Israel drafting convention on fighting suicide bombers

The Jerusalem Post / The Associated Press ^ | 25 November 2002

[anotherview]

Nov. 25, 2002 Israel drafting convention on fighting suicide bombers By THE ASOCIATED PRESS

Israel is drafting a document it hopes will lead to international agreement on how to combat suicide attacks, from the bombings that have torn apart Israeli buses to the Sept. 11 strikes on the United States, Foreign Ministry officials said Monday.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the document would seek international consensus on legitimate ways of fighting suicide attacks. It is to be submitted to the United Nations, but a date has not been set, they said.

Palestinian suicide bombers have killed 309 Israelis over the last 26 months of Mideast violence.

The international community has condemned the attacks but has also criticized Israeli countermeasures, which include pre-emptive killing of alleged potential bombers and their controllers, curfews on Palestinian towns and cities, roadblocks and demolition of bombers' family homes.

The officials would not give details of the draft convention, saying it was still incomplete, but it was expected to deal with combating suicide attackers in the field as well as cutting off their sources of finance.

[xm177e2]

This is great. Either the UN will have to say Israel has no right to defend itself (and give Israel the right to ignore the UN completely), or it will have to approve the Israeli use of a bunch of different tactics (and then it won't be able to complain later when those tactics are used).

[sheik yerbouty]

The Israelis should wake up and realize that the UN doesn't give a shi'ite about them. The jihadists should be smitten wherever they are found.

[fightinJAG]

I agree. This is smart like a fox. Just like Bush is and is not going through the UN, this would force the world, esp. the Euroweenies (who are shaking in their boots about their own potential to experience suicide bombings), to put up or shut up.

Let's see just what the world would suggest that Israel do differently to counter this horrible threat.

This seems like a strategery that has its roots in our Oval Office. I wouldn't be surprised to learn later that we had encouraged this dialogue and given substantive help behind-the-scenes.