Here is an article by NVI Co-Founder Jonathan Kuttab on the recent Israeli War on Iran.
With all the attention on Iran and Israel and the real fears of devastating wars, the situation in Palestine deteriorates with forced marches, humiliation, bombings, and deliberate starvation. The diabolical scheme of “food distribution centers-cum death traps” are the main if not only way Gazans can get food, yielding around 70 deaths among the food seekers at the distribution centers every single day. On the West Bank, assaults by settlers and land grabs accelerate as the Palestinians hunker down in fear for their lives And regardless of the outcome of the Israeli-Iran war, the situation in Palestine still needs to be addressed. We cannot let the War on Iran be a distraction by Prime Minister Netanyahu from the situation in Gaza and from having him face the really serious questions that are threatening his coalition and his own hold on power.
None the less, it is incumbent on us to address the Iran war, particularly since the US is on the verge of some drastic steps leading to a major escalation. In this regard we need to point out a few things particularly as Americans consider this Iran situation:
- The attack by Israel on Iran is an act of aggression and a direct violation of its sovereignty and of international law. Starting a war illegally is known as the crime of aggression, and it is one of the worst crimes under international law as it leads to untold suffering and destruction and invites retaliation and revenge. It is never allowed under international law except as an act of self defense.
- “Pre-emptive self defense” which was claimed by Israel clearly does not apply in this case, and would render the whole of international law meaningless if it were to be accepted. Self defense applies to defending against actual not anticipated threats. Also , Preemptive action, if it is considered at all, can only be arguably claimed if there was an imminent prospect of an attack by another country which could not be forestalled by any other means. It does not mean that a country can “preemptively” attack an enemy on the theoretical possibility that that enemy may consider attacking it in the future, or to deprive the enemy of having weapons that are potentially harmful. Israel has actually already attacked and destroyed the navy and airforce of Syria and other military installations, and invaded its territory and set up its own military bases further inside Syrian territory without even claiming that the new Syrian regime was about to attack it, but only in order to ensure that any future regime in Syria would not have the ability to attack ( or defend?) against Israel’s military. Regime change for hostile enemies is also not a legitimate war objective.
- Preventing other countries from obtaining nuclear weapons is definitely a worthy objective. That is why the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty was created. Israel never signed it, while Iran not only signed but accepted the most rigorous inspection regime, and was in the process of negotiating even more restrictions to its enrichment ( one element in a nuclear weapons program) when Israel attacked it. Tulsi Gabbard, National Security Advisor recently issued a statement that the CIA believes Iran is "NOT building a nuclear bomb," and that the decision not to do so by Khamenei has not been changed.
- Most analysts , including Israeli ones, agree that the objectives of Israel were to safeguard its own nuclear monopoly and aspiring hegemony, and prevent the deterrence that comes from Mutual Assured Destruction ( appropriately called MAD) rather than to forestall any existential threat. All the bluster about Iran posing an "existential threat” and that Iran should never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon hides the fact that such a weapon, were Iran ever to develop it, would be meant primarily as a deterrent and not intended in any way to attack or obliterate Israel as Netanyahu would have us believe.
- The United States has no legitimate reason to attack or to harm Iran. The US is still engaging in a foreign policy of revenge for the fall of the Shah and the taking of US hostages 46 years ago. US sanctions must end. The US policy of regime change because Iran is a theocracy and violates human rights means that Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and all other countries in the region should also be targets. In fact, Iran and the US have many similar national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Israel is a dominant military power and does not need nor deserve US military support to protect it from its enemies. Every US President,for all their unquestioning support of Israel, has resisted constant Israeli pleas for the U S to attack Iran. It is certainly not in America’s interest to do so. Joining the fight against Iran only benefits Israel at the expense of American interests.
- Whatever the arguments for Israel to attack Iran or seek to weaken it, we need to say that war is never a good option. It is an evil thing that must be avoided at all costs. Even those who are not pacifist and who believe in a “just war theory” must admit that the criteria and conditions for a just war do not exist here, and that all diplomatic efforts must be exhausted first, and even then, war needs to be purely defensive and the lesser of two evils. A lot of lies will need to be promulgated ( as in the Iraq war) to justify a US attack on Iran. The recent forays of America in the area, from Afghanistan to Iraq and Libya should have taught us this lesson.
- We cannot support war in any case regardless of which side is right or wrong. We must particularly resist the temptation to be sucked into supporting or glorifying the attacks and the destruction by either side. We grieve over every life lost, and over the trillions that are being spent on weapons which we hope will never be used, and which are now being daily used. Weapons, war and violence will never buy us long-term security. Resources should be employed to improve the lives of many, battle poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, climate change and health and education rather than being squandered on the military.
In the meantime, the horrors of Gaza continue, and the genocide is ongoing, and God’s children are being starved and slaughtered. I hope you will consider joining me and over 700 others who are fasting with Veterans for Peace and their allies in fasting for Gaza and calling on the US government to make peace, not war with Palestinians and with Iran.
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Some notes from Michael Beer, NVI's Co-Director
Nuclear weapons cannot be used to achieve military goals any more than biological weapons can. They simply will poison everyone and likely lead to global nuclear exchange. For example, Iran could never use nuclear weapons on Israel because in addition to killing 7.5 million Jews it would kill 7 million Muslims, destroy 2 of the holiest sites in Islam, and contaminate the region full of millions of Shiites and possibly Iran itself with lethal radiation!
Language Matters: When Israel compares Hamas to the nation of Amalek and Iran uses "Death to Israel and America" this violent language is unacceptable and promotes mutual hatred and mistrust. They all need training in nonviolent communication!
The best way forward to save humanity from massive suffering and extermination is to strengthen global democratic governance under the rule of law as well as a commitment to nonviolent approaches and action. This means reformed global governance, adherence to all international treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, a strengthen World Court of Justice, a nuclear free middle east and planet, and the abolition of armies and many weapons such as killer robots. Nonviolent action by religions, businesses, trade unions, civic and cultural groups, universities and local governments are essential to challenge our current suicidal direction and make these changes.
NVI has long supported the Humanitarian Disarmament Movement whose various actors have won the Nobel Peace Prize. We need to ban or limit weapons and war because they cause immeasurable human suffering. This is where nonviolent people power is needed to challenge the military-spy-industrial complex around the world. You can see some of this in the work of NVI's Isaiah Project in which hundreds of citizens have engaged in direct action against nuclear weapons. You can also see this in our fiscally sponsoring Control Arms and the International Action Network on Small Arms.
