Posted on 01/13/2009 4:47:50 PM PST by mojito
Israel faces the prospect of intervention by international courts amid growing calls that its actions in Gaza are a violation of world humanitarian and criminal law.
The UN general assembly, which is meeting this week to discuss the issue, will consider requesting an advisory opinion from the international court of justice, the Guardian has learned.
"There is a well-grounded view that both the initial attacks on Gaza and the tactics being used by Israel are serious violations of the UN charter, the Geneva conventions, international law and international humanitarian law," said Richard Falk, the UN's special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories and professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University.
"There is a consensus among independent legal experts that Israel is an occupying power and is therefore bound by the duties set out in the fourth Geneva convention," Falk added. "The arguments that Israel's blockade is a form of prohibited collective punishment, and that it is in breach of its duty to ensure the population has sufficient food and healthcare as the occupying power, are very strong."
A Foreign Office source confirmed the UK would consider backing calls for a reference to the ICJ. "It's definitely on the table," the source said. "We have already called for an investigation and are looking at all evidence and allegations."
An open letter to the prime minister signed by prominent international lawyers and published in today's Guardian states: "The United Kingdom government ... has a duty under international law to exert its influence to stop violations of international humanitarian law in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas."
The letter argues that Israel has violated principles of humanitarian law, including launching attacks directly aimed at civilians and failing to discriminate between civilians and combatants.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
The UN can go to hell.
Oh Geez....
Lets start randomly lobbing rockets at the UN to see if they complain.
I second that.
To put it politely, Screw the UN.
UN sanctions, injunctions, reprimands and resolutions against Israel remind me of parking tickets that people just stuff in their gloveboxes and ignore. Not saying I do that.
I think it is against the rules for me to post the pic I would most like to — giving the finger to the UN.
The UN is antisemitic and anti-US.
Israel FINALLY woke up from her sleepwalking and decided to fight for her life. To the end.
Excuse my French, but who gives a shit what the UN thinks.
Hey U.N.! Read Deuteronomy 25:14 and consider feeling some shame!
Here’s my nightmare scenario. After Obama is sworn in, he will reluctantly agree with U.N. conclusions. And, again reluctantly, he will join the U.N. coalition for Mideast Peace and order U.S. military pilots to bomb Israel.
But firing thousands of missiles at civilian targets isn't. According to the UN and these brilliant Ivy League professors.
Hamas:
1) Violated a negotiated peace by constantly bombarding Israel with rockets over the last 8 years,
2)Forces schools and their children to act as sheilds in combat,
3) Partcipated in the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers in Israel proper.
4) Launched suicide bombers into Israel from Gaza.
The Hamas non humanitarian list goes on.
The UN has become an organized pimping service for Islamofascism.
EFF the UN straight to hell and send the US Marines to help Israel, by temporarily landing them on the beaches of GAZA, to keep the Soviet Fleet from intervening in Gaza from the sea ( at the UNs request, which will be the next boondoggle , thanks to the weakness of Obama.)
Randomly launching rockets at the UN won’t work, they are in the US and the liberals will only blame the Jews in NY.
Ummm..., the U.N. might try “going to court” about what the Hamas is doing..., instead. That would solve the problem quicker than going after Israel.
I’ve heard it said that if the Palestinians disarmed nothing would happen to them, but if the Israelis disarmed, Israel would cease to exist... (something to that effect, anyway... ).
What, the International Court is going to drop its paratrooper battalions into Tel Aviv?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
WTF is a UN court?
The Islamic bloc controls the UN via bribery so this UN court is illegitimate
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