'Hizbullah committing war crimes' (Human Rights Watch finally notices)

JPost.com ^ | 8/5/2006 | JPOST.COM STAFF

[Dark Skies]

Hizbullah must immediately stop firing rockets into civilian areas in Israel, Human Rights Watch said Saturday.

"Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "Nothing can justify this assault on the most fundamental standards for sparing civilians the hazards of war."

"Most of the attacks appear to have been directed at civilian areas and have hit pedestrians, hospitals, schools, homes and businesses," the humanitarian organization's website stated.

Since July 12, when Hizbullah captured two IDF soldiers and killed eight, Human Rights Watch researchers have been documenting the war's impact on civilians in Israel and Lebanon, interviewing the witnesses and survivors of attacks, as well as doctors, emergency workers, police, military and government officials.

"Hizbullah must stop using the excuse of Israeli misconduct to justify its own," said Roth.

The organization's Web site recognized that northern Israel had come to a virtual standstill because of Hizbullah's rockets, which were "exacting an enormous human and economic toll."

"Under international humanitarian law - also known as the laws of war - parties to an armed conflict must not make the civilian population the object of attack, or fire indiscriminately into civilian areas. Nor can they launch attacks that they know will cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects that exceeds the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Such attacks constitute war crimes," the site explained.

"Several medical and educational institutes have sustained damage from Katyusha attacks." Human Rights Watch researchers visited hospitals in Nahariya and Safed after they were hit.

At Nahariya Hospital, rockets had been landing near the hospital since July 12, a hospital spokesperson said. "There are no military bases around here; nothing military at all," he said. "I believe they know perfectly well they are firing at a hospital."

"In the absence of troops or military assets inside, hospitals must never be attacked," Human Rights Watch said. "Deliberately attacking them is a war crime."

[EagleUSA]

Not news. They have been setting up innocent civilians (or should I say non-terrorists) to be killed for their own political purposes to enrage the duped of the world, via the liberal MSM, as to "how cruel and bad Israel is". Sorry Hezzies - we have your number.

[Mr. Mojo]

"Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime," said Kenneth Roth

And so is the standard Hezbo practice of firing rockets from civilian areas -- using civilians as "human shields."

....but there's no mention of that by Roth and his group.

[GBA]

I can just hear the Hezzies', Iranians' and Syrians' lawyer: "If, according to the Koran, all Jews must die, then the Hezbollah has committed no war crime."

[dirtboy]

"Hizbullah must stop using the excuse of Israeli misconduct to justify its own," said Roth.

Two points.

First, Hiz started this.

Second, Hiz is also committing war crimes by launching military attacks from civilian areas. But the pinheads at HRW don't mention that.

[D-fendr]

That goodness for small favors from Human Rights Watch.

But it's past time the world quit turning a blind eye to Hibullah's strategy of murder by IDF.

[capt. norm]

Did anyone see the limp-wristed, pinch-faced liberal on last night's O'Reilly Factor (John Kasich guest-hosting)?

The liberal was pathetic.

[observer5]

So they are going to bring a case against Nasrallah in the Hague for war crimes...?????

[Young Werther]

but..but..but a(dofl)ma(hitler)ajihad says that Jews aren't human. Doesn't that mean that Israel is not covered by the rules of war?

SARCASM ALERT!

[bobsunshine]

yea know, this might be the one thing that will start to move the MSM and other liberal outlets against Hezbol. The MSM is always showing what IAF has bombed and the poor civilians that have died. But not much of what Hezbol has done to Israeli civilians and the constant bombing of hospitals, etc. With the Human Rights group getting into the act, they are saying what the world knows already, that Hezbol tries to kill civilians.

parties to an armed conflict must not make the civilian population the object of attack, or fire indiscriminately into civilian areas

[rottndog]

So they are going to bring a case against Nasrallah in the Hague for war crimes...?????

Right after they put Saddam Hussein on trial for firing scuds into Israel.

[Capt. Tom]

Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "Nothing can justify this assault on the most fundamental standards for sparing civilians the hazards of war."

Kenny doesn't understand this is a theological war; and there are no innocent Infidels regardless of age, creed, gender, race or national origin. - tom

[cardinal4]

If Robinson was still head of the commission, the war crimes would be on Israel for not "understanding" Hezbollah..

[rawcatslyentist]

"parties to an armed conflict must not make the civilian population the object of attack, or fire indiscriminately into civilian areas"

This "IS" ^{TM BIlly Jeff} their main method of conducting warfare. Unless they are on top, then its alah out GENOCIDE!

Butt the koranus DEMANDS otherwise! You are an infidel!

Sura 9:5 of the “Koranus,” “Slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”

"Make war upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God." Sura 9:29

Aap aap ahh dap dap!!!!!
It's a religion of peace
It's a religion of peace

[Ekoa]

Not only did I see him, I fired off a nasty letter to HRW regarding his pro-hezzi views. Maybe I wasn't the only one?

[Radix]

In other news...the sun rose in the east today!

[observer5]

What about using Human Shields?

[upchuck]

The Huzzie "head guy" is chuckling as he reads this.

To his second in command, "What's the latest report on the Infidels? Have we killed them all yet?"

Second in command: "No sir."

Head guy: "Well, then, keep on keeping on! Fire more rockets! Recruit more suicide bombers! Send more terrorists carrying WMDs across the wide-open US border!*. KILL THE INFIDELS!! KILL THEM ALL!!!"

* Sorry, I just had to include that J

[monocle]

"Under international humanitarian law - also known as the laws of war - parties to an armed conflict must not make the civilian population the object of attack, or fire indiscriminately into civilian areas. Nor can they launch attacks that they know will cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects that exceeds the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Such attacks constitute war crimes," the site explained.

I am not a fan of Human Rights Watch, but the boldfaced passage above appears to the human shield issue.

[M. Thatcher]

Not news.

Actually, it is huge news. The fact that Human Rights Watch – or any human rights organization – has declared any enemy of Israel guilty of anything is virtually unprecedented.