Re: Letter to the Editor (Aug. 29)

With regard to Anne Schwartz’s comments on my Aug. 15 letter, I’d like to remind her that Israel’s creation was the result of British colonialism and Zionist opportunism after WWI (and deemed illegitimate by many Orthodox Jews). Just like in North America, indigenous peoples were removed from their land by more technologically advanced, aggressive powers. All occupied people fight back.

Further, Israel argues that it can invoke the right to self-defense under international law as defined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The International Court of Justice, however, rejected this faulty legal interpretation in its 2004 Advisory Opinion.

The ICJ explained that an armed attack that would trigger Article 51 must be attributable to a sovereign state, but the armed attacks by Palestinians emerge from within Israel’s jurisdictional control. Israel does have the right to defend itself against rocket attacks, but it must do so in accordance with occupation law and not other laws of war. Occupation law ensures greater protection for the civilian population. Also, the 1949 Geneva Convention, signed by Israel, specifically bars collective punishment, due to the WWII civilian atrocities Ms. Schwartz mentions in her letters.

The Likud Party Charter, while not using language as heinous as Hamas’, specifically denies Palestine’s legitimacy. Regardless, both Hamas and Likud modify these statements in everyday discourse. (The recent unity government [Hamas-Fatah] accepts all principles negotiated by the PLO, namely, recognition of Israel.  Likewise, Netanyahu says he’s for a two-state solution despite the wording of the party charter.)

Paul Hoffman
E. Greenwich, R.I.