18 june 2019
Yoav Mordechai, former head of Israel's civil administration in territories who now heads an international consultancy company, will attend next week's U.S.-led conference on the Palestinian economy in Bahrain in a private capacity
A former general who served as Israel's chief liaison officer to the Palestinians will attend next week's U.S.-led conference on the Palestinian economy in Bahrain in a private capacity, a person briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.
The White House decided against including the Israeli government in the June 25-26 event in Manama after the Palestinians boycotted it, making do instead with inviting a small Israeli business delegation.
U.S. officials have not formally announced those delegates.
A source briefed on the invitees said they include Yoav Mordechai, a former general who stepped down as head of Israel's military-run COGAT liaison agency last year and now heads Novard, an international consultancy.
Mordechai will be joined in Manama by his Novard partner, the source said, declining to identify the second man by name as he is also a veteran of Israel's security services.
Reached by phone, Novard declined comment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday afternoon that there would be an Israeli presence at the Bahrain conference, but it was unclear whether he was referring to Mordechai or other poitential attendees.
Known to Israelis and Palestinians alike by his nickname Poly, the Arabic-fluent Mordechai was a dominant force in Israel's efforts to coordinate security in the occupied West Bank and stave off fighting with the Gaza Strip's Islamist Hamas rulers.
The United States has billed the Bahrain gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian leaders have spurned the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias from Washington and saying the still unpublished U.S. peace plan falls short of their goal of statehood.
A former general who served as Israel's chief liaison officer to the Palestinians will attend next week's U.S.-led conference on the Palestinian economy in Bahrain in a private capacity, a person briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.
The White House decided against including the Israeli government in the June 25-26 event in Manama after the Palestinians boycotted it, making do instead with inviting a small Israeli business delegation.
U.S. officials have not formally announced those delegates.
A source briefed on the invitees said they include Yoav Mordechai, a former general who stepped down as head of Israel's military-run COGAT liaison agency last year and now heads Novard, an international consultancy.
Mordechai will be joined in Manama by his Novard partner, the source said, declining to identify the second man by name as he is also a veteran of Israel's security services.
Reached by phone, Novard declined comment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday afternoon that there would be an Israeli presence at the Bahrain conference, but it was unclear whether he was referring to Mordechai or other poitential attendees.
Known to Israelis and Palestinians alike by his nickname Poly, the Arabic-fluent Mordechai was a dominant force in Israel's efforts to coordinate security in the occupied West Bank and stave off fighting with the Gaza Strip's Islamist Hamas rulers.
The United States has billed the Bahrain gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian leaders have spurned the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias from Washington and saying the still unpublished U.S. peace plan falls short of their goal of statehood.
President Donald Trump and Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain
'We'd like to make it as apolitical as possible,' says unnamed official, adding that Palestinian business representatives are expected to attend the event on June 25-26 despite PA's boycott of summit
The White House will not invite Israeli government officials to a Bahrain conference devoted to gaining support for a Palestinian economic plan in order to keep the event apolitical, a senior administration official said on Monday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Palestinian business representatives are expected to attend the event in Manama on June 25-26, but not Palestinian government officials, who have boycotted a peace initiative led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.
As a result, the administration decided not to extend an invitation to Israeli government officials to a conference expected to be attended by envoys from Arab governments as well as European nations.
"We're inviting the Israeli business people and Palestinian business people. We'd like to make it as apolitical as possible," the official said.
In late May, the Palestinian Authority rejected the economic conference, saying any peace effort that ignores the Palestinian people's aspirations for an independent state is doomed to fail. A senior Palestinian official has likened the White House plan to "financial blackmail."
Bahrain's foreign minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa tweeted in response that his country respects the Palestinian leadership's steadfast position safeguarding Palestinian rights.
He said that both the official and popular position of Bahrain "has been and continues to be championing the brotherly Palestinian people in the restoration of their legitimate rights in their land and an independent state with its capital as east Jerusalem, additionally economically supporting the Palestinian people."
The minister added that "there's no other purpose" in hosting the conference than Bahrain's continued support of the Palestinians.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Israeli Channel 13 News that "Israel will be at the Bahrain conference." He gave no further details.
'We'd like to make it as apolitical as possible,' says unnamed official, adding that Palestinian business representatives are expected to attend the event on June 25-26 despite PA's boycott of summit
The White House will not invite Israeli government officials to a Bahrain conference devoted to gaining support for a Palestinian economic plan in order to keep the event apolitical, a senior administration official said on Monday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Palestinian business representatives are expected to attend the event in Manama on June 25-26, but not Palestinian government officials, who have boycotted a peace initiative led by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.
