The Credibility of America and Europe Is at Stake Again

Israel informed the United Nations of its right to use all means to stop a Lebanese aid ship from reaching the shores of the Gaza Strip when angry and objectionable reactions failed to subside after the act of violence committed against the Freedom Fleet and while the nations of the world are still calling for Israel to lift the unjust siege imposed on Gaza, including the requirement of the German parliament — which has often taken positions in favor of Israel — to allow the delivery of relief aid by sea.

This means that Israel is disregarding the whole world, international legitimacy and the conscience of humanity. It is publicly declaring its readiness to repeat what it has done to the Freedom Fleet, hiding behind false pretenses — which the world uncovered — by saying that the organizers of relief vessels are “supporters of terrorism,” or by claiming that the Gaza Strip is under the authority of terrorists.

It is strange that Israel, which announced the end of the occupation of the Gaza Strip years ago, has confirmed that the Gaza Strip is still occupied with an unjust siege and that access to humanitarian assistance is prevented. If this is the case, Israel must bear the responsibility of an occupation under international law. It is unreasonable to declare the end of occupation but, at the same time, continue to practice it while refusing to accept the responsibilities imposed by international law, thereby causing civilian casualties in women, children and the elderly and the repercussions of a lack of medicine, food, medical equipment and the travel ban on patients seeking treatment abroad.

The question that arises in this context is: How can Israel assert its right to engage in piracy in international waters and claim the right to prevent relief ships from reaching the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip when it claims that it ended its occupation?

Indeed, a spokeswoman for foreign affairs on behalf of the German Green Party was accurate and correct when she declared that the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip is a siege on the U.N. that cannot be accepted. Moreover, this blockade is aimed at international legitimacy and the will of the international community.

Faced with this, what will the U.N. do to defend international law, which Israel has challenged and grossly violated? What will this do to the American and European leaders who have long spoken on behalf of international legitimacy when they attacked Iraq for its occupation of Kuwait? And then when they invaded Iraq in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks? And who have always spoken on behalf of legitimacy when they call on Palestinian leaders to recognize Israel, even when Washington rejected dialogue with the PLO until it accepted Resolution 242 and was prepared to recognize Israel?

Now, the credibility of America, Europe and the United Nations is at stake after Israel’s blatant defiance of international law and after it declared to the world that it wants to hold the 1.5 million Palestinians hostage under an unjust siege, which claims more victims every day.

It is now unreasonable for any Arab or Muslim from America or Europe to accept anything less than to pressure Israel to lift its unjust siege, since there is no hope of forcing it to respect international law, preventing it from attacking civilians and peace activists at sea, or prohibiting it from exercising acts of piracy in the depths of international waters.

Any U.S. or European position that seeks to appease Israel and agree to a compromise or a partial ease of the unjust sanctions will look hypocritical, duplicitous and aggressive.

Israel must lift the embargo and should take responsibility for the civilian victims who died as a result. It must also take responsibility for the victims of marine piracy in international waters.