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General Israel/Palestine discussion thread

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Of course not. You're not saying anything. Only, somebody stabbed somebody else, and you seem to be under the impression that the person who got stabbed is partly responsible for the stabbing.

Feel free to clarify your position any time you like. Until you do, though, your commentary so far leads me to conclude that if the Beaver Indian Elders do decide your throat needs slitting, you'll be the first to admit that you kinda had it coming.

ETA: I know, I know, you've been extremely helpful to the Beaver Indians. But that only means you've bought their grace, not that killing land thieves is wrong.

Ever noticed how dedicated "communists" and "revolutionaries" always want communism and revolution somewhere else?

They're all agog about the Cuban revolution -- but they want it in Cuba, and they would not in a million years live there. They live in the capitalist west.

They're all for "revolution of the oppressed" -- but always some others opressed, somewhere else, not those who are oppressed next to them (such as the Indians they stole their land from).

They are, according to their own standards, imperialists capitalists pigs... only they try to wash away guilt feelings by supporting murderous dictators and terrorists in other countries.

I mean, who cares if all those other people die? At least their own precious self-esteem is saved.
 
Ever noticed how dedicated "communists" and "revolutionaries" always want communism and revolution somewhere else?

They're all agog about the Cuban revolution -- but they want it in Cuba, and they would not in a million years live there. They live in the capitalist west.

They're all for "revolution of the oppressed" -- but always some others opressed, somewhere else, not those who are oppressed next to them (such as the Indians they stole their land from).

They are, according to their own standards, imperialists capitalists pigs... only they try to wash away guilt feelings by supporting murderous dictators and terrorists in other countries.

I mean, who cares if all those other people die? At least their own precious self-esteem is saved.

drivel.
 
If israeli combat boots walk into Gaza for some military purposes today....still no occupation!! they must have some secret amount of time to get back to the safe zone...like children playing chasings in the playground.

Yeah, that's why the Hague Convention definition of "occupation" addresses this. See, you need more than just boots on the ground to be an occupier. Why? Well, because your soldiers could be there fighting with other soldiers, and the territory is not occupied, right?

The Hague Convention definition of occupation has two parts. You need boots on the ground, and you need to have taken control of local government functions. So if your forces move in, engage some other forces, then move on, the area was never occupied. If your forces move in, and you send a delegation to City Hall to tell the Mayor he need not show up to work tomorrow, then it's an occupation.

It's pretty simple, really. As someone who claims to be a former combat soldier, I'm surprised you don't know this.
 
ok.....

US overflying CUBA without cubas permission......act of war...because US does not control cuba.


Israel overflying Gaza without Hamas permission......not an act of war.... because Israel controls gaza.

understand so far?

Gawd that reasoning is circular. Israel occupies Gaza because it can overfly it. When challenged you add the qualifier "Legally". Then you claim it's legal because Israel occupies Gaza.

actually....on reflection

this thread is, has been....and I suspect always will be like trying to explain music to fish...you will all please excuse my permanent future absence from this thread.

Pulling a Sir Robin, I see. You shoulda done it years ago.


Then perhaps you can explain what else Israel can do, unilaterally, to end the "occupation" of Gaza, besides remove all troops and civilians from the territory.


They say it pretty openly. Stop controlling Gaza's borders and skies. Basically allow suicide bombers into Israel and allow Hamas to get all the money and weapons their overseas supporters are willing to send.
 
I have no need to use the definition of 'occupation' because qualified people have already spoken on the matter.

And because the actual definition doesn’t support you.

You're proceeding from the premise that the CIA, UK, EU…

No. The premise I’m preceding from is that there is in international law an actual definition of “occupation”. Wildcat quoted it to you and I’ve referred to it many times now. The current situation in Gaza does not match that definition.

Show me some other occupation which 'ended' with the occupied territory still under the restrictions which Gaza is under. You've claimed there is a double standard -- that Israel is being treated differently. Back that up with an example.

Irrelevant. Even if this ending is unique (you have been shown an example, you just denied it) it is still an ending. How about you show another example of an “occupation” where there were no soldiers controlling the ground and the “occupier” did not control the functions of local government?

Israel controls the lives of Palestinians, but doesn't let them take part in Israeli society. So Israel has not 'seperated itself from its enemies' -- it is very intimately involved with the Palestinians. And yet... You can hardly call them one people.

