Israel Used 'Incredible Violence' Against Gaza Aid Flotilla, Says UN Human
Rights Council
Israeli troops broke international law by storming an aid flotilla bound for
Gaza, according to a UN inquiry, which found that the killings of activists
on-board were comparable to "summary executions".
by Jon Swaine in New York and Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem
The Telegraph/UK: September 2, 2010
The sharply critical report found there was "clear evidence to support
prosecutions" against Israel for "wilful killing" and torture committed in
the raid on the flotilla on May 31. Nine activists on a Turkish ship were
killed as they attempted to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
However, Israel brushed aside the findings of the UN Human Rights Council,
which it has consistently denounced as biased against the Jewish state.
A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry accused the body of having a
"politicised and extremist approach," adding: "The Human Rights Council
blamed Israel prior to the investigation and it is no surprise that they
condemn after."
The investigation mounted by the Council has largely been superseded by a
separate inquiry launched by Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary general, which
has won the backing of the United States, Britain and much of the
international community.
This investigation, which is being headed by Geoffrey Palmer, the former
prime minister of New Zealand, has yet to report its findings.
In an unprecedented move, Israel agreed to co-operate with Mr Palmer's
inquiry in August, largely in an attempt to diminish the credibility of the
Human Rights Council investigation.
Israel maintains that its soldiers acted in self-defence after coming under
attack from activists wielding clubs, axes and metal rods.
However the report found that Israeli commandos' response to the flotilla
was disproportionate and "betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality".
"The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the
flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but
demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence," the
report said.
"The circumstances of the killing of at least six of the passengers were in
a manner consistent with an extralegal, arbitrary and summary execution," it
added.
The 56-page report also said that the Israeli blockade was itself unlawful,
because of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, meaning Israel's claim that it
was entitled to use force to defend the blockade should be dismissed.
The Human Rights Council, a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, has
courted controversy for its excessive focus on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
While it has passed over a dozen resolutions condemning Israel since it was
created in 2006, the council has been more reluctant to censure states such
as Sudan, which has been accused of serious human rights violations in
Darfur.
The United States withdrew from the council in 2008 but rejoined when
President Barack Obama became president last year.
Israel, which has also launched its own domestic inquiry into the raid on
the aid flotilla, refused to co-operate with the council's probe.
But Hamas, the Islamist group which controls Gaza, welcomed the inquiry's
findings and called on the international community to take action by
bringing Israeli commanders involved in the raid to trial.
The inquiry was completed by Karl Hudson-Phillips, a former judge of the
International Criminal Court in The Hague, Desmond de Silva, a former chief
prosecutor of the Sierra Leone War Crimes Tribunal, and Shanthi Dairiam, as
Malaysian human rights expert.
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2010
***
From: Marcy Winograd
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Townsend Jacob (213) 985-1694
Scott Mann (323) 333-4850
ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER TO HOLD MASSIVE DAY OF ACTION IN L.A. ON OCTOBER
2ND
Event to include voter outreach to over 200,000 Californians
"BlogMobile" to gather American stories while traveling from LA to DC
LOS ANGELES (September 21, 2010) - Responding to a call to restore
opportunity for Americans and pull America back together, One Nation Working
Together California will hold a massive day of action on October 2, 2010.
The event, to be held at Los Angeles City College, will bring thousands of
Los Angeles area residents together in an effort to re-energize voters for
this November's election, and call for an end to the polarizing tactics that
are being used to divide our country.
One Nation Working Together California will also be sending a group of
'citizen journalists' via RV who will be blogging about the concerns of
those they meet as they travel from Los Angeles to Washington DC. The
'BlogMobile' will depart Los Angeles on September 24 and arrive in
Washington DC for the national rally also being held on October 2.
"One Nation Working Together California is a grassroots movement that will
fight for future opportunities for our students and the unemployed, regain
the hope we held so proudly in 2008, redefine the future, and move our
country forward," said Laphonza Butler, President of SEIU ULTCW (United Long
Term Care Workers' Union).
The day-long Los Angeles event on October 2 will start at 9 am and feature
live performances, a public interactive display symbolizing our unity, the
personal stories of struggle shared by One Nation participants, and a
massive voter outreach in which 200,000 voters will be encouraged to
reengage in the political process. There will also be a live simulcast with
the national march occurring in Washington DC that day at which half a
million people are expected to gather at the Lincoln Memorial.
"There's no question that at a time when we should be united as a nation to
tackle the issues of unemployment, the economy, poverty, education,
immigration and justice for all, many Americans feel disconnected," said
Angelica Salas, Executive Director of Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). "It's time for us to continue the movement of
political engagement that we started in 2008. One Nation Working Together
is the vehicle by which we can do that."
One Nation Working Together is a fast-growing grassroots movement of people
from all backgrounds united by the goal of reordering our nation's
priorities to invest in our most valuable resource - our people. The
movement is comprised over 200 organizations and tens of thousands of
individuals who believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve
the American Dream of having a secure job, a safe home and a quality
education.
The need for the One Nation Working Together movement and its objective to
restore opportunity to all was reinforced as new increased unemployment
figures and poverty statistics were recently released.
"For me, the One Nation Working Together movement is about regaining our
core values - values that are based on fact and realities. Not based on
hate, fear and poll-inflamed rhetoric," said Reverend K.W. Tulloss of
National Action Now and Pastor of Weller Street Baptist Church.
For more information, please visit www.OneNationCA.org.
###
From: gordon.gary2@gmail.com
To: laamn@yahoogroups.com
Comedy Show Benefit Fundraiser for the Peace & Freedom Party
Featuring
Paul Krassner, Rick Overton, Marc Maron, Jann Karam, Jimmy Dore, Ann
Randolph, Kelly Carlin, Gary Gordon, and Paul Lyons, MC
Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., Santa Monica, 90405
(1 block east of Main, ½ block south of Marine)
6pm reception, meet & greet the P&F candidates
7pm showtime; $15 adm.
323-960-5036 or PeaceFreedom@mail2world.com
Proceeds go to LA County Peace & Freedom Party
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