As Far As They Are Concerned
By MIFTAH
July 03, 2001

Ariel Sharon’s radical right-wing government (including its deceptively “moderate doves”) is drawing the entire region into an abyss of war and disaster. On its part, the US continues to pledge full financial and political support to Israel, and the Europeans take up their traditional role as passive observers; altogether, Israel’s state terrorism against the Palestinians is only met with international silence.

Since the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada in late September 2000, the international community has turned a blind eye on Israel’s violations of the most fundamental rights and freedoms of the Palestinian people. For the Palestinians, human rights, equality, freedom, the right to self-determination, and even the right to life itself have become nothing more than “utopian rhetoric,” let alone scarce privileges applicable only to the powerful.

The daily life of the Palestinians has become a painful struggle for survival; death, injury, collective punishment, poverty, and constant psychological terror. Five hundred and fifty three Palestinians have been killed, fourteen thousand five hundred have been wounded, and more than 60% of the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is living under the poverty line (US$ 2/day).

Israel’s siege continues, Israel’s policy of assassination continues, Israel’s excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians continues, Israel’s settlement expansion continues, and clearly, Israel’s atrocities remain unquestioned by the international community.

The moral and legal obligation of the international community to justice is in question. In particular, the absence of an assertive role by international civil society and human rights institutions is increasingly underlined by failure and inability to uphold universal human principles.

Please refer to our Special Report: Intifada Update at:
http://www.miftah.org/Reports/intifada.html

http://www.miftah.org