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CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE:

   The recent attack in Gaza by Israel, in its campaign of targetted assassination against Palestinian leaders, left 17 dead, many of them children, and wounded 150 more. This attack was carried out by an Israeli F16 jet that fired a missile at a building in a densely populated neighbourhood of Gaza City.

   Israel’s justification for this horrific attack was that it was ‘targeting’ a known Hamas activist, who they say, was involved in some of the recent attacks on Israel, and labeled it an act of ‘self defence.’ What makes this attack more appalling is, that it was personally sanctioned by Prime Minister Sharon, who it is rumoured, even specified the type of munitions to be used in the attack. He must therefore have been fully aware of the consequences of using this type of weapon and the number of casualties to expect in such a densely populated area.

   This is not the first time, and it is unlikely to be the last time, that Israel uses weapons designed for military combat against civilian targets. Whatever words the Israeli government uses to justify its policy of political killings, they cannot disguise the fact that under international law, they are termed extra-judicial killings and thus, war crimes. Israel signed the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1951, under which extra-judicial killings constitute “grave breaches” and are subject to international jurisdiction. However, they are unlikely to be brought before an international war crimes tribunal or have sanctions imposed on them, as long as America continues to support Israel and turn a blind eye to its use of military weaponry in the occupied territories.

   The fighter aircraft used in the attack and most likely the missile itself, like most of the weaponry in Israel’s arsenal, was made in America. Israel’s use of American weapons makes it an accomplice to Israel’s policy of extra-judicial killing – and therefore a war criminal, too.

   Ironically, America has a clear set of guidelines for the sale of its weaponry to Israel; the US Arms Export Control Act and the 1952 mutual-defence pact between the two countries stipulates that American weapons are to be used for defensive purposes only, and certainly not against civilian targets.

   The use, in civilian areas, of American F-16 fighter jets, Apache and Cobra attack helicopters and TOW missiles that are specifically designed for use in combat between conventional armies, violates all international conventions on human rights. This places America itself in the dock, for supplying the weaponry that is responsible for this killing. It is worth bearing in mind, that Gaza, the site of numerous attacks by the Israeli military, has one of the highest population densities on the planet. Seven refugee camps, containing 1,178,119 people fill this 25 mile by 8 mile area of land, thus making it inevitable, that attacks like the one that killed Salah Shahadah and 17 others, will always cause many civilian casualties. This makes Israel’s policy immoral, illegal and criminal.

   America, if it is to retain any moral credibility as an impartial mediator in the region, will have to first clearly condemn Israel for its current policy of political murder, its disregard for the lives of civilians and its violations of U.S. arms control agreements. For if it does not, it will stand convicted of the same crimes too. For America, to continue to tolerate such a callous policy by its closest ally seriously undermines its commitment to universal human rights.

   Nowadays, there is little tolerance for human rights abuses, as can be seen by the prosecution of Slobodan Milosevic, Augusto Pinochet and many others; similarly, it shows in the condemnation of Ariel Sharon, Saddam Hussain, Kim Jong and other tyrants and dictators.

   The legal and human rights implications of Israel’s policy of political assassinations are severe and constitute war crimes. Already, European governments are putting Israel on notice for its poor human rights record and if America wishes to continue to be seen as a champion of democracy and human rights, it will have to take action to curb the Israeli government’s use of military force against civilians.

   America supports Israel economically, politically and militarily, and is the only country that can persuade Israel to stop these extra-judicial killings and the accompanying loss of innocent lives. However, Washington under the Bush administration pretends it has no means of influencing Israeli policy. This of course is not true, as America gives Israel over 3.1 billion dollars in U.S. aid annually and supports it with its veto in the United Nations and Security Council. So, if an American government decided to flex its political, economic or military muscle, Israel would have to listen, as was demonstrated during the Gulf War.

   So, given that American laws have been broken, America should suspend further arms sales and transfers to Israel; for included in these laws is one that states that America cannot export weapons that will increase the possible outbreak or escalation of a conflict. As can be clearly seen, Israel has over the last two years escalated the current conflict to a point where some, inside the American administration, label Israel’s actions “excessive,” “highly provocative,” and a “dangerous escalation.”          Therefore, America must immediately place an embargo on all arms sales to Israel and prevent Israel’s use of combat munitions and antipersonnel weapons, which must be immediately banned and condemned by the U.S. and all the member countries of the UN.

   Bans have been placed on American arms transfers before. In 1982, the former President Ronald Reagan halted arms shipments twice during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Germany and France have already declared an arms embargo on weapon sales to Israel, and it is time that America did the same.

   More importantly, America must restore meaningful peace negotiations. For, in the absence of a clear and structured peace process, Israel’s unchecked aggression has silenced the voices of moderation, that are so vital to the building of a lasting and meaningful peace, and instead, has created a vacuum that is being readily filled by extremists on both sides. Unchecked aggression by Prime Minister Sharon’s government has become a justification for violence by all.

KHALAF AL HABTOOR