From: "Rich Gauszka" 

The AI report on Israel doesn't seem that unclear to me. I would say that
both sides in this conflict were guilty of war crimes. Israel did have the
much greater weaponry though and their targeting of the civilian
infrastructure was an abomination. I suspect Hezbollah would have done
something similar had they the Israeli firepower so I would just say - Hang
em all!


http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE020182006

Amnesty International today published findings that point to an Israeli
policy of deliberate destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure, which
included war crimes, during the recent conflict.

The organization's latest publication shows how Israel's destruction of
thousands of homes, and strikes on numerous bridges and roads as well as
water and fuel storage plants, was an integral part of Israel's military
strategy in Lebanon, rather than "collateral damage" resulting
from the lawful targeting of military objectives.

The report reinforces the case for an urgent, comprehensive and independent
UN inquiry into grave violations of international humanitarian law
committed by both Hizbullah and Israel during their month-long conflict.

"Israel's assertion that the attacks on the infrastructure were lawful
is manifestly wrong. Many of the violations identified in our report are
war crimes, including indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks. The
evidence strongly suggests that the extensive destruction of power and
water plants, as well as the transport infrastructure vital for food and
other humanitarian relief, was deliberate and an integral part of a
military strategy," said Kate Gilmore, Executive Deputy Secretary
General of Amnesty International.

The report exposes a pattern of indiscriminate and disproportionate
attacks, which resulted in the displacement of twenty-five percent of the
civilian population. This pattern, taken together with official statements,
indicates that the attacks on infrastucture were deliberate, and not simply
incidental to lawful military objectives.


"George Sherwood"  wrote in message
news:7k00u3xonu.ln2{at}athlon.p3pilot.gotdns.org...
> Unlike Phil's evaluation of the Lebanon situation, AI reports that the
> situation concerning the Israeli attacks is very complex and not
> immediately clear if war crimes were committed. On the other hand, AI does
> report that without a doubt war crimes were committed by Hizbullah's
> rocket attacks into Israel.
>
> George
>
>
http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=157514&format=&page
=2
>
> Amnesty International has introduced a comprehensive report accusing a
> terrorist group of war crimes.In utter defiance of the predominant
> American left, European and United Nations view that Israel engaged in
> gross war crimes against civilians and freedom fighters in Lebanon,
> Amnesty International has announced that in its opinion, Hezbollah is
> guilty of war crimes. Hezbollah purposefully and indiscriminately
> targeted Israeli civilians.
>
> AI did not address the issue of an estimated 1,000 Lebanese civilians
> killed when Israel attacked Hezbollah fighting and command positions that
> had been established within populated villages, or the use of civilian
> vehicles, buildings and clothing by Hezbollah fighters, who also sometimes
> fought in Israeli uniforms.That is still the subject of investigation, and
> AI announced those issues, unlike the Hezbollah violations, are too
> complex for immediate comment.
>
> http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE020252006
>
> Some serious violations of international humanitarian law, including many
> of those addressed in this report, are war crimes and give rise to
> international criminal responsibility for the perpetrators. These crimes
> are subject to universal jurisdiction (they may be prosecuted by any state
> in its national courts) and fall within the statute of the International
> Criminal Court.
>
> A core principle of the rules governing the conduct of hostilities is the
> principle of distinction. The rules require that combatants at all times
> distinguish between civilians, the civilian population and civilian
> objects on the one hand, and military objectives on the other.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5