Britain on Friday condemned the Israeli decision to demand that all foreign nationals entering the Gaza Stip sign a waiver exempting Israel from any responsibility should they be killed or injured, a waiver that has hitherto been restricted to Israelis.
The waiver, which includes a promise not to disrupt military activities, is one of a series of measures implemented by Israel to limit the activities of foreign nationals in the Palestinian territories.
"We do not regard this as acceptable," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told Channel 4 TV News.
"Indeed, it is unacceptable because military forces have obligations, and if they are in occupied territories, as the Israeli forces are, under international law they have clear obligations, under international law as well as under domestic Israeli law and the rules of engagement, which cannot be waived in this way."
"So, this is a matter which I shall be taking up with the Israeli government, not least when I see Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom next week," he said.
Earlier, the rights group Amnesty International accused Israel of trying to prevent outside scrutiny of its army.
Additionally, Israeli troops raided premises in the West Bank used by the International Solidarity Movement on Friday, arresting three people, the ISM said.
ISM has deployed dozens of foreign volunteers in the West Bank and Gaza combat zones to protect Palestinians from Israeli military actions. George Rashmawi, an ISM coordinator in the West Bank, said three women were arrested in Friday's raid -- a U.S. volunteer for the group, an Australian member of Human Rights Watch and a Palestinian who was released shortly afterwards. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
