If you’re going to do something criminal, the first step is to make sure there are no witnesses. The Israeli government has been cracking down on human rights workers and monitors – and not just out-of-the-mainstream groups like the International Solidarity Movement.
According to Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom, “most human rights offices in the West Bank and Gaza strip provide shelter for Palestinian terrorists.” Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other groups have issued a joint statement objecting to this accusation – and to the increased restrictions on their workers.
This year alone, the Israeli army has killed a foreign peace activist, Rachel Corrie and gravely injured two others, Tom Hurndall and Brian Avery. A foreign journalist, James Miller, was also shot dead by Israeli soldiers and in previous months Israeli soldiers. A military investigation undertaken into Rachel Corrie’s killing reportedly found no wrongdoing, although the full findings have not been made public. It is not known whether the other events have been investigated: certainly, no findings on any of these killings or injuries have been released, and no judicial action taken.
At the same time, international human rights workers and peace activists are increasingly being arrested and threatened with deportation by the Israeli authorities. At least two have been deported in recent weeks, and several others are facing deportation orders. At least six foreign humanitarian workers have been refused entry to Israel, and growing restrictions are imposed on movement and activities of those already present in the country.
Note that what’s being talked about here is the right of these folks to do their work in the occupied territories – but how, exactly, does Israel have the right to say who can or cannot observe the situation in the West Bank and Gaza?
In practice, Israel has that right because Israel rules the West Bank and Gaza. But at the same time, each time Israel claims to be a democracy, it’s implicitly denying that Israel rules the West Bank and Gaza – because the folks who live there (other than the settlers) sure aren’t given a vote in Israeli elections. The occupation has gone on for decades; it’s time for Israel to either admit that they’re ruling the people there, and offer them full citizenship and a vote; or, failing that, for Israel to realize they have no moral right to keep out international human rights observers that the Palestinians clearly would prefer be allowed in..
Corso, what caught my eye was: The doctor was worried about my kidneys with what I’m on, and I get…