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During Sharon's days, the number of civilian
casualties—victims of the Israeli military’s brutal strikes—was very high.
These innocent men women and children killed and wounded by Israeli artillery
and air force attacks were, however, described by Israeli official
spokespersons as unfortunate "collateral" victims of justified
strikes.
Times have changed, and one will
have to regret, perhaps, the butcher of Qibiya, Sabra, Shatilla and Jenin:
compared to Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon, Ariel Sharon looks like Mahatma Gandhi.
Already last summer, during the
second war in Lebanon,
the former leader of the Labor Zionist Left made far-reaching suggestions:
"to destroy everything!" The last report by Human Rights Watch
(definitely not a far-Left anti-Israeli organization) has brought strong
evidence that, by following Ramon suggestions and deliberately attacking
civilian targets, the Israeli military committed war crimes.
Last week, the deputy prime minister
called openly to target civilians in order to oblige the Palestinian leadership
to put pressure on the small groups that are responsible for the launching of
Qassam rockets on Israel.
Of course, Ramon’s suggestion was not to bomb the civilian population of Gaza, but "only"
to cut their water, electricity and basic supplies.
These suggestions are criminal
breaches of international law, and definitely fall under the definitions of War
Crimes.
Haim Ramon, as a key person in the
Israeli cabinet, is actively suggesting to commit war crimes against the
civilian population of the Gaza Strip. The Hague Tribunal’s prosecutor must
issue a charge sheet against him, and an international arrest order needs to
be issued against him.
Though we know well there is little
chance in the near future that Ramon will be referred to an International Court
of Justice, an international campaign can have at least one effect: to make his
trips around the world risky. Already now, several Israeli generals, suspected
of war crimes in Lebanon or in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,
hesitate to land in numerous countries,
where official complains have been submitted against them. Adding Haim Ramon to
the list will be a strong reminder that the days of impunity for Israeli officials
is over.
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