Israel to destroy attacker’s home July 4, 2008
Posted by Some Muslim in Israel, News Commentry.trackback
The BBC reports:
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has ordered the army to prepare to demolish the home of the Palestinian who killed three Israelis in Jerusalem.
The order follows advice by Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz that the proposed demolition could create legal difficulties, but would not be illegal.
This looks like it is going to be yet another case of Israel breaking international human rights law while the world stands by and does nothing.
Israel are probably going to get away this by labelling this incident a terrorist attack, though as security expert Bruce Schneier points out, there’s so much stupidity in the name of terrrorism nowadays:
Is everything illegal and damaging now terrorism?
Israeli authorities are investigating why a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem rammed his bulldozer into several cars and buses Wednesday, killing three people before Israeli police shot him dead.
Israeli authorities are labeling it a terrorist attack, although they say there is no clear motive and the man — a construction worker — acted alone. It is not known if he had links to any terrorist organization.
It seems like any government can do anything to anyone in the name of terrorism nowadays, from bulldozing their homes down, locking them up without evidence or trial, stopping them from travelling on an airplane, etc.
right because driving a bulldozer around a city street running over humans is probably just ordinary crime.
get a clue man.
What does tearing down the home accomplish? Does it do anything at all to stop terrorism? This is what I’m wondering…
al – you’re missing the point. Collective punishment is illegal under international humanitarian law. Even the Israeli authorities have said that the driver of the bulldozer was acting alone and not part of any terrorist group, which serves as another reason why his family should not be punished for his crime.
Further supporting this point – from the BBC article:
“The group pointed to the findings of a committee appointed by a former chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon, as finding house demolitions did more harm than good to Israel’s security.”
I’m not in agreement with the practice of bulldozing homes under any circumstances, but tearing down a family home because a member of the household committed a crime is completely wrong and does nothing to stop terrorism.