Barak Orders Demolition of Dwayat’s East-Jerusalem House

This week, Hussam Dwayat killed three people and injured many more as he rampaged through Jerusalem in a bulldozer. Now Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has ordered that the man’s former home be destroyed. 

It goes without saying that Dwayat’s actions were terrible and murderous acts, and completely inexcusable. In response, demolishing his former home might feel like a satisfyingly revengeful thing to do, an eye-for-an-eye kinda thing. It might even give Olmert’s struggling government a little bounce in the polls.

It might. But it is counter-productive and it is illegal.

The relevant parts of International Humanitarian Law talk about a “specific threat” and “military necessity”. They also talk about “collective punishment”. It is hard to see the military necessity behind making homeless the twenty occupants of Dwayat’s former house. It is easy to see that such an action would constitute collective punishment in violation of Article 33 of the fourth Geneva Convention.

In a statement today, Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz said that the proposed demolition “could create legal difficulties, but would not be illegal.” What exactly do you mean Mazuz? That you’re treading the line? That you’re confident of winning should it go to court? Or that you’re stepping out to meet McCain, over in Bullshit town?

~ by bsuryab on July 5, 2008.