Saturday, July 22, 2006
Israel's New Immigrants Complicit With Ethnic Cleansing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072002035.html
Today's Washington Post has as a feature "Moving to Israel in a Time of Crisis."
Americans Yossi Silver and Jonathan Klein immigrated to Israel Friday. A good majority of Palestinian refugees, estimated to be 7 million live within a hundred kilometers of their villages. Ninety-two percent of Palestine was appropriated by the Jewish state in 1948 and after. Many Palestinian refugees possess deeds to their property and keys to their homes; however Israel refuses them their inalienable right to return.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13: Section 2 states: "Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country."
In addition United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, Section 11: "Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible."
According to BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residence and Refugee Rights, "Israeli military forces adopted 'shoot to kill' policies along the armistice lines to prevent the return of refugees. In some cases refugees were forced to sign papers that they were leaving voluntarily. In 1948, it is estimated that more than fifty percent fled under direct military assault. Sixty percent of refugees displaced to Jordan in 1967 fled as a result of direct military assault."
"'I want to make Israel a better place, by giving my son, Shayadov, to the land of Israel,' said Yossi Silver, a chef from Miami Beach."
Mr. Silver has freely chosen to express allegiance to a state that renounces the Palestinians' inalienable right to return. That's complicity with ethnic cleansing. And ethnic cleansing is a war crime.
For relevant information on Israel's ethnic cleansing and information on the feasibility of return visit the website of the Palestine Land Society.
Today's Washington Post has as a feature "Moving to Israel in a Time of Crisis."
Americans Yossi Silver and Jonathan Klein immigrated to Israel Friday. A good majority of Palestinian refugees, estimated to be 7 million live within a hundred kilometers of their villages. Ninety-two percent of Palestine was appropriated by the Jewish state in 1948 and after. Many Palestinian refugees possess deeds to their property and keys to their homes; however Israel refuses them their inalienable right to return.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13: Section 2 states: "Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country."
In addition United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194, Section 11: "Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible."
According to BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residence and Refugee Rights, "Israeli military forces adopted 'shoot to kill' policies along the armistice lines to prevent the return of refugees. In some cases refugees were forced to sign papers that they were leaving voluntarily. In 1948, it is estimated that more than fifty percent fled under direct military assault. Sixty percent of refugees displaced to Jordan in 1967 fled as a result of direct military assault."
"'I want to make Israel a better place, by giving my son, Shayadov, to the land of Israel,' said Yossi Silver, a chef from Miami Beach."
Mr. Silver has freely chosen to express allegiance to a state that renounces the Palestinians' inalienable right to return. That's complicity with ethnic cleansing. And ethnic cleansing is a war crime.
For relevant information on Israel's ethnic cleansing and information on the feasibility of return visit the website of the Palestine Land Society.
