[Shermy]

The problem with the Americans/British jailing the alleged killers is that their "trial" was a joke, and they have a good reason to "appeal" or whatever they have. They will publicize their unfair trial (policemen as their lawyers!) UN, Amnesty INtl., whomever, will come and complain - America and Britain will be seen as the oppressor.

As for Jenin, it seems the Israelis don't want a trumped up "war crimes" trial for which the ICC is itching for. ON the other hand, it's probably good for Palestinian propaganda that no inquiry be made, if, and only if, it can be presented that Israel is solely to blame for interfering with it. There are relatively few casualties, compared to the claims repetitively reported as "facts" and "balanced reporting" by the media. Exposure of the truth might blowback on the P.A., while conspiracy theories about a blocked investigation would prove valuable in the propaganda war.

[noirgirl]

I am sure you are right about this. My question is: was Bush aware when he cooked this up that this is how it will play out? Or is he assuming that Amnesty International will not go after a case in which Arafat is the bad guy? Did he think two steps ahead at all? But my impression is that the Israelis do want international inspectors in--so long as they are real military people, not professional PLO sympathizers.

[montag813]

ON the other hand, it's probably good for Palestinian propaganda that no inquiry be made, if, and only if, it can be presented that Israel is solely to blame for interfering with it. There are relatively few casualties, compared to the claims repetitively reported as "facts" and "balanced reporting" by the media. Exposure of the truth might blowback on the P.A., while conspiracy theories about a blocked investigation would prove valuable in the propaganda war.

The main problem with your thesis is that, according to the IDF, the P.A. has been preparing the "scenery" for the U.N. visitors, by digging up bodies in one area to beef up the "massacre" total in the "Refugee Camp", by ceasing all body-digging operations so that there will be "fresh" bodies dug up for the "fact-finders", by removing all uniforms, ammo belts and weapons from dead gunmen, by repositioning of existing bodies to support lies of wanton murders, and by removing the posters and signs supporting terror which we have seen on TV hanging in the living rooms of "ordinary civilians".

It is too late for an accurate inquiry, and the longer the delay, the more the P.A. can change history on the ground.

Israel can never allow the U.N.-sponsored hitmen to visit Jenin...never.