Outcry Against Gaza "War Crimes" Grows

[bemildred]

(CBS/AP) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said the Gaza attacks were war crimes for which Israeli officials should be held accountable, but he insisted he would continue seeking a lasting peace with Israel.

Critics of the recent violence in Gaza have called for a war crimes investigation into the actions of both Israel and Hamas. Among the questions being raised are whether Israel used disproportionate force and failed to protect civilians.

Human rights groups are seeking to build a case that Israel and Hamas violated the laws of war during the fighting last month in this tiny coastal territory - a charge both combatants reject.

Abbas - who is on a European tour seeking support for a unity government - gave a speech at EU Parliament detailing the suffering of Gaza's civilians during Israel's three-week offensive targeting Hamas militants.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/04/world/main4774433.shtml

[bunnies]

1. Good. Charge them all.

Seems they both deserve it.

[Howardx]

2. "failed to protect civilians"

interesting phrasing, i would characterize it differently myself.

[bemildred]

4. Good point. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. His statement was a specific reference to the LOW. You can use any hyperbole you choose.

[Vegasaurus]

3. Abbas is just ****ed that Israel didn't finish the job

They want Hamas out as much as Israel does.

[shira]

11. correction

Abbas wants Hamas out MORE than Israel does.

If Israel left the W.Bank tomorrow, Hamas would overrun Fatah within weeks.

[azurnoir]

5. Abbas is trying to redraw his image

to appear as defender of the Palestinian people while Fatahs "militant" wing fires rockets from Gaza knowing Hamas will be blamed and the Palestin people there will suffer.

[iconicgnom]

9. I can't think of any scoundrel I despise more than Abbas.

He's right at the top of the list -- albeit along with other oily, traitorous weasels.
I can't understand how such a man still has a following. What am I missing? (and please, answers only from people who give a damn about the plight of the Palestinian people)

[shira]

10. did you despise Arafat as much as Abbas?

if not, why not?

[iconicgnom]

15. ignored can only explain or demonstrate why Israel would like the traitor.

am I wrong about that?

[bemildred]

6. Palestinian Leader Says Israeli Attacks on Gaza Were War Crimes

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the European Parliament the Israeli attacks on Gaza were war crimes and that Israeli officials should be held accountable. Mr. Abbas spoke during a tour of Europe to drum up support for peace talks and reconstruction in Gaza.

Speaking to lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, Mr. Abbas reiterated his calls for a unity government with Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. He also had harsh words for Israel.

Mr. Abbas said Israel committed war crimes during its offensive in Gaza, which ended last month. He said those who decided to launch the attacks should be held responsible.

His remarks came during a European tour aimed to secure backing for the Middle East peace process and help in reconstructing Gaza after the 23-day conflict. He met earlier in the week with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his foreign minister. The European Union is the largest contributor to the Palestinian territories.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-04-voa69.cfm

[shira]

12. well, if Abbas says it, they must be war crimes

All the human rights orgs. and UN groups are also doing a fine job proving war crimes. How many discredited reports have there been now about faux Israeli war crimes? Anyone keeping count?

[iconicgnom]

16. But why would any Palestinian trust Abbas?

Aside from the fact that both Israel and the US won't "negotiate" with anyone but Abbas, because he's their preferred "moderate".

Nowadays Abbas can hardly outright cheer for the results of his traitorous actions, because they're so visibly and shamefully written in blood, so in his weak solo voice he decries them (no photo-op with george and/or ehud's arm around him here!) He has little to say about the seige on Gaza while he and his sworn legions are rewarded, while a game of "carrot and stick" is openly played, dividing the remnants of Palestine. He has little to say aside from e.g. as described:
http://www.imemc.org/article/57986

In all, why should we, internationally, consider this man to be a credible leader?

We know that economic warfare is going on, and Abbas and his army is "preferred". And being trained. By the US, proxied by Jordan:
e.g.
U.S. supervising training of elite PA unit in Jordan
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/971913.html

Why should anyone trust the fucker? Why?

The only kind of answer that I'll refuse is one that's similar to "because we can trust he'll act to the benefit of the US and Israel".
That kind of answer is, like, "already given", tautologous.
Because yes, along with everyone else with an IQ up to actually absorbing information read, I already know it's in the interest of the US and Israel to describe both Hezbollah and Hamas as being isolate, "proxies of Iran" if they can, and not voices of, coming from, the people. That's essential to the Israeli/US war propaganda. And Israel/US are actively at war. Not just here, but across the region.

[bemildred]

7. South African dock workers refuse to unload Israeli goods over Gaza conflict

South African dock workers won't unload ships carrying goods from Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, a union leader said Wednesday.

Randall Howard, general secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, said it appeared a ship carrying goods from Israel was nearing Durban's port. If once the ship docks its cargo is determined to be Israeli, he said, union workers won't unload it.

"We will make that contribution," he said. "The historic and heroic struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination ... is a struggle that SATAWU supports."

Last year, South African dock and freight workers refused to unload a ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe to protest Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's rule of the neighbouring country. In the case of Israeli goods, Howard said, it did not matter whether they were weapons of vegetables.

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/South-African-dock-workers-refuse-to-unload-Israeli-goods-over-Gaza-conflict/tabid/209/articleID/89883/Default.aspx?ArticleID=89883

[Larkspur]

17. Good for them

Israel needs to be treated the same way South Africa under the Apartheid regime was treated. Only then will Israel feel the pain of the consequences of their oppressive actions against the Palestinians.

[Fozzledick]

13. 'No probe for blatant Hamas war crimes'

By REBECCA ANNA STOIL

Human rights groups argued Wednesday that a detailed probe into Hamas's firing of Kassam rockets at Israeli communities is not necessary, because it constitutes such a "blatant" war crime. By contrast, Israel's actions are more complex, and therefore do require such investigation, they said.

War crimes, said Sarit Micha'eli of B'tselem, are those actions that violate Article III of the Geneva Convention, and it was clear that Hamas was in violation of the requirement of distinction between civilian and military targets.

"It makes it quite easy regarding Hamas. It is quite clear that they are attacking and targeting civilians. When someone straps a bomb on themselves or fire missiles at civilians, the details are less important. It is clearly a war crime without even looking at the details," she said. "Even if they fired a Kassam missile as a military target, the fact that it is an inaccurate weapon, it would still count as an indiscriminate attack."

"With Israel things are more complicated because Israel states it does not deliberately target civilians and that it safeguards them. With Israel, you have to investigate each specific incident because even if a civilian is killed in an attack, it doesn't mean its necessarily a war crime. Targeting civilians is a war crime, but the damage to civilians in a given situation isn't indicative of a war crime."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304687815&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[GoesTo11]

14. Easy for the collaborator Abbas to say