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| Al-Awda New York, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition | |
JEWS AGAINST THE OCCUPATION
The following is a statement published by Jews Against The Occupation, December 12, 2000
"we tried to convince
ourselves that our occupation was a benevolent one. But we know from history
that an occupation is an occupation is an occupation." - Yossi Beilin
(Geneva Human Rights Commission; now Israeli Minister of Justice)
In the weeks since September 29, 2000, 236 Palestinian civilians have
been killed by Israeli security forces. 74 of those killed were minors
under 18 years old - 20 were under 15 years old. 13 Israeli citizens
of Arab descent have been killed by the Israeli police. Nearly 10,000
Palestinians have been injured by Israeli security forces. 18 Israeli civilians
and 16 Israeli soldiers have been killed by Palestinians. 188 Israeli civilians
and 238 Israeli soldiers have been injured by Palestinians (figures are as of
12/5/00 from B'Tselem).
[ Now do the math. A total of 280 people have died as of 12/5/2000. 249 of these
people were Palestinians. That is 89%. The total injured is 10,426. The percent
injured or wounded who are Palestinians is 96% !!!!! ]
Israeli and international human rights organizations have "documented repeated
excessive use of lethal force against unarmed Palestinian demonstrators."
Among other things, "the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has used live ammunition
and rubber-coated steel bullets from getting to the hospitals; destroyed the
olive trees and other crops on which many villages depend for income and food;
and sealed off and besieged Palestinian towns preventing food and medical supplies
from entering. [ Human Rights
Watch, Israeli
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), B'Tselem]
This is not new. Ever since the beginning of the occupation in 1967, the State
of Israel has, as its official policy in the Occupied Territories, systematically
tortured Palestinians, demolished Palestinian homes and discriminated against
Palestinians in housing policies; restricted Palestinians freedom to leave,
return to, and travel within the Occupied Territories' continuously expanded
illegal settlements.
The Oslo accords' so-called "peace" process has marked an intensification
of these policies. After the Oslo accords were signed, before
the current crisis, the State of Israel: doubled the number of settlements
on the West Bank and enlarged the existing settlements; continued to cut
back water quotas for the 3 million Palestinians in the Occupied territories;
prevented Palestinian development in most of the West Bank; built a network
of roads for Jews only, sealing an entire nation into restricted areas;
imposed mass curfews, regularly closed borders and airports; restricted Palestinian
access to food, water and medical care.
"an occupation is an occupation is an occupation"
We hold the State of Israel accountable for these abuses of human rights.
We hold the State of Israel responsible for these deaths, the deaths of Israeli
citizens as well as the deaths of refugees, the deaths of Jews as well as the
deaths of Palestinians.
And as Jews living in the United States, we hold our own government accountable
as well, for its role in supplying arms and military aid to Israel, for its
role in manipulating the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to secure its own oil
interests and its foothold in the region, and for its role n brokering round
after round of accords which are not part of a process of peace, but a process
of occupation.
As Jews, we are appalled by the violence perpetrated by the Israeli government
against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and against Palestinian
citizens within Israel. We reject the Israeli government claim that the military
action of recent weeks has been in self-defense -- the disparity between Israeli
and Palestinian deaths, injuries and armaments clearly shows the dishonesty
of this claim. We reject also the use of the history of anti-Semitism to obscure
contemporary Israeli power and to justify Israeli claims of fear of annihilation
by the Palestinians.
THE MEMORY OF JEWISH
HOMELESSNESS AND SUFFERING SHOULD ALWAYS LINK US TO THE PLIGHT OF THE OPPRESSED,
WHEREVER THEY EXIST IN THE WORLD.
It is our position as Jews that obliges us to voice our opposition to
the continuing oppression and violence perpetrated against the Palestinian people
by the Israeli government. It is our position as Jews living in the United States
that obliges us to stand up and voice our opposition to U.S. policies
that arm the Israeli government against the Palestinian people.
For all these reasons, and because the diversity of Jewish opinion about the
conflict has been ignored by the corporate media, silenced by the leadership
of many U.S. Jewish organizations, and deemed irrelevant by local and national
politicians in the U.S.,
WE DEMAND
that Israel take responsibility for the refugee crisis it has created, and for
its just resolution as well as political accountability, including reparations,
for the systemic destruction of Palestinian homes, livelihoods, and cultural
institutions during the course of the occupation.
WE DEMAND
immediate food and medical relief and the lifting of all blockades around Palestinian
towns.
WE DEMAND
an international commission of inquiry into the Israeli security forces' actions
since September 29, 2000.
WE DEMAND
the immediate release of all Israeli military personnel imprisoned for refusing
to served in the Occupied Territories.
WE DEMAND
an immediate withdrawal of all Israeli military personnel from the Occupied
Territories.
There can be no peace in the Middle East until Israel ends the occupation!
JEWS AGAINST THE OCCUPATION
For more information, call (212) 539-6683 or visit our webstie at http://www.angelcities.com/members/jato.
Also contact the Not In Our Name! Coalition at notinournames@hotmail.com
Also subscribe to Palestine Diary at http://www.yahoogroups.com/PalestineDiary
Also subscribe to CPRRJewishForum at http://www.yahoogroups.com/RightofReturn/JewishForum
"If I lose the light
of the sun, I will write by candlelight,
moonlight, no light.
If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls
I will write always
I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you."
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