Special Report 138odt
Special Report 138odt
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  1. Special Report 138The state of young women held in Gaza for over 250 days is clearly seen in these disturbing comparative photos https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjakeie00rThe International Court of Justice (ICJ) published its advisory opinion, calling on Israel to refrain from any action that might fall under the Geneva Conventions on Genocide, stating that “at least some” of Israel’s present actions in Gaza may well full under those restrictions. It further called upon Israel to take measures to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. It did not order Israel to declare a ceasefire or to end hostilities in Gaza and stated it is “gravely concerned” for the fate of the abductees held in Gaza and called for their immediate release.In addition, the ICJ castigated Israel for policies described in terms of occupation, settlement and annexation in the West Bank and insisted “Israel has an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence” in the West Bank “as rapidly as possible”.With regard to Gaza, Special Reports reader should be reminded that Israel has taken extreme measures to avoid or at least reduce civilian casualties — more than any military in any part of the world — and that Hamas purposely and repeatedly embedded itself among civilians and in privileged facilities. Inaddition, it engaged and is engaging (see below) in Herculean efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the population, once again repeatedly stymied by Hamas. Hostilities would immediately end if Hamas released the abductees, laid down its arms and brought an end to its armed struggle against Israel. However, this would necessitate a radical transformation of Hamas’s charter.With regard to the West Bank, Israel is not signatory to the ICJ (nor is the USA, for example) and is therefore not obliged to heed its injunctions. This writer believes most of the ICJ’s strictures are valid, however, to call upon Israel to to vacate the West Bank “as rapidly as possible” is foolhardy: The West Bank would immediately become anther Gaza, a staging ground for further attacks on Israel and a disruptive force in the turbulent Middle East. The only acceptable process would be for the Palestinians to elect a legitimate representation — the mandate of the Palestinian Authority’s
  2. governing body had long since expired — and sue for peace with Israel; for negotiations to commence, and for a mutually acceptable agreement be reached. To that end, Israel must also be prepared to make painful concessions, must immediately desist from extending its hold on West Bank lands and bring an end to harassment of Palestinian homes and villages.Israel is seeking ways to expand the economic aid it presently provides by enlisting Israeli and Gaza’s private sectors and preparing extensive repaid to Gaza’s sanitation system, including sewage, purification plants and the power grid. At the same time, Israel is greatly increasing the supply of food, medicines and basic goods such as fuel and gas. International aid agencies have expressed their surprise to note there is no humanitarian crises in Gazain spite of nine months of intensive conflict.At the same time, Israel has called upon the international community to dismantle the United Nations Work and Relief Agency (UNWRA), which has been used to perpetuate the refugee status of second, third and fourth generation Palestinians. Originally formed to provide a temporary solution similar to that of the millions of displaced Europeans following the Second World War, UNWRA continues to operate 75 years later, and has been extensively infiltrated and corrupted by militant Palestinian organizations such as Hamas. UNWRA thereby serves to perpetuate, indeed, to accentuate what has become one of the thorniest problems of the twentieth and now thetwenty-first century. The US, The European Union, Canada, Japan and Australia combined provide 99% of the agency’s budget, the US being the largest donor by far.
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