International Solidarity Movement’s response to the Rachel Corrie verdict
ISM | August 28, 2012
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is deeply concerned by the verdict of Judge Oded Gershon that absolved Israel’s military and state of the 2003 murder of American ISM activist Rachel Corrie. Rachel was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer while protesting the demolition of a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the American administration stating that the Israeli military investigation had not been “thorough, credible and transparent” and the Israeli government withholding key video and audio evidence, Judge Gershon found no fault in the investigation or in the conclusion that the military and state were not responsible for Rachel’s death. Judge Gershon ruled that Rachel was to blame for her own murder and classifies her non-violent attempt to prevent war crimes as proof that Rachel was not a “thinking person”.
By disregarding international law and granting Israeli war criminals impunity Judge Gershon’s verdict exemplifies the fact that Israel’s legal system cannot be trusted to administer justice according to international standards. The ISM calls on the international community to hold Israel accountable by supporting the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) and continuing to join the Palestinian struggle in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Describing the situation in Gaza 2 days before she was killed, Rachel said, “I’m witnessing the systematic destruction of a people’s ability to survive. It’s horrifying.” Rachel’s analysis holds true today, confirmed by the United Nations a day before this ruling, which reported that Gaza would not be “liveable” by 2020 barring urgent action.
The verdict is a green light for Israeli soldiers to use lethal force against human rights defenders and puts Palestinian and International human rights defenders in mortal danger.
This will not deter us. As long as our Palestinian sisters and brothers want our presence, the ISM will continue to find ways to break Israel’s siege, and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. As Rachel’s mother Cindy put it, “There were children behind the walls of the home Rachel was trying to protect… We should have all been there”.
Judge Gershon’s verdict is a travesty of justice but it is not exceptional. As a rule the Israeli legal system provides Israeli soldiers impunity to commit murder. The only Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter since the outbreak of the second Intifada in 2000 was Taysir Hayb, a Bedouin citizen of Israel for shooting British ISM volunteer Tom Hurndall in the back of the head with a sniper rifle as Tom was carrying a child to safety. At least 6,444 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces in this period, with no justice for them or their families.
For more information Contact: Aide Mormech 059228094 or Huwaida Arraf 0598336215
Related articles
6 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Featured Video
The Connection between 9/11, Anthrax and Iraq
For more videos go to the Aletho News – Video Category
or go to
Aletho News Archives – Video-Images
Book Review
The 2001 Anthrax Deception
An Overview of the Book by Graeme MacQueen
By Antony C. Black | OffGuardian | July 20, 2019
If the notion that, ‘truth always lies 180 degrees opposite to the direction pointed by the corporate media’ is not yet a modern maxim, it should be. A useful corollary might be added to the effect that, ‘the depth to which an event is consigned to the establishment memory hole is inversely related to its actual significance’.
Such an event is the occasion of the October, 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, for coming close upon the heels of those of 9/11, the anthrax attacks of early October seemed to stamp with the imprimatur of destiny itself the coming of a new age, a new ‘clash of civilizations’, and, of course, a new conflictual modality, ‘The Global War on Terror’. It is ironic then that barely a decade later the entire episode should be so completely forgotten as almost never to have happened.
So what did happen?
The bald facts – as detailed by author Graeme MacQueen – are these… continue
Aletho News Original Content
Three Mile Island, Global Warming and the CIA
By Aletho News | January 9, 2012
This article will examine some of the connections between the US and UK National Security apparatus and the appearance of the anthropogenic global warming (AGW) theory beginning after the accident at Three Mile Island. … continue
~
Also by Aletho News:
March 8, 2011
Investment bankers salivate over North Africa
February 25, 2010
Look out for the nuclear bomb coming with your electric bill
February 7, 2010
The saturated fat scam: What’s the real story?
December 26, 2009
There’s more to climate fraud than just tax hikes
About Aletho News’ Name
Blog Roll
Latest Comments
rkm009 on You Don’t Need To Be A S… rkm009 on You Don’t Need To Be A S… Brian Harry, Austral… on You Don’t Need To Be A S… michael on Boycotting Israel a Constituti… GGH on Israel’s Choice for U.S. … Sparrow on Israel’s Choice for U.S. … Sparrow on Wind Farm Back-of-the-Envelope… Brian Harry, Austral… on Why Netanyahu Needs a War on G… Brian Harry, Austral… on Israel’s Choice for U.S. … Brian Harry, Austral… on “US Causes Instability Anywher… Brian Harry, Austral… on Boycotting Israel a Constituti… Brian Harry, Austral… on The Importance of the Official… Brian Harry, Austral… on Truth about 9/11 would take do… Brian Harry, Austral… on Israel was prime force behind… roberthstiver on Israel was prime force behind…
Aletho News- You Don’t Need To Be A Scientist To Know That The Global Warming Alarm “Science” Is Fake July 22, 2019
- Ted Nordhaus: Carbon Pricing Has to be Imposed Slowly, to Avoid Yellow Vest Riots July 21, 2019
- Wind Farm Back-of-the-Envelope Economic Analysis July 21, 2019
- Why Netanyahu Needs a War on Gaza More Than Ever Before July 21, 2019
- Nasrallah’s Surprises for Israel July 21, 2019
- Israel’s Choice for U.S. President July 21, 2019
- The 2001 Anthrax Deception July 21, 2019
- Hate Crime Survey Reports July 21, 2019
- Iran’s seizes UK tanker in counter-escalation July 21, 2019
- Boycotting Israel a Constitutional Right and Personal Obligation July 20, 2019
- “US Causes Instability Anywhere It Sets Foot” July 20, 2019
- Iran Confiscated British Oil Tanker According to International Law: Official July 20, 2019
- Israeli Spyware Can Steal Private Data From Apple, Google, Facebook – Reports July 20, 2019
- Facebook’s Libra Can Become West’s New Tool for Political Pressure – Chainside Co-Founder July 20, 2019
- Britain says seizures of UK vessels by Iran are ‘unacceptable’ July 19, 2019
- Any military aggression against Iran will drag entire Mideast into chaos: Nasrallah July 19, 2019
- Quakes Prompt Fears of Devastating Consequences of Proposed Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada July 19, 2019
- New US Pentagon Chief – Vested Interest in War & Conflict July 19, 2019
- If Americans Knew
The forgotten Rachels:
Rachel Levy (aged 17, blown up in a grocery store)
Rachel Levi (19, shot while waiting for the bus)
Rachel Gavish (killed with her husband, son and father while at home celebrating a Passover meal)
Rachel Charhi (blown up while sitting in a Tel Aviv cafe, leaving three young children)
Rachel Shabo (murdered with her three sons aged 5, 13 and 16 while at home)
Rachel Ben Abu (16, blown up outside the entrance of a Netanya shopping mall)
Rachel Kol, 53, who worked at a Jerusalem hospital and was killed with her husband in a Palestinian terrorist attack in July a few days after the London bombs.
What happened to the other Rachels was obviously strongly in the mind of the judges and looks to be the main factor leading to their verdict. Does Palestine have a court by the way?
One wonders what Israel may have done to the killers of these Rachels.
Perhaps the Israelis thought that they identified them and then fired missiles at them from drones killing groups of bystanders along with the supposed targets.
Another possibility is that they bombed Palestinian security forces after the attacks in acts of collective punishment.
Shameless cowardice is the hallmark of the Zionist crime forces.
the forgotten rachels and other pieces of crap – dont occupy someone else’s land and homes.
Yes.
We should never forget that there is no equivalence in the Israel/Palestine issue. One side is the aggressor. Any “Rachel” Israeli is a guilty party by any ethical standard.
Great article. Thanks for posting.