Victims Compensation

Solution

   Perhaps, a better way of preventing conflicts is if the international community had a court of public opinion measure that ruled in favor of the victim and awarded them monetary compensation (similar to a civil lawsuit but conducted by the international community at the United Nations). By doing so, the offender would be held liable for damages inflicted upon the victimized nation that may discourage them from harming again.

   For example, the latest Israel-Hamas conflict may have been prevented if the international community had awarded compensation for previous conflicts. In other words, every time that the Palestinians caused harm upon Israel, the Palestinians would be required to pay for such damages in return. Regardless of whether it was due to repeated invasion attempts, the kidnapping of Israeli citizens, or the thousands of rockets that were fired into Israel. The Palestinians would be required to pay for all damages that they had caused their neighbor every time (and vice versa).

   If other nations decided to get involved in the conflict (such as Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran firing missiles into Israel), they likewise would be required to pay for damages caused by their actions. Essentially nullifying their act of aggression.

   The monetary compensation awarded by the international community should be substantial enough to discourage nations from harming others (e.g., $25 million per person injured/killed plus any structural damages including the costs of the victimized nation defending against such action). This should be done prior to any sanctions being imposed, and before any military action considered by the UN Security Council. Again, the award must be substantial enough to nullify the act of aggression as well as provide future deterrence.

   Another example of how this policy may be effective in preventing violence is the case of Pakistan, which had allowed the Taliban to invade Afghanistan repeatedly over the years. If the international community had gotten involved early on and imposed monetary compensation against the offender, which is Pakistan since they gave the Taliban safe harbor and were responsible for their behavior (similar to how a dog owner is responsible for any damage that their dog inflicts), Pakistan may have moved their military along the border to prevent further attacks into Afghanistan.

   Another example is Russia's invasion of Ukraine and their multiple attempts to annex additional territory. If the international community had instead held Russia liable by imposing monetary compensation every time that they harmed their neighbor, it may have prevented such events from occurring and do so without military armaments being added to the region by other nations (which further worsened the situation).

   In general, by awarding victim compensation early in the process, the international community's court of public opinion measure may be able to help the victim as well as prevent the malevolent acts upon others.