As a result, the administration decided not to extend an invitation to Israeli government officials to a conference expected to be attended by envoys from Arab governments as well as European nations.
"We're inviting the Israeli business people and Palestinian business people. We'd like to make it as apolitical as possible," the official said.
In late May, the Palestinian Authority rejected the economic conference, saying any peace effort that ignores the Palestinian people's aspirations for an independent state is doomed to fail. A senior Palestinian official has likened the White House plan to "financial blackmail."
Bahrain's foreign minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa tweeted in response that his country respects the Palestinian leadership's steadfast position safeguarding Palestinian rights.
He said that both the official and popular position of Bahrain "has been and continues to be championing the brotherly Palestinian people in the restoration of their legitimate rights in their land and an independent state with its capital as east Jerusalem, additionally economically supporting the Palestinian people."
The minister added that "there's no other purpose" in hosting the conference than Bahrain's continued support of the Palestinians.
Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Israeli Channel 13 News that "Israel will be at the Bahrain conference." He gave no further details.
Palestinian professor Abdul-Halim al-Ashqar has described his kidnapping by the FBI and the attempt to hand him over to Israel as an American act of piracy and a violation of the federal law.
In press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) following his conditional release from a US jail on Saturday, Ashqar said “he does not feel secure from American deceit even after his conditional release.”
The professor pointed out that the US authorities accused him of obstruction of justice and criminal contempt of court for his refusal to testify against Islamic activists and institutions in the US.
He expressed his belief that the attempt by the US authorities to hand him over to Israel was aimed at politically supporting premier Benjamin Netanyahu, especially during the election period.
He said that after his recent release, a GBS tracking device was attached to one of his legs, adding that there are efforts made by his family to obtain a visa for him from any country before deporting him to it.
In press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) following his conditional release from a US jail on Saturday, Ashqar said “he does not feel secure from American deceit even after his conditional release.”
The professor pointed out that the US authorities accused him of obstruction of justice and criminal contempt of court for his refusal to testify against Islamic activists and institutions in the US.
He expressed his belief that the attempt by the US authorities to hand him over to Israel was aimed at politically supporting premier Benjamin Netanyahu, especially during the election period.
He said that after his recent release, a GBS tracking device was attached to one of his legs, adding that there are efforts made by his family to obtain a visa for him from any country before deporting him to it.
17 june 2019
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) strongly denounced, today, the endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory, by senior United States officials .
“The public endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian and Syrian territory, by the US Ambassador (David Friedman) to Israel and the so-called ‘Middle East envoy’ (Jason Greenblatt), reflect (US President Donald) Trump administration’s determined steps to undermine and circumvent the requirements of peace in the region,” said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
“They also mirror the administration’s abject disregard for international law and the United Nations Charter. This is an extension of the Trump administration’s endorsement of the Israeli theft of the occupied capital of Palestine, Jerusalem, then the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, by way of annexation.”
The PLO official stressed, in a statement, that annexation is an illegal act and a violation of international law, WAFA further reports..
“Annexation is an illegal act that strikes at the heart of the international rules-based system, requiring the unequivocal condemnation and rebuke of the international community. Endorsing this multi-faceted crime makes this administration complicit in this crime, which is founded in the racist colonial attitude that excuses and empowers Israel in its colonial endeavor to annex the remainder of the occupied Palestinian territory and crush the inalienable rights of Palestinians to self-determination and freedom through political bullying and extortion.”
Ashrawi said that Palestinian leadership “unequivocally condemns these illegal and irresponsible positions by these senior US administration officials, whose affiliations to the fundamentalist, extremist, and racist right-wing in Israel are unquestionable,’ calling “on all responsible international actors to confront the dangerous ramifications of the reckless behavior by the US administration, which threatens to plunge the region and world into chaos and instability by normalizing grave violations of international law like annexation and land grab.”
She stressed that “all realities resulting from the illegal act of annexation are null and void and of no binding legal significance. The Palestinian people and leadership will continue to work with responsible international partners to protect the region from further chaos and instability, defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the standing and relevance of international law.”
“The public endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian and Syrian territory, by the US Ambassador (David Friedman) to Israel and the so-called ‘Middle East envoy’ (Jason Greenblatt), reflect (US President Donald) Trump administration’s determined steps to undermine and circumvent the requirements of peace in the region,” said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
“They also mirror the administration’s abject disregard for international law and the United Nations Charter. This is an extension of the Trump administration’s endorsement of the Israeli theft of the occupied capital of Palestine, Jerusalem, then the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, by way of annexation.”
