Sunday, July 23, 2006

Israel/Lebanon War Updates

Updated throughout the day.

- Is a ceasefire possible in Gaza soon? The Egyptians are trying to broker a deal but there are so many political players involved with different demands that it doesn't look all that encouraging right now. (Take note of the fact that it is the Egyptians in charge of the current diplomatic efforts - not the US.)

-
The UN's Jan Egeland has condemned the devastation caused by Israeli air strikes in Beirut, saying it is a violation of humanitarian law.
link


Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the UN had harsh words for Louise Arbour, head of the Human Rights Commission, this morning on CNN:

BLITZER: The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, suggests that Israeli officials, top Israeli leaders, could be charged with war crimes by doing what they're doing. Listen to this excerpt of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUISE ARBOUR, UNHCR: It's pretty apparent that the number, the scale of civilian casualties in this conflict raises very serious questions about breaches of the laws and customs of war in a way, not only that is a breach of international humanitarian law but that could engage international criminal law and could engage personal criminal responsibility, all the way up the chain of command.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: You want to respond to what her implication is?

BOLTON: You know, in America, prosecutors are not supposed to threaten people in public based on press reports. I would just say as one lawyer to another, to Mrs. Arbour, that she should consider her professional ethics and responsibilities very carefully here before threatening criminal charges based on press accounts.

Press reports?? How incredibly dense. Can Bolton possibly be in more denial about the reality on the ground?

more to come...

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