ABSTRACT
The continuation of the new status quo, of “benign occupation” has numbed the conscience of many Israelis concerned with the abnormal yet indefinite situation. As hostilities subside, the belligerent occupant creates a status quo, one that tends to perpetuate itself unless a shift in the balance of power occurs. As long as the occupation lasts, the occupant has the right and the duty to maintain and promote “ordre et la vie publique.” This role reflects the endeavour of the law of belligerent occupation to strike a balance between the interests of the occupant and the needs of the indigenous population. Politicians and soldiers are not saints, and one can only expect the occupants to be prejudiced in favour of their own interests at the expense of the indigenous community. In the modern world the occupant‘s interests encompass not only the safety of its troops, but also a wide variety of economic concerns; not only temporary benefits, but also long-term advantages.
