UN to probe Israeli crimes in Palestine | Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:44:02

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted a resolution calling for two urgent fact-finding missions to inspect Israeli crimes in occupied Palestinian territory.

The 47-member Council expressed concerns that previous attempts to investigate human rights abuses in Palestine had been hindered by Israel, noting that the regime had not cooperated with two previous resolutions which dispatched the missions.
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John Dugard, the Special Reporter on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, reported that he had not been allowed by the Israeli government to carry out his survey called for by a Council resolution last year.

The UNHRC voted last June to send an investigation team to the Gaza Strip, right after an Israeli massacre in Beit Hanoun city.

On June 9, 2006, the Israeli army fired five tank shells on a Palestinian neighborhood in Beit Hanoun, killing 19 civilians including women and children from the same family.

However the team, headed by Nobel peace prize winner, Dismond Tutu, was not allowed by the Israeli regime into the Gaza Strip.
- posted by Editor @ 6:43 AM

Gaza Strip virtually 'imprisoned' | From correspondents in Geneva | March 23, 2007 05:48am | Article from: Agence France-Presse

A UN human rights expert today accused Israel of turning the Gaza Strip into a virtual prison under an apartheid-like occupation of Palestinian territories.

"Gaza remains an imprisoned society into which the prison guards have made frequent military incursions, killing hundreds of Palestinians and wounding thousands in the second half of 2006," said John Dugard, the special rapporteur on human rights for the Palestinian territories.

Mr Dugard told the UN Human Rights Council that the situation in the West Bank was "little better", with an increase in military incursions by Israel and the construction of a wall between Israeli and Palestinian territory.

The human rights expert made the comments while he was formally presenting a report on his missions to Palestinian territories last year.

The report, which was already released to the media in February, said elements of Israel's four-decades long occupation were akin to forms of apartheid.

The South African academic pointed to the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, preferential treatment for Jewish settlers and special permit requirements for Palestinians that were not imposed on Israelis. ...
- posted by Editor @ 10:44 AM

Expert Likens Occupation to Apartheid | Mar 23, 5:16 AM (ET)

GENEVA (AP) - An independent expert told the U.N. human rights council on Thursday that Israel's treatment of Palestinians is comparable to apartheid.

John Dugard, a South African investigator on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said that "anyone who experienced apartheid has a sense of deja vu when visiting the OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories)."

Dugard, a lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in the 1980s, presented his findings on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories to the 47-nation council, which commissioned the report last year.

His comments drew an immediate rebuke from Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, who said Dugard had resorted to "inflammatory and inciteful language" which did not contribute to a constructive dialogue on the Middle East question.

The report was "utterly one-sided, highly selective, and unreservedly biased," Itzhak Levanon added.

The one-year-old council has so far only passed resolutions critical of one country - Israel. Muslim countries have proposed three further resolutions for the current session of the council that condemn the actions of the Jewish state.

The 24-page document, which was posted on the council's Web site last month, catalogues a number of accusations against the Jewish state ranging from destruction of Palestinian houses to preferential treatment for Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

Dugard's account of Israel's treatment of Palestinians echoes that of former President Carter's most recent book, "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid." The work drew widespread condemnation in Israel and the United States and prompted 14 advisory board members of Carter's foundation to resign.

Dugard said that he had previously refrained from using the term apartheid "on account of the sensitivity of the issue."

But the uproar over Carter's book "and the serious attempts to impugn his integrity, particularly in the United States, has led me to reconsider this decision," Dugard said.

Citing the existence of separate residential areas for Jews and Palestinians in Hebron, as well as separate roads for Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jordan Valley, he said Israel's actions clearly violated international conventions.

"Can it seriously be denied that such acts are committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over another racial group," Dugard said. ...
- posted by Editor @ 10:42 AM

January 19, 2007 Carter Doesn't Tell the Half of It | How Israel Enforces "Demographic Separation" | By JONATHAN COOK | Nazareth

When I published my book Blood and Religion last year, I sought not only to explain what lay behind Israeli policies since the failed Camp David negotiations nearly seven years ago, including the disengagement from Gaza and the building of a wall across the West Bank, but I also offered a few suggestions about where Israel might head next.

