09-08-2006, 04:53 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 824
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Big Three Missing the Point
UKIP Press Release:
Quote:
'Big Three': Missing the point
09-08-2006
The Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats have "missed the point" in their debates about proportionality.
Roger Knapman, leader of the UK Independence Party, today (7.8.06) spoke out against the argument that the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah are disproportionate.
"We all want peace in the Middle East," said Mr Knapman. "However, we mustn't think in terms of Israel taking on the Lebanon, but of Israel taking on a terrorist group whose aim is to destroy them..."
"Let us not forget that Hezbollah are firing Iranian missiles at Israeli civilians and that Iran's conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that Israel must be "wiped off the map"."
The three political parties have all stated that they think the attacks by Israel are disproportionate in terms of the initial offence, which was the capture and imprisonment of Israeli soldiers.
"What is disproportionate" continued Mr Knapman, "is the criticism of the Israel counter attack. As stated in the United Nations Charter, nothing impairs the inherent right of a nation state to defend themselves if an armed attack occurs."
"What could be more threatening to a country than its neighbours publicly announcing they want that country destroyed?" he added.
Notes:
Iranian comments about Israel: http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/26/news/iran.php
Hezbollah are firing two kinds of rocket at Israel:
Fajr - 3s with a range of 25 miles
Fajr - 5s with a range of 45 miles
They also have Zelzal-2 with a range of 160 miles which they are waiting on authority to fire from Iran/Syria
Article 51 of the UN Charter
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
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