UN gets stern with Israel while rockets still fly over the border

Picks on Israel for closing crossings; doesn't criticize Hamas for breaking cease-fire
Nov. 19

While rockets are flying overhead and Israeli tanks on are standby to head into Gaza, a war of words is flying back and forth between United Nations and Israeli officials.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay accused Israel of "forcibly depriving" 1.5 million Palestinians of "basic human rights for months." She called for Israel to end air strikes and incursions into Gaza, and for Palestinians to stop firing rockets, urged Israel to allow the flow of aid to resume, and to restore electricity and water service in the Hamas-controlled territory.

Israel's Foreign Ministry fired back with a furious press release:

It is shocking to read the High Commissioner's utterly shortsighted press release regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Most disturbing is the way she casually refers to Palestinian aggression in the last sentence of her statement, as almost an afterthought. Unfortunately, Israel does not have the option of being so casual in its response to rocket and mortar attacks on its civilians, attacks which violate the most fundamental right of all, the right to life.

Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas, which invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of providing for the civilians that it brutally controls.

Electricity and water continue to flow from Israel to Gaza, and 33 trucks laden with supplies arrived in Gaza yesterday, with more waiting to enter as soon as Hamas ends its violent attacks. It is disappointing to see the high commissioner fall victim to Hamas' cynical manipulation of the media.

Rather than engaging in the political game being promoted by the Palestinians, Israel expects the High Commissioner to investigate the facts before issuing one-sided statements about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and to begin by forcefully condemn the perpetrators of terror

In the last 10 days, Hamas has fired more than 170 rockets and mortars at Israel.

Writing in Ynet, Robert D. Onley pleads for Israel to wake up and reassert her sovereignty regardless of UN and international criticism:

Indeed, where in the UN Charter does it say that if a nation is subject to terror attacks, then that nation can be blamed for causing them? And who among Israel’s political elite is actually convinced that some form of negotiated agreement, imposed or otherwise, will permanently end hostilities with Hamas and appease its leadership? Surely the failure of the current ceasefire should serve as a stark warning for any future permanent "ceasefire."

...Leaders in Jerusalem must realize that one day soon, Israel will ultimately be alone in the world. Which world power legitimately can and will defend Israel once the United States packs up from Iraq and goes home to lick its wounds? Will Barack Obama supernaturally appear in the sky to save "God’s Chosen People?" Perhaps the Europeans will reluctantly pick up their guns to protect the same people they practically annihilated a mere 63 years ago?

...History demands that Israel wake up, stop its internal bickering and incessant dithering, recognize its extraordinary past and patently defend the land it rightly possesses. If Israel does not do so, one day soon there will be more than just a few Arab nations calling for a 'final solution' to the Middle East conflict.

Decisions must be made today to defend against that future. Indeed, a nation that lacks the will to safeguard its sovereignty will one day simply fail to exist. Israel cannot fail at this crucial juncture; may history guide and protect her footsteps in these perilous times. Alas, no one else is willing.