Which contradicts your previous claim that Israel’s “separation” is “worse than Apartheid.” Are they separated or not?

I've not made up any definition. I'm relying upon qualified people to reach a conclusion…

Israel often opines that it is held to double standards by the international community. If these “qualified people” do indeed assert a definition of “occupation” that is different from what is internationally agreed upon in the Hague Conventions, then that validates that opinion.



You, otoh, are relying on your own expertise. Why should I trust you? You've not even bothered to look for an authority who agrees with you. Are you afraid you won't find one? That it will be you, with your total understanding of the matter, against the rest of the 'revisionist' world?

I rely on the definition in the Hague Convention. I have referred to it many times. Wildcat has quoted it to you. You don’t need to trust me, you can read for yourself what is written in the law.

I might if I could understand it.

My point exactly. You simultaneously claim that Israel is not separated from the Palestinians, and that they are separated. And that the “separation” is “worse than apartheid.” Your argument, if you can’t figure it out how are the rest of us supposed to cope?

Again, I don't know who you're arguing against here. I've not coined new terms, nor forced new meanings on old words -- though I am sure such things happen very legitimately in international affairs.

The new term you try to coin is “Hafrada”, remember? The new meanings on old words are the aspects of “occupation” that are not part of its written definition in the Hague Convention.

Actually, I linked to such an assurance. You weren't satisfied by it. But it is there. And, frankly, I think it is the best Israel will get.

More denial.

As for Mr Solana,
He was the EU representative at the time and he was laying out the conditions upon which the occupation would be considered over. Nice of you to belittle it, especially with only amateur opinion on your side of the argument.

What’s written in the Hague Convention is quite clear.
 
The murderers are probably going to get a street named after them. Just before the murder, there was a show on Palestinian TV commemorating a murderer of Jews who got a town square named after him. Incitement to murder Jews is a recurrent theme in the Palestinian media. With people who do so lauded as religious heroes who earn a place in heaven.

Most anti-Israeli people don't care much about this. The Palestinian's skin just isn't the right color to make them responsible for their actions.
 
The Hague Convention definition of occupation has two parts. You need boots on the ground, and you need to have taken control of local government functions. So if your forces move in, engage some other forces, then move on, the area was never occupied. If your forces move in, and you send a delegation to City Hall to tell the Mayor he need not show up to work tomorrow, then it's an occupation.

Wildcat quoted some of Hague.
He didn't quote a part that mentioned occupations need boots on the ground, or that occupations end when the boots leave.

You're making the claim. Back it up.

And because the actual definition doesn’t support you.

As above, you're making a claim as to what the definition of occupation says. You should back it up. My claim is that the EU, US (state dept and CIA) etc all understand what occupation means.

No. The premise I’m preceding from is that there is in international law an actual definition of “occupation”. Wildcat quoted it to you and I’ve referred to it many times now. The current situation in Gaza does not match that definition.

That's what you keep saying. And saying it implies you think the authorities I've quoted are wrong. It's you who is wrong.

Irrelevant. Even if this ending is unique (you have been shown an example, you just denied it) it is still an ending. How about you show another example of an “occupation” where there were no soldiers controlling the ground and the “occupier” did not control the functions of local government?

Do you mean the example which was never an occupation in the first place? How did that occupation end when it didn't start?

How about you actually support your claim that Israel is being held to a different standard? Lots of occupations have ended. There are particular things which need to be done for them to end. Giving up some aspects doesn't end an occupation anymore than giving up the marriage bed ends a marriage.

Which contradicts your previous claim that Israel’s “separation” is “worse than Apartheid.” Are they separated or not?

Israel controls the lives of Palestinians, but doesn't let them take part in Israeli society. So Israel has not 'seperated itself from its enemies' -- it is very intimately involved with the Palestinians. And yet... You can hardly call them one people.

If the contradictory nature of that is too much for you, then so be it.

Stick with the pedantry.

Israel often opines that it is held to double standards by the international community. If these “qualified people” do indeed assert a definition of “occupation” that is different from what is internationally agreed upon in the Hague Conventions, then that validates that opinion.

You said "If".
So what is there to disagree with?

I rely on the definition in the Hague Convention. I have referred to it many times. Wildcat has quoted it to you. You don’t need to trust me, you can read for yourself what is written in the law.

