These are war crimes. - Jimmy Carter/Mary Robinson - Foreign Affairs

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Good on both Jimmy and Mary Robinson

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/04/how_to_fix_it_jimmy_carter_mary_robinson_israel_palestine_gaza_hamas

How to Fix It
Ending this war in Gaza begins with recognizing Hamas as a legitimate political actor.

Two factors are necessary to make Palestinian unity possible. First, there must be at least a partial lifting of the 7-year-old sanctions and blockade that isolate the 1.8 million people in Gaza. There must also be an opportunity for the teachers, police, and welfare and health workers on the Hamas payroll to be paid. These necessary requirements for a human standard of living continue to be denied. Instead, Israel blocked Qatar's offer to provide funds to pay civil servants' salaries, and access to and from Gaza has been further tightened by Egypt and Israel.

There is no humane or legal justification for the way the Israeli Defense Forces are conducting this war. Israeli bombs, missiles, and artillery have pulverized large parts of Gaza, including thousands of homes, schools, and hospitals. More than 250,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinian noncombatants have been killed. Much of Gaza has lost access to water and electricity completely. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.

There is never an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in conflict. These are war crimes. This is true for both sides. Hamas's indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians is equally unacceptable. However, three Israeli civilians have been killed by Palestinian rockets, while an overwhelming majority of the 1,600 Palestinians killed have been civilians, including more than 330 children. The need for international judicial proceedings to investigate and end these violations of international law should be taken very seriously.

The U.N. Security Council should focus on what can be done to limit the potential use of force by both sides. It should vote for a resolution recognizing the inhumane conditions in Gaza and mandate an end to the siege. That resolution could also acknowledge the need for international monitors who can report on movements into and out of Gaza as well as cease-fire violations. It should then enshrine strict measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Early discussions have already taken place. The Elders, an international group of elder statesmen of which we are a part, hope these discussions will continue and reach fruition.

[brer cat]

1. The Security Council needs to listen to President Carter

and act accordingly. This slaughter has to end, and the inhumane conditions in Gaza must be improved.

K&R

[malaise]

2. Get thee to the greatest page

immediately

Thank You Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson

This is a humanitarian catastrophe.

There is never an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in conflict. These are war crimes. This is true for both sides. Hamas's indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians is equally unacceptable. However, three Israeli civilians have been killed by Palestinian rockets, while an overwhelming majority of the 1,600 Palestinians killed have been civilians, including more than 330 children. The need for international judicial proceedings to investigate and end these violations of international law should be taken very seriously.

Closer to 1,900 Palestinians have been slaughtered

[sadoldgirl]

3. Good for Carter

This should be investigated by the UN, although I doubt that the Israeli government would give permission.

I find it very typical that the MSM always say that over 60 Israelis have been killed and over 400 wounded. Then they state that 1800 Palestinians have been killed, but don't give the number of wounded.

[bigtree]

4. k&r

. . . thanks to both.

International law is clear that these are violations. They are correct to point out the overwhelming numbers of those killed in comparison, while still condemning the Israeli deaths as illegal as well.

The destruction of basic services and amenities such as water, food, electricity is also important to point out, as they do, for anyone actually concerned with human rights.

Now, let's hear about their accomplices . . .

[Purveyor]

5. kick. Thanks for posting. +1 President Carter is certainly a gem, indeed! eom

[BobbyBoring]

6. Big kick and rec!

Just wondering though. Do the hard line right wingers Israel hate the U N as much as ours do? If so, I doubt that will happen.

[Stargazer09]

7. I love President Carter

He is truly a good man.

[winter is coming]

8. Carter's always been an example of how to have a meaningful post-Presidential career.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Worth remembering Robinson was President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, while peace talks

for Northern Ireland were formed. She knows an incredible amount about this, from the top levels.

[woo me with science]

10. K&R

[woo me with science]

11. President Carter: "We no longer have a functioning democracy."

[malaise]

12. And that's true in most countries on the planet

Democracy is disappearing. We have private governments that keep secrets from their populations, side with corporate interests and violate citizens' privacy.

[woo me with science]

13. kick