Are the Israelis guilty of war crimes?

Answer 1

Only if defending yourself is now a crime.

The current Isreali mission is to disarm Hezbollah, and nothing more. That is far from a crime.

There will be collateral damage to civilians in any war and this it is regrettable and unavoidable, but is a fact of history.

The government of Isreal has no beef with the democratic government of Lebanon. Unfortunately, Lebanon is a pawn and can't control extremist elements within it's borders.

When the Jews take all the Muslim's guns away, then the conflict will be over...

Answer 2

The laws of armed conflict are not absolute like, say, speeding. They are relative to the context of the conflict that is taking place and take into account the conduct of each side.

For example, a place of worship (be it a church, mosque or synagogue) is a protected building and as such must not be intentionally targetted. However, if one side is using a place of worship to store weapons or for some other military purpose, then it becomes a legitimate target and loses it's protected status - the side *choosing* to use it for that purpose has chosen to forfeit it's protected status.

Civilians are also protected, however defending forces have as much responsibility to take reasonable measures to ensure they are protected as the attacking force does. Combatants must wear some form of clearly identifiable dress (e.g. a uniform), use marked vehicles, base themselves away from populated areas and take action to keep civilians away from the fighting.

Basically, the laws of armed conflict are designed to minimise the suffering and destruction and the responsibility for achieving that end lies with both sides.

If a questionable incident occurs, then both sides' conduct is examined as well as the circumstances of the attack (e.g. how imperative was it that action was taken - what were the consequences of inaction) - the side that puts less effort into minimising death and destruction whilst carrying out their military operation are the ones less likely to be found guilty of any war crime. Therefore, the standards of conduct of one side largely governs how the other side must conduct itself.

When compared to the conduct of the Hezbollah forces, the Israelis are highly unlikely to be guilty of war crimes.

Answer 3

No. Israel was given to the Jewish people by the UN.

It is therefore Israeli land.

How therefore can you be commiting a crime if you are protecting your own people.

The only reason there is a difference in the number of deaths is because Israel cares about it's people. They have air raid shelters and they yuse them when a warning goes off.

The 'innocent' lebanese etc... ignore leaflets dropped by the Israelis warning there will be rockets. They ignore the fact that there are soldiers armed and ready to kill anyone whoever it might be soldier or civilian.

At least when Israel attack they warn the innocents and always attack military targets. How many of their enemies can say the same???

Answer 4

The Israeli attack on Lebanon is not proportionate to the attacks from Lebanon on Israel. In addition, the Israelis are tragetting civilians whom it is difficult to see as sheltering the terrorist attackers.

In the real world it is perhaps more important that the Israeli attack on the Lebanon is stupid and counterproductive. Attacks on Lebanon cannot remove the bases of terrorism in other Middle East countries. These attacks are also having a disastrous effect on world opinion, particularly amongst Muslims who will cease to differentiate between their moderate co-religionists and terrorists..

Answer 5

No, the Lebanese are! Israel didn't start this war. They've been receiving hundreds of rocket attacks against innocent civilians and are just trying to defend themselves. "Wait" you say, isn't it Hezbollah and not the Lebanese who are launching the rockets and aren't they the guilty ones? I argue that the Lebanese people are just as guilty and responsible for the actions of the Hezbollah because they are taking no action to stop them. They sympathize with Hezbollah and allow them to parade around the streets with assault files, RPG's and other deadly weapons without warrant. It's the wild, wild east!

Imagine if a group of militant Americans starting launching rockets at innocent civilians in Toronto Canada and the U.S. turned a blind eye saying that "we can't control them" or "it wasn't us, just ignore them". Don't you think Canada would have a right to launch an invasion to defend themselves?

If the Lebanese would assist Israel in rounding up these Hezbollah scum, Israel wouldn't be killing civilians as collateral damage. Israel is NOT targeting "innocent" civilians, at least not intentionally. Israel attacks strategic military targets. It's pointless to target civilians because they offer no value in winning a conflict. Their objective is to eliminate the fighting capability of Hezbollah; not to cause fear or terror. Israel wants peace!

It is Hezbollah that is cowardly hiding behind civilians and using them as human shields. Hezbollah encourages collateral damage because it benefits them to have as many innocent casualties on both sides. They cheer for Israeli casualties and cry "foul", but secretly grimace for arab casualties because the higher the death toll, the greater their numbers swell with recruitments. Peace is Hezbollah's worst nightmare.

...and the Lebanese just sit back and let it happen which is why they are guilty and Israel is not.

Answer 6

I sent the following message to my member of Parlaiment this evening:

Good evening Rick and staff,



I’ve been following the war in the Middle East very closely. I have been tuning into the CBC almost hourly for updates on this unmitigated disaster where innocents suffer and the guilty are lauded as victims. It is time to take a stand and make some painfully obvious statements to the international community, no matter how politically incorrect they may be.



Firstly, The Palestinians and Lebanese have a right to a homeland free of conflict, just as much as Israel does.



Secondly, Canada should not accept emmigrees into our country who have fled due to persecution or unrest in their own homeland, who then return to their homeland and expect us to bail them out at their convenience.



Thirdly, Israel is as guilty in pursuing violent responses to aggression as their Arab and Persian neighbours. When innocents die in war, for any reason, this is unacceptable and contrary to international laws governing armed conflict.



Fourthly, the UN post was clearly marked. Our PM, within the last few months, stated pointedly that Canadians don’t cut and run at the first sign of trouble. The current position of our PM and his government on this issue is disgraceful and needs to be withdrawn with an apology to all the families who lost loved ones in the bombing of this facility. The observation post was clearly marked and had been in the same spot for 30 some odd years. The staff in the observation post warned the Israelis that their laser guided bombs were coming closer to hitting their bunker repeatedly. We must make a statement to the international community that Israel is guilty of a war crime and may take no higher moral ground than their Arab neighbours. Israel is as guilty of terrorism as their Arab neighbours.



Lastly, get our boys and girls out of Afghanistan! The Afghanian culture is millennia older than our culture. We Canadians have no right to tell them how they should govern themselves! We have involved our troops in another Vietnam!



Take a stand Rick. No one else is!



Sincerely,

Bill Rymer

Answer 7

Israel is always guilty.
let me ask those who don't know the truth.
can you just tell me when the history of Israel as a country started? there was nothing called Israel 60 Y ago, and Hezbollah never cross the border to took those two soldiers cuz its a Lebanese land as the UN itself said.
what would you do if your brother of father is in Israelis jails for more than 20 Y and no force in earth succeeded to set him free?
think twice baby before answering.

Answer 8

Any nation that has participated in millitary action is guilty of war crimes. For the most part, only those that lose are tried.

Answer 9

ok 1st im not just saying this b/c im palestineian but b/c it is true. ok i understand if some one from ur troop was kidnapped any person in any country would fight back right? but ur supposed to fight the ones who kidnapped him or her right?

yes isreal is committing a war crime b/c they r not only targeting hisballah but they are hitting night clubs were many innocent people are killed or injured and they are attacking areas with a large group of innocents and many children are being kild tell me what children being american, lebanese palestinian or isreali deserve to die.

thats all i have to say and plz dont take nethinmg personally

Answer 10

are the Americans guilty of war crimes?