Making predictions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might be considered a particularly dangerous form of hubris, but I could hardly have guessed how soon my fears would be realized.

One of the main forecasts of the book was that Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line -- those who currently enjoy Israeli citizenship and those who live as oppressed subjects of Israel’s occupation -- would soon find common cause as Israel tries to seal itself off from what it calls the Palestinian “demographic threat”: that is, the moment when Palestinians outnumber Jews in the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

I suggested that Israel’s greatest fear was ruling over a majority of Palestinians and being compared to apartheid South Africa, a fate that has possibly befallen it faster than I expected with the recent publication of Jimmy Carter’s book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. To avoid such a comparison, I argued, Israel was creating a “Jewish fortress”, separating -- at least demographically -- from Palestinians in the occupied territories by sealing off Gaza through a disengagement of its settler population and by building a 750km wall to annex large areas of the West Bank.

It was also closing off the last remaining avenue of a Right of Return for Palestinians by changing the law to make it all but impossible for Palestinians living in Israel to marry Palestinians in the occupied territories and thereby gain them citizenship.

The corollary of this Jewish fortress, I suggested, would be a sham Palestinian state, a series of disconnected ghettos that would prevent Palestinians from organizing effective resistance, non-violent or otherwise, but which would give the Israeli army an excuse to attack or invade whenever they chose, claiming that they were facing an “enemy state” in a conventional war. ...
- posted by Editor @ 4:28 PM

Michael Jansen: Apartheid in Israel
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It is important for Israel to silence or smear anyone who compares Israel to apartheid South Africa. On the one hand, Israel argues that the Jewish state has a moral basis for existence: recompensing the Jews for centuries of Western persecution.

By Michael Jansen

The latest report published by the UN rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories compares Israel's policies there to those of South Africa during the apartheid era.

John Dugard, a South African law professor and former anti-apartheid campaigner, called upon the international community to give "serious consideration" to his recommendation that the International Court of Justice in The Hague issue an advisory opinion on Israel's policies and actions.

In the 24-page document, posted on the council's website, Dugard states: "The international community, speaking through the United Nations, has identified three regimes as inimical to human rights -- colonialism, apartheid and foreign occupation" and accuses Israel of practising all three.

Of the three, Israel is most incensed by being accused of instituting apartheid in the occupied and colonised Palestinian territories.

Dugard says that Israel's policies "certainly resemble aspects of apartheid". He points out that Israel is committing many violations of the 1973 Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and cites Israel's restriction of Palestinian movement, construction of walls and fences to separate Israelis and Palestinians, building of Israeli settler only cities, towns and roads, and demolition of Palestinian houses built without Israeli permits. He compares Israel's lists of security risks -- 180,000 names long -- who may not pass through the hundreds of checkpoints to South Africa's notorious "pass laws" which obstructed the free movement of black Africans.

Dugard challenges Israel's contention that West Bank checkpoints, barriers and blockades are intended to protect Israelis from attacks by Palestinian fighters and suicide bombers. He states: "It has become abundantly clear that the wall and checkpoints are principally aimed at advancing the safety, convenience and comfort of [Israel's 430,000] settlers" who live in the West Bank in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Dugard singles out the example of the wall being constructed in East Jerusalem, characterising it as an "instrument of social engineering designed to achieve the Judaisation of Jerusalem by reducing the number of Palestinians in the city". As proof, he states: "The wall is being built through Palestinian neighbourhoods, separating Palestinians from Palestinians, in a manner that cannot conceivably be justified on security grounds."

He asks: "Can it seriously be denied that the purpose of such action is to establish and maintain domination by one racial group -- Jews -- over another racial group -- Palestinians -- and systematically oppress them?" He observes: "Such an intention or purpose may be inferred from the actions described in this report." ...
- posted by Editor @ 3:28 PM

Israeli Knesset approves preliminary proposal to revoke citizenship of `unpatriotic` IsraelisWednesday January 10, 2007

The general assembly of the Israeli Knesset approved in preliminary reading on Wednesday a proposal of a new Israeli law that authorizes the Israeli district court to withdraw citizenship from any Israeli who is proven to be not loyal to Israel”.

The acts of “disloyalty” include visiting an “enemy state” and carrying the nationality of an enemy state.