The PLO official stressed, in a statement, that annexation is an illegal act and a violation of international law, WAFA further reports..
“Annexation is an illegal act that strikes at the heart of the international rules-based system, requiring the unequivocal condemnation and rebuke of the international community. Endorsing this multi-faceted crime makes this administration complicit in this crime, which is founded in the racist colonial attitude that excuses and empowers Israel in its colonial endeavor to annex the remainder of the occupied Palestinian territory and crush the inalienable rights of Palestinians to self-determination and freedom through political bullying and extortion.”
Ashrawi said that Palestinian leadership “unequivocally condemns these illegal and irresponsible positions by these senior US administration officials, whose affiliations to the fundamentalist, extremist, and racist right-wing in Israel are unquestionable,’ calling “on all responsible international actors to confront the dangerous ramifications of the reckless behavior by the US administration, which threatens to plunge the region and world into chaos and instability by normalizing grave violations of international law like annexation and land grab.”
She stressed that “all realities resulting from the illegal act of annexation are null and void and of no binding legal significance. The Palestinian people and leadership will continue to work with responsible international partners to protect the region from further chaos and instability, defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the standing and relevance of international law.”
16 june 2019
Foreign Minister Katz says Israelis will participate in the June 25-26 workshop 'if all coordinations are made,' while sources claim that Israel is expected to send a business delegation only; Palestinians vowed to boycott the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias
Israelis will attend a U.S-led conference in Bahrain next week on proposals for the Palestinian economy as part of a coming peace plan, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.
The United States has billed the gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A source briefed on the event said Israel would send a business delegation but no government officials to the June 25-26 workshop, which is being boycotted by the Palestinian leadership.
"Israel will be at the Bahrain conference and all the coordinations will be made," Katz said told Israeli Channel 13 News in New York. He gave no further details. The Foreign Ministry declined comment, as did a spokesman for Katz.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what level of representation Israel was expected to have at the conference.
U.S. officials have said they are inviting economy and finance ministers, as well as business leaders, to Bahrain to discuss investment in the Palestinian territories.
Palestinian leaders have spurned the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias from Washington.
The Palestinians say the still unpublished U.S. peace plan falls short of their goal of statehood. They blame a halt in U.S. aid and Israeli restrictions for an economic crisis in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A White House official said on Tuesday that Egypt, Jordan and Morocco planned to attend the conference.
Egypt and Jordan's participation is considered particularly important because they have historically been major players in Middle East peace efforts and are the only Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel.
One of the sources said that U.S. and Bahrain had deliberated over whether a non-official Israeli presence was preferable to a government-level delegation, given that Israel currently has a caretaker government in place, pending a September election.
A second source said Israel would be sending a private business delegation.
Trump's plan faces possible delays due to political upheaval in Israel, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government last month and must fight a second election this year, set for September 17.
Trump's Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt said the unveiling of the peace plan may be delayed until November, when a new Israeli government is expected to be in place.
"Had the election not been called again perhaps we would have released it during the summer," Greenblatt said on Sunday.
"If we wanted to wait until a new government is formed we really do have to wait until potentially as late as November 6 but we'll decide that after Bahrain," said Greenblatt.
Israelis will attend a U.S-led conference in Bahrain next week on proposals for the Palestinian economy as part of a coming peace plan, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday.
The United States has billed the gathering as a workshop to boost the Palestinian economy as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A source briefed on the event said Israel would send a business delegation but no government officials to the June 25-26 workshop, which is being boycotted by the Palestinian leadership.
"Israel will be at the Bahrain conference and all the coordinations will be made," Katz said told Israeli Channel 13 News in New York. He gave no further details. The Foreign Ministry declined comment, as did a spokesman for Katz.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what level of representation Israel was expected to have at the conference.
U.S. officials have said they are inviting economy and finance ministers, as well as business leaders, to Bahrain to discuss investment in the Palestinian territories.
Palestinian leaders have spurned the conference, alleging pro-Israeli bias from Washington.
The Palestinians say the still unpublished U.S. peace plan falls short of their goal of statehood. They blame a halt in U.S. aid and Israeli restrictions for an economic crisis in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A White House official said on Tuesday that Egypt, Jordan and Morocco planned to attend the conference.
Egypt and Jordan's participation is considered particularly important because they have historically been major players in Middle East peace efforts and are the only Arab states that have peace treaties with Israel.
