How do we stop terrorism - not just that of private organisations or individuals, but that committed by States?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Terrorism can be defined as the deliberate spreading of terror among the civilian population in order to achieve a political or economic end. It is not limited to militant groups. It is also committed by a State that uses bombing raids, shelling, propaganda and threats to intimidate, scare and panic a civilian population. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour stated ``Indiscriminate shelling of cities constitutes a foreseeable and unacceptable targeting of civilians,'' on the UN Web site. ``The scale of the killings in the region, and their predictability, could engage the personal criminal responsibility of those involved, particularly those in a position of command and control.''(more on terrorism here)

Please Note. How ordinary people can take Action. They can easily report war crimes to the International Criminal Court as is explained below, after the updating news and background information articles. The court then has to investigate and find out, if there have been such crimes, who ordered them. This Court was set up by 120 nations, including Israel, to punish war crimes. So far people from ten nation have joined us in doing this. Such action could have profound long-term importance. Also tell your local media what you have done. Links are here also for other actions - sign the major petition above, email a seemingly profoundly deaf Tony Blair to encourage him to divorce George W. Bush and, of course, do join in demonstations if you can.

The Red Cross on top of a Lebanese ambulance used as "bulls-eye" by Israeli Airforce (the story of a person in it).

Hypocrisy over UN resolutions - the "Ceasefire" negotiations of Condi Rice

Former US President Jimmy Carter talks some sense on this crisis.

Just what is Hezbullah - and why did it capture Israeli soldiers?(Several in-depth articles included)

Hezbullah - supports a multi-faith Lebanon - not an Islamic state.

Very thoughtful expert blog on Syria, Shiittes and Lebanon

Email Tony Blair

UN Resolution - First Draft - the full text - and what is missing (updated).

Detailed map of Lebanon and bombing- Lebanese updates to map - and hour to hour record of fighting

VERY IMPORTANT - 27th July 2006 -Lebanese Government and Hizbollah endorsed Peace Deal is ready to be signed - it gives Israel and Lebanon more security, stops the war, ends the occupation and frees prisoners. Lebanan still pushing for this to be the basis of the UN Resolution on 7th Aug. In the meantime, hundreds have surely died unnecessarily.

Bush and Blair White House Press Conference 28th July - no mention of Lebanese ceasefire offer.

US / Israeli Strategy - is it facing utter failure? + Israeli newspaper 2nd Aug "the Most Unsuccessful War"

Thousands of Israeli Arabs demonstrate against War (mostly unreported in West - Why?)

French do the right thing - bring in tons of medical AID, call for immediate ceasefire - why can't we, the British, and the rest of the world do the same? Human Rights Watch - Israel is committing war crimes - detailed report.

Remarkable Voice of America broadcast gives the lie to Bush and Blair

New Potential Flash Point - Extremist Israeli groups given access Thursday to Jerusalem Al Aqsa Mosque

Israeli civilians are suffering - even if not as much.

The Quana Massacre - analysis The Israelis appear to be engaged in a concerted campaign of ethnic cleansing in the Shiite, Christian and Sunni towns and villages of southern Lebanon (they are not all Shiite as commonly reported) , and are "indiscriminately bombing and shelling all buildings in the area south of the Litani River. They have chased hundreds of thousands of residents out, and are destroying the property they left behind in a systematic way... in other words, the Israelis are engaged in collective punishment on a vast scale. " Israel seeks another week in order to complete this process. Will we give them it? Will Bush?

48 hour ceasefire UPDATE: Now Al-Jazeera is saying that “Israel ’s temporary suspension of aerial bombardments does not cover missile launch batteries.” Israel has announced this very partial pause is to give Shiite civilians 24 hours in which to leave South Lebanon - i.e. - the pause is agreed to help Israel complete its ethnic cleansing of South Lebanon.

The site of the latest massacre of children - The Cana of the Gospels? Quana was called Cana by St Jerome who said it was where Jesus attended the wedding feast and turned water into wine - more about the inhabitants of this place and what has happened to them

According to a well-reputed journalist report; Israeli justice minister Haim Ramon announced on Israeli army radio
Thursday that "all those [remaining] in south Lebanon are terrorists who are related
in some way to Hezbollah."
Ramon added, "In order to prevent casualties among Israeli soldiers
battling Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, villages should be
flattened by the Israeli air force before ground troops move in."

Thousands of Israeli Arabs - joined by some Israeli academics - call for Immediate Ceasefire after latest Israeli massacre in Lebanon. (Israeli newspaper resports this - but seemingly not the BBC) Also Israeli soldier jailed for refusing to fight.

Horrific Pictures from Lebanon - not for the faint hearted. ... And powerful photos that cry STOP from "What TV does not show" site

Honest article in major Israeli newspaper headlined "Morality is not on our side" plus, on 31st July, "Days of Darkness" .

The "Hiding among Civilians" Myth & please don't forget the other war "Israel has killed over 240 Palestinians in last few weeks"

Did Israel have sufficient reason to go to war ? Had Hezbollah been slaughtering Israeli civilians near the border? The answer simply is No. Between Sunday, July 30, 2000 and the outbreak of the current hostilities, total of six Israeli civilians died, one of which was killed by a falling anti-aircraft round (fired at Israeli aircraft violating Lebanese airspace) and five in a August 2002 incursion) - yet an Israeli spokesman said on the BBC as I type these words that Hezbollah has been attacking Israel for years "every day"! That this war "Is about Israel's survival." No mention of the constant Israeli violations of the international Lebanese border over the past five years.

