| by Jonathan Kuttab When the US and Iran reached a ceasefire two months ago, it was very clear that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) and the current Israeli government were upset and wanted the war to continue. This was made clear in public announcements, and anyone following Israeli media in Hebrew, as I do, could see that Bibi was doing everything he could to drag the US back into the fight and hit Iran again, and again. Bibi needs the war to continue for personal reasons related to his corruption trial and the upcoming Israeli elections, but a majority of Jewish Israelis also wanted continued strikes against Iran and its allies. They were upset that the war, which Bibi convinced Trump would be a quick one, was coming to an end without thoroughly crushing Iran. As the outlines of an agreement between the US and Iran appeared and were discussed in the press, and as President Trump repeatedly made public statements that the deal was about to be signed, Bibi redoubled his efforts and increased attacks, particularly in Lebanon. He moved his forces (despite the supposed ceasefire) deeper into Lebanon, ordered the evacuation of 20% of its territories, and proceeded to systematically destroy villages and towns in that area, moving even beyond Southern Lebanon by bombing Shiite neighborhoods in Beirut itself and the Beqaa valley. This new tactic,used openly in Gaza and now in Lebanon, involves ordering the evacuation of entire villages and towns, then destroying them, and poisoning the fields around them and removing all possibilities of living there. It is a demonstration of pure arrogant power, exercised with total impunity and reckless disregard for international law and customary rules of warfare. Iran made it clear that bombing Beirut would be a redline and that the ceasefire being discussed with the US should cover all fronts, and that the US cannot have a ceasefire while Israel bombs Shiites in Lebanon at will. The US basically agreed, and president Trump publicly asked Israel not to bomb Beirut. As if that was exactly the signal Bibi needed, Israel directly proceeded to bomb the Dahiyeh neighborhood of Beirut. When Iran responded by sending a few ballistic missiles to targets in the northern part of Israel, Trump publicly asked Bibi not to retaliate, but Bibi proceeded to do just that, making a joke of Trump’s blustering announcements about being the one who calls the shots and the notion that Israel needs to abide by whatever he agrees to. Pundits thought that Israel’s reluctance to target oil facilities, which would certainly escalate the conflict, was a good sign, so Bibi did just that by bombing one such facility. Iran has announced that its attacks on Israel are over, for now, but there is no assurance that Israel would allow for a deescalation or that Bibi would not try again to derail the talks and involve the United States again in the unpopular war against Iran. Our own position on all of this is clear. Violence is never an answer, and we wish and pray that nations will find other means of communicating messages other than shooting and killing and showing off their military power. Our position is also that while ceasefires are always to be welcomed, they must include components of genuine peace and justice. Declaring a ceasefire is not enough, especially if it leaves injustices on the ground, and if one party feels free to unilaterally destroy and bomb when and if it wants to regardless of the supposed ceasefire. This is currently the case in both Gaza and South Lebanon, where there is supposed to be a ceasefire, but where Israel continues daily with its bombings, killings, and destruction of property, while any resistance by Hamas or Hezbollah is immediately singled out as a violation of the ceasefire. Our position is also that even when fighting does occur, there are rules and laws that must be followed, regardless of who started the fighting, whom we favor and who the just party is: There must be a clear distinction between combatants and noncombatants. Attempts to demonize one party (Hamas, Hezbollah, the PLO) so thoroughly that all who relate to it become legitimate targets, whether or not they are combatants, is patently illegal and must not be tolerated.Attacks on civilian targets must be avoided. Even when attacking legitimate military targets, every consideration must go towards reducing any civilian casualties, rather than callously justifying them as “collateral damage.” Even when retaliation occurs, rules of proportionality must be followed. Enemy combatants, much less civilians, who are wounded, captured, or who surrender must be treated humanely, and provided with medical care . They cannot be killed, tortured, or humiliated. Collective punishment is strictly prohibited. Deliberately attacking first responders and ambulances, as well as two-tap and three-tap attacks which kill and maim relief and medical personnel, cannot be tolerated. They are war crimes that must be punished. Deliberate attacks on hospitals, clinics, journalists and others are completely illegal. Wantonly killing innocent bystanders and family members is never justified. It is amazing that Benjamin Netanyahu, an indicted war criminal, should still be allowed to walk freely and be greeted with deference and respect while he actively prevents peace and continues to commit heinous crimes. The impunity he seems to enjoy undermines the principles of international law, and decency and ultimately hurts all of us. |
