Hacker News Reader

Comment by michaelvoz | Hacker News Reader

Made even more difficult by the fact that the current generation did not "do the deed" so to speak. In your example of Palestinians or Native Americans - the "occupiers" were born here, this is their home now, the original conquering generation is very much gone, what solution can there be?

View on HN

> In your example of Palestinians... the "occupiers" were born here, this is their home now, the original conquering generation is very much gone

Nothing could be further from the truth.

https://www.amnestyusa.org/lets-be-clear-israels-long-runnin...

Much of that conflict is about things that were done generations ago. True, recent and current actions also fit the bill, but it is disingenuous to claim that the settlement activity is the primary mover of the situation.

One thing that link throws around is the word "illegal". There are customs and treaties, but there is not a world government to enforce the rule of law for these treaties. Many of the definitions like "occupied territory" are up for debate as well. It just doesn't come down to a clear set of rules and an authority to enforce them.

>One thing that link throws around is the word "illegal". There are customs and treaties, but there is not a world government to enforce the rule of law for these treaties

The inability to enforce a law does not make a crime legal. The occupied territories are a violation of international law, even if they are never punished for them.

Calling something a crime when there is no rule of law to enforce it and no legal authority with jurisdiction is simply a contradiction in terms.

The UN has both, and has called the settlements crimes many times. A punishment could be handed down if certain states allowed it to happen.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com