shafique wrote:I totally condemn all criminal acts and don't make a distinction who carries them out. The hostages in Israeli jails are no different from hostages held by PA et al - both are illegal and should indeed be condemned.
Israeli jails are under constant international scrutiny...and everything is within international law. Contrary to the Hamas thugs for example who refuse access to prisoners by the red cross. It is the PA and Hamas who need to be condemned in this case, not Israel. It is the PA and Hamas who are breaking international law, not Israel.
shafique wrote:However, I don't agree that it is the Palestinians who are holding up the peace process - they have clearly stated that they want to negotiate and have merely said that Israel must stop all illegal building of colonies/settlements in occupied territories. It is Israel that is not agreeing to this pre-requisite.
Israel also has preequisites that are not met by the PA, still it doesn't refuse to negiotatie, like the PA does.
shafique wrote:I particularly abhor the attempts to blame the victims - it is not Palestinians who are the occupiers and who are breaking international law by building colonies etc. .
They are however breaking international law every day, as we have established. They have no regards to human rights.
shafique wrote:This thread was initially about Palestinian peaceful diplomatic moves to get the peace process moving - by shaming the Israelis to come back to the negotiating table.
Israel is present at the negotiating table, PA is absent.