On August 12, 1949, the Fourth Geneva Convention was signed – a document that sets out the agreed rules for the treatment of civilians during war and specifically provides regulations regarding the occupation of territory. The treaties were drafted and signed following the horrors of World War II, and the young state of Israel was an active participant in their drafting, a signatory, and even ratified it. In 1967, why did Israel deliberately avoid discussion on the question of the applicability of the Forth Geneva Convention? And why, just a few days after the occupation of the territories, did Foreign Ministry officials seek to obscure the nature of the Israeli actions in the newly occupied territories?

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MAG briefing on the legal and juridical problems in the territories of the military government,
5 July, 1967

Re: Deportation of Arabs to East Jordan,
21 December 1967

Legal opinion of Theodor Meron: Geneva Convention IV does not allow Israeli policies of House demolition and Deportation,
13 March, 1968

The Comay-Meron Cable to ambassador Rabin,
20 March, 1968

A Background brief ahead of visit of Mr. Victor H. Umbricht, member of the ICRC's Presidential Council,
1971