Right To Life

Children Killed (September 2000 till 22 May 2006)

Israeli 171
Palestinians 721

rememberthesechildren

Letter from Israeli Bereaved Parent

add armed robbery and armed control & violence & imprisonment

The Geneva Convention states that the occupying power must ensure the protection, security and welfare of the population living under occupation. This also implies allowing the normal development of the territory, if the occupation lasts for a prolonged period of time. (International Red Cross Statement) http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList393/D86C9E662022D64E41256C6800366D55
Contrary to this legal obligation , Israel using internal and external closures, has strangled the Palestinian economy. In recent years, international donors have in practical terms taken on the role of offsetting the impact of Israeli's blockades. The World Bank pointed out that Israeli closures had led to the contraction of real personal income of 40% in just two years between 2000 and 2002 despite a doubling of donor disbursements. The UN says that 40% of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are living on less than 2$ a day. .http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWESTBANKGAZA/Resources/WBGUpdateEng.pdf

The Wall built on Occupied Palestinian Land is illegal.
Declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 9/7/2004:
http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/ipresscom/ipress2004/ipresscom2004-28_mwp_20040709.htm
"The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law"; ... " All States are under an obligation not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction; all States parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 have in addition the obligation, while respecting the United Nations Charter and international law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention";

The general assembly adopted the ICJ's recommendations by 150 votes to 6 with 10 abstentions. Britain voted for it and USA voted against it http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11418&Cr=middle&Cr1=east Despite all this Britain, EU and America have been promoting Israel's 'disengagement' plan. This plan ,as set out recently, involves having the wall as a border and the annexation overall of 40%+ of West Bank land. Israel itself has been created on 78% of Palestine, on land mostly taken from Palestinians.(see refugees below)

Israel's settlements in Palestine are Illegal.
Security Council Resolution 446, March 22, 1979

"Determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East." The UN Security Council in Geneva on July 15th 1999 unnanimously passed a resolution stating that the Fourth Geneva Convention does apply to Israeli settlements in the occupied territories

Palestinian have the right to Self-Determination.

General Assembly Resolution 3236, November 22, 1974

Affirms "the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in Palestine...to self-determination without external interference" and "to national independence and sovereignty."

Israel's occupation of Palestine is Illegal.

UN Security Council Resolution 242, Nov 22,1967

Calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in the war that year and "the acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force."

Palestinian Refugees have the right to return to their homes in Israel.
General Assembly Resolution 194, Dec. 11, 1948

"Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible." The Geneva convention itself stipulates that refugees have the right to return to their homeland.

In 1947 /48 700,000 Plalestinians were driven from their homes and became refugees in neighbouring countries. Israel gave their houses and land to incoming Jewish settlers and destroyed or renamed with hebrew names their villages(470 plus). The number of refugees and their families has grown to 4.25 million since then. Three quarters of all Palestinians are refugees. Palestinians refugees outside Palestine number 2.7 million. Israel has never up to now accepted responsibilty for them and at the time of the negotiations in 2000/2001 said that the right of return of refugees is incompatible with the right of Israel to exist.

Jews against the Occupation web site http://www.jatonyc.org/UNresolutions.html lists the relevant UN resolutions.

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Makes the point that human rights should be enforced by the international community and not left to negotiation between two vastly unequal parties , between the aggressor/oppressor and the occupied.

"The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is characterized by serious violations of general international law, of human rights law and of international humanitarian law. It is not helpful to suggest that a solution can be found to the conflict in the region by ignoring norms of international law. A sustainable peace in the region must take place within the framework of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations." John Dugard, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. August 2004