OT - sorry but this subject is too important, and the same applyes to other countries, where those in power now murder their citizen who want freedoms and a civil society. Condemnation? No way - it is not in our economic interests.
What a Bunch of Hypocrites
Harvey Rosenwasser
Someone once suggested that condemnations of Israel should be measured against the question, “Are the same requisites applied to other nations.” If the answer is no, only Israel,” then you can be sure the condemnation represents anti-Semitism.
A few days ago the United States targeted and killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda, a terrorist organization responsible for killing civilians. Seven years ago Israel targeted and killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for killing Israeli civilians. It is instructive to see how the world has reacted to both incidents.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "The death of Osama bin Laden, announced by President (Barack) Obama last night, is a watershed moment in our common global fight against terrorism." In 2004, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said "I do condemn the targeted assassination of Sheikh Yassin and the others who died with him. Such actions are not only contrary to international law, but they do not do anything to help the search for a peaceful solution.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron sent his congratulation of Barack Obama on the success of killing Osama bin Laden as did the British former Prime Minister Tony Blair. But in 2004, when Israel killed Sheik Ahmed Yassin, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the killing unacceptable, unjustified, and unlawful. Tony Blair, at that time said, “We have repeatedly made clear our opposition to Israel’s use of targeted killings and assignations.”
This week The European Council and European Commission said, the death of Osama bin Laden made the world a safer place and showed that terrorist attacks do not remain unpunished.” In 2004 the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said, “This type of action does not contribute at all to create the conditions of peace. This is very, very bad news for the peace process. The policy of the European Union has been consistently condemnation of extra-judicial killing." It seems the policy changes when it comes to Israel
Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France was reported to have called President Obama and congratulated him on the success of pursuing Osama bin Laden for ten years. In 2004 the French Foreign Minister Herve Ladsous said, “France condemns the action taken against Sheikh Yassin, just as it has always condemned the principle of any extra-judicial execution as contrary to international law.” What hypocrisy!
Even Abdullah Gul of Turkey approved of the killing of bin Laden, while in 2004 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the killing of Yassin “a terrorist act...the assassination was not humane.”
Someone who might disagree with my assessment might excuse the comparisons by claiming the scale of terrorism made the difference. Not so. The United States has a population of 310,500,000 and suffered 4570 deaths from 9/11 terrorism and fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Israel’s population is 7,441,700 and lost 522 of its citizens to terrorism. If the United States suffered the same percentage of deaths from terrorism as did Israel, instead of 4570 deaths, we would have lost 23,911. So if scale of terrorism matters, Israel had more justification for killing Sheik Yassin. There is pervasive anti-Semitism in the world and it must be recognized for what it is. |
