Thirty wanted militants said holed up in Muqata

[Gimel]

As Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman were due in the West Bank for talks with Yasser Arafat Tuesday over a push to end attacks against Israel, Israeli security officials said that some 30 Palestinians wanted by the Jewish state were holed up in Arafat's Muqata headquarters compound, among them the upper echelon of the militant Fatah Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Israel Radio reported Tuesday.

It quoted the unnamed officials as saying that some of the fugitives were wanted for direct involvement in fatal roadside ambushes in the West Bank and in suicide attacks within Israel.

Several months ago, Palestinian officials expelled fugitives from the Muqata compound, fearing that Israel would use their presence as a pretext for raiding the headquarters, and might arrest or harm Arafat.

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Israel has said it would not formally accept a cease-fire with the militants, demanding that Qureia follow terms of the "road map" and dismantle the groups.

However, Israel has also said that if Palestinian attacks are halted, Israeli military operations would be scaled back or stopped.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/387587.html

Poster's Comment:
If Arafat is held to the same standards as international law for those who harbor terrorists, he would be arrested.

[ex_jew]

1. Oh yeah - international law is the way to go !

I'm sure it's illegal to harbor terrorists but invasion, occupation, collective punishment, killing of civilians etc. are just A-OK ! Didn't the US and Israel already decide international law is some type of fantasy ? Why bring it up now ?

[Gimel]

2. Laws and fantasy

Some international law does exist, but the court of International law in deciding disputes such as the border of a nation that never existed, or all disputes between peoples has not been established. Invasion and occupation is a military response to attack on civilian targets is sanctioned by international law.

[ex_jew]

3. So the occupation of West Bank and Gaza is a military response

to some forgotten attack on civilian targets ? Or did you cover this under "border that never existed". Why don't you just admit that Israel parted company with international norms many years ago and has now entered some extra-legal status, in which all decisions on killings and expropriations are made simply on a pragmatic basis, i.e. what you can get away with. Much like our own proud doctrine of pre-emptive war, come to think of it.

[Gimel]

5. Ancient law

So you don't have to call it international law as though it was just thought up this century. Call it the ancient law of warfare and peace. It's the right for human beings and societies to defend themselves.

occupation of West Bank and Gaza is a military response
to some forgotten attack on civilian targets

The attacks aren't forgotten. The attacks since September 2000, the beginning of the recent Intifada killed hundreds of Israelis. The operation Defensive Shield, and the reoccupation of territory given to Arafat to build the Palestinian homeland by the Oslo Agreements in 1994, did not begin until March 30, 2001. Those attacks and the victims names are listed here. They are far from forgotten by anyone who lived through them in Israel.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0ia50

[ex_jew]

8. How can attacks since 2000 justify an occupation in 1967 ?

nt

[Gimel]

10. The '67 war

justified that occupation. The re-occupation is the present situation.

[bemildred]

4. Seems to be the wrong title for the article?

In any case, I'm sure Yassir is glad to be back in the
news, he must have been feeling left out.

[Gimel]

6. Title is fine

My mention of International law, that it might also apply to Arafat, seems to have drawn fire.

[bemildred]

7. I clicked on the link and it said:

"Egyptian officials meet PA leaders in new cease-fire push"

The I/P Rules says:

"The subject heading for threads must contain the title of the
source article. The only exception is when you must shorten
long titles or to make the subject of the article more clear."

I have seen Haaretz change things now and then, but ...

[Gimel]

9. It's the same article

The title ws changed. I can't help it. I posted the title that was there at the time.

:shrug: