By Ranjan Solomon
Palestine Update 618
Comment
A year of acute violence has just passed with 231 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers. The apartheid-colonialist regime has been relentless and shows no tolerance for legitimate protest even when the form of protest does not pose danger to the Israeli army. To kill those who resist and weaken the Palestinian resistance is the intent. The stories are ones of horror and barbarity and show reckless disregard for minimum human rights standards. Rights groups deemed that those killed did not even pose an explicit threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers when they were killed. Israel discounts human rights when it comes to Palestinians but labours to express shock when the United Nations deems UN votes against Israel as ‘despicable’. The real question is Israel’s stubborn refusal to decolonize, and refuse to act by the UN Convention on Human Rights to which it is a signatory since 3 July 1990 (further ratified on 4 August 1991.
In this issue of MLN Palestine Updates, we share a new factsheet from OCHA, highlighting the humanitarian impact of the Separation Barrier over the past 20 years. We also share a report from the UN General Assembly Friday which asks its highest judicial authority, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to provide an opinion on the legality of Israeli settlements located on Palestinian territory. The ICJ is expected to consider Israel’s occupation and settlement of Palestinian land as well as the adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures.
Israel’s conceited dismissal of the practice of human rights law is also exposed in a report where The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has condemned the storming and takeover by a radical Israeli settler group on December 27 of its land in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. The Patriarch condemning the act stated: “This radical group has no right or judicial backing in their favor to allow them to enter or occupy the land.” The Patriarchate noted that the raid took place under the eyes of armed Israeli police and border guards. Land grabs are part of the occupation’s tactics and a design of the colonialist designs of the Israeli government.
Finally, we share with abhorrence and disappointment India’s decision to abstain from the vote in the U.N. General Assembly on a resolution that asked the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s “prolonged occupation” and annexation of the Palestinian territory. The resolution titled ‘Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem’ was adopted by a recorded vote on Friday, with 87 votes in favour, 26 against and 53 abstentions. India’s abstention exposes the closeting of ties between Israel and India with both countries adopting practices typical to extreme right wing ethno-religious nationalism. India, once an ‘influencer’ in the Non Alignment Movement used to assumestrong political postures in support of the liberation of Palestine. In the last decade, in particular, there has been a reversal of this political posture. This counter-trend disappoints Palestinians and progressive Indians, and people around the world, who seek a just and lasting solution to the Question of Palestine. India claims to be the largest democracy in the world, but chooses to support Israel’s fascist regime only because its own ideological positions against religious minorities suits it to side with Israel and coalesce with her. Additionally, Israel is India’s largest supplier of military hardware and defence interests.
Please read these items of news and disseminate widely.
In solidarity
Ranjan Solomon On behalf of MLN Palestine Updates
2 January 2023
Source: Palestine Update