One of the sources said that U.S. and Bahrain had deliberated over whether a non-official Israeli presence was preferable to a government-level delegation, given that Israel currently has a caretaker government in place, pending a September election.
A second source said Israel would be sending a private business delegation.
Trump's plan faces possible delays due to political upheaval in Israel, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government last month and must fight a second election this year, set for September 17.
Trump's Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt said the unveiling of the peace plan may be delayed until November, when a new Israeli government is expected to be in place.
"Had the election not been called again perhaps we would have released it during the summer," Greenblatt said on Sunday.
"If we wanted to wait until a new government is formed we really do have to wait until potentially as late as November 6 but we'll decide that after Bahrain," said Greenblatt.
The new settlement, which will be known as Trump Heights, is inaugurated at a special cabinet meeting convened by Netanyahu at the Golan, the Israeli sovereignty of which was recognized by the American president over 2 months ago
The Trump name graces apartment towers, hotels and golf courses. Now it is the namesake of a tiny Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet convened in this hamlet Sunday to announce the inauguration of a new settlement named after President Donald Trump, who acknowledged Israel's rule over the Golan in April, shortly after the recognition was signed in Washington.
"It's absolutely beautiful," said U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, who attended Sunday's ceremony. Noting that Trump celebrated his birthday on Friday, he said: "I can't think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present."
"Few things are more important to the security of the state of Israel than permanent sovereignty over the Golan Heights," Friedman said. "It is simply obvious, it is indisputable and beyond any reasonable debate."
Addressing the ceremony, Netanyahu called Trump a "great friend" of Israel and described the Golan, which overlooks northern Israel, as an important strategic asset.
"The Golan Heights was and will always be an inseparable part of our country and homeland," he said.
The settlement will be known as “Ramat Trump,” or Trump Heights. Israel hopes the community will attract a wave of people to what is currently little more than an isolated outpost - known as Beruchim - with just 10 residents.
The community was established in 1991, by then-housing minister Ariel Sharon, who sent a group of new immigrants from the Soviet Union to live there. It was established near Qela and meant to be a thriving extension of it, but failed to live up to the expectations.
Residents of Qela were outraged about the decision to change their existing community's name, and hung signs protesting the move on their entrance gate, apparently under the impression the entire perimeter of Qela and Beruchim will become the new Trump community.
However, it was later clarified that the new settlement will not replace Qela, but rather built on top of Beruchim; a draft plan already exists and offers 110 new homes be built in Beruchim, that will house both religious and secular residents.
Rosa Zhernakov, a resident of Bruchim since 1991, said the community was excited by Sunday's decision.
"We hope it will benefit the Golan Heights," she said, standing outside her bungalow on one of Bruchim's few streets. She said the revitalization of the settlement will mean "more security" for residents from any possible return of the Golan Heights to Syria as part of a future peace treaty.
Vladimir Belotserkovsky , 75, another veteran resident, said he welcomed any move to build up the settlement. "We certainly thank, and I personally, am satisfied by the fact that they're founding the new settlement named for Trump," he said.
Zvi Hauser, an opposition lawmaker who formerly served as Netanyahu's cabinet secretary, called Sunday's ceremony a cheap PR stunt. "There's no funding, no planning, no location, and there's no real binding decision," he said.
Israeli Government Establishes ‘Trump Heights’ Development on Stolen Land in Golan
In a move aimed at gaining more support from the already-enthusiastic Donald Trump for their policies of land expropriation and expansion, Israeli authorities on Sunday established a new development they coined “Trump Heights”, with Binyamin Netanyahu presiding over the unveiling ceremony alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
The location for the new colony is on land stolen by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war, an area known as the Golan Heights, and illegally occupied by the Israeli military since that time. Donald Trump recently announced that he recognizes Israel’s claim to the territory – despite no internationally-recognized treaty or agreement ever having been signed ceding the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a ceremony on the site on Sunday, renaming the colonial settlement of Bruchim to ‘Trump Heights’.
In his statement, Netanyahu said, “We are going to do two things — establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something that has not been done for many years. This is an act of Zionism and it is paramount. The second thing is to honor our friend, a very great friend of the State of Israel — President Donald Trump, who recently recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
Next to Netanyahu stood David Friedman, the Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel who has long been criticized for his blatant support of Israel’s illegal annexation of neighboring territory (including heading an organization in the U.S. that helps to fund this illegal colonization activity).
