http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=55904&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0
Amnesty Int'l report cites `legal racism' in Israel
By Joseph Algazy, Ha'aretz
Wednesday, July 25, 2001
A report to be issued by Amnesty International cites Israel as
discriminating against Palestinians both inside the country and in the
territories. The world's leading human rights organization is issuing
a report on racism worldwide in advance of the World Conference
Against Racism, slated for Durban this fall.
According to the report, which covers nearly 100 countries and is
slated for full release tomorrow, "prejudice against Palestinian
citizens of Israel is widespread in the criminal justice system, both
in the courts and law enforcement methods."
The report notes that in the October 2000 riots, security services
used live ammunition against civilians, killing 13 Israeli Arab
citizens. It notes that "it took weeks of protests for a Judicial
Commission of Inquiry to be set up.
"A Border Policewoman was later quoted as saying `we handle Jewish
riots differently. When such a demonstration takes place, it is
obvious from the start that we do not bring our guns along.'"
Referring to the territories, the report says "different laws apply
to Jewish settlers and Palestinian residents. Palestinians are
governed by more than 3,000 military orders, allowing for trials by
military courts, which are often unfair.
"Since 1967, thousands of Palestinian homes in the Occupied
Territories have been demolished ostensibly because they were built
without a permit but Israeli officials have discriminated against
Palestinians when granting permissions and enforcing planning
prohibitions."
In anticipation of the Durban conference, where some countries, led
by Iran, are seeking to brand Israel and Zionism as racist, Amnesty
takes the unusual step of declaring in its introductory statement
about racism that "the preparations for the World Conference Against
Racism are currently marred primarily by disputes over the issue of
reparations for slavery, and over colonialism and issues relating to
Israel, Zionism and the use of the term `Holocaust.'"
Warning that because of these disputes some countries may "downgrade
the level of their participation ... or not attend," the human rights
group says that the WCAR therefore "may fail to reach agreement on a
common platform."
The organization says it holds no position on any system of
government or ideology "such as Zionism," but focuses instead on
holding "states to be accountable for human rights violations under
international human rights standards." Thus, the group says, "it would
be more productive if the WCAR were to address any discriminatory
state practice - such as discrimination in Israel and the Occupied
Territories against Palestinians - by recalling the international
obligations of states rather than addressing any particular ideology."
"There is also a dispute over the use of the term `Holocaust,'" says
the group, noting that "each genocide has had specific aspects and
survivors refer to their experience with terms that are particularly
meaningful to them.
"`Holocaust,' for instance, is widely understood to mean the racist
genocide of the Jews during World War II. The controversy over this
issue is insensitive to the feelings of survivors. All genocides are
equally reprehensible. The WCAR must ensure that the crime of
genocide is not trivialized and that all victims are recognized."
