Such actions are wrong. Both the Deputy Defense Minister Ori Orr and the Prime Minister have said that they intend to use the agony of Lebanon's civilian population to force its government to act forcefully against Hezbollah. But doing so might plunge the entire nation back into the chaos of civil war. The coalition considers it equally important to condemn Israel's continued collective punishment and land appropriations in the West Bank and Gaza. No one has suggested that the owners of any of these houses have engaged in terrorist activities.
Collective punishment is a distinguishing feature of history's most notorious outlaw states.
It violates the fundamental moral and legal principle that punishment shall only be upon the wrongdoer. Members of the coalition, which includes writers, journalists, rabbis, educators and professionals, have been active with the American Council on Palestinian Affairs, the American Israeli Civil Liberties Coalition, the International Jewish Peace Union, J ews Against the Gulf War, the Jewish Peace Fellowship, the Jewish Women's Committee to End the Occupation, New Jewish Agenda, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, and The Road to Peace.