Non-Regular Newsletter issued by PCJP (Palestinian Council for Justice and Peace) n.5 March 2001
P.O.Box 874-Ramallah/19545-Jerusalem Tel:972-2-2986601/ Fax:972-2-2980426
E-Mail :pcjp@palnet.com
Israel continues with its aggressive, destructive and immoral war against the Palestinian people in a drive to eternalize its occupation of the Palestinian Territories. Israeli leaders failed to coerce the Palestinians through Camp David to accept the Israeli concept of peace that means unending control of Palestinian land and hindering the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital. Moreover, Israeli leaders have sanctioned every military action regardless of repercussions even when it contravenes international law and the laws of war.
Israeli hostilities included indiscriminate shooting at civilians, shelling of residential neighborhoods by artillery and heavy machine-guns, obstruction of emergency medical teams and shooting at ambulances, imposing rigorous closures and curfews on Palestinian towns and villages, destroying economic, educational and health sectors in addition to the social fabric of the Palestinian society. Israeli government authorized the use of Depleted Uranium