Amnesty slams Israeli policy

[dArKeR]

Restrictions imposed by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have had a disastrous impact on the lives of Palestinians and crippled their economy, a report by Amnesty International said on Monday.

"Unemployment and poverty has spiralled, malnutrition has emerged, anaemia and other health problems have increased and education has been negatively affected," the report by the London-based rights group said.

Sweeping and indiscriminate restrictions on Palestinians and their goods violated their right to freedom of movement and the right to work, it added.

"Some 60 percent of Palestinians now live below the poverty line of $2 per day and most are forced to depend on aid," it said.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1413031,00.html

My opinion of Israel has really changed since I joined the DU.

[Jim Sagle]

1. Not a very good reflection on either you or DU.

AI has jumped the shark.

[Scurrilous]

2. An innappropriate neologism.

Jumping the shark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark

Jumping the shark is an uncommon neologism (a new word or phrase) made popular by the website JumpTheShark.com . The phrase indicates the moment (preferably the precise moment) when any long-running television show has been judged to have passed its 'peak' and is in relative decline. A show in decline is said to have "jumped the shark".

The etymology of the phrase is a three part episode of the series Happy Days during which the character of "Fonzie" jumped over a shark on water skis. This was said to mark the moment when a previously enjoyable television show became a bad television show.

<snip>

AI has 1.5 million members and supporters working in over 150 countries and territories. It doesn't appear to have either reached its 'peak' nor gone into decline. I fail to see how this particular neologism applies.

[tinnypriv]

3. AI doesn't love Israel

That is the principle.

I wouldn't bother taking anything Jim says seriously, BTW. Certainly he isn't worth citation or research.

But, since you did, I'd have to disagree. Happy Days was still good even after the Shark. :D

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Happy Days was never good!

Hey, this AI member thought Jim's post was cute. Let's wait until AI publishes another report condemning suicide-bombings and throw Jimbo's words right back at him!!

Violet...

[The Magistrate]

6. Hear Hear, Ma'am

"Happy Days" was never good. Still, Mr. Priv is a good fellow; there is no accounting for tastes.

[tinnypriv]

15. You're just anti-Fonz!

;-)

:D

[psyche777]

5. the difference is obvious

The US just gave Israel an additional loan two weeks ago. This was because the yearly average income in Israel had dropped to approx. $15,000 a year. The average yearly income in Palestine has dropped to aprox. 500 a year. That's right a year. This was before funds were frozen by the Palestine Monetary Authority. I have no problem with terrorist funds being frozen, but thousands of people depend on the monthy welfare checks. With the West Bank and Gaza totally closed off those that did have jobs will now have nothing. Making their living conditions even worse is not going to make anyone feel more inclined towards Peace.

[sabbat hunter]

9. arafats pockets

well if arafat would to reach into his deep pockets of stolen palestinian money, a lot of the general populace of the palestinians would be far better off.


peace
david
:hippie:

[Darranar]

10. Of course...

and if Sharon would make an effort towards peace and begin spending money to aid the economy instead of spending it to boost the military, the populace of the Israelis would be far better off.

[StandWatie]

20. Israel says he does

Who the hell really knows, Arafat is Israel's version of Snowball from Animal Farm.

[Jackie97]

7. This board is a good board for this subject...

I can't say that I've seen a lot of boards where this can be discussed even half-way as calmly as over here. Plus, everybody brings a lot of good articles in.

As far as the attacks on AI go, they do condemn suicide bombings.

[Darranar]

8. You call this board CALM?

I guess I haven't seen many message boards where they discuss this issue.

[Jackie97]

12. At least they allow both sides to talk....

Lots of boards, such as Little Green Footballs, would never allow that.

I personally think that how "calm" a board is depends on if there are any enforced rules. I've seen this subject discussed on a board where anything went. It made this place look like a day at the beach.

[Violet_Crumble]

16. That anything goes board yr talking about...

I've forgotten what it was called, but are you talking about the one where the Twit is? That was such a mindless sort of place...

