Herb Keinon tells us why the Israeli Cabinet termed Gaza an enemy entity:
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity explained that the term “hostile territory” was not a legal concept but rather the description of a practical fact. The government is saying that Gaza has been hijacked by terrorists. Hamas is not the lawful government of a sovereign state but it is effectively in charge. In these circumstances, the Gaza Strip is a “hostile territory.”
Why did the government decide to declare it so even though the term has no basis in international law? It was essentially a warning notice to the world that Israel intends to treat the Gaza Strip differently than it has until now and to apply measures it has not used before.
The announcement put out by the security cabinet after the decision was unanimously approved on Wednesday gives some inkling of what these measures will include. According to the statement, “Additional sanctions will be placed on the Hamas regime to restrict the passage of various goods to the Gaza Strip and to reduce the supply of fuel and electricity. Restrictions will also be placed on the movement of people to and from the Gaza Strip. The sanctions will be enacted following a legal examination, while taking into account both the humanitarian aspects relevant to the Gaza Strip and the intention to avoid a humanitarian crisis.”
I guess the main question now is: Will the Cabinet follow through?
No matter what Israel does, the world will condemn her.
Call a spade a spade.
It’s a terrorist country now.
Treat it as such. When questioned point to Afghanistan and what America did to it over being run by terrorists.
That will shut up the IMPORTANT whiners.
From what I heard on the radio this morning, the “condemnations” have already started. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General, is already demanding that Israel continue to provide the terrorists with water, electricity, and food. Just consider what the electric company does when someone does not pay his electric bill. I do not think that Hamas is paying the electric bill in any event.
“The term has no basis in international law”
Oh jeesh, what exactly is basis in oh-so-modern “international law”? Hostile territory certainly has a real resonance in practical and historic terms. From pirate havens, through the frontiers of civilization throughout history, and today in Africa, in the mountains of Pakistan, even some islands in the eastern Indian Ocean where wild men live who would kill any who come near. Hostile Territory. Great term.
There’s absolutely no such thing as “international law.” It just sounds good to uneducated people. Like reporters.
Robert