This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
Sari Bashi, director of the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement said:
"The restrictions on goods into and out of Gaza are instituted not for security reasons, but rather as part of a declared policy to restrict the movement of people and goods as a means of applying pressure on the Hamas regime. The express purpose....is to block all economic activity in Gaza. So the real question is whether Israel will abandon this policy - immediately or in the near future - or whether it will continue to aspire to block economic activity, but simply let in a few more consumer goods."
In a June 17 press release, Gisha headlined, "We don't need more lists, we need to end 'economic warfare,' " saying:
"The time has come for Israel to ask serious questions about how three years of closure (have) affect(ed)....1.5 million people whose right to travel and to engage in productive work have been denied. We don't need cosmetic changes."
What's needed is unconditional free in and out movement, and world community censure of Israeli policy, economic warfare, and its ploy about fearing weapons imports and other security concerns. Under international law, Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the population's welfare, including the free passage of food, medical supplies, clothing, and other essential items.
Even after rejecting Gaza's occupation status, Israel's High Court ruled that its government bears responsibility for the welfare of its people - because of continuing conflict, its military control of border crossings, and the Strip's dependence on Israeli goods and services like fuel and electricity. No longer are half measures acceptable or Israel's bogus justifications.
In addition, an independent investigation of Israel's premeditated Freedom Flotilla attack is essential. No longer can its international law violations be tolerated, including repeated crimes against peace, the most serious of all.
Israel must be held accountable, the view Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President, Mevlut Cavusoglu, expressed in a June 13 Today's Zaman interview, explaining that Israel had violated core human rights principles embraced by the organization, saying they'd be consequences at the end of June summer session, adding:
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
3
2
