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UN Report Calls Israel an Apartheid Regime
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Titled “Israeli Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid,” authors Richard Falk and Virginia Tilley discussed how Israel persecutes and dominates defenseless Palestinians. Apartheid is a high crime against humanity, ongoing in Israel since its 1948 establishment, hardening over time, worst of all under Netanyahu’s coalition regime. The authors state their “study was motivated by the desire to promote compliance with international human rights law, uphold and strengthen international criminal law, and ensure that the collective responsibilities of the United Nations and its Member States with regard to crimes against humanity are fulfilled.” “More concretely, it aims to see the core commitments of the international community to upholding international law applied to the case of the Palestinian people, in defence of its rights under international law, including the right of self-determination.” They minced no words, calling Israel a racist apartheid regime, presenting clear evidence proving their accusation “beyond a reasonable doubt” – based on the International Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (the Apartheid Convention), saying: “The term (applies to) policies and practices of racial segregation and discrimination as practiced in southern Africa…inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.” The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines the “crime of apartheid” in similar terms. Israeli law “renders opposition to racial domination illegal” – 93% of land within “internationally recognized borders of Israel” is closed to ownership and development by non-Jews. Jews worldwide may emigrate to Israel and become citizens, non-Jews denied the same right. Diaspora Palestinians are denied their legitimate right of return. Israel controls Palestinians, by fragmentation and isolation, enforcing racial dominance of Jews over Arabs, “weaken(ing) (their) will and capacity…to mount a unified and effective resistance,” Palestinian puppet officials installed to enforce its will. Since 1967, Palestinians have lived under four “domains,” the authors explained: “1. Civil law, with special restrictions, governing Palestinians who live as citizens of Israel; 2. Permanent residency law governing Palestinians living in the city of Jerusalem; 3. Military law governing Palestinians, including those in refugee camps, living since 1967 under conditions of belligerent occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; 4. Policy to preclude the return of Palestinians, whether refugees or exiles, living outside territory under Israel’s control.” Arab citizens comprise about 20% of Israel’s population. They’re denied rights afforded Jews, treated like fifth column threats. East Jerusalem residents, classified as permanent residents, experience “discrimination in access to education, health care, employment, residency and building rights. They also suffer from expulsions and home demolitions.” “(T)hey have no legal standing to challenge Israeli (apartheid) law. “ Jerusalem is an international city under a UN protectorate. Israel usurped control, illegally claiming it as its exclusive capital. Military law, “fully meet(ing) the definition of apartheid,” governs West Bank and Gaza residents. They face every imaginable human rights indignity and abuse – including relentless harassment, cold-blooded murder, and virtually every form of ill-treatment in-between. Claiming a “demographic threat,” diaspora Palestinians are prohibited from returning to their homeland. Israeli society and laws assure dominance by Jews over Arab citizens and occupied Palestinians. Overwhelming evidence proves Israeli apartheid rule is a high crime against humanity. The UN, its agencies and member states “have a legal obligation to act within the limits of their capabilities to prevent and punish instances of apartheid that are responsibly brought to their attention,” the authors stressed. “More specifically, States have a collective duty: (a) not to recognize an apartheid regime as lawful; (b) not to aid or assist a State in maintaining an apartheid regime; and (c) to cooperate with the United Nations and other States in bringing apartheid regimes to an end.” Reactions to Report The Richard Falk/Virginia Tilley report, discussed in a same day article, drew strong criticism from Israeli officials as expected. They’re not pleased about scathing truth-telling, discussing disturbing facts about their apartheid regime, brutalizing Palestinians from inception, committing slow-motion genocide against a defenseless people. Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for publishing the report, comparing it to Der Sturmer, a Nazi anti-Semitic publication. Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon said the report “is despicable an constitutes a blatant lie. It comes as no surprise that an organization headed by an individual who has called for boycotts against Israel, and compared our democracy to the most terrible regimes of the 20th century, would publish such a report.” The World Jewish Congress called the report a “piece of vile propaganda that has no basis in fact.” It ludicrously claimed Israeli Arab citizens have equal rights as Jews. Indisputable evidence proves otherwise. A coalition of US Zionist organizations called on the UN to publicly reject the report, accusing the authors of launching “unjustified and outrageous attacks on Israel.” Hard truths don’t go down well in Tel Aviv or Washington. US UN envoy Nikki Haley called it “unsurprising (that) such anti-Israel propaganda (sic) would come from a body whose membership nearly universally does not recognize Israel…” She demanded the UN “withdraw the report altogether.” It’s in the public domain, extensively commented on, including by myself. It covers vital information I’ve discussed in many articles on Israel/Palestine, a topic I revisit frequently. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Durarric said “(w)e just saw the report today. It was […]
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