Israel's international reputation slumped to its lowest point for two decades yesterday, amid condemnation in Britain and Europe of the Israeli army's behaviour at the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin in the West Bank. There were calls for a United Nations-led inquiry into allegations that the Israeli army carried out a massacre and that its soldiers were guilty of war crimes. Senior politicians lined up in London and Brussels to express outrage.
The European Union's external relations commissioner, Chris Patten, in an interview with the Guardian, said Israel must accept a UN investigation of alleged atrocities against Palestinians or face "colossal damage" to its reputation.
In a Commons debate, Gerald Kaufman, the veteran Labour MP who is Britain's most prominent Jewish parliamentarian, launched a ferocious attack on the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, denouncing him as a "war criminal".
With MPs on both sides of the Commons condemning the Israeli incursion, Mr Kaufman said Mr Sharon had "ordered his troops to use methods of barbarism against the Palestinians".
Expressing fear that something dreadful had happened in Jenin, he said: "It is time to remind Sharon that the Star of David belongs to all Jews and not to his repulsive government. His actions are staining the Star of David with blood."
With the Israeli army still blocking full access to Jenin, it is impossible to establish even a rough body count. However, both Amnesty and the New York-based Human Rights Watch yesterday called for inquiries.
A senior Palestinian, Nabil Shaath, accused Israel of carrying out summary executions and removing corpses in refrigerated trucks. He said close to 500 people had been killed. Israel says 70 Palestinian fighters died in the fighting. "The Israeli army took six days to complete its massacre in Jenin and six days to clean it up," Mr Shaath said.
What lies? The 1,400 in Gaza? Or the poor fellow at the IDF checkpoint on Wednesday? Or the 66 year old man shot , mistakeinly , in his sleep last night? Which lies old man?
Ms Wow won't want witnesses would she? We don't want the world know the horror and terror the IDF exacts on the rank and file populace. This is collective punishment Conrad. They are the real "terrorists".
Sorry old boy. I know posting the news about the innocent Palestine puts more blood on the Israeli flag. Not YOUR FLAG because your not Jewish. Ms. Wow's flag. Blood, like the same blood that is on the hands of the IDF that slaughtered the children in Gaza and Jenin, You remember Jenin. The purge that the IDF felt was so horrific that they refused for weeks to let the media report on, until the bulldozers could bury the carnage.
Sorry miss, you missed the FACTS. IT WAS THE IDF THAT SLAUGHTERED THE ONE THOUSAD FOUR HUNDRED MEN WOMEN AND CHILDRED A FEW MONTHS AGO USEING PHOSPHOROUS WEAPONS ON THE GENERAL POPULACE THAT IS DEEMED A WAR CRIME
What lie? There are laws that define warfare and collective punishment. Occupation and stealing. The international community sees Israeli settlements as illegal.
So we have a innocent man murdered and it's "sorry, my bad" thats it?
The settlements are illegal in the eyes of the international community.
The treatment of the Palestnians is seen as collective punishment in the eyes of the international community. Yesterdays murder of an innocent man, in his sleep, is a prime example of this.
Had a bit too much of the ol Manechevitz tonight Al? Or did you get your fact messed up.
Israeli troops have shot dead a sleeping Palestinian man during a dawn raid in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
An Israeli military spokesman told the AFP news agency: "There is no indication that was involved in any terror activity at any stage and therefore we regret the incident."
"According to the family, the soldiers appeared very flustered after killing al-Qawasmeh and asked one of the sons whether that was Bitar. When told he was not, they went to Bitar's apartment one floor below to arrest him and left the building," she said.
The mn wasn't wanted for any thing Al. Your fibbing again.
SilverBirch Forum Posts (3,158)
Palestinian Statehood at Last
I'll leave you all with one final salute to the merderous IDF that kills children indiscriminantly.Peace.