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Amnesty's views on Israel are contaminated
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Does this mean that anyone in office during any time of war or conflict be subject to arrest as soon as they leave their own country; for instance Tony Blair or George W Bush for their role in Iraq, no matter how genuine their intentions? What about Margaret Thatcher for her role in the Falklands? Perhaps we will next be posthumously describing Winston Churchill as a warmonger?
Given Amnesty International's one-sided and anti-Israel agenda, Mr Corrigan's statements do not surprise me, but they do concern me. No thought was given as to even why Israel had to go war in Gaza, as if the IDF just decided to launch an attack unprovoked. This is not the case.
Innocent civilians of southern Israel were targeted relentlessly by Hamas rockets for the most part of eight years before Israel finally decided to react.
I visited Sderot in October, the Israeli town which sustained most of the rocket fire. It is now known as the bomb-shelter capital of the world, with fortified bunkers at regular intervals along roadsides, in school playgrounds and in residents' private gardens.
Not much said about that by Amnesty International, which is supposed to stand for "justice" and "fairness".
Their latest statements about Israel taking water from the Palestinians has proven to be baseless. Israel's Water Authority was not even consulted on this matter, yet Amnesty published a full article based on Palestinian testimonies only.
They did not mention that, in spite of billions of dollars in international aid, the Palestinians fail to recycle waste water, as Israel does, but dump their waste into local streams, making the water situation much worse by causing contamination to valuble water sources. It's a pity Amnesty's views concerning Israel are contaminated, too.
COLIN NEVIN
Bangor, Co Down
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Av?
tell us what the 175 UN resolutions against Israel are. Have you read them?
Posted by Patrick | 02.01.10, 04:37 GMT
Av,
Let me help you out here. I think that Hamas, based upon its own statements and actions, is a collection of religious fundamentalists, nutcases and murderers. If they were all killed tomorrow, I don't think a lot of people around the world would feel too much sympathy for them; I certainly wouldn't.
However, now this is important, and it seems to be something that Israel and its many supporters cannot or do not want to understand, because Hamas behaves in this way, it does not mean that Israel should be allow to act with impunity with regards to its attacks upon civilians.
The Israeli Defence Forces used white phosphorous artillery shells ,in built-up residential areas, during its recent attack upon Gaza. Men, women and children, the vast majority of them innocent civilians, were either killed or injured by these munitions. White prosperous is considered a battlefield weapon only due to its indiscriminate nature, to use it in a built-up civilian area is disgraceful.
Posted by WH | 01.01.10, 14:30 GMT
Patrick, tell us what you really think of the Hamas charter if you're not prepared to criticise it because its Palestinian. Have you read it?
Posted by Av | 01.01.10, 14:11 GMT
Av? why be critical of the Palestinians? Four million of them were evicted from their lands and homes by the biggest fascist military machine in the Middle East, the Israeli Defence Forces.
Of course you are right, the USA counts on Israel to be its aircraft carrier and military base in the ME. The USA, Britain and France while on the UN Security council pushed for an Israeli state in 1948, and they got it. and don't forget, Britain were the first to give Israel nuclear material to build their nuclear programme in 1966, the Zionist lobby is strong in the West's military and industrial complex.
Posted by Patrick | 31.12.09, 17:19 GMT
Well said Collin! Finally a European paper that has the guts to state the truth! Unfortunately the UN and various international organizations like AI are dominated by extreme left wingers or Muslim extremists and so they spend much of their time bashing Israel and completely ignore the problems with Hamas, Sudan, the Taliban etc. It's quite sad.
Posted by Sal | 30.12.09, 14:59 GMT
The Israeli propaganda machine is sputtering and on the verge of grinding to a halt, Colin.
You keep trying, though. Keep writing your letters but you should be aware that the people of the world are awakening to see the actions of Israel as they really are.
Hey, even Obama gave them a dressing down earlier this year. Granted, it was only paying lip service.
Despite all attempts by Israel to blanket ban world press a year ago the truth of atrocities seeped out.
For Israel, the truth hurts.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 30.12.09, 11:05 GMT
Patrick, your real problem with Israel is that it is America's closest ally in the Middle East. If you were really interested in peace and human rights you would be as critical of the Plaestinians as you are of Israelis. Hamas killed over 1000 Israelis in the second intifada and calls for the death of Jews everywhere. Lets hear your moral outrage at that!
Posted by Av | 30.12.09, 09:31 GMT
I suppose then Colin that the fifteen hundred Palestinians who were murdered exactly a year ago this week deserved it? Funny Colin didn't mention that, maybe he is suffering from amnesia.
It's not the availability of water for the Palestinians, it's a case of will any Palestinians be left alive to get to drink it! As for international aid, the Palestinians have been sent ten billion by good people all over the world but Israel is withholding it.
Israel is well - off, the USA sends them ten billion dollars A YEAR, and will send them thirty - five billion extra over the next four years. That, Colin, is real money from America.
Posted by Patrick | 30.12.09, 03:23 GMT