Legal Background Israel and Palestine
What national and international Laws govern the conflict? What of Geneva Conventions? UN resolutions? US Law?
Monday, April 19, 2004
Security Council holds meeting on Rantisi assassination: 40 speak, virtually all but the U.S. condemned Israel, including Britain
Haaretz - Israel News: "20/04/2004 05:08 | Security Council holds meeting on Rantisi assassination | By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
The United Nations Security Council late Monday began an emergency meeting to discuss Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
The Palestinians blamed the United States for emboldening Israel to assassinate Rantisi by vetoing a Security Council resolution condemning last month's 'extrajudicial execution' of Hamas' founder.
But Israel countered that it has been forced to take 'defensive actions,' including killing Rantisi, because the Palestinians refuse to meet their international obligation to arrest terrorists and get rid of terrorist groups like Hamas.
The exchange took place at the start of the meeting, sought by the Arab League to address escalating Israeli military attacks and Rantisi's murder in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday. More than 40 countries spoke, and virtually all but the U.S. condemned Israel - including close U.S. ally Britain."
...
Algeria's UN Ambassador Abdallah Baali, the only Arab member on the council, introduced a draft resolution at the end of the meeting that demands an end to Israel's "extrajudicial executions," a halt to "all acts of violence including all acts of terrorism," and adherence to international humanitarian law.
"In the Palestinian territory, in the Arab nation and in the Muslim world, emotions are high and distress and frustration are deep," Baali warned. "If no action is taken, and Israel gets away again with these horrendous crimes, the situation might very rapidly deteriorate and go ultimately out of control."
The draft resolution circulated Monday also makes no mention of Hamas, and U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham said it would likely face another U.S. veto. ...
...
Mashal has suggested that Bush's unprecedented support for Israel encouraged Sharon to kill Rantisi. "What Bush told Sharon in the White House three days ago is the clearest green light and cover for Sharon's crimes and for what has happened to Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi," Mashal said. "Thus, it [the United States] is the one responsible for this crime."
Haaretz - Israel News: "20/04/2004 05:08 | Security Council holds meeting on Rantisi assassination | By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
The United Nations Security Council late Monday began an emergency meeting to discuss Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
The Palestinians blamed the United States for emboldening Israel to assassinate Rantisi by vetoing a Security Council resolution condemning last month's 'extrajudicial execution' of Hamas' founder.
But Israel countered that it has been forced to take 'defensive actions,' including killing Rantisi, because the Palestinians refuse to meet their international obligation to arrest terrorists and get rid of terrorist groups like Hamas.
The exchange took place at the start of the meeting, sought by the Arab League to address escalating Israeli military attacks and Rantisi's murder in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday. More than 40 countries spoke, and virtually all but the U.S. condemned Israel - including close U.S. ally Britain."
...
Algeria's UN Ambassador Abdallah Baali, the only Arab member on the council, introduced a draft resolution at the end of the meeting that demands an end to Israel's "extrajudicial executions," a halt to "all acts of violence including all acts of terrorism," and adherence to international humanitarian law.
"In the Palestinian territory, in the Arab nation and in the Muslim world, emotions are high and distress and frustration are deep," Baali warned. "If no action is taken, and Israel gets away again with these horrendous crimes, the situation might very rapidly deteriorate and go ultimately out of control."
The draft resolution circulated Monday also makes no mention of Hamas, and U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham said it would likely face another U.S. veto. ...
...
Mashal has suggested that Bush's unprecedented support for Israel encouraged Sharon to kill Rantisi. "What Bush told Sharon in the White House three days ago is the clearest green light and cover for Sharon's crimes and for what has happened to Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi," Mashal said. "Thus, it [the United States] is the one responsible for this crime."
