Eli E. Hertz | 20 March 2018
In June 1967, the combined armies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan attacked Israel with the clear purpose expressed by Egypt's President: "Destruction of Israel." At the end of what is now known as the Six-Day War, Israel, against all odds, was victorious and in possession of the territories of Judea and Samaria [E.H., The West Bank], Sinai and the Golan Heights.
International law makes a clear distinction between defensive wars and wars of aggression. More than half a century after the 1948 War, and more than four decades since the 1967 Six-Day War, it is hard to imagine the dire circumstances Israel faced and the price it paid to fend off its neighbors' attacks.
Who Starts Wars Does Matter
Professor, Judge Stephen M. Schwebel, past President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) states the following facts:
"The facts of the June 1967 'Six Day War' demonstrate that Israel reacted defensively against the threat and use of force against her by her Arab neighbors. This is indicated by the fact that Israel responded to Egypt's prior closure of the Straits of Tiran, its proclamation of a blockade of the Israeli port of Eilat, and the manifest threat of the UAR's [The state formed by the union of the republics of Egypt and Syria in 1958] use of force inherent in its massing of troops in Sinai, coupled with its ejection of UNEF.
"It is indicated by the fact that, upon Israeli responsive action against the UAR, Jordan initiated hostilities against Israel. It is suggested as well by the fact that, despite the most intense efforts by the Arab States and their supporters, led by the Premier of the Soviet Union, to gain condemnation of Israel as an aggressor by the hospitable organs of the United Nations, those efforts were decisively defeated.
"The conclusion to which these facts lead is that the Israeli conquest of Arab and Arab-held territory was defensive rather than aggressive conquest."
Judge Sir Elihu Lauterpacht wrote in 1968, one year after the 1967 Six-Day War:
"On 5th June, 1967, Jordan deliberately overthrew the Armistice Agreement by attacking the Israeli-held part of Jerusalem. There was no question of this Jordanian action being a reaction to any Israeli attack. It took place notwithstanding explicit Israeli assurances, conveyed to King Hussein through the U.N. Commander, that if Jordan did not attack Israel, Israel would not attack Jordan.
"Although the charge of aggression is freely made against Israel in relation to the Six-Days War the fact remains that the two attempts made in the General Assembly in June-July 1967 to secure the condemnation of Israel as an aggressor failed. A clear and striking majority of the members of the U.N. voted against the proposition that Israel was an aggressor."
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Are the Europeans funding illegal Arab constructions on Israeli land?
Illegal building by EU in Judea and Samaria.
Arabs are using European Union funding to violate court orders and continue their illegal building near Hebron.
By: Ezra Stone, United with Israel
Arabs in the Hirbet Z'nutah outpost have apparently defied a court order by continuing to illegally build structures at the location. Hirbet Z'nutah is located in the middle of an archaeological site in the southern Hebron Hills region of Judea. This time, the Arabs' illegal construction was reportedly completed using funding from the European Union (EU).
Just six months ago, the High Court suspended demolition of the outpost provided that no additional construction take place. Allegedly flouting that commitment, the Arabs responsible for construction in Hirbet Z'nutah apparently used EU funds to build yet another illegal structure, reported Arutz 7.
"Construction of a school on a protected archaeological site, with EU funding, is a gross and blatant violation of the High Court's decision, as well as a violation of the European Convention on the Protection of Archaeological Heritage," said Yishai Hemo to Arutz 7. Hemo serves as Field Coordinator for Judea and Samaria for the Regavim organization, a watchdog that monitors illegal Arab constructions.
As a result of the latest violation, Regavim plans to file another petition with the High Court of Justice in the following days.
"The offenders have sharpened their tactical skills, and have managed to pull the wool over the Court's eyes. They never intended to uphold their commitments in this matter. We will also be petitioning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand that decisive action is taken in light of the European Union's illegal conduct," Hemo explained.
While the illegal Arab outpost is located in Area C, and is thus under Israeli control and not subject to Palestinian Authority administration, the new structure flies PA flags. (For the Oslo Accords negotiated in 1995, Judea and Samaria alias Cisjordan or West Bank have been divided in 3 areas i.e. "A", "B" and "C", with Area "A" entirely administrated by the Palestinian Authority including police responsibility, Area "B" with Palestinian civilian administration but joint Israeli/Palestinian police responsibility, and Area "C" entirely administrated by Israel including police responsibility -note by E. Nahum). It remains to be seen whether Israeli authorities will be required to remove the most recent structure, a course of action that has been required several times since the illegal outpost was first started several year ago. In 2012, for example, Israeli authorities had to eliminate makeshift stables and tents set up there.
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