Swiss attack on Israeli policy
MrBrian
Posts: 2,672
Switzerland is refusing to toe the West’s line on sanctions against Iran – and Israel is up in arms
By Neil ClarkFIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 17, 2008
In an attack which shocked Tel Aviv by the harshness of its tone, Switzerland has accused Israel of wantonly destroying Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem and near Ramallah in violation of the Geneva Convention's rules on military occupation.
It's arguably the strongest condemnation of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians to come from any western European country since Charles de Gaulle famously attacked the "oppression, repression and expulsions" of Palestinians by Israel over 40 years ago. And it's come from a country that's not exactly famous for making strong condemnations.
The statement last Thursday from the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that Switzerland - the guardian of the Geneva Convention - regards the "recent incidents", under which scores of Palestinian homes have been destroyed by Israeli bulldozers, as "violations of international humanitarian law" and claimed there was "no military need to justify the destruction of these houses". In addition, the Swiss called east Jerusalem an "integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory" - a statement sure to inflame hard-line Zionists who regard the entire city as belonging to Israel.
The Swiss attack on Israeli actions might surprise some, but it is only the latest incident in a rising 'cold war' between the Alpine republic and the Jewish state. Earlier this year, Israel summoned Swiss Ambassador Walter Haffner to its Foreign Ministry offices in Jerusalem to protest against Switzerland's signing of a multi-billion dollar energy deal with Iran.
http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/45911,features,swiss-attack-on-israeli-policy-escalates-cold-war-by-neil-clark
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081113/world/switzerland_israel_1
By Neil ClarkFIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 17, 2008
In an attack which shocked Tel Aviv by the harshness of its tone, Switzerland has accused Israel of wantonly destroying Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem and near Ramallah in violation of the Geneva Convention's rules on military occupation.
It's arguably the strongest condemnation of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians to come from any western European country since Charles de Gaulle famously attacked the "oppression, repression and expulsions" of Palestinians by Israel over 40 years ago. And it's come from a country that's not exactly famous for making strong condemnations.
The statement last Thursday from the Swiss Foreign Ministry said that Switzerland - the guardian of the Geneva Convention - regards the "recent incidents", under which scores of Palestinian homes have been destroyed by Israeli bulldozers, as "violations of international humanitarian law" and claimed there was "no military need to justify the destruction of these houses". In addition, the Swiss called east Jerusalem an "integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory" - a statement sure to inflame hard-line Zionists who regard the entire city as belonging to Israel.
The Swiss attack on Israeli actions might surprise some, but it is only the latest incident in a rising 'cold war' between the Alpine republic and the Jewish state. Earlier this year, Israel summoned Swiss Ambassador Walter Haffner to its Foreign Ministry offices in Jerusalem to protest against Switzerland's signing of a multi-billion dollar energy deal with Iran.
http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/45911,features,swiss-attack-on-israeli-policy-escalates-cold-war-by-neil-clark
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081113/world/switzerland_israel_1
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Comments
True. It's a shame that our leaders support Israeli apartheid.
Did any one read this last part?
They are occupying and oppressing mainstream media folks thoughts via vast amounts of propaganda.
corrupting their fragile little eggshell minds
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
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( o.O)
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http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
OK..quiting the bullshit
They just had an article about outlawing rap in Iran on yahoo. Now while rap music isn't as important as the religious oppression and oppression of women's rights that goes on over there. Not to mention the amount of money and training they are doing to kill people in Iraq and Palestine.
No, they don't occupy large amounts of foreign land like Israel, but they are still an oppressive government none the less. I'm not saying Israel isn't guilty of any of the said above, but you can't pick one side or another.......when they are both just as bad.
ahhh ... the whole boths sides are bad talking point ... :rolleyes:
is it the same when you sell arms to african dictatorships or pakistan but then say countries like iran can't have weapons? ... move past the bs and see things for what they are ... life as an israeli is like living in some estates in beverly hills but yet palestinians who have equal right to the land live in the slums of some ghetto ...
this is and never has been a conflict where both sides are equally to blame
I was talking about Iran, and there are other methods of fighting for your freedom instead of killing innocent civilians.