Israel's Aim - is it just to destroy Hizbollah? Below Israeli troops display a captured flag of Lebanon. They are also bombing Lebanese army bases. Just what is going on? (Description of possible US/Israeli strategy with maps)

May I suggest a small way in which people can do something to help - as well as by lobbying their politicians, and doing anything else they can think of?

Destruction of Lebanon July 2006

Something that we can do - report Israel for this to the International Criminal Court.

If you wish to do so, you can copy, or rewrite in your own words, the draft letters below.. remembering to include your address (including email) and the date; then sign, and mail the letter to the address given at the top of the letter.

You won't be alone. We know people have sent in this letter from Poland, Canada, Australia and the UK - as well as other places. You can also sign the petition linked to in the banner at the top - one promoted in Lebanon and with over 100,000 signatures.

The Court advises on its website "In addition to State Party and Security Council referrals, the Chief Prosecutor may also receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court provided by other sources, such as individuals or non-governmental organisations. The Chief Prosecutor conducts a preliminary examination of this information in every case. If the Chief Prosecutor then decides that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, he will request the Pre-Trial Chamber to authorise an investigation."

It is also the practice of the Court to reply giving decisions.

The organiser of this web site, Janine Roberts, has already faxed her appeal to the Court. Please join her by faxing or posting your own.

The Rome Statute and other information sources are listed below - with also a description of Hezbollah drawn from Arab sources. They paint a very different picture to the one we hear most often. Note that on 21st July the Lebanese government announced the national army will be fighting alongside Hezbollah in order to defend Lebanon from the Israeli invasion.

The Court normally replies to everyone who refers a case of suspected war crimes to them, telling them their decision. If you decide to send this letter, please send us a brief email, letting us know you have. Thank you.

Also, I was interviewed on the Bristol BBC's breakfast show about this - simply because I phoned them up and told and them I had referred Israel to the International Criminal Court. Hopefully, if other people also contact their own local radio or TV station, they also will get on air . The BBC after I had spoken, interviewed someone in Israel to ask them what they thought of my action.. so the news that we think their actions are war crimes gets to Israel. Hopefully this increases pressure on them to desist. No one wants the risk of being hauled off to court.

Listen to to the program

________________

To the Office of the Prosecutor,
International Criminal Court
PO Box 19519
2500CM, The Hague
The Netherlands

Tel.: +31 70 515 85 15 or Fax: - 00 31 70 515 81 23 or if needed try +31 70 515 85 55

Dear Sir or Madam,        

I understand that under the Rome Statute members of the Public may refer to your attention alleged major war crimes for investigation and possible prosecution.

I note that under the Rome Statute you are empowered to consider such crimes. I further note that the very existence of your court helps to prevent such crimes by serving notice that these cannot in future be carried out with total impunity.

I note that the Rome Statute directs your consideration to "the most serious crimes of international concern," and that Article 8 of the above Statute stipulates: "The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when committed as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes."Furthermore that 'for the purposes of this Statute, "war crimes" means ...(iv) 'Extensive destruction ... not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly." And that furthermore "other serious violations" include "intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives,"

I further note that these alleged war crimes are 'planned', as the Statute requires. Israeli military authorities have publicly stated that the destruction they are causing in Lebanon is part of a 'plan', saying their war plan requires many more days or weeks of continuing military action and destruction. Their plan has already resulted in what the Lebanese government have called a 'catastrophe' inflicted on their civilian population, one that is continuing to create havoc and extremely grave suffering, driving hundreds of thousands from their homes, destroying much of the civilian infrastructure of Lebanon.

I am therefore convinced that these crimes meet the requirements for action of the Rome Statute and urgently request that you immediately initiate research with a view to seeing if a prosecution is called for; that is, into the current devastating bombing and shelling of the state of Lebanon, including of its roads and road traffic, power stations, airports and sea ports, bridges and homes, by the political and military leadership of the State of Israel.  

I further request that if you decide to consider this, you make this immediately public. I ask for this in the hope that this will help in a small way to deter further crimes and help bring about a cessation of the current hostilities.

I am persuaded that no politician or general engaged in war crimes would wish to be submitted to your scrutiny, given your previous actions relating to war crimes committed elsewhere,. I am aware that the State of Israel signed the Statute setting up your court.

I look forward to your response,

With respect

(insert your own name here, change the date appropriately, then print out and mail to the Court).

Post Script. According to lawyer interviewed last night 28th July on Channel 4 news, UK officials may be prosecuted for war crimes if they authorise US flights carrying bombs to the Israeli air force to use UK airports. If Israel is found guilty of bombing civilian areas, then those that help supply the bombs are also to be held responsible.

Alternatively obtain from here a pdf version of the above letter and print - remember to insert your address, email, date and name

To read the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court Website

Jewish Group take legal action against Israeli Defence Minister Peretz for War Crimes

And just What is Hizbollah anyway?- A (now expanded) response to an Israeli interviewed with me today by the BBC (updated)

Horrific Pictures from Lebanon - not for the faint hearted. ... And powerful photos that cry STOP from "What TV does not show" site

aerial photos of S. Beirut - showing extent of destruction - before and after

Do Israeli strategists dream of controlling the waters of the Litani River - and a larger Israel?