Armed Gangs Battle for Control of Nablus

[Lurking Dem]

Everyone seems to have missed this NPR story from Monday so I thought I would post it.

To those of you who think the IDF/GOI are nothing but murderous thugs intent on genocide, note how the Palestinian mother of 3 interviewed now feels safe leaving her home because of the IDF presence in Nablus.

Note also that it is apparent many of the gang members are also members of the Palestinian Security forces.

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1431293

[papau]

1. Good point - but sad point was Israeli's giving up on peace if Arafat

remains just because he was an idiot to turn down Taba and Clinton's proposal.

There is no longer much opposition to kissing off peace talks and just treating the PA protests as part of the PA killing of Israelis - and just resorting to police actions to stop or control - or at least punish - those involved.

At least until the bullshit right of return/destroy Israel as a Jewish state folks leave the scene.

[Lurking Dem]

2. There is also a good point in the interviews

about the destruction of police stations by IDF hampering law enforcement but then they have officers as gang members so it's a sticky wicket.

[Resistance]

4. right of return isn't bullshit

it's an internationally recognized right, which everyone except Israel (and by extension the United States) refuses to accept.

And it's not about "destroying Israel" either - although that is really a nice inflammatory right-wing talking point, which I don't understand the worth of repeating here.

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/israel/return/

* The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948)

The right to return has a solid foundation in international law. Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states, "Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country".

* The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

The right to return is most clearly enshrined in the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) under its provisions on the right to freedom of movement (Article 12).

* Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (28 July 1951)

International refugee law and international human rights law mutually reinforce each other on the right to return.

* United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948

11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date

[StandWatie]

3. it's Linda Gradstein

She's paid by Hillel and Friends of Israel to give speeches against explicit NPR policy.

I'm quite sure she worked her way through quite a number of people in order to find the one that likes the IDF.