|
... more
Red Cross Unapologetic Over Offer of Jerusalem Sanctuary to Hamas Terror Fugitives
Summary ... As the official "guardian" of the articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) consistently interprets them against Israel, no matter who is on the other side. In this case, by reclassifying terrorists as politicians, the ICRC knowingly shelters three wanted fugitives from the Israeli police and makes no apologies for it.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated Tuesday that it is knowingly sheltering three wanted fugitives from the Israeli police in its east Jerusalem headquarters. Ahmad Atoun, Khaled Abu Arafa and Muhhamad Totach, all representatives of Hamas' Change and Reform list in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), have camped out in the Sheikh Jarrah building since the June 30th re-arrest of Hamas MP [Member of Parliament] and former Al-Qassam Brigades leader Muhhamad Abu Tir.
Dorothea Krimitsas, a spokeswoman for the ICRC, stated that the three men requested Red Cross "protection" from Israeli security forces and were informed that "they could remain on ICRC premises, but also that the ICRC could not prevent the Israeli authorities from taking action against them."
All three are wanted by Israel for illegally residing in Jerusalem due to the recent revocation of their blue residency cards. The cards were confiscated following their refusal to renounce their affiliation with Hamas. Without a repudiation of their membership, Israeli authorities warned, the four men face deportation.
According to Hamas, Abu Tir was taken by security forces as he sat in a car with Hamas MP Atoun in their east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sur Baher. Israeli security sources have not explained why Atoun was not apprehended at that time as well.
Prior to his re-arrest, Abu Tir and the other members of the "Hamas four," as they have been dubbed, indicated a willingness to renounce their affiliation with the Gaza based Islamic movement in order to have the expulsion order stayed, but ultimately no action was taken.
The ICRC subsequently protested the Israeli decision to detain the PA/PLO lawmakers and called upon the state to "respect [its] obligations under international humanitarian law."
"Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to protect the Palestinian [sic] residents of east Jerusalem and cannot lawfully undertake to forcibly transfer them from their homes," Krimitsas stated. "Under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, forcible transfers of protected persons are explicitly prohibited regardless of their motive."
[Editor's note: Article 49 of the Geneva Convention does also state, "Nevertheless, the Occupying Power may undertake total or partial evacuation of a given area if the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand." That is the specific reason that Israel seeks to remove these terrorists. So, in order to get around this, the ICRC uses the convoluted logic explained below.]
When asked if the ICRC recognizes Israel's categorization of Hamas as a terror organization, Krimitsas replied that it "is not up to the ICRC ... to confer a particular status on people or organizations or to recognize their legitimacy, neither does international humanitarian law."
She also explained that the Red Cross differentiates between the militant and political wings of terrorist organizations.
"In a recent study," she said, "ICRC also interpreted that members of organized armed groups belonging to a party to the conflict lose protection against direct attack for the duration of their membership (i.e., for as long as they assume a continuous combat function)." According to Krimitsas, this "principle of distinction is particularly relevant" and explains why Israel cannot move against Hamas political figures.
Israel objects strongly to this distinction and Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor recently stated that"distinguishing between a military branch and a 'political' or 'charitable' branch of a terror group is like distinguishing between the two hands of a convicted murderer."
The Ministry also had harsh words regarding the Red Cross' objections to its treatment of Hamas' Jerusalem leadership.
"Hamas is [a] terror organization that is responsible for the mass murder of hundreds of Israeli citizens and is considered a terrorist organization, not only by Israel, but by other countries as well," said MFA Deputy Spokesman Andy David, responding to Krmitsas' comments. "The three people we are dealing with are senior members [and] leaders of Hamas ... and nobody can expect a country to allow people of an organization that is calling openly for its destruction to roam around freely in the territory of that country."
David further stated that the three fugitives "are illegally staying in East Jerusalem and they will have to leave to a PA controlled area."
When asked if the government of the state of Israel intended to censure the Red Cross for its role in harboring wanted members of a terrorist organization, the Foreign Ministry replied that they are currently in touch with the ICRC but declined to comment on any specific moves being considered against the group.
One senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this paper [Israel Resource Review] that while he did not think it likely that Israeli security forces would enter the Red Cross building, all three men face arrest as soon as they step outside.
"I don't think that there is a need or a call for a forceful entry or anything like that, but these people have to be moved to PA controlled territory," he said.
Several members of Israel's extreme left have paid visits to show solidarity with the three fugitives. Controversial Israeli activist Uri Avnery came with a delegation representing Gush Shalom, Anarchists Against the Wall and other, similar organizations. Avnery reported seeing several police cars passing the building, reinforcing the administration official's contention that security services are poised to arrest the MPs should they leave the premises.
[ Published: July 23, 2010 ]
In Depth Analysis
Is the Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt Finished?
The deterioration in relations between Israel and Egypt should serve as a reminder to all that the new generation in the Arab world is not marching toward moderation, particularly when it comes to making peace with Israel or even recognizing its right to exist.
