exits in Palestinian childrens' bedrooms. Like those dug by Hamas, drug tunnels found were elaborate, with wood frames and ventilation systems. (Are Mexican drug-smugglers taking a lesson or two from Hamas?) U.S. authorities say it is a "daily struggle, a cat-and-mouse game" to disrupt the tunnels, and they admit the border is "not secure." U.S. and Israeli military forces are training together in the U.S. on new techniques to locate and destroy underground tunnels. Again, we can and are learning from Israel's experience.
Israel is also routinely criticized for its policy of demolishing homes of terrorists and their families as a deterrent. However, other countries now facing terrorism inside their own borders are adopting the same technique. The Wall Street Journal reported today that Pakistani troops are "facing stiff resistance" with militants "fighting for every space" in that country's stepped-up campaign against the Taliban. Sounds a lot like Israel's battle against Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank city of Janin in 2002, during which Israel was falsely accused of massacring civilians. Interestingly, the Journal reports that Pakistani troops "demolished the houses" of a Taliban leader and a "main trainer of [Taliban] suicide bombers." Pakistan has taken a page from Israel's counterterrorism playbook.
The next time countries like Pakistan are called upon at the UN to condemn Israeli actions against terrorists, they would be well-advised to recall their own actions. Unfortunately, Israel has a lot to teach the world about successfully fighting terrorism. It's about time the world show some gratitude and respect.
(A few days after I wrote this entry, the Israeli daily Yisrael Hayom essentially made the same points, suggesting that the UN learn from Israel's experience and "adapt the acceptable laws of war to the situation of countries -- and Israel is not the only one -- that are fighting terrorist organizations. It would be better to ask how they would have us act next time that terrorists shell us.... so that perhaps [Israel might receive] a little respect.")
Thursday, October 15, 2009
It's Business As Usual in South Lebanon
In the summer of 2006, Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hizballah fought a war. Hizballah shot rockets into northern Israel, and Israel re-occupied parts of South Lebanon and bombed areas of Beirut to try to get the Lebanese goverment to reign in Hizballah.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 stopped the fighting. Among its requirements was that Hizballah retain no military presence in South Lebanon. Predictably, UNSCR 1701 has proven worthless.
Last week, a weapons cache exploded in a building within a civilian area of a Southern Lebanon town. Hizballah operatives immediately sealed the area, preventing UN monitors and Lebanese military forces from entering and investigating what had happened. Hizballah then emptied the site of stored weapons and transferred them elsewhere for safe-keeping. The Israelis got it all on videotape, which is accessible within this report the Israelis issued.
The whole episode, similar to one earlier this year, demonstrates the following:
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 stopped the fighting. Among its requirements was that Hizballah retain no military presence in South Lebanon. Predictably, UNSCR 1701 has proven worthless.
Last week, a weapons cache exploded in a building within a civilian area of a Southern Lebanon town. Hizballah operatives immediately sealed the area, preventing UN monitors and Lebanese military forces from entering and investigating what had happened. Hizballah then emptied the site of stored weapons and transferred them elsewhere for safe-keeping. The Israelis got it all on videotape, which is accessible within this report the Israelis issued.
The whole episode, similar to one earlier this year, demonstrates the following:
- Hizballah is in flagrant violation of UNSCR 1701 and is operating in South Lebanon as it pleases;
- Hizballah conducts military activity, including storing weapons, in civilian areas with no regard for potential harm to civilians;
- Hizballah is rebuilding its weapons inventory in South Lebanon, including according to Israeli estimates some 20,000 rockets that can travel 25 miles and other rockets capable of reaching 125 miles; and
- UNIFIL, the UN force charged with monitoring Hizballah activities in South Lebanon and preventing the group from rearming, is a scared bunch of intimidated cowards who won't lift a finger to Hizballah, and the Lebanese army -- which provided Hizballah political cover for the cache explosion -- is no better.
What's to be learned from it all? More people should second-guess the efficacy of a UN-broked solution to any future conflict and allow Israel to finish the job. Of course, that also requires an Israeli government to make the necessary decisions to do so.
Friday, September 25, 2009
An Historic Speech Not to be Missed
Amid recent assertions by Iran's President that the Holocaust never occurred, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday presented the UN archival material maintained by the German government proving Nazi plans to exterminate Jews. Netanyahu also unequivocally rebuked a UN panel's report accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza and urged the UN reject it. His audience listened intently to his every word, at one point interrupting with applause.
If you haven't seen the speech -- surely to be remembered as one of the best ever delivered by a world leader at the UN or anywhere -- make it a priority to do so this weekend, and tell your family and friends. Here is a link to part 1.
