Amnesty International Accuses Israel of War Crimes, Reactions Surprisingly Not MixedIn a report released Thursday, Amnesty International has accused Israel of war crimes, most notably using children as human shields during Israel's war on Gaza earlier this year. The report states:
Much of the destruction was wanton and resulted from direct attacks on civilian objects. . .effectively using the families, both adults and children, as human shields and putting them at risk. . .Intentionally using civilians to shield a military objective, often referred to as using 'human shields' is a war crime.The report further criticizes Israel for its use of white phosphorus in enclosed spaces and its indifference to differentiate between miltiary and civilian targets, despite Israel's advanced weaponry.
However, the report also condemns Hamas for war crimes, though it notes there are no recorded instances of Hamas using human shields. With regard to Hamas, Amnesty found no evidence that civilians were forced to participate in the conflict by the group, though Donatella Rovera, who leads the Amnesty mission southern Israel and Gaza, said that firing rockets into Israel were "unlawful attacks constitute war crimes and are unacceptable."
In a surprising show of unity, both Israel and Hamas condemned the report. A statement from a spokesperson from the Israeli Defense Forces says:
We find it both questionable and objectionable that a well-respected and ostensibly objective international organization such as Amnesty could produce a report on Operation Cast Lead without properly recognizing the unbearable reality of nine years of incessant and indiscriminate rocket fire on the citizens of Israel. The slant of their report indicates that the organization succumbed to the manipulations of the Hamas terror organization.Hamas criticized the report for "treating the victim and the perpetrator equally," while going on to state:
Ignoring the main reasons behind what is happening is providing a cover for killing and expelling, and justifies the [Gaza] siege, which is in violation of international law.HEADLINES
Plight of Palestinians getting worse, UN warns (AP)
Ban report ignores 'danger of Israeli spy cells' (Daily Star)
Violating own decree, Israel invades Bethlehem and Qalqiliya (Ma'an)
Iran's debate over theocracy (The Economist)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Palestinian cleric: Muslims should visit Occupied Jerusalem (Gulf News)
IDF fire wounds 4 Palestinian stone-throwers near Nablus (Jerusalem Post)
The Palestinian class of 2009, in their own words (Washington Post)
Drug addiction on the rise in besieged Gaza (Electronic Intifada)
Israel
Israel's President Invites Saudi King to Jerusalem (The Jewish Daily)
Israel 'killed hundreds of civilians' in Gaza (ABC News)
Israel's top court sides with Palestinian against military: Is that 'activism' (Christian Science Monitor)
Israel's military rabbi says army not for women: report (AFP)
The Neighbors
Reports emerge of Syrian-Saudi summit (Daily Star)
Syria amends honour killing law (BBC)
EADS wins giant Saudi border deal (BBC)
Iran book publisher recalls weeklong ordeal in prison (LA Times)
US Foreign Policy
Poll: Palestinians not optimistic on Obama's Middle East program (Ma'an)
'U.S. can't get Arabs to commit to normal Israel ties' (Ha'aretz)
International Relations/Law
Merkel: Settlements ruin efforts for 2-state solution (Ha'aretz)
Azerbaijan seeks closer ties to Israel despite Iran's pressure (Jerusalem Post)
Arts and Activism
Newsroom politics dramatized in "Oh Well Never Mind Bye" (Electronic Intifada)
Misc.
Young Christians get hands-on Israel experience (Jerusalem Post)
'Why I created Islamic super heroes' (BBC)
Commentary
Shavit: Is a crushed Israel in America's best interest? (Ha'aretz)
Levy: Spoil them rotten (Ha'aretz)
Almeghari: Salam Fayyad's false optimism (Electronic Intifada)
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