Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 17, 2008 Adar1 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:36 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A Mines Advisory Group member inspecting a cluster bomb unit in south Lebanon in 2006 (AP) Last update - 20:22 06/02/2008 Red Cross urges immediate global ban on cluster bombs By Reuters Advertisement The topic climbed up the international agenda last summer when cluster munitions - which can spread hundreds of bomblets over a target area - were used by Israel in its battle against the Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Campaigners say hundreds of Lebanese civilians were killed or maimed during and after the conflict because of what they call indiscriminate use of the weapon. Israel denies that it was used irresponsibly. Herby discounted arguments from some producer states that the weapons can be made to self-destruct or otherwise rendered harmless after conflicts in which they have been used. Cluster bombs can never be made totally reliable, he declared. "We are not proposing any exclusions (from a treaty), as some states have," said Herby. Some 140 states are involved in the so-called Oslo process, launched by Norway three years ago to prepare a treaty on an international ban outside the United Nations-sponsored CCW talks on dangerous weapons which many think can only move slowly. A similar process has led to an international ban on landmines which major powers have still not signed up to. Herby said urgency was added to the issue by the growing age of stockpiles, and by the risk that many more countries - and also "non-state actors" - jargon for terrorist or guerrilla groups - would get them. An international group called Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) says nearly 100 countries favor a ban, although some like Germany, France, Italy and Japan want a transitional period first. The United States, Russia and China are reluctant to give up the weapons - originally developed to counter tank and troop offensives across borders during the Cold War but since used in many types of conflicts. They say that cluster munitions should be handled in the CCW - talks on updating a 1981 pact on especially dangerous conventional weapons which will hold a series of "expert discussions" on the issue this year. Related articles: Report: Cluster bomb left over from war kills man in S. Lebanon Cluster bomb kills mine clearing expert in southern Lebanon UN: Peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon cluster bomb explosion U.S.: Israel may have breached cluster bomb agreement during war IDF admits targeting civilian areas in Lebanon with cluster bombs Lebanese security: 12-year-old killed by cluster bomb in south Bookmark to del.icio.us   Seeking refuge 123 Sudanese refugees infiltrate Israel from Egypt overnight. Bracing for terror Israel, U.S. fear retaliatory strikes after killing of Mughniyah.   1.   No more blood for the Red Crusade 20:30  |  Michael A. Shoemaker 06/02/08   2.   STOP SHALLOW `DEMANDS` - NEVER GET RESULT 20:44  |  JACKAL 06/02/08   3.   no 20:58  |  vik 06/02/08   4.   Whole Geneva Convention needs changing-its terros dream as it is! 21:01  |  Alan 06/02/08   5.   Easy for Norway and countries at peace 21:18  |  SystemF 06/02/08   6.   Yes, Geneva must be ammended, the Nazis 21:43  |  Peace 06/02/08   7.   ICRC now confirms IDF use of cluster bombs was legal 21:49  |  DJStahl 06/02/08   8.   #4 22:02  |  Cool B 06/02/08   9.   America now restricts cluster bomb deliveries to Israel 22:12  |  Natallie Durson 06/02/08   10.   Since the RED Cross not allowed in arab countries! 22:25  |  Avram 06/02/08   11.   To Vik #3 - You hit nail right onm the head 22:44  |  Motti 06/02/08   12.   To Shoemaker #1 - be careful what you justify 22:59  |  Motti 06/02/08   13.   #1 23:03  |  Boycott 06/02/08   14.   Red Crosssays: 23:37  |  Shloimele 06/02/08   15.   #11 Motti 23:45  |  Paul Wood 06/02/08   16.   Israel`s immoral and murderous use of clusters make qassams look 00:05  |  anti-racist 07/02/08   17.   How about a ban on the suicide bomb first? 00:17  |  Jon 07/02/08   18.   Red cross should start placing the blame 00:22  |  Nechama 07/02/08   19.   Cluster Bombs Is a Must Against Arabs Terror , Inhuman Shields 00:31  |  Joseph . E 07/02/08   20.   CBs 00:32  |  jjvanka 07/02/08   21.   Stahl (#7) 00:37  |  jjvanka 07/02/08   22.   Sorry, DJ Stahl 00:42  |  Murray 07/02/08   23.   #9 Say Natallie 00:45  |  ballistic 07/02/08   24.   #3 Say Vik 00:48  |  ballistic 07/02/08   25.   