Israel's Destruction Of Attackers' Homes: 'Illegal, Deplorable, Counter-Productive' (repost)

[Purveyor]

Editor's note: Yossi Mekelberg is Director of the International Relations and Social Sciences Program at Regent's University, London. He is an Associate Fellow of the MENA Program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, and a member of the London Committee of Human Rights Watch. Follow him on Twitter @Ymekelberg. The views expressed in this commentary are entirely his.

(CNN) -- Jerusalem woke up on Tuesday to horrific images of slain Jewish worshipers, and scores injured in a terror attack on a synagogue. The assault which took place in the western Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof, shocked Israel to the core, as well as many others around the world. This is not surprising considering both the brutality of the attack and the fact it was carried out in a holy place, where innocent religious people were worshiping.

The two assailants, cousins from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber, were shot dead by the Israeli security forces. The incident in addition to the ongoing violence since the beginning of summer, left the city of Jerusalem more divided than for a long time.

The attack this week should have also sent a clear message to both leaderships that if they will not take measures to calm the situation down, further escalation and worse violence is around the corner. Regrettably, the Hamas praised the attack in Jerusalem and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as the "Battle for Jerusalem."

He also accused the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas of involvement despite the latter's condemnation of the killing. Both sides are employing inflammable language, although it is hard to blame the Palestinian president for feeling angry considering Israeli behavior since the collapse of the peace process in April.
The lack of credibility of the deterrence argument, combined with the immorality and illegality of house demolitions should serve as an overwhelming reason not to resume this abysmal practice.
Yossi Mekelberg

To make things worse, it emerged in recent days that Israel has also decided to return to a policy of demolishing houses of terrorists' families, even if they were killed during the attack.

more...

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/21/opinion/mideast-demolitions-mekelberg/

Original OP: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016107530

[Jefferson23]

1. This practice gets plenty of support. Same voices that would have a stroke

if Israel's leaders were tried at the Hague for what they did in Gaza.

[Purveyor]

2. If hypocrisy could be sold by the pound, this forum would be a goldmine on

several issues, indeed.

[Jefferson23]

3. Yea, oh yea.

[King_David]

4. Agree 100%

[Scootaloo]

6. No, it's a lot more disturbing.

We have a government action that punishes people for the crime of being related to a criminal, sans trial or conviction against them, that destroys their home and possessions and throws them into the street.

That's an extremely disturbing notion, at least to me. Far more so than some dipshits choosing to pass out sesame cake on the roadside.

[Scootaloo]

8. Yep, that's pretty awful. Doesn't justify the collective punishment of home demolitions though

Which is still vastly more disturbing than passing out cakes - your initial argument here.

[Scootaloo]

11. But it seems we disagree on the scale

I'm really sorry, but there's really no way to make PFLP passing out free chocolate equal to the Israeli Government blowing up homes of innocent people in revenge demolitions and leaving the families homeless and broke.

[Scootaloo]

15. Okay. Are you trying to argue or something?

[King_David]

13. Where do you get that it was thePFLP handing out sweets?

Hamas celebrated the murder of those Jews and Druze as did many many many others including the Jordanian Parliament.

[Scootaloo]

14. Because that's who is in the pictures being bandied about as the prime example

After all, they're the ones taking credit for the attack.

I guess in the rush to hold all Palestinian collectively responsible, details like that kind of get missed.

[oberliner]

16. The leadership of Hamas spoke out strongly against this attack

"While we believe in the right and duty to resist the occupation, there is no excuse for killing civilians at prayer in their house of worship. We steadfastly condemn this barbaric attack against unarmed civilians in no uncertain terms."

[Scootaloo]

18. That doesn't seem right. Got a link for it?

[oberliner]

20. Not available online

Believe it or not - not everything is.

[Scootaloo]

21. What's the source, then?

[King_David]

17. You never heard Hamas praising the attack?

[Scootaloo]

19. PFLP is the group that is pictured handing out treats.

That's what you were asking about.