Friedman has also been criticized for a complete absence of diplomatic experience — his only apparent qualifications for the job of Ambassador being his work as Trump’s bankruptcy lawyer and his virulent support for Zionist expansionist politics.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Friedman, adding, “I can’t think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present [for Donald Trump, who just had a birthday].”
Israeli journalists have pointed out that the ceremony is likely little more than a political maneuver aimed at feeding Donald Trump’s ego, since no action has actually been taken to establish the colony.
If action were taken to settle the area with Israeli civilians, it would be a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the obligations of an occupying power.
The Trump name graces apartment towers, hotels and golf courses. Now it is the namesake of a tiny Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet convened in this hamlet Sunday to announce the inauguration of a new settlement named after President Donald Trump, who acknowledged Israel's rule over the Golan in April, shortly after the recognition was signed in Washington.
"It's absolutely beautiful," said U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, who attended Sunday's ceremony. Noting that Trump celebrated his birthday on Friday, he said: "I can't think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present."
"Few things are more important to the security of the state of Israel than permanent sovereignty over the Golan Heights," Friedman said. "It is simply obvious, it is indisputable and beyond any reasonable debate."
Addressing the ceremony, Netanyahu called Trump a "great friend" of Israel and described the Golan, which overlooks northern Israel, as an important strategic asset.
"The Golan Heights was and will always be an inseparable part of our country and homeland," he said.
The settlement will be known as “Ramat Trump,” or Trump Heights. Israel hopes the community will attract a wave of people to what is currently little more than an isolated outpost - known as Beruchim - with just 10 residents.
The community was established in 1991, by then-housing minister Ariel Sharon, who sent a group of new immigrants from the Soviet Union to live there. It was established near Qela and meant to be a thriving extension of it, but failed to live up to the expectations.
Residents of Qela were outraged about the decision to change their existing community's name, and hung signs protesting the move on their entrance gate, apparently under the impression the entire perimeter of Qela and Beruchim will become the new Trump community.
However, it was later clarified that the new settlement will not replace Qela, but rather built on top of Beruchim; a draft plan already exists and offers 110 new homes be built in Beruchim, that will house both religious and secular residents.
Rosa Zhernakov, a resident of Bruchim since 1991, said the community was excited by Sunday's decision.
"We hope it will benefit the Golan Heights," she said, standing outside her bungalow on one of Bruchim's few streets. She said the revitalization of the settlement will mean "more security" for residents from any possible return of the Golan Heights to Syria as part of a future peace treaty.
Vladimir Belotserkovsky , 75, another veteran resident, said he welcomed any move to build up the settlement. "We certainly thank, and I personally, am satisfied by the fact that they're founding the new settlement named for Trump," he said.
Zvi Hauser, an opposition lawmaker who formerly served as Netanyahu's cabinet secretary, called Sunday's ceremony a cheap PR stunt. "There's no funding, no planning, no location, and there's no real binding decision," he said.
Israeli Government Establishes ‘Trump Heights’ Development on Stolen Land in Golan
In a move aimed at gaining more support from the already-enthusiastic Donald Trump for their policies of land expropriation and expansion, Israeli authorities on Sunday established a new development they coined “Trump Heights”, with Binyamin Netanyahu presiding over the unveiling ceremony alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
The location for the new colony is on land stolen by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war, an area known as the Golan Heights, and illegally occupied by the Israeli military since that time. Donald Trump recently announced that he recognizes Israel’s claim to the territory – despite no internationally-recognized treaty or agreement ever having been signed ceding the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a ceremony on the site on Sunday, renaming the colonial settlement of Bruchim to ‘Trump Heights’.
In his statement, Netanyahu said, “We are going to do two things — establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something that has not been done for many years. This is an act of Zionism and it is paramount. The second thing is to honor our friend, a very great friend of the State of Israel — President Donald Trump, who recently recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
Next to Netanyahu stood David Friedman, the Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel who has long been criticized for his blatant support of Israel’s illegal annexation of neighboring territory (including heading an organization in the U.S. that helps to fund this illegal colonization activity).
Friedman has also been criticized for a complete absence of diplomatic experience — his only apparent qualifications for the job of Ambassador being his work as Trump’s bankruptcy lawyer and his virulent support for Zionist expansionist politics.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Friedman, adding, “I can’t think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present [for Donald Trump, who just had a birthday].”
Israeli journalists have pointed out that the ceremony is likely little more than a political maneuver aimed at feeding Donald Trump’s ego, since no action has actually been taken to establish the colony.
If action were taken to settle the area with Israeli civilians, it would be a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the obligations of an occupying power.
