War
With Gaza in the news, the question of what international law says and how it is interpreted is paramount. Regarding military action by Israel, which is said to have a right to defend itself as it appears to be doing. But this tends to confuse two sorts of military action. As with this country in the Battle of Britain, we were defending ourselves. And then, after Normandy in particular, we were attacking Germany. In terms of Responsibility, the state had a responsibility to defend its citizens. When in attack we had a responsibility to to the German citizenry. How well we dealt with it is a lasting question – the UK being at the limits of its military choice. For Israel today, we can say it has a responsibility to defend its people, within its borders. But when it attacked Gaza it then had a responsibility to its population. But the countries that supported Israel also had a responsibility, and may at least have told Israel not to attack Gaza, with the international community taking action with a settlement in mind mayhap a two state solution. Gaza and the West Bank having the choice of settlement or invasion with international rule for a long period.