Collective Punishment, Again

Israel is not above international law. No country is.

Collective punishment violates the Geneva Conventions.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

The Vatican says:

"As in the past, the Holy See condemns both the terrorist attacks on the one side and the military reprisals on the other." It stated that Israel's right to self-defence "does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilian populations."

Hat tip Juan Cole.

Comments

[a]

"Collective punishment violates the Geneva Convention"

When Lebanon lets Hizballah fester and join the ruling government

When Lebanon refuses to exercise soverignty over it's own land and lets Syria and Iran use it as a launching base for attacks against a soverign neighbor

When Hizballah shoots missiles from between civillian homes, putting them at risk

Who will stop Hizballah? Syria neutered Lebanon - the Lebanese people are paying for their lack of courage in standing up against their foreign overlords.

It is Iran that is punishing Lebanon. Not Israel.

[Alison Chaiken]

Are Israel's actions any more "collective punishment" than those of other war-making entities? Isn't war typically collective punishment given that civilians are usually present? I'm not attacking you here, but am simply not sure what point you're trying to make. Do you think Israel is intentionally targeting non-combatants? How would we know if they were in a war where the other side doesn't sleep in barracks or wear a uniform?

Following the rules and yet still winning seems like an impossible task in this confusing and dangerous age. The difficulty and plain old confusion don't excuse torture, rape or murder, but I don't envy the officers that have to make the decisions.

[Leila]

Read Juan Cole and other reports on what facilities are getting hit. Bridges with vehicles on them, houses, schools. Also they keep hitting the power stations, which knocks out the water supply as well as the power. It's hot, people are crowded, the conditions are precarious.

I suggest you read the Head Heeb's analysis as well. Yes I am accusing them of unreasonable measures. I hope if you read the other articles I've linked today, you can get the perspective of people more qualified to discuss this than I.