It may be the most familiar, and the most predictable, story in the day's news. It is certainly one of the most recurrent. It's a wonder newspapers don't just keep it in type and save themselves the trouble of having to rephrase the headline or change the dateline. ("Palestinians press court on Israel/ War-crimes files handed over at the Hague; inquiry sought"--Page 2A, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 26, 2015)
The lede required only a slight update: "The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday presented documents to the International Criminal Court urging an investigation of Israel for what the Palestinians say were war crimes committed during fighting in the Gaza Strip . . ."
That was last year's war, and, to quote Willy Stern, an adjunct member of the faculty at Vanderbilt Law School:
For three straight days starting on July 15, 2014, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made thousands of phone calls to the residents of Shejaiya in northern Gaza. The locals were encouraged to evacuate their homes before IDF tanks rolled across the border. Tens of thousands of leaflets were dropped into the village. These leaflets suggested both a safe evacuation route and safe destinations to head for within Gaza City. The IDF sent similar messages daily via local television and radio. But that's not all. The IDF also made dozens of phone calls to Shejaiya's influential citizens, asking them to get out the word of the impending IDF incursion.
Thousands and thousands of warnings were given. The Israeli military authorities essentially told the enemy where the IDF troops would enter the village and when. And for three days, Hamas fighters, no dummies, took full advantage. They dug their own forces in deeper. They activated booby-traps. They hid IEDs. They got snipers into perfect positions. They brought in additional fighters. They pre-positioned weapons. They readied their terror tunnels.
At this point, it was abundantly clear that IDF commanders had gone beyond any mandates that international law requires to avoid civilian casualties. No matter. Putting their own troops at even greater risk, IDF commanders decided to wait yet another day to allow more time for civilians to get out.
Then all hell broke loose. Shejaiya was the location of nasty urban fighting between Hamas and the IDF during the 2014 summer conflict. Sixty-seven Israeli soldiers would die in that war, and many of the injured are still in hospitals . . . .
Recommended reading: "Attorneys at War" in the June 15, 2015, edition of the Weekly Standard, which is full of such details, all of which add up to the unmistakable conclusion that, far from violating the laws of war, the Israelis go far beyond them--at great risk to their own troops and civilians. But none of that matters to the irredeemably prejudiced at the United Nations and their many followers, who will believe, repeat and elaborate any accusation against Israel. The facts are irrelevant. The only thing that matters is libeling the Jewish state.
What are Americans to do? Boycott this kangaroo court the way the United States did during George W. Bush's administration? Or participate in the UN's "deliberations" in order to point out what a farce they are?
A case can be made for either course. But whichever this administration chooses, this much is clear: Every time this blood libel is repeated, honest men and women and countries should cry out against it with renewed outrage.
Editorial on 07/02/2015