How Moral Equivalence Erodes Accurate Reporting
When the media fails to make a distinction between Hamas's aggression and Israel's defense, it leaves out the essential element of the story that allows people to make sense of what's happening. What's left out of the coverage is the element of intentionality. More specifically, it glosses over the reality that Hamas's intention was to kill Israeli school children and Israel's intention, in firing back, was to defend its citizens.
UN General Assembly "Uniting for Palestine"
The PA/PLO, according to several reports, will attempt to obtain statehood through use of what is known in the UN as a "Uniting for Peace" resolution. They have several options under this resolution. However, it is important to remember that the UN General Assembly can only adopt non-binding recommendations. The Assembly cannot determine boundaries nor can it confer statehood. A boundary between Israel and a future Palestinian state can only be determined by agreement between the two parties.
Emet Blog
Bin Laden Lessons for Israel
The US assassinated bin Laden, tried to kill Hitler, and also hunted and eliminated Saddam Hussein, yet nobody said a word. For every targeted elimination carried out by Israel, it was hit with numerous condemnations and protests, yet the daily US surgical strikes in Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, and Iraq are met with silence. Every time Israel unintentionally harm civilians, the world raises a hue and cry, yet if it happens in Libya, Iraq, Serbia, or Kosovo nobody protests.
Murder at Tomb Illustrates the Future of Jewish Holy Sites in a Palestinian State
On April 24, 2011 Jewish worshipers at Joseph's Tomb were attacked by members of the US-trained PA/PLO police. One person was murdered and several others wounded. Rather than keep the peace and root out the terrorists who are a threat to the safety of both Jews and Arabs, the PA/PLO police have yet again proven themselves to be a group that is willing to commit acts of terrorism themselves. And this is not the first time they have done this at Joseph's Tomb.
UN Must Help Block Terrorist Plan to Run Israel's Gaza Blockade Disguised as Humanitarians
Once again pro-Arab, anti-Israel activists plan to set sail to Gaza in as many as 15 ships, proclaiming that their only goal is to deliver humanitarian supplies to residents of Gaza. This is a lie. Israel and the United States have called on the United Nations Security Council to take a stand against this action.
Views/Commentary
Those Contradictory Militants
The mainstream media, politicians, and others, prefer to use the term "militant" instead of "terrorist," especially in the case of the Israeli-Arab conflict. Doing so fulfills many different agendas, in addition to furthering the user's cause. Whatever the case may be, the usage generally distorts the story and causes confusion for the reader, which many times is its exact intention. As with much post-1970s journalism, the longer news media use such language, the less they sound like journalists and the more they are heard as political partisans.
Who Will Teach Tolerance to the Muslims?
There was a time when police officers told battered wives that they had to be more understanding of their husbands. Today they tell Americans to be more understanding of Muslims. They do work hard you know. And if they try to car bomb you sometimes, maybe it's because you don't please them anymore.
But There is a G‑d in Israel
The Jewish exiles shall be ingathered only through faith. If they have it, if they truly believe in the existence of the Creator and Guider of history, the G‑d of Israel, they can bring the final redemption today. Far from fearing what the Gentile will do if they do such a thing, let the Jew tremble as he considers the anger of the Almighty if he does not.
Selected Reading
Reconciliation (Unity) Agreement Between Fatah and Hamas
Under the auspices of Egypt, delegations from the Fatah and Hamas terrorist groups met in Cairo on April 27, 2011 to discuss the issues concerning ending the political division and the achievement of national unity. Both political parties mutually agreed that the basis of understanding made during the meeting are committing to both parties in the implementation of the Palestinian National Reconciliation Agreement. This is the basis of understanding agreed upon by Fatah and Hamas.
The Arab Pulse: What Policymakers Can Learn From "Palestinian" Social Media 
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has released the first-ever study mining the Arabic-language "Palestinian" social media environment to determine Arab public sentiment and its potential impact on US foreign policy. At FDD's direction, the Washington, D.C.-based Web analysis company Constrat viewed approximately 10,000 Arab social media entries between May 3 and August 3, 2010, of which it analyzed approximately 20 percent for relevancy. In the end, the company analyzed 1,788 statements contained within 1,114 unique posts across 996 threads written by 699 authors.
Why Is Israel's Presence in the Territories Still Called "Occupation"?
When an armed force holds territory beyond its own national borders, the term "occupation" is usually used to describe its holding on the land. However, not all the factual situations that we commonly think of as "occupation" fall within the limited scope of the term "occupation" as defined in international law.
Commentaries, Documents, Booklets, and Miscellaneous Materials Relating to the Gaza Strip
These commentaries, documentation, and booklets provide much otherwise unknown information regarding the truth ("emet") about what is really happening in the Arab-occupied/Hamas-controlled Gaza area. Included are weekly and monthly summaries of humanitarian assistance, as well as the infamous Goldstone Report, Israel-related United Nations Resolutions, and miscellaneous materials providing information and analysis of the situation in Gaza.
The History and Meaning of "Palestine" and "Palestinians"
Palestine has never existed . . . as an autonomous entity. There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs. PDF Format