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Originally Posted by Watser?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by ManM
Is this another one of those cases where "submit to foreign occupation" maps out to "acknowledge Israel's right to exist"?
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Sheesh, that phrase really is all you have, isn't it?
It says really loudly and clearly in the Geneva Conventions that collective punishment of the population of an occupied territory is illegal. Israel is using these measures to force the Palestinian population to comply, it doesnt even matter what they are forcing them to comply with (releasing a hostage, giving up resistance, recognising Israel's 'right to exist'), it is and remains illegal. |
It's just that the situation appears to be a bit different when you take into consideration who Israel is fighting against. Hostages are taken for the purpose of extortion. What you characterize as "resistance" is often violent action against innocent Israeli citizens. Just as easily as you say it doesn't matter what Palestinians are doing, I could say it doesn't matter what Israel is doing. However, demonizing one half of the conflict doesn't help when it comes to understanding the underlying motives.
What Israel is forcing the Palestinian population to comply with
does matter. There is a difference between trying to steal land from the Palestinians and trying to force them into behaving civilized.