It would be good to acknowledge these religious
leaders by naming them. Also, I think President Mahmoud Abbas
should be included. Though he hates Israel, which he is entitled to, he
advocates only diplomatic means to deal with it (mainly because he can see
how unproductive Palestinian violence is).
Terrorism is both
morally repugnant and, as bitter experience shows, politically ineffective.
In this context, the terrorist actions of Hizbollah are to be unreservedly
condemned. However, given the appalling loss of life and the scale of the
destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon, the military response of the
Israel Government to the abduction of two of its soldiers by Hizbollah is
totally disproportionate.
Again, the
world “disproportionate” is meaningless without proposing a realistic
alternative response.
The recourse to
what amounts to war against a sovereign country in response to terrorists
attacks can never be justified and is in violation of the most basic
principles of international law. As Pope Benedict in his recent appeal for
peace in the Middle East states, “But neither terrorist acts nor reprisals,
especially when they entail tragic consequences for the civilian population,
can be justified.”
It is terrorists such as Hezbollah who should be censured. By choosing to
fight and hide among civilians, to conceal their weapons, to dress as
civilians and to use Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure, they are grossly
violating international law and the Geneva Conventions. Furthermore, the
Conventions explicitly authorise the targeting of civilian infrastructure
and combatants when they deliberately hide among civilians in such
circumstances. Refer, for example to the Conventions’
Protocol I, Article 48 and Clause 7 of Article 51 (http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/93.htm)(http://deoxy.org/wc/wc-proto.htm).
Clearly there are
some in positions of power who falsely believe that modern military
technology used against a largely civilian population can be effective in
achieving political goals.
Repelling invasions, killings, abduction and rockets by a terrorist
organization is not a “political goal” and will not be achieved without
military action.
In this context, it
is hard to argue against those who contend that the present Israeli military
offensive in Lebanon is not an isolated incident but rather forms part of a
pattern which has caused much suffering and loss of civilian life to the
Palestinian population in Gaza and the West Bank. Whatever the truth of
this contention, it is of the first importance that one acknowledges that
the root of the present conflict in Lebanon and Northern Israel is linked to
the multiple human rights abuses that the Palestinian population have
suffered in the past and continue to suffer today and the grave humanitarian
situation that currently exists in Gaza and the West Bank.
This is only party true. The overriding truth is that most Muslims consider
the very existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East to be an
abomination. They believe this land to be entirely theirs by virtue of
their military conquests in 7th through 10th centuries when they drove out,
converted or slaughtered most of the Christians and Jews that predated them
across North Africa, the current Middle East (outside Arabia where Islam
began) and even Europe. As they have frequently expressed in various
formulations both explicit and implicit, Israel should be wiped from the
map. It is foolish not to believe their stated intentions.
It must not be
forgotten that recognition of the state of Israel and the right of the
citizens of Israel to exist in freedom and with dignity also entails
recognition of the state of Palestine and of the right of Palestinians to
exist with those same freedoms and dignity.
Yes, and they should therefore accept their own
state when they are next, for the fifth time, offered it, having refused it
in 1937, 1948, 1967 and most recently in 2000 thanks to President Clinton's
benign efforts. Israel has always been ready to accept a Palestinian
state.
As Pope John Paul
II stated, “it is essential that the use of force, even when necessary, be
accompanied by a courageous and lucid analysis of the reasons behind these
terrorist attacks.”
Unfortunately, as of yet, there is little evidence that this lesson has been
learnt.
Indeed, many in the world refuse to acknowledge the above overriding truth
about the desire to obliterate Israel. Many Muslims have some mitigation
for this, as they are indoctrinated from an early age at the maddrassas that
Saudi Arabia largely funds. Educated Westerners have no such excuse. Why so
many would support a degenerate ideology such as Islamism and the terrorism
and fascism that it spawns, rather than a democracy such as Israel’s remains
a mystery. Surely it’s not down to simple anti-Semitism?
In the face of the
mounting civilian death toll in Lebanon and Northern Israel the
international community has a responsibility to use its influence to bring
about an immediate ceasefire and to ensure the effective distribution of
humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict. The present reluctance of
the UN to intervene in the face of opposition from one or other of the
warring parties is simply unacceptable. (Previous
comment applies.)
The United Nations
has an honourable record in attempting to establish peace on the Israel /
Lebanese border and, in this context, it is appropriate to acknowledge the
considerable contribution of the Irish Defence forces to the UNIFIL mission
in Lebanon for over twenty years, one that was not without its cost in terms
of lives lost in the course of duty. Unfortunately, as the present tragic
events graphically illustrate, the UNIFIL mandate was insufficient to ensure
success. In the light of the current crisis, the UN needs to put in place
as a matter of extreme urgency a new peacekeeping force with both the
necessary resources and an appropriate mandate to ensure peace on the
borders of Israel and Lebanon. (Previous comments
apply.)
Finally, the ICJSA
wishes to affirm its support for those religious leaders in the Holy Land -
Jews, Christians and Muslims - who have steadfastly proclaimed the
imperative for peace but whose voices are often unheard in this rush to
war. It must be remembered that war is never inevitable.
Sadly, there are evil people in the world for whom war
is the only way to prevent them from killing and oppressing others. Was
Hitler not such a person?
As long as there
are those, no matter how few, whose lives are dedicated to the work of
dialogue, the possibility of reconciliation can never be ruled out.
Of course dialogue is preferable, but as Chamberlain discovered not always
successful.
In a land that is
sacred to the three great monotheistic religions the temptation to despair
is not an option.
It is disappointing to see
Islam put this way on an equal footing with Judaism and Christianity.
Judaism was founded by God, and Catholic Christianity by God-made-man Jesus
Christ. As such, Catholicism in particular is undoubtedly a superior
religion to Islam, an ideology concocted by a 7th century warlord who was
also a murderer, looter, sadist, rapist and paedophile.
There will be peace
but not without justice, and justice but not without forgiveness.
It is rather surprising that
the Catholic Bishops do not urge Catholics to pray for a just and lasting
peace.
Pope Benedict XVI, 16th July 2006
John Paul II, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2004, section