If you haven't seen the speech -- surely to be remembered as one of the best ever delivered by a world leader at the UN or anywhere -- make it a priority to do so this weekend, and tell your family and friends. Here is a link to part 1.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Secretly, Arab Leaders Are Thrilled By Israel's Actions
Egypt's foreign minister blasted the United Nations for failing to stop Israel's "aggression," while a Jordanian government spokesman predicted Israel's "invasion" would have "dangerous repercussions and negative effects" on security and stability in the region.
Are these countries, who've signed peace treaties with Israel, really that outraged by Israel's actions? While their people may be, as evidenced by street protests, their leaders, secretly, are thrilled.
To placate the masses and, in particular, members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radicals living in Egypt and Jordan, leaders of these countries spare no effort to condemn Israel's actions. But, behind their palaces' walls, they couldn't be more relieved that Israel is doing their dirty work for them -- rolling back the influence and military capabilities of one of the region's deadliest terrorist groups, Hamas, responsible for dozens of suicide attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians since October 2000.
Hamas and, with it, Iran are growing influences in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and by extension, in Lebanon and Syria, as well. In pursuing Israel's destruction and the eventual establishment of Islamic regimes, Hamas threatens the stability and security of not only Israel and Palestinians, but Egypt and Jordan, who couldn't be happier to see Hamas under attack. If only leaders of these countries were courageous enough to admit so publicly.
Are these countries, who've signed peace treaties with Israel, really that outraged by Israel's actions? While their people may be, as evidenced by street protests, their leaders, secretly, are thrilled.
To placate the masses and, in particular, members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radicals living in Egypt and Jordan, leaders of these countries spare no effort to condemn Israel's actions. But, behind their palaces' walls, they couldn't be more relieved that Israel is doing their dirty work for them -- rolling back the influence and military capabilities of one of the region's deadliest terrorist groups, Hamas, responsible for dozens of suicide attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians since October 2000.
Hamas and, with it, Iran are growing influences in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and by extension, in Lebanon and Syria, as well. In pursuing Israel's destruction and the eventual establishment of Islamic regimes, Hamas threatens the stability and security of not only Israel and Palestinians, but Egypt and Jordan, who couldn't be happier to see Hamas under attack. If only leaders of these countries were courageous enough to admit so publicly.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
UN Misses Opportunity on Lebanon
Despite having been briefed on Syrian collusion in the transfer of weapons to Hizballah in Lebanon, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) watered down a resolution that would have demanded the Syrians stop such activity. Instead, the resolution omitted any mention of Syria, or Iran. Also, to get support of UNSC member Qatar, the resolution omitted a condemnation of a statement by Hizballah's secretary-general that the group retains the capability to strike "all parts of Israel."
To its credit, the resolution mentioned that Hizballah continues to hold three Israeli soldiers, whose abduction led to last summer's war with Israel. However, the UN confused the issue and provided Hizballah an excuse to continue to hold the soldiers by also calling attention to Lebanese "prisoners" jailed in Israel for terrorist activity.
Nevertheless, US Ambassador to the UN Khalilzad insisted that the UNSC's expression of "grave concern" constituted a "strong message" to Syria to halt arms shipments into Lebanon.
Without naming names and threatening consequences, however, the UN's action is unlikely to help the situation in any way whatsoever, demonstrating once again its own futility and inability to play a constructive role in advancing responsible behavior among rogue Arab regimes such as Syria. It is also notable that Qatar, to whom the US plans to sell billions of dollars in fresh weapons as a "moderate" ally, impeded passage of what otherwise could have been a more effective UNSC resolution.
To its credit, the resolution mentioned that Hizballah continues to hold three Israeli soldiers, whose abduction led to last summer's war with Israel. However, the UN confused the issue and provided Hizballah an excuse to continue to hold the soldiers by also calling attention to Lebanese "prisoners" jailed in Israel for terrorist activity.
Nevertheless, US Ambassador to the UN Khalilzad insisted that the UNSC's expression of "grave concern" constituted a "strong message" to Syria to halt arms shipments into Lebanon.
Without naming names and threatening consequences, however, the UN's action is unlikely to help the situation in any way whatsoever, demonstrating once again its own futility and inability to play a constructive role in advancing responsible behavior among rogue Arab regimes such as Syria. It is also notable that Qatar, to whom the US plans to sell billions of dollars in fresh weapons as a "moderate" ally, impeded passage of what otherwise could have been a more effective UNSC resolution.
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