The Arabs48 news website said that this law is considered one “of a long list of laws targeting that Arabs in Israel, especially Arab Knesset members who visited Syria in recent years”.

Commenting on the law, Arab member of Knesset, Dr. Azmi Bishara, said that “the occupation did not only displace the native residents, but is also trying to prove the residency of those who remained in the country depends on an approval from the occupiers”.

Bishara added that this law allows “an immigrant” to withdraw the citizenship from a native resident.

“This is a colonial attitude against the Arabs”, Bishara stated, “This is political terrorism”.

Arab member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi accused the Knesset of discriminatory practices, in which Arab members are required to ask permission, even to use the bathroom, while Jewish members of the Knesset are not.

Last Sunday, the ministerial committee at the Knesset, approved the proposal of the law and submitted it to the Knesset’s General Assembly for voting.

The Arabs48 news website said that the proposal of the new law was presented by Gilad Erdan, from the Likud party.

If the law is approved, the Israeli District Court will be allowed to revoke residency of any resident “who carried an act that could be considered disloyal to the country”.

Erdan said in his proposal that visiting “an enemy state or carrying its citizenship” is disloyal to Israel and the person who carried this act should have his residency revoked.
- posted by Editor @ 2:56 PM

Palestinian girl used by Israel as human shield | Web posted at: 3/9/2007 3:44:13 | Source ::: REUTERS

jerusalem • Israeli soldiers used an 11-year-old Palestinian girl as a “human shield” during an operation against militants in the West Bank town of Nablus last week, an Israeli human rights group said yesterday.

The Israeli army said it was checking the information from the B’Tselem group, which monitors Israeli actions in the occupied territory. Israeli law bans the military from using human shields.

B’Tselem said the girl, Jihan Daadush, told its interviewers that Israeli soldiers had entered her family home and questioned her and her relatives about the whereabouts of gunmen who had fired at them during the raid.

The soldiers, she said, threatened to arrest her unless she led them to a nearby house.

“(A soldier) ordered me to go towards the house,” B’Tselem quoted the girl as saying. “Three soldiers walked behind me. When we reached the house, there were a lot of soldiers. The soldiers ordered me to go inside the house and I went inside.” ...
- posted by Editor @ 2:34 PM

January 8, 2007 | This Road is for Jews OnlyYes, There is Apartheid in Israel | By SHULAMIT ALONI

Jewish self-righteousness is taken for granted among ourselves to such an extent that we fail to see what's right in front of our eyes. It's simply inconceivable that the ultimate victims, the Jews, can carry out evil deeds. Nevertheless, the state of Israel practises its own, quite violent, form of Apartheid with the native Palestinian population.

The US Jewish Establishment's onslaught on former President Jimmy Carter is based on him daring to tell the truth which is known to all: through its army, the government of Israel practises a brutal form of Apartheid in the territory it occupies. Its army has turned every Palestinian village and town into a fenced-in, or blocked-in, detention camp. All this is done in order to keep an eye on the population's movements and to make its life difficult. Israel even imposes a total curfew whenever the settlers, who have illegally usurped the Palestinians' land, celebrate their holidays or conduct their parades.

If that were not enough, the generals commanding the region frequently issue further orders, regulations, instructions and rules (let us not forget: they are the lords of the land). By now they have requisitioned further lands for the purpose of constructing "Jewish only" roads. Wonderful roads, wide roads, well-paved roads, brightly lit at night--all that on stolen land. When a Palestinian drives on such a road, his vehicle is confiscated and he is sent on his way.

On one occasion I witnessed such an encounter between a driver and a soldier who was taking down the details before confiscating the vehicle and sending its owner away. "Why?" I asked the soldier. "It's an order--this is a Jews-only road", he replied. I inquired as to where was the sign indicating this fact and instructing [other] drivers not to use it. His answer was nothing short of amazing. "It is his responsibility to know it, and besides, what do you want us to do, put up a sign here and let some antisemitic reporter or journalist take a photo so he that can show the world that Apartheid exists here?" ...
- posted by Editor @ 2:20 PM

28/02/2007 | Israeli Arab group proposes new 'multi-cultural' constitution | By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent

A proposed constitution written by the Israeli Arab advocacy center, Adalah, states that Arab Knesset members will be able to bring about the disqualification of bills that impinge on the rights of Arabs, and classifies the State of Israel as a "bilingual and multicultural" country rather than a Jewish state.

