This site is often critical of Simon Tisdall's take on the invasion of Ukraine. Not his support of that state but his arguments that no-fly zones or NATO involvement on the ground or in other more direct forms are necessary. Patently they are not. While Ukraine should be extended all possible supports as individual states see fit - and in keeping with their foreign policy approaches (and consequently Ireland should not offer military aid, though other support is reasonable) there are limits to what is possible without being potentially or actually escalatory in terms of enlarging the scope of that conflict. But on this outline of the sheer hypocrisy of some states in relation to Palestine and Israel when compared to Ukraine you won't find much better.
Indignant protests by Israeli and US leaders over last week's decision by the prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC) to seek Benjamin Netanyahu's arrest for alleged war crimes shone new light on an old reality: for those at the top who wield decisive political power, all people are equal – but some are more equal than others.
At the heart of objections to Karim Khan's gutsy move is the unspoken implication that violence against Palestinians, a dispossessed, marginalised and largely voiceless people, is less wrong, or somehow more acceptable, than violence against Israelis, the privileged, protected citizens of an established nation state. To demur is to be accused, inanely yet inevitably, of antisemitism.
The self-reverencing fury of US and Israeli politicians, and some in Europe, is revealing – and dismaying. Hamas's massacre of about 1,200 people last October was appalling, criminal and unforgivable – and must and will be punished. It does not justify Israel's disproportionate, illegal and indiscriminately lethal response in Gaza. But they just don't get it.
Palestinian lives matter as much as anyone else's. How is it that western politicians so easily tolerate, ignore or defend the killing of about 35,000 people, at least 12,000 of whom were women and children (based on revised UN figures), through the bombing of homes and hospitals and the blocking and hijacking of aid?
And as he says, this sits at complete odds with the narratives around Ukraine. And speaking of that:
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, is accused of overseeing numerous crimes in Ukraine. The ICC issued an arrest warrant last year. Does this suggest "moral equivalence" with Hamas terrorists – or Netanyahu? No. It simply means that Putin, like any other individual, must answer for his alleged actions. Like them, his assumption of impunity is – and must be shown to be – false. It's surprising how difficult western leaders find this concept of equality before the law, even as they prate about upholding the democratic, international rules-based order. Biden's reaction was illogical, bordering on bizarre. "What's happening is not genocide," he said. But the ICC is not saying it is. That's a different court, Joe. Biden condemned efforts to arrest the two Israelis (but not the Hamas leaders) as "outrageous". He has himself sharply criticised Israel's starvation tactics in Gaza, a central ICC charge, and its failure to protect civilians. Yet now he balks at attempts to ensure those responsible are held accountable – while backing the ICC warrant for Putin. This is pick'n'mix justice.
But his last point is absolutely on the nose:
In another advance, the UN's international court of justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, in southern Gaza. The gathering message is plain. Impunity cannot stand. For war criminals, there may be no lasting sanctuary. No one, however powerful, is above the law. Everyone has a right to protection.
No comments:
Post a Comment