Stop Israel From Executing the Innocent

The death toll from the latest Israeli extrajudicial execution in Nablus Tuesday stands at eight. Of those, two were children and two were journalists. Over the past 10 months, this policy has claimed the lives of 47 activists and innocent bystanders.

These assassinations are immoral and counterproductive to resolving the current crisis in the Middle East.

Moreover, they are illegal under the Geneva Convention, which stipulates that an occupying force must not infringe upon the rights of protected persons.

Israel and the world must remember that this situation is not a war but rather a continued illegal Israeli occupation.

Let’s look at the immorality. Israel has confined a civilian population in a prison made up of their towns and villages and from time to time decides that certain people must die. Thus Israel has become judge, jury and executioner.

Anwar Mahmoud Hamran was killed with 19 bullets as he was standing outside his shop in Nablus. Yousef abu Swayeh was gunned down outside his home in a village near Bethlehem. Aziza Mahmoud Danoun and Rahma Shahin, both in their 50s, were torn to shreds by shrapnel while walking down the street in Beit Sahour. And now two brothers, ages 7 and 10, can be added to the list.

Euphemisms such as “intercepting terrorists,” “self-defense” and “preemptive attacks” cannot be used anymore. It is time to say that this is state terrorism, and it is wrong.

Where is the democracy that Israel prides itself on? These people were executed without trials or proof of wrongdoing. Even convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was tried before his execution. In civilized countries, due process of law must take its course, and it cannot be substituted with murder.

Killing people--extrajudicial executions--is not Israel’s right. Even the Palestinian civilians suspected of hostile activities cannot be assassinated in complete disregard of humanitarian law. This policy of deliberate killings itself constitutes a war crime.

The death of every person on both sides is counterproductive to peace and stability in the region.

Tuesday’s bloodbath will inflame the passions of a people already driven to the limits by economic suffering, daily humiliations and violence at the hands of the soldiers occupying their land. It will precipitate the worst kind of violence, violence that will affect both sides.

Palestinians cannot be held responsible for the acts that individuals carry out because of the crime that Israel committed Tuesday.

A government that wants peace and regards the security of its own population as paramount does not do things like this. Where is Palestine’s partner for peace? Or are we to be murdered and terrorized into submission and acceptance of the continuing illegal Israeli occupation?

What happened Tuesday is an atrocity. A state that regards itself as civilized must be condemned for it. Current international silence about Israel’s policy of extrajudicial executions is tantamount to tacit support. This silence equals complicity.

The global community must force Israel to abide by international law. And an international protection force must be deployed--immediately--in the occupied territories.