Yes, Wildcat quoted it to me and it said nothing about boots on the ground. It certainly didn't say that an occupation is automatically over when the boots leave the ground. If that is what you are relying upon, then you don't have anything. If you did, then you would be able to find an independent authority that agrees with you. You won't dare even look, because if the CIA/US state dept don't agree with you then who in hell would?

My point exactly. You simultaneously claim that Israel is not separated from the Palestinians, and that they are separated. And that the “separation” is “worse than apartheid.” Your argument, if you can’t figure it out how are the rest of us supposed to cope?

I've adressed that. And if the contradiction is too much for you then why don't you decide for us: are they seperate or not? You claimed Israel seperated itself from its enemies. So that indicates 'Yes'. Do you really believe that Israel does not get in the Palestinians' faces everyday? I would guess not. Therefore how can you say they are seperate?

There are different aspects to their lives. They are very intimately connected in one respect and very remote in another.

If that's too tough a concept for you, I don't think I'll do any better explaining it.

The new term you try to coin is “Hafrada”, remember? The new meanings on old words are the aspects of “occupation” that are not part of its written definition in the Hague Convention.

I didn't coin 'Hafrada'. And I haven't changed its meaning. I have never tried to say that 'Hafrada' means occupation. That was you conflating two seperate arguments. I didn't mention occupation until you did, when you claimed my categorisation of Hafrada was the same kind of revisionism as those that say the occupation is over. You then took it upon yourself to think that I was saying 'hafrada'=occupation. I never have. In fact, I've pointed out this conflation to you before.

More denial.

No. It was a statement of fact, followed by an opinion.

What’s written in the Hague Convention is quite clear.

Then show me the bit that says an occupation is over when the boots leave the ground -- no matter what else is going on.
 
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I see yet another batch of posts shanghaied from elsewhere....

[...] My own views lean towards relativism , but with certain underlying standards, which relate the individual to the group.
I am not always consistent in my views, because I consider total consistency impossible, so I will not be playing further hypothetical games on this, as no hypothetical ever specifies enough of the detail.
What might damn a citizen of 21st century Israel or Palestine by my definitions would probably not apply to a Jewish "trusty" in Auschwitz. Circumstances alter moral absolutes. People deserve tolerance.

By the same argument, taking a child on holiday to the coast at Sendai and taking him to live in an illegal settlement may deserve different degrees of tolerance.

Here we differ. It is anything but simple. That's the point.

It's easy to take simple positions
1. The responsibility for the deaths lies 100% with the killers.
2. The responsibility for the deaths does not lie 100% with the killers.

These two opinions are all this thread is about.

If the truth was simple, we should be able, easily, to prove one or other statement is false.

We can't.

I may convince myself of one view and Par may convince himself of another. But we seem to lack the means to convince each other.

It's perfectly possible that what is wrong here is the concept of "right and wrong" itself.

When you talking about 'damning' and 'responsibility' how far does this go?

I think it is simple.
If the parents had been away when the attack occurred, and only the children had died, then what punishment would the parents need for their involvement in events? If there's a level of damning involved due to their level of responsibility, then what are the consequences? Do you never let them have children again, in case they are equally reckless? If you were to be less tolerant of their action than those of parents who lost children in other circumstances, then what sympathies do you withold? What aid and comfort would it be wrong to offer?
 
its very simple folks:

The stabbers are 100% responsible.

It's pretty simple, really.

I think it is simple.

So much simplicity - and yet still the polarised opinions.
Is it conceivable we may be misframing the question?


ETA- But this is a question about morality, which leads nowhere- and we have been moved to the thread on Israel and Palestine, which, as we are aware, is so much simpler.
 
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Wildcat quoted some of Hague.
He didn't quote a part that mentioned occupations need boots on the ground, or that occupations end when the boots leave.
Right, because boots on the ground are necessary to do the things necessary to qualify as an "occupation".

For Gaza to be occupied Hamas serves at the pleasure of the IDF. Clearly, they don't. And clearly, the IDF does not control the day-to-day functions of the government of Gaza.

Have you found an example of an occupation yet where the occupier didn't have a single boot on the ground? Have you figured out why during WWII France was divided between "occupied France" and Vichy France? Can you guess from these terms which part had German or Italian troops on the ground, and which part didn't? Ironically, Germany excercised far more control over officially non-occupied Vichy France than Israel does over Hamas-ruled Gaza.
 
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