[Jurist] Marc D. Stern - Amnesty International reads the law of war as if it was a law banning war. Amnesty's criticisms of Israel's actions in Gaza distort a body of law which actually permits, while regulating, war. Amnesty perversely reads that body of law in ways that unduly handcuff nations with legitimate reasons for military action. Indeed, in a recent letter to Secretary of State Rice about the Gaza conflict, Amnesty imposes a new - and entirely unfounded - restriction on the use of military force: that it be "strictly necessary." Presumably Israel's assault on Gaza is not "strictly necessary." Israel could live with ongoing rocket attacks or simply accept whatever terms Hamas dictates as a condition for stopping its rocket fire. Fortunately, peace at any price or yielding to blackmail by rocket fire is not required by international law. The writer is Acting Co-Executive Director/General Counsel, American Jewish Congress.
2009-01-09 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive