As PM Netanyahu’s regime expands the area of attack from East Rafah to North Gaza and Central Gaza, his Finance Minister has withheld the tax revenue owed to the Palestinian Authority to pay the salaries of public sector employees in hospitals and city service. Workers in these sectors have gone without pay throughout April. These shenanigans compound misery in the West Bank. To wit, www.reuters.com/…
The bombardment of the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp combined with the deluge of internally displaced Gazans (300 000 ) fleeing to the al-Muwasi sand dune, a so called “safe zone” that lacks food, water and hospitals makes one wonder if the “red line” has been crossed yet. Egypt has joined South Africa in calling for immediate ICJ intervention to order a cease-fire in the face of such calamity. Bearing these facts in mind and all the other atrocities of the past 6.5 months, how could SOS Blinken accept Israel’s self-certification that it complies with international humanitarian law?
Even the White House attorneys are concerned that the US is breaking its own laws by transferring arms to a regime committed to ethnic cleansing with the aid of our weapons. Sean Musgrave of the Intercept reports that they have approached Attorney General Garland with their concerns in the form of a letter. “Drawing comparisons to the infamous “torture memos,” which were drafted by government lawyers to provide cover to CIA waterboarding and other tactics, the letter reminded fellow attorneys of their binding duty to follow the law over political priorities...”
“There is strong evidence that American weapons are being used to commit a genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” reads the letter sent to the Biden administration on Monday. It was addressed to all attorneys at the White House, Justice Department, State Department, Defense Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.”
“To the extent that you have been involved in these decisions or asked to provide legal analyses on the potential violations, we ask that you render candid advice.” “Attorneys and legal staff from departments including Justice, Homeland Security and Labor, among other agencies, drafted the letter. “To wit, theintercept.com/…
So folks, SOS Blinken’s one step forward, two steps back response to Israel’s egregious violations is clearly problematic. A blank check arms policy to Israel accompanied by the tone of a scold (Bibi, follow the law now) is obviously counter-productive. It serves to erase the “red line” on the shifting sand of Gaza that many wish would be enforced post-haste.