Switzerland Claims Israel Breaking International Law in Gaza Offensive (Barf Alert)

FoxNews.com ^ | 7/3/06 | AP

[NRA2BFree]

GENEVA — Switzerland said Monday that Israel has been violating international law in its Gaza offensive by heavy destruction and endangering civilians in acts of collective punishment banned under the Geneva conventions on the conduct of warfare.

"A number of actions by the Israeli defense forces in their offensive against the Gaza Strip have violated the principle of proportionality and are to be seen as forms of collective punishment, which is forbidden," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"There is no doubt that Israel has not taken the precautions required of it in international law to protect the civilian population and infrastructure," it said. The statement did not name the Geneva Conventions, but it referred to provisions of the 1949 treaty, which is regarded as the cornerstone of international law on the obligations of warring and occupying powers.

Switzerland, as the depository of the conventions, has a responsibility to call meetings if it finds general problems with the implementation of the treaty, but it does not have any special powers to interpret the document.

[NRA2BFree]

Liberal Socialists are blaming Israel, as usual. THIS is what we can expect if/when we join the International court with International law.

[Lazamataz]

I hate the Switz.

[Lazamataz]

I especially hate switz chietz.

[Lazamataz]

Switz chztocolatie really annoys me.

[Lazamataz]

Cuz I hate the Switz.

[NRA2BFree]

I hate the Switz.

Me too, and that's where my ancestors came from....lol What I really hate are their Liberal/Socialist politics.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Don't worry Switzerland. If they have their way, the Muslims will soon get around to your neck of the woods.

[Jeff Head]

Quatsch!

[denydenydeny]

Ah, a bulletin from the Bank of Adolf.

[Gay State Conservative]

Is this the same Switzerland that profited to a breathtaking degree by playing footsie with the Nazis regarding cash,artwork,real estate,gold bricks,diamonds and gold fillings stolen from the Jews of Europe during the 30's and 40's?

[NRA2BFree]

Don't worry Switzerland. If they have their way, the Muslims will soon get around to your neck of the woods.

Never, I tellya never!! I've got guns. Besides, we own the woods. LOL They cannot get down my road without me being able to pick them off. ;o)

[Sam Cree]

Switzerland is taking the position that the kidnapping was the action of a few isolated men, with no connection to the Palestinian government, and without the approval and support of the Palestinian people. They are so obviously and completely wrong in this approach that one wonders at the motivation.

I've generally been an admirer of Switzerland, but this is giving me a series rethink.

[Cyclopean Squid]

Didn't the Swiss just grant women the voting franchise in 1971?

[Rosemont]

I hope the Israelis do not make their descisions based on what the EUrabian Socialists think.

[afnamvet]

You obviously have a switz chietz fetitz,

[Logical me]

Screw Switzerland

[Diogenesis]

Licorice's cousin, the Swiss RAT:

"I think the Swiss banks are holding billions in money from the Arafats,
the Paleostinians and Fatah and Hamas.
Maybe their money effects their ethics."

[NRA2BFree]

I especially hate switz chietz.

Switz chztocolatie really annoys me.

Yum. I like them both. ;o)

[goldstategop]

Where is Switzerland's voice to be found when the Palestinians assaulted Sderot with Qassam rockets, who in their targeting, violates all the principles of international law that Israel is accused of breaching? The criticism from the Swiss government sounds one sided to me and Israel's action against Palestinian terrorist infrastructure has a valid military purpose. Also, no one has been killed. This the first time in history that I can think of when a military operation designed to counteract acts of terror and bring home to his family an abducted national has been declared "illegal." In any case Israel is a country facing a war of aggression and there can be no academic discussion of who is at fault as long as human lives are at stake. Israel ought to take all the measures necessary to defend herself from the terrorists without paying regard to so-called Swiss or international opinion. They don't live among Israelis.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[NRA2BFree]

Switzerland is taking the position that the kidnapping was the action of a few isolated men, with no connection to the Palestinian government, and without the approval and support of the Palestinian people. They are so obviously and completely wrong in this approach that one wonders at the motivation.

That's the 'world opinion' too. It's ALWAYS blamed on Israel.

I've generally been an admirer of Switzerland, but this is giving me a series rethink.

Me too. I used to want to make a trip to Switzerland, but I'm rapidly losing interest.