Just right

The Swiss government has recently confirmed that the Palestinian Authority, just as it had pledged, applied for accession to the four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

Bern has duly recorded the status of the PA as a state party to these Geneva agreements, a step with which Israel immediately expressed displeasure, considering it provocative and claiming that it would be an impediment to peace talks.

Just how that is possible defies logic.

It is difficult to see how the Palestinians’ accession to the Geneva laws on armed conflict could be considered bellicose and running counter to peace endeavours when, in fact, all these treaties aim to do is extend protection to the sick and wounded in armed conflicts, as well as to prisoners of war, and to protect civilians.

How ratifying and complying with these conventions applicable to wars and their victims could harm peace negotiations is beyond comprehension.

The First Geneva Convention talks about extending protection to the wounded and the sick in war. The second extends protection to the wounded and sick at sea. The third aims to offer humanitarian treatment to prisoners of war and the fourth offers protection to civilians that are victims of armed conflicts.

The Additional Protocols aim to offer even more protection to victims of war, including victims of non-international armed conflicts.

Probably Israel feels in the hot seat after the Palestinians’ decision to subscribe to these humanitarian norms.

Since it knows that it does not behave as an occupying power should under international law, it might feel that its case would not stand in a court of law.

The PA did the right thing to become a party to international standards on armed conflicts, irrespective of where the peace talks stand or could be heading.

And if Israel fears or is upset by that, so be it.

It must have a reason to.