Rogue Nation: Israel

by Clint Johnson

"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children".
~Golda Meir

Last Friday, Israel closed off occupied-Gaza Strip and its 1.4 million residents from the rest of the world, blockading the flow of basic supplies – including fuel and humanitarian aid. It’s understood that the blockade could lead to a humanitarian crisis in the already-destitute area. The lack of diesel fuel, for instance, threatens “such vital services as hospitals, bakeries, water supply and sewage.” Yesterday, Hamas blew holes in a separation wall that divides Gaza from Egypt, and brought most of it to the ground. An estimated 350,000 Gazans (more than 1/5th of the population) poured into Egypt to purchase supplies – a sign of how poor the living conditions have become.

Israel says they closed the border crossings to stop Hamas’ continued Qassam rocket attacks. However, Israel is once again violating international law, defying international institutions and ignoring international protests – with the help of the United States. International Humanitarian Law, as laid out in the Fourth Geneva Convention, strictly prohibits collective punishment of a population, calling such an action a war crime. With that in mind, the UN Human Rights Council slammed Israel today, passing a resolution that called for "urgent international action to put an immediate end to the grave violations committed by the occupying power, Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territory".

Meanwhile, the US said the blockade was in self-defense and appears to be obstructing a UN Security Council action, even after language was added condemning Palestinians for the rocket attacks. All this comes just days after the UN said Israel was guilty of another war crime – a bombing of a wedding party that killed about 40 Palestinians. But this is nothing new. From 1967-1989, the UN General Assembly passed 321 resolutions condemning Israel, while the Security Council passed 88 criticizing or opposing Israeli actions.

The international community has strongly rebuked Israel. Condemnations have come from all over, including from Britain, France, Russia, Egypt and Iran. As well they should. It must be understood that the Qassam rocket attacks are a violation of international law, and as such, they should be condemned. Why then am I focusing on Israel? Two simple reasons. First, the relationship between Israel and its occupied territories is not one of equals. Qassam rockets, while deplorable, are not effective weapons, and suicide bombings, while grotesque, kill far fewer people than Israeli military action – and potentially far fewer than a humanitarian crisis resulting from this blockade. In 2007, the ratio of Palestinians to Israelis killed in the conflict was 40:1, up from 30:1 in 2006.

Second, as citizens of the US, we are responsible in a very real way for the crimes committed by Israel. Approximately one-third of all US foreign aid goes to Israel; in 2008, we will provide more than $2.5 billion in military aid. In other words, we’re paying for the helicopters that kill civilians in air strikes, and we’re supporting unspeakable crimes such as this blockade. This should move us to act.

And that's jus' the tip.

* Clint Johnson is the former online, assistant features and summer editor of the prestigious college paper ‘Daily Tar Heel’. Mr. Johnson is also an aspiring novelist. He can be reached at: clintjohnso@gmail.com