Israel launching pre-emptive terror in the Middle East
Issued : Thursday 13 July, 2006
The actions the Israeli Government is taking in Lebanon, the attacking of a sovereign state, the destruction of an airport, the blocking of ports, with loss of life and injury to civilians are a flagrant disregard for the principle of sovereignty. It entirely undermines the principles of the UN and expands on the central plank of Israel’s foreign policy, namely pre-emptive terror.
Those organisations involved in kidnapping, abduction, and the use of suicide bombers in civilian areas should know that the history of terror, and the reason for its rejection by left-wing politicians, was that it facilitated an even greater terror from the oppressor. That is what we are now witnessing.
The UN remains silent while international law is breached. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has lost all credibility because of his and the UN’s tragic failure to take action to prevent a war in the Middle East. The EU imposes sanctions that impinge on ordinary Palestinians but refuses to curtail trade with Israel. European leaders express their concern, but refuse to act. They are all covered in shame.
For years we have listened to bland appeals for Israel and Palestinians to drive forward the Road Map for Peace. The long silences by the EU on the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, their complicity in allowing a unlilateral alternative to the Road Map to be canvassed, will be viewed by history as a shameful act of bad faith.
These actions now taking place are from the same school of thought that accepted the morality and legality of a pre-emptive strike. The world has its silence now rewarded by State terrorism advancing to a new level. This is the context on which we must judge the EU’s actions in punishing Palestinians for electing Hamas and their refusal to deal with the Government that emerged.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern should immediately meet with the Israeli Ambassador to express outrage at this action and demand compliance with international law. He must also seek a meeting with Kofi Annan to discuss the immediate deployment of a diplomatic mission to the region.
