Ethnic Cleansing: Israel Rounds Up All Male Palestinians 16 Years Or Older In Rafah

Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, on Wednesday condemned Israel's military operation in Rafah as "reckless disregard for human life."

"It is clear that today's action was completely disproportionate to any threat faced by the Israeli military and that Israeli forces showed a reckless disregard for human life," he said.

At least 10 Palestinians were killed and around 50 were wounded Wednesday when Israeli forces opened fire on a demonstration against a massive military operation in the southern Gaza refugee camp of Rafah.

http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040519155424.xth221bb

MK Barakeh: Israel committing genocide

Reports of mounting death toll in Rafah elicit angry reactions from left-wing MKs; Right-wing MKs reject charges.
Yifat Zohar and Arik Bender

Reports of the mounting death toll in Rafah have elicited angry reactions from left-wing MKs at the Knesset.

Hadash-Taal faction chairman, Mohammad Barakeh demanded that the session be stopped immediately until an authorized government representative provides an accurate account of events in Rafah. "This is not just a war crime, it's genocide. We must stop the debate until we know what happened there", he said. Barakeh charged that the IDF is committing a massacre in Rafah and called for immediate intervention by the international community.

Meanwhile, MK Azmi Bashara (Balad) said: "Sharon, Mofaz and the Chief of Staff must stand trial at the International Court of Justice in the Hague for war crimes. This constitutes the total bankruptcy of the Israeli occupation. Eventually there will be a withdrawal but unfortunately it will only take place after crimes against humanity are committed".

MK Roman Bronfman (Meretz) expressed his regret over the IDF's failure to distinguish between terrorists and protestors. "The IDF is losing its power of deterrence and Israel is losing the legitimacy to combat terror", he said.

Labor MK Yuli Tamir called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end the operation in Gaza "before it deteriorates into a second Lebanon". Tamir said that the Prime Minister should keep his promise to leave Gaza immediately.

Meretz-Yahad MK Avshalom Vilan said: "The defense establishment has lost their minds. Whoever gave the order for gunships and tanks to fire at protestors gave an illegal command".

Zehava Galon, chair of the Meretz-Yahad faction, approached the Defense Minister about the Tel-sultan bombing. According to Galon, the command to use live fire against unarmed demonstrators is illegal and soldiers who receive such an order should refuse to follow it.

The Geneva Initiative architects called on the government to order the IDF to stop the Gaza operation that they say infringes on international law. "Killing civilians will only encourage extremists to hate and support terror", the group said in a statement. The group called on the government to open negotiations with the Palestinians "so we can leave the territories with an agreement".

However, right-wing MKs issued a scathing attack in response to the left-wing criticism. "The Arab MKs, who assist the propaganda efforts of terror groups, are spreading blood libels against the IDF just as they did during the fight at the Jenin refugee camp", said MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union).

Deputy Education Minister, Zvi Hendel, added: "There's no limit to the left's chutzpa. The group of armed murderers who surrounded themselves with children as insurance policy put our soldiers in danger. Despite the pain, we must not allow the pictures of our soldiers' remains in the hands of cannibals to repeat".

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