Israel ends demolition of Palestinian houses

[quaoar]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050217.wisra0217/BNStory/International/

Thursday, February 17, 2005 Updated at 12:48 PM EST

Associated Press

Jerusalem — Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered an end Thursday to the policy of demolishing the houses of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis, the military said.

Mr. Mofaz decided to “stop exercising the legal right to demolish terrorists' houses as a means of deterrence” after a recommendation from army chief of staff Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon, the statement said.

An internal army review of the policy called it ineffective, concluding that it enflamed anger and failed to deter attacks. The practice has been widely condemned by human-rights groups as collective punishment.

The Israeli military has used the tactic of destroying houses of suicide bombers and other Palestinian attackers during the current and previous conflicts with the Palestinians.

[gottaB]

1. good decision -n/t

[CindyDale]

2. Good to see them taking a turn toward the civilized

Hope it inspires us to do the same.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. This is good news

The demolitions did nothing positive for anyone. This was long overdue.

[number6]

4. late, but good news

..

[Djinn]

5. Meanwhile Israeli courts

have ordered the destruction of a woman's citrus grove because it was detrimental to the security for Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz’s house.

Mofaz lives in Kochav Yair, an upscale town on the Israeli side of the “Green Line” with the West Bank. Zuhriyya Hasan Murshid, 72, has orange, tangerine and lemon trees just 25 yards from the minister’s property.

After the military issued an order in September to uproot the trees for security reasons, Murshid filed an appeal with the high court.

At the time, she said, “Why does Mofaz build his house near my land, and then decide to take away my land? If he doesn’t like it, he can move.”

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3EA...5B2B64369DD.htm

I know plenty people aren't keen on aljazeera but this was also reported in Haaretz and the JPost which I'll try to find

[yinkaafrica]

6. sharon always lies. those b dozers are eating up the earth

[Coastie for Truth]

7. So

My sister's veterinarian in Fox Chapel Pennsylvania is just off of Allegheny River Road from one of the many Teresa Heinz Kerry-John Kerry "summer homes" (This is the one where the Kerrys and Edwards spent the weekend after Kerry chose Edwards for VP). And from the time Kerry got secret service protection until just a few weeks ago my sister had to take her dog through several police check points to get to the veterinarian.

BTW- one of Chris Heinz's homes (The one his father, H. John Heinz is said to have preferred) is on Devon Rd in front of the Carnegie Mellon University campus. And, again, from the time Kerry got secret service protection until just a few weeks ago, a special permit was required to enter Devon Rd.

And, Pennsylvania Avenue from the Treasury Building (at the dog leg) to just past the Executive Office Building is a pedestrian mall, closed to vehicular traffic.

And we have metal detectors and book bag searches in all government office buildings.

That's life in a National Security State.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IronLionZion]

9. finally some civilized thinking

give peace a chance