Natalie - #9 01:00  |  Michael 07/02/08   26.   Poor Red Cross 01:09  |  James 07/02/08   27.   #9 NUT allie 01:26  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   28.   #15 anti-racist 01:28  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   29.   #16 anti-racist - You really do NOT know what u are talking abou 01:43  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   30.   James (#26) 01:44  |  jjvanka 07/02/08   31.   Red Cross can go F*** off 01:44  |  JJBB 07/02/08   32.   #22 Murray - Milan - Don`t u dare alter this post 01:46  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   33.   Motti and vik 02:02  |  judith 07/02/08   34.   Do you read your own posts, BEN JABO? 02:12  |  Murray 07/02/08   35.   #7 DJStahl and the illegality of Israel`s USE of cluster bombs 02:17  |  Johnboy 07/02/08   36.   #32 That`s mighty thin evidence for a bold claim, BEN JABO 02:35  |  Johnboy 07/02/08   37.   #34 Murray - Milan -I never said it acquitted Israel 03:02  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   38.   red cross urges immediate global ban on cluster bombs 03:34  |  joey low 07/02/08   39.   hey Motti 03:55  |  vik 07/02/08   40.   No dangerous weapons allowed in war. What? 04:55  |  It`s a noodle fight 07/02/08   41.   US Dropped Nuclear Bombs & Red Cross Said Not a Word 05:47  |  Joseph . E 07/02/08   42.   Would we, in the United States, sit quietly by as rockets rained 05:52  |  Joseph . E 07/02/08   43.   The Terrorists have no legal right to demand sanctuary. Anywhere. 05:56  |  Joseph . E 07/02/08   44.   j#38 joey low -Purchase NY 06:14  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   45.   Re #21, 22, 35 "What more do you need for a war crime?" 07:41  |  DJStahl 07/02/08   46.   Great, BEN JABO, so are we agreed? 11:50  |  Murray 07/02/08   47.   Re #21, 22, 35 "What more do you need for a war crime?" 12:39  |  DJStahl 07/02/08   48.   No double standards 16:39  |  Fair 07/02/08   49.   #43 Murray - Milan - We are not agreed 18:21  |  * BEN JABO 07/02/08   50.   Stahl (#44) 22:03  |  jjvanka 07/02/08   51.   Re #47 The ICRC`s anti-Jewish bias 23:56  |  DJStahl 07/02/08   52.   Stahl (#49) 02:35  |  jjvanka 08/02/08   53.   #50 jjvanka 04:10  |  * BEN JABO 08/02/08   54.   Jabo 05:17  |  jjvanka 09/02/08   55.   #54 jjvanka 03:13  |  * BEN JABO 11/02/08   56.   Re #52, 54 The ICRC`s bigotry 04:23  |  DJStahl 11/02/08   57.   #56 DJStahl shows his ignorance and his bigotry 03:17  |  Johnboy 12/02/08   58.   Re #57 doing the math 23:46  |  DJStahl 12/02/08   59.   Jabo (55) 03:25  |  jjvanka 13/02/08   60.   Stahl (58) 15:45  |  jjvanka 13/02/08   61.   THIRD TRY -jjvanka - unless you conform to my requirements 18:06  |  * BEN JABO 13/02/08   62.   Committee, Federation, Movement 07:24  |  DJStahl 17/02/08

Today Online Report: 50,000 Hezbollah men deploy in southern Lebanon Responses: 369 Israel: We know how to deal with threats by Hezbollah Responses: 155 Palestinians: Ailing woman dies after IDF denies her access to ambulance Responses: 232 Editorial: As with Mughniyah, killing terrorists sometimes unavoidable Responses: 269 Zvi Bar'el: Roiled Hezbollah chief throws down the gauntlet Responses: 125 Roi Ben-Yehuda: If U.K. rejects sharia law, beit din will face same fate Responses: 118 Rosner's Domain Clinton's peace team: the attacks on Rob Malley "vicious" (WTR) Brzezinski in Israel (WTR) Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The U.S. and Mughniyah / Not just 'who' but also 'where' Poll: Was killing Mughniyah both justified and wise? More Headlines 03:22 PMO: Homes 4.5 km from Gaza must be protected 07:03 Report: PM may declare soldiers abducted by Hezbollah dead 03:43 Lebanese daily: Syria, Iran foresee large clash with Israel 01:20 ANALYSIS: What Hezbollah could lose in avenging Mughniyah 05:43 A third of settlements on land taken for 'security purposes' 06:13 Reform head says supports concessions on Jerusalem 22:16 Car bombings kill 39 at rally ahead of Pakistan elections 06:36 Palestinians: IDF troops kill Hamas militant in Gaza 23:56 French FM Kouchner: Israel must stop settlement activity 01:04 Olmert: Road map does not keep Israel from 'other lawful activities' 01:11 Public warned about poisoned fish from Kinneret 01:54 Missing Israeli in India feared dead after body found with his passport Previous Editions Select Day 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations U.S. CITIZEN IN ISRAEL Register now to vote in national election. Do not wait. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved

language="JavaScript">