01 January 2009

Birding in Israel or Geneva?

Something to ponder over whilst planning your holidays for the forthcoming year.
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
Adopted on 12 August 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, held in Geneva from 21 April to 12 August, 1949
Entry into force 21 October 1950

Part III Status and treatment of protected persons
Section I Provisions common to the territories of the parties to the conflict and to occupied territories

Article 33
No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.
Pillage is prohibited.
Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

At the last count 402 Palestinians and four Israelis have died during the last six days of mindless shite in southern Palestine/Israel. The UN says 25% of the Palestinians killed were civilians and Palestinian medical officials say more than 2,000 people have been injured. The question is - when does collateral damage become collective penalty?

Will you be birding in Israel anytime soon? May I suggest Turkey, Jordan or Egypt instead.

3 comments:

Peter Alfrey said...

What if your planning on doing all those countries?

Darryl said...

'Moral dilemma' is the phrase that springs to mind. Are you going all the way down to Egypt? You might have one or two interesting border crossings.

Peter Alfrey said...

well,in light of recent developments i might by-pass Israel and go to Egypt instead. It is getting a bit jumpy out there.