I think this place is calm compared to most other places. The only one I can think of that comes close was Tal G in Jerusalem's blog back when I semi-lurked there. There weren't really any rules, but just about everyone was pretty polite, even if most of them were conservatives...

Violet...

[Jackie97]

17. Want to hear something funny?

People from that board have discovered this place. One of them huffed and puffed about how certain points of views supposedly wasn't allowed here. I told him about this section of the board. He huffed and puffed about still about how DU was supposedly intolerant. He claims that he never posted here (So, how would he know what they were tolerant to? LOL). Oh, it's all fun and games until somebody gets their eye poked out. LOL.

[Violet_Crumble]

22. Had to snicker when I read yr post...

It's cute how the truly intolerant are the first to accuse others of intolerance. I mean, these are the people who think making fun of any rape victims posting there and insinuating that they brought it on themselves is intelligent discussion. That's one bookmark I lost when my comp shat itself that I've got no intention of rediscovering in a hurry....

Violet...

[tinnypriv]

13. This place is pretty calm

Usually the first mention of Israel on any liberal message board results in hysterical denunciation, flames, banning etc.

As for LGF, etc. they just aren't even worth discussing.

[Scurrilous]

18. True, LGF isn't worth discussing...

But they discuss DU:


visitor 9/9/2003 11:51AM PST

80 selpaw

<snip>

"Israel is screwed unless it comes up with a way to turn this against it's enemies - the leftists (try reading the I/P forum at DU if you want to get sick) are busy perfecting every argument going against Israel that you can think of and they are gonna keep at it until Israel is defeated...they hate Bush like toxic poison for almost everything he stands for, but, blah blah blah blah........"

[StandWatie]

19. lol

They are some paranoid fucks.

[tinnypriv]

21. What an endorsement!

Do we get to be anti-idiotarians? :evilgrin:

[Jackie97]

23. They got one part right.

"they hate Bush like toxic poison for almost everything he stands for, but, blah blah blah blah........"

LOL. At least they got something right.

Go ahead LGFers, copy and paste my post out. I want to feel important there.

I think it's funny how a forum that probably has no intention of allowing both points of view to be spoken will criticize the leftists here. At least they're allowing both sides to be spoken.

That's another thing, what is it with pro-Isralis thinking that one needs to be right winged to be pro-Israeli? Leftists are now the enemy to them, and people on the right (many of whom are truly anti-semitic in their own ways) are their friends.

[userdave2061]

11. Cute mention at the bottom of the article

There were also calls for Palestinian authorities to take concrete measures to prevent anti-Israeli attacks while calling on Palestinian militants "to put an immediate end to their policy of killing and targetting Israeli civilians, whether inside Israel or in the occupied territories."

"Palestinian militants" - What a cute little fuzzy name for a band of child-killing inhuman murdering terrorists. How sweet of them to mention this as a footnote and candy-coated ack.

[tinnypriv]

14. Yeah I disagree with that terminology

They should call 'em terrorists and get it over with.

Oh and they should call Sharon a terrorist when referring to him. Those are the breaks.

[Resistance]

24. For those who may be interested

the actual Amnesty report is extremely thorough and informative -- it is well worth reading if you have the time, as it not only documents the current problems, but also covers alot of background information and recent history. I know of few groups which provide the same high level of research on the situation, while also displaying a balanced perspective. For what it's worth, I give this report my highest recommendation.

html: http://web.amnesty.org/library/print/ENGMDE150012003

pdf (has pictures): http://web.amnesty.org/aidoc/aidoc_pdf.nsf/Index/MDE150012003ENGLISH/$File/MDE1500103.pdf

Excerpt:

Amnesty International has documented in numerous reports the deterioration of the human rights situation and the violence that has reached a level unprecedented in the 36 years of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. In the past three years more than 2,100 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the Occupied Territories, including some 380 children. Palestinian armed groups have killed some 750 Israelis, most of them civilians, and including more than 90 children. Tens of thousands of people have been injured, many maimed for life. The Israeli army has destroyed more than 3,000 Palestinian homes, and hundreds of workshops, factories and public buildings in the West Bank and Gaza. They have bulldozed vast areas of cultivated land, uprooting olive groves and orchards and flattening greenhouses and fields of growing crops.

These abuses, notably the destruction of land and property, have contributed to damaging the economy in the Occupied Territories. However, the stringent restrictions on the movement of Palestinians imposed in the past three years have been the main cause of the severe economic depression and the increase in unemployment.

Israel has a right and a duty to protect people from repeated bombings and other attacks by Palestinian armed groups from the Occupied Territories, including by restricting access to its territory. However, under international human rights and humanitarian law, it is obliged to ensure freedom of movement, an adequate standard of living, and as normal a life as possible to the population in occupied territories. International law also prohibits an occupying power from imposing collective punishment on the occupied population.

[Gimel]

28. Have Palestinians stopped

the suicide attacks on Israeli civilians? This has caused Israelis permanant unemployment and severe disruption of life. It has caused grave economic consequences and inconveniencd thousands, reducing the standard of living in Israel and causing the starvation of poor children. AI doesn't care to investigate one suicide bombing and record the damages caused to the families and community, the nation as a whole.

[Resistance]

30. AI doesnt care?

please pay attention. These were just some of the results of a quick search:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE151532002

Amnesty International strongly condemns the suicide bombing which killed at least 14 people and injured about 50 others at the Karkur Junction in northern Israel yesterday. Responsibility for the bombing was claimed by the Palestinian armed group Islamic Jihad.

"Attacks on civilians are unjustifiable," the organization said today. "We reiterate our call on the leaders of all Palestinian armed groups to end attacks on civilians immediately."

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE150371997

Amnesty International today deplored the double suicide-bombing which killed 15 and wounded more than 150 people in the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market in West Jerusalem yesterday.

The organization is again calling on Hamas, whose 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades have reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombings, to cease such attacks.

"We are appalled at the total disregard for civilian lives shown in such an attack," the organization said. "Amnesty International reiterates its call to Hamas and other armed opposition movements to stop all deliberate and arbitrary targeting of civilians, which violates fundamental principles of humanitarian law."

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE150911998

Jerusalem bombing -- targeting of civilians must stop

Amnesty International has condemned today's car bombing in Mahane Yehuda market in West Jerusalem which killed two suicide bombers and injured 21other people.

Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Amnesty International has frequently appealed to Hamas in the past to end attacks on civilian targets.

"We condemn these deliberate and arbitrary attacks on civilians which violate fundamental humanitarian principles," Amnesty International said. " We once again appeal to all groups to stop the targeting of civilians immediately."

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE150782002

Amnesty International strongly condemned the bomb attack that killed 16 people and wounded 50 others in the town of Rishon Letzion last night. Hamas has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The attack is shocking," Amnesty International said. "There is no justification for the targeting of civilians."

"Deliberately killing civilians violates fundamental principles of international law and we call on Palestinian groups and individuals to cease such attacks immediately," the organization said.

[Resistance]

25. Read the report Gimel.

I challenge you to read the whole thing, then come back and try to excuse it all as "national defense of a nation"

[Gimel]

26. Not AI report

This is a report on AI report. I do not see Israel charged with war crimes here. The conditions in the Palestinians areas covering the 2002 reoccupation is reported on. Perhaps you didn't read the concluding paragraphs.

It also called for alleged human rights abuses documented in the report to be investigated.

There were also calls for Palestinian authorities to take concrete measures to prevent anti-Israeli attacks while calling on Palestinian militants "to put an immediate end to their policy of killing and targetting Israeli civilians, whether inside Israel or in the occupied territories."

Human rights are abrogated, no doubt about it. It is war, however, not war crimes. It is a result of the terror attacks on Israel. Did they expect to get a reward?

[Resistance]

27. Gimel

see my post 24 (the one right above my post 25)

[Gimel]

29. See post 25.

No further comments.