The proposal, entitled "The Democratic Constitution," also calls for majority and minority groups to split control of the government in such a way that will strengthen the Arab minority on issues relating to the character of the state.

Adalah's version of the constitution essentially abolishes the Jewish elements of Israel, but allows the Jewish majority to maintain its character through educational and cultural institutions. The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent, and states that citizenship will be granted to those who come to Israel for humanitarian reasons, regardless of their religion.

The document states that the "internal refugees" Arab residents and their descendants expelled in 1948 and whose number is estimated at about a quarter of today's Israeli Arab citizens will return to the area where they used to live and receive compensation. The introduction to the proposed constitution demands that Israel recognize its responsibility for the "historical injustices that it caused the Palestinian nation in its entirety," withdraw from the territories and recognize the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The proposal sets the state's borders along the 1967 cease-fire lines.

The proposed constitution grants citizenship to all descendants of Israeli citizens, whether they were born here or abroad, as well as to all spouses of Israeli citizens thereby undermining Israeli efforts to limit marriages between Israeli Arabs and Palestinians living in the territories.

Instead of dealing with the issue of who is a Jew, says Adalah, the proposal deals with the issue of who is a citizen.

Adalah's constitution is the first one proposed by an Arab institution, though there have been many proposed by various Jewish ones. Adalah chairman Prof. Marwan Dwairy said the other proposals are not based on democratic values.

"They relate to Arab citizens like foreigners in this homeland, in which history, memory and collective rights are the legacy of Jews alone," he wrote.
- posted by Editor @ 10:14 AM

Indeed there is Apartheid in IsraelBy Shulamit Aloni | 01/05/06 "Ynet "

A new order issued by the GOC Central command bans the conveyance of Palestinians in Israeli vehicles. Such a blatant violation of the right to travel joins the long list of humans rights violations carried out by Israel in the [Occupied] Territories.

--- - Jewish self-righteousness is taken for granted among ourselves to such an extent that we fail to see what’s right in front of our eyes. It’s simply inconceivable that the ultimate victims, the Jews, can carry out evil deeds. Nevertheless, the state of Israel practises its own, quite violent, form of Apartheid with the native Palestinian population.

The US Jewish Establishment’s onslaught on former President Jimmy Carter is based on him daring to tell the truth which is known to all: through its army, the government of Israel practises a brutal form of Apartheid in the territory it occupies. Its army has turned every Palestinian village and town into a fenced-in, or blocked-in, detention camp. All this is done in order to keep an eye on the population’s movements and to make its life difficult. Israel even imposes a total curfew whenever the settlers, who have illegally usurped the Palestinians’ land, celebrate their holidays or conduct their parades.

If that were not enough, the generals commanding the region frequently issue further orders, regulations, instructions and rules (let us not forget: they are the lords of the land). By now they have requisitioned further lands for the purpose of constructing “Jewish only” roads. Wonderful roads, wide roads, well-paved roads, brightly lit at night – all that on stolen land. When a Palestinian drives on such a road, his vehicle is confiscated and he is sent on his way.

On one occasion I witnessed such an encounter between a driver and a soldier who was taking down the details before confiscating the vehicle and sending its owner away. “Why?” I asked the soldier. “It’s an order – this is a Jews-only road”, he replied. I inquired as to where was the sign indicating this fact and instructing [other] drivers not to use it. His answer was nothing short of amazing. “It is his responsibility to know it, and besides, what do you want us to do, put up a sign here and let some antisemitic reporter or journalist take a photo so he that can show the world that Apartheid exists here?”

Indeed Apartheid does exist here. And our army is not “the most moral army in the world” as we are told by its commanders. Sufficient to mention that every town and every village has turned into a detention centre and that every entry and every exit has been closed, cutting it off from arterial traffic. If it were not enough that Palestinians are not allowed to travel on the roads paved ‘for Jews only’, on their land, the current GOC found it necessary to land an additional blow on the natives in their own land with an “ingenious proposal”. ...
- posted by Editor @ 9:19 AM