Criminality is Self-Delegitimizing

The legitimate call to boycott Israel comes from over 170 groups from Palestinian civil society, because despite scores of UNSC and UNGA resolutions (other countries are invaded by the US & Co. for breaking even 1 UNSC resolution), and the failure of the disingenuous ‘peace process’ which serves as cover for Israel to steal more Palestinian land, Israel has not amended its appalling criminal behaviour. In fact, the currrent regime has passed three more discriminatory laws in the past week or so to add to more than 30 existing such laws whilst tightening the illegal siege, which constitutes collective punishment, on the people who inhabit the open air prison that is Gaza once more and committing its customary panoply of human rights violations throughout the West Bank.

Palestinian people are guaranteed justice and rights under international law, yet Israel denies them these, with the collusion of the US and its sycophantic subalterns like Australia, the UK and Canada. Boycotts, divestments and sanctions are a grassroots, global, non-violent means of specifically targeting the institutions and organisations which support the illegal Israeli occupation and apartheid regime because all other methods have failed to attain Palestinian people’s just rights.

A partial settlement boycott is insufficient, because Israel’s crimes are not only those of occupying and stealing Palestinian land in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but also consist of denying Palestinian Israelis full equal rights and refusing to recognise the right for Palestinian refugees to return to their lands although this right is supported by a raft of international laws and UN resolutions.

The Israeli IDF has now declared that human rights activists supporting BDS globally are in their sights.

Thus, people should be very aware that there is a coordinated campaign by Israel to breach other nations’ sovereignty, to intimidate, silence and ‘delegitimise the delegitimisers’ in order to ensure continuance of Israel’s disgraceful impunity for its war crimes, crimes against humanity and land theft.

From the filthy tactics used on Greens candidates, Goldstone and others (see the Masada and other hate lists) and initiatives like those afore-mentioned, it’s clear that human rights defenders are putting themselves on the line to protest against this extremist, unrepentant regime and its ongoing crimes. By its own actions and actions of those who support its impunity and injustices, the Israel regime delegitimises itself.

Related Links

Inequality Report: The Palestinian Arab Minority in Israel February 2011 

Palestinian / Israel Links

UN condemns plans for East Jerusalem settler homes
Austrian Foreign Minister to visit Gaza
The anti-Israel Jews
Predisplacement and Postdisplacement Factors Associated With Mental Health of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
Post-traumatic stress disorder among school age Palestinian children 2004
Ros-Lehtinen says that Obama stopped pressuring Israel because ‘the American Jewish community got mad’
The transformation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories into neoliberal bantustans is progressing according to Fayyad’s plan.
Orthodox IDF soldiers accused of abusing Palestinian prisoners – defence suggests education for war crimes rather than criminalisation because of zionist leaders doing the same in the past:

“this is a reality that has been in existence since 1948 and [these soldiers should not be indicted] just as they never thought to put Ehud Barak or Danny Yotam on trial when they were photographed on the wing of a plane while stepping on the body of a terrorist [1972, AP].”

He chastised the military establishment for their handling of the situation, saying that a decades-old practice is falling on the backs of a few soldiers. He added that these are “good soldiers, and this is a job for the head education officer.”

Breath-taking US hypocrisy. The US routinely votes against Palestinian rights in the UN, exhibiting overwhelming bias toward its rogue pet, Israel
Israel bans 700 goods from entering Gaza
New peace initiative by retired Israeli war criminals greeted by US as ‘positive contribution’
Evangelical Lutheran church reverend calls for Israel boycott
Quakers are boycotting Israeli settlement goods. Now for the lies and abuse
NYC Boycott Israel group posts silent video after YouTube removes original
Sheridan gets his panties in a bunch against about BDS
The Arab League Boycott and WTO Accession: Can Foreign Policy Excuse Discriminatory Sanctions?
Israel not bringing Arab boycott to WTO
Palestinian NO to the WTO and call for Boycott Apartheid Israel in Hong Kong
The Death of the Secondary Boycott Against Israel
Israel to Germany: drop Palestnian statehood plan
Barriers and the Boycott
Omar Barghouti of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign
Goldstone has taken issue with Yishai’s claim

that the judge was ready to work to have the UN report withdrawn. He has demanded a public correction from Yishai. After a response from Yishai was not immediately forthcoming, Goldstone issued another statement opposing the rescission of his commission’s report.

Despite Foreign Ministry efforts to issue a correction, Yishai delayed a response several hours and ultimately released a short statement correcting the record after midnight.

Around 1:30 A.M., Goldstone, who was in California, was informed of Yishai’s statement, but he had already gone to the media denying Yishai’s earlier remarks and saying that he had never discussed the report in his conversation with Yishai. A Foreign Ministry source said the spat with Yishai will make it much harder for Israel to get Goldstone to approach the United Nations regarding its stance on Cast Lead.

Jake Lynch on refocussing the BDS debate in Australia on Israel ‘s crimes [free trial @crikey_news]

This stance by the Australian government is also out of step with Australian public opinion. We are being very poorly represented on this question. An online survey by Research Now of 1021 Australians last year, by Griffith University researchers Eulalia Han and Halim Rane, showed: “The majority (55%) understand the Israel-Palestine conflict to be about ‘Palestinians trying to end Israel’s occupation and form their own state’.”

Where governments refuse to act, the onus passes to a responsible citizenry, to continue to explain the issues, and to take our own action where appropriate, including through local councils and political parties.”

Israeli warplanes strike on several Gaza targets
Israel to Germany: drop Palestinian statehood plan
Israel expedites vote on hundreds of new homes beyond Green Line
Report: Netanyahu allegedly billed two groups for single trip abroad
Were the Israelis Behind the ‘Mystery’ Air Strike in Sudan?
Charges against Gazan engineer show strip is still occupied
Am I my Palestinian brother’s keeper?
Father Dave’s letter to Senator Bob Brown

The ferocity of the response to Fiona Byrne (for Marrickville
Council’s BDS stand) and now the attacks on Ms Rhiannon, are a clear reflection of the effectiveness of the BDS strategy. Those with a vested interest in the Occupation are evidently threatened by these exemplary women and their principled stand.

Haaretz WikiLeaks exclusive / Israel’s Peace Now updates U.S. on West Bank construction

Wikileaks Links

Wikileaks’ Julian Assange extradition appeal date set

Australia Links

Australian government chooses not to close the gap, preferring to benefit the prison industrial complex at the expense of indigenous education.

Other Links

My Monster, My Self: On Nicholas Carr and William Powers