Meaningless Resolutions
Last night the
United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's killing
of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip. The Resolution was passed 14-0 after
the US, surprisingly, abstained from the vote.
The resolution
came in the aftermath of an Israeli missile strike against unarmed protestors
that killed ten and injured over sixty. It comes in the midst of an unprecedented
campaign of destruction that can only be described as an attempt to ethnically
cleanse the southern Gaza Strip of its Palestinian inhabitants.
Since
the beginning of the month exactly 100 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza
Strip although this number is rapidly rising. Most of these have been killed in
the refugee camp of Rafah, including a large number of women and children. At
the same time the Israeli army has demolished hundreds of Palestinian homes leaving
thousands of refugees homeless once more.
Why has this been
allowed to happen? The civilian population of an occupied country is protected
by international law. Collective punishment is outlawed. The shooting of unarmed
demonstrators is illegal. Continually ignoring Security Council resolutions should
lead to international isolation. Yet Israel is not only allowed to continue, it
is allowed to continue unpunished and unconcerned.
The Israeli
army long ago crossed the line separating legitimate military responses and war
crimes. This month has seen Israel veer further out of control and still the world
stands idle. One of the world's most powerful armies has been allowed to run amok
inside a refugee camp, using heavy armoury in the worlds most densely populated
area.
One of the world's most advanced countries has been
allowed to demolish the houses of refugees without recompense. One of the world's
most celebrated democracies has been allowed to fire helicopter missiles and tank
shells at an unarmed peaceful demonstration.
Condemnation
of Israel's brutality is not enough, criticism of Israel is not going to bring
back the Palestinian dead, or care for the wounded or house the homeless. No other
country on earth would be allowed to carry out these atrocities. The Palestinians
need protection from Israel's aggression. The UN must act decisively on this matter
with more than just words. If Israel refuses to halt its operations, an international
force should be sent to protect the Palestinians.
If Israel
refuses to implement the Road Map, sanctions should be sought. Global respect
for international law is at stake. Israel cannot continue to get away with committing
war crimes.
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Urgent
from Palestine
19 May 2004
Dear friends
WE
need your helpe your solidarity against Israelian war and to protect the palestinian
people and we must fight togather against war and for peace &justice and for human
&workers rights.
with solidarity
Mohammed Aruri
pgftu Ramallah
Palestine
ARMY FIRED MISSILES AT A CIVILIAN DEMONSTRATION
IN RAFAH
13 people, mostly youths are reported killed, more
than 60 injured [Rafah, Gaza Strip] Israeli army helicopter gunships and tanks
opened fire on a nonviolent civilian demonstration in Rafah early this afternoon.
13 Palestinian are repored killed, including 2 children, and
60 injured. Approximately 3.000 Palestinian civilians from Rafah, mostly youths,
were peacefully demonstrating to protest the recent military operation in the
southern part of the Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses reported that 4 missiles were fired
from helicopter gunships and tanks fired shells at the crowd of unarmed civilians.
Hospitals are overflowed and cannot handle the situation,
chief hospital spokesperson said. This recent attack raised the previous death
toll to 37 people in one of the bloodiest military operation since the beginning
of the second Intifada.
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