Human Rights Watch: West Bank Barrier Violates Human Rights

[Resistance]

Human Rights Watch

(February 23, 2004) -- The construction, route and operation of Israel’s separation barrier inside the West Bank violate international human rights and humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.

“Israel has a right and duty to protect its civilians from attack, but it must not use means that entail indiscriminate punishment of entire communities,” said Joe Stork, acting executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. “Israel’s separation barrier seriously impedes Palestinian access to essentials of civilian life, such as work, education and medical care.”

“The settlements violate the Geneva Conventions’ prohibition against transfers of population and have gravely affected Palestinian access to basics like employment, land and water,” Stork said. “The separation barrier further encroaches on the land and resources of the West Bank with the aim of consolidating this illegal enterprise.”

[Jim Sagle]

1. Human RIghts watch strains at Israeli gnats while swallowing

Palestinian camels.

[Resistance]

14. LOL

Yeah! Buncha peace activists Lefty types over there!

[Jim Sagle]

16. Makes me sick, I tell ya.

[_Jumper_]

17. Did you support the Iraq War?

n/t

[Jim Sagle]

18. Absolutely not.

[_Jumper_]

19. Were you a "lefty peace activist"

;)

[Jim Sagle]

20. No. And from what I gather, I would not have been at home.

[Herschel]

2. I must wonder if this leftist organization

considers not being blown apart a human right.

[lefty_mcduff]

3. Is being 'leftist' a bad thing?

One would almost think you're using it as a slur.
Please clarify if I'm wrong....

[Herschel]

4. There are misguided leftists

concerning Israel.

[Resistance]

5. you mean the ones

who sympathize with the victims of Israeli aggression?

[Herschel]

6. Little Israel is defending herself

-

[Heyo]

7. I agree that they have to do something....

If it's build a barrier, it's build a barrier....

When you citizens are being SLAUGHTERED 10 or 20 at a time, getting their arms blown off... bolts and screws blasted into their brain, I would say the government had BETTER do something.

Whatever Isreal has to do to stop that, I suggest they do it.

Heyo

[Resistance]

8. violating human rights is not justifiable.

And nobody from either side has a right to do so.

[Heyo]

9. Agreed...

I don't see building a wall to keep out people, who's sole intent is to give their lives to kill and horribly maim as many innocents as they can, as violating human rights...

Heyo

[Resistance]

12. Read the article posted.

(or the accompanying report)

“The settlements violate the Geneva Conventions’ prohibition against transfers of population and have gravely affected Palestinian access to basics like employment, land and water,” Stork said. “The separation barrier further encroaches on the land and resources of the West Bank with the aim of consolidating this illegal enterprise.”

and from the report: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/02/20/isrlpa7581.htm

The barrier embodies long-term and severe restrictions on the movement that causes disproportionate harm to the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. It effectively confines more than a hundred thousand men, women, and children in enclaves. It will institutionalize, and threatens to make permanent, a system in which all movement for large numbers of people is sharply curtailed except for a handful of permit-holders. The scope and duration of such restrictions endanger Palestinians' access to basic services like education and medical care, and in many cases to land, jobs, and other means of livelihood. The Israeli government has failed to demonstrate that it could not adopt less intrusive and less restrictive alternatives to address the security of civilians, including a barrier contiguous with the 1949 Armistice Line, commonly known as the Green Line.

[Gimel]

21. It is not, IMO

A human rights issue. As much as the Palestinians would have you believe it is, that is only an excuse, in the long run. Look at the Palestinian record on human rights. The PA, in effect, doesn't give a sh__ about human rights.

As one Israeli official stated, (I don't remember the name) in a radio interview, if the Palestinians are angry about it, it means we're doing the right thing.

On edit: Human issues are involved, but it is not up to HRW to determine the relative value of the barrier. They are not authorized to pass judgment on this, and it is doubtful that the Hague Court ICJ even has the legality to make this decision. The Israeli people do.

[Resistance]

22. Yeah

Stealing land from people, bulldozing their homes, and murdering anyone who gets in the way has nothing to do with Human Rights.

:crazy:

And how DARE Human-Rights Watch criticize Israel's aggression and atrocities!! Oh my!

[Resistance]

15. "Little Israel"

LOL! Good one.

[beanball]

10. Israel

is she always right?I think not,and this is one of those times where she is wrong.

[Forkboy]

11. Like I said

you never use it in a good way.

[Darranar]

13. They most certainly do...

and concern for human rights is not necessarily "leftist".