Daily Alert Archives

The Republic of Yemen, the Houthi Terror Organization, and International Law

(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Amb. Alan Baker and Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch - The Republic of Yemen is a fully-recognized sovereign state entity. It bears full state responsibility for any aggressive, offensive, and terrorist actions of the Houthis emanating from Yemen's sovereign territory, whether directed at Israel or the international community. Ongoing aggressive military actions against Israel, including the repeated firing of long-range ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel's civilian population, constitute a plethora of crimes including the crime of aggression, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Yemen has obstructed international shipping for more than a year, in violation of international maritime law. By turning a blind eye to such aggressive activity, the international community is, in effect, shamelessly indicating to the Houthi terror organization presently ruling Yemen that it remains indifferent to the illegal actions emanating from Yemen's territory. It is transmitting to the Houthi terrorists that they enjoy an evident carte blanche to continue blatantly and openly violating international law, without fear of any international response or reprisal. While the Western world continues to adhere to accepted, and often archaic, diplomatic and political rules, the terrorists - Hamas, Hizbullah, and the Houthis - openly, and brazenly, flout international law, at the bidding, encouragement, and support of Iran. Amb. Alan Baker, Director of the Institute for Diplomatic Affairs at the Jerusalem Center, served as Legal Adviser and Deputy Director-General of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, former director of the Military Prosecution in Judea and Samaria, is director of the Palestinian Authority Accountability Initiative at the Jerusalem Center.
2025-01-12 00:00:00
Full Article