MDH on the Middle-East

July 25th, 2006 | by aobaoill |

Michael D’s latest statement on the situation in the middle-east:

The protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the respect for civilians and their welfare in times of occupation have become two of the fundamental principles of international law in our recent history. These principles are enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.
Recent events in Lebanon are such a significant departure from these principles that we are living through the beginning of the end of international law and its protections.
In the autumn it is likely that unilateral advancement of the US-India Nuclear Agreement will replace the previous international support for making the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Agreement, of which Ireland was a key initiator, in better times in Irish Foreign Policy, universally accepted.
The destruction of the lives of civilians in Israel has to be condemned unequivocally. The response of Israel however, supported by the most powerful country in the world, is outrageous both in terms of the killing and injuring of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, which is occurring in such fashion as to make impossible the delivery of humanitarian relief by the United Nations and its agencies.
Those of us on the Left who condemn the Hezbollah action as one which has facilitated deeds that have impacted disastrously on the civilian population of Lebanon, are clear in our demand for an immediate ceasefire. There must be, furthermore, respect for the sovereignty of Lebanon, a commitment to the political process and sustained realistic involvement by the international community.
In its failure to respond to the 18 Point proposal by prisoners representing four factions – a plan that had the support of Mahmoud Abbas, and likely to have the support of the vast majority of Palestinians – the European Union carries a large responsibility for what has taken place in recent weeks in Gaza. It has handed the Middle East to the Militarists.
The Quartet comprising the United Nations, the United State, the European Union and Russia has consistently neglected the issue of expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, the absorption of Palestinians into a new ghetto in East Jerusalem, the illegality of the Wall and sustained breaches of Human Rights on the part of Israel.
The parties to the Roadmap for peace have not recognised the distinction between the Hamas voice coming from Syria, those of Hamas who have formed a Government after fair and free elections observed by the Quartet among others, and prisoners seeking to develop an alternative to break the impasse.
The Irish Government must seek to recover what is left of its credibility and use its influence to call for a return to a comprehensive settlement, insisting on every element of the so called Roadmap for peace.
The policy of the United States in supporting the continuing loss of life and destruction of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon by Israel as a punishment to the Lebanese people for having Hezbollah in their midst, is a breach of International Law which ought to bring it before the International Courts.
Tragically, this stance is more likely to be the beginning of the end of the disciplines of International Law itself. At such a moment practitioners and supporters of a genuine global security based on such universal principles as the Geneva Conventions must speak out and call on their Governments to act.
With regard to media coverage of events, it is time to allow space for a genuine discussion that will include all the informing elements of the present killings and destruction to take place. Actions that will endure and bring the best prospects for the region require such analysis.
The belated visit to the Middle East by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, coupled with the obvious and unstinting support of the Bush Administration to the Israeli Government, offers little prospect of an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the short term. Dr Rice’s failure to respond to the plea of the Lebanese Government for such a ceasefire as would respect their sovereignty is simply continuing support for the principles of pre-emption and occupation.
As a result, the entire region is set to suffer further death and the Lebanese people face the prospect of a major humanitarian disaster. The international community cannot continue to sit on its hands as this catastrophe unfolds.

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