How is it that American troops kill Iraqi civilians and people are all over it, but when a Palestine or any terrorist kills civilians its ok? Innocent civilians are the same no matter where they are from or what kind of social status they have. It should not be tolerated, nor supported, no matter what side you are for.
Didn't Iran call for the destruction of Israel? Do you support that?
first of all - compare the numbers ... what's the ratio of innocent civlian death? ... it's not 1:1 ... and that's strictly death figures ... if we factor in displacement and hardship through sanctions - it's outrageous ...
so ... if there are other ways of fighting for freedom - why are americans in iraq killing innocent people to the tune of 1 million since the war started?
I don't think Iran called for the destruction of the Israel state. What you are suggesting is a misinterpretation that has been brought up time after time. What Iran was calling for was the destruction of the current Israel regime controlled by the zionist influences.
Please elaborate. You've lost me here.
Nope, I don't think anyone here will say it's ok.
But people realise the difference between the situation and I seriously hope you can grasp the difference as well.
The Americans claim to be helping, claim to be bringing democracy, freedom... Yet they kill the very people they say they are protecting.
The Palestinians are fighting against an oppressive regime that has killed their families, destroyed their homes, taken their land for the last couple of decades.
naděje umírá poslední
thanks for clearing that up.
also, religious oppression is actually MUCH more prevalent in Israel than it is in Iran. huh? no. they both aren't "just as bad." Israel is much worse. Israel is a terribly oppressive regime occupying a people and land. they have invaded and attacked several countries. Iran is leagues away from doing anything as bad as Israel.
Two wrongs don't make a right. I don't for one minute condone anything Israel has done, but you're naive to think Iran has instigated or had a part in this.
For a bunch of "anti-war" peace loving individuals as yourselves...your pretty blood thirsty over Israel’s removal. Kind of hypocritical. Its not going to happen in our life time or any time soon, people are going to learn how to get a long and its not 100% Israel’s fault...nor is it 100% Palestine’s.
So lets refine your stance on this conflict.....its ok as long as civilians and military from large super powers like the US or Israel die, but not the oppressed people they are fighting?
I have to ask...do some of you secretly long for US service members to get killed in Iraq/Afghanistan or wish for a school bus of Israel children to be attacked by Hamas? I don't know about you, but I really don't want to see anyone get killed....
Once again....its not all black and white....I know some of you can see this.
Yep, Switzerland doesn't want to lose their money when us or Israel conducts air strikes in the near future.
You seem to have Palestinians and Iranians confused.
Nope....Israel did it to Iraq in 1982 I believe and they will do it again in Iran.....with Obama's permission of course.
What does bombing Iran have to do with the actions taken by Israel against Palestinians?
Did the war in Iraq affect what Israel is doing to Palestinians? I do not see how you are linking them. Israelis are violating the Geneva conventions which the Swiss are responsible for and its about time they called them out.
I'm still talking about this part....conflict of interests..
The issue of the sanctions was an addition by MrBrian and not part of the article. The article is about Switzerland condemning Israel for its actions against Palestinians.
Regarding the sanctions against Iran, I dont see how someone from USA can call out the Swiss for not agreeing with sanctions against Iran. Do you know how many resolutions your country has vetoed in favour of Israel? Its in the hundreds. Not to mention if the sanctions escalate are you willing to see approximately one million civilians die as what happened in Iraq?
Keep in mind all the reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency that the Iranians have halted any suspicious activities a while ago. It seems their nuclear activities are more open than the Israelis. I don't see any sanctions against Israel or its nuclear arsenal.
of what? How does an energy deal w/ Iran constitute a conflict of interest towards what they say in relation to the Israeli/Palestine conflict??
For that matter isn't ALL our support and words a conflict of interest?
'How a culture can forget its plan of yesterday
and you swear it's not a trend
it doesn't matter anyway
there's no need to talk as friends
nothing news everyday
all the kids will eat it up
if it's packaged properly'