You might want to think a bit before objecting to something just because I say it. While it's kind of an ego trip for me, I don't deserve it, and sometimes a blind hog can find an acorn.

In a worst case scenario you might look a bit silly. For instance, "eminent domain" is a concept in which a government can force the sale of a property at a fair market value for a "higher" purpose.

It does not apply to an occupying power dynamiting houses for the purpose of denying civilians shelter. Israel routinely destroys Palestinian housing in order to make life miserable for them.

"The human rights organization Amnesty International said in a report in December that Israel has made about 16,700 Palestinians homeless by destroying at least 2,650 houses since 1987" --From an AP report on home demolitions by Israel dated 04/23/2000.

"The demolition and sealing of houses are among the most severe methods of punishment used by the authorities against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. To our knowledge, this harsh form of punishment is unique to Israel and is not employed by any other nation. Demolition and sealing of houses in the territories contravene international law that prohibits collective punishment and arbitrary injury to property." -- B'Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights Organization. (http://www2.iol.co.il/btselem/)

"In our country there is room only for the Jews. We shall say to the Arabs: Get out! If they don't agree, if they resist, we shall drive them out by force."
--Professor Ben-Zion Dinur Israel's First Minister of Education, 1954 from History of the Haganah

"Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations".

"There are no "necessary by military operations" for this destruction. Article 147 of the same Geneva convention defines a number of "grave breaches" of the Geneva Convention and includes among them: "extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly".

"By its continued policy of destruction and lack of respect for the rights of Palestinians, Israel has ignored the many international treaties which they have agreed to hold up. If this is not state sponsored terrorism, then we don't know what is. We join our voices with Amnesty International and urge the United States, Israel's biggest supporter, to exert pressure on the Israeli government to put an end to its policy of house demolitions in the Occupied Territories."

The full text of the Amnesty report can be read on the internet at the following website:

Housing

Unfortunately, this is an international organization which tends to call 'em as they see 'em. No credibility with folks who have already made up their minds.

Arf