Becuase Everything Else Sucks

UN Envoy Describes Process in Gaza as “Ethnic Cleansing”

By Manila Ryce
Published Thursday, September 28th, 2006, 12:09 pm
Filed under: Genocide, Human Rights, World: Asia, War, Terrorism, Society/Culture, World Issues, US Politics

John Dugard, a special human rights envoy sent by the UN to the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters on Tuesday that the US, Europe, and Canada had failed the Palestinians by withdrawing funds. He also described the living conditions of the Palestinians as that of a prison where life is intolerable, appalling, and tragic.

Dugard went on to say that, “In other countries this process might be described as ethnic cleansing but political correctness forbids such language where Israel is concerned.” He continued, “If the international community cannot take some action, [it] must not be surprised if the people of the planet disbelieve that they are seriously committed to the promotion of human rights.”

Israel has responded by saying there is an “alarming disconnect” between Dugards human rights report and the “daily threat of Palestinian terrorism” which Israelis face. However, Dugard says, “Israel violates international law as expounded by the Security Council and the International Court of Justice and goes unpunished, but the Palestinian people are punished for having democratically elected a regime [Hamas] unacceptable to Israel, the US and the EU.”

Dugard has reported that 75 percent of Gaza’s 1.4 million people are dependent on food aid, and that Israeli bombings since June 25th have destroyed many houses and the only power plant in the territory. B’Tselem, an independent Israeli human rights group, has also condemned Israel’s bombing of the Gaza power plant which affected hospitals, food supplies, and water and sewage systems. “The bombing of the power plant was illegal and defined as a war crime in international humanitarian law as the attack was aimed at a purely civilian object,” the rights group said in a report. “Even if one adopts the doubtful claim that the attack provided some definite military advantage, it was disproportionate and Israel had other, less harmful alternatives.” On top of his assessment that Israel is carrying out “ethnic cleansing”, Dugard has also said the West Bank faces a similar humanitarian crisis, due to the barrier, which is a move by Israel to annex more land.

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4 Responses to “UN Envoy Describes Process in Gaza as “Ethnic Cleansing””

  1. I actually feel more sorry for the poor bastard that has to tow around the kid who wet his/her pants. I bet that guy hates his job.

    Kaziglu Bey
    09/28/06 at 8:33 pm

  2. […] Aside from the previous figures, B’Tselem says that 41 Palestinians were killed by civilians. Outside of the West Bank and Gaza, 60 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces inside Israel. The Israeli human rights group’s total comes to 3,834 Palestinians killed in the past six years, while the Associated Press puts their figure even higher at 4,015. Recently, the living conditions of Palestinians in the occupied territories was described as “ethnic cleansing” by John Dugard, a special UN human rights envoy. […]

    The Largest Minority » Blog Archive » Israeli Human Rights Group Publishes Death Tolls
    09/29/06 at 1:31 am

  3. […] Kirstie Campbell , a spokeswoman for The World Food Program, was among the few UN aid workers allowed to bring in emergency rations and medicines. “The atmosphere was extremely stressful,” she said. “The people were asking for a lot of things. They were asking for food, for milk, and they were very worried about relatives that have been detained. You could really see that the people are suffering.” Hundreds of men have been rounded up and questioned, with some being taken away to Israel. During the last four months, Israel has launched a major military operation that has killed around 350 Palestinians, many of whom were civilians. During that same period, only 2 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militants. The Israelis say the disproportionate suffering and death they have caused should be blamed on the groups that fire their homemade rockets into nearby Israeli towns and villages. […]

    The Largest Minority » Blog Archive » Israel Continues to Terrorize Beit Hanoun
    11/7/06 at 3:50 am

  4. I don’t agree how either country is behaving. Hamas is a agressive, hostile organization that has no problem with killing Israeli people. Israel is content in killing any Palestinian that poses the smallest threat to security.

    Why not cut off aid to both, and spend it on health care, research on oil-free technology and other areas - cutting off our dependance on a volatile and unstable region of the world.

    Carl
    07/31/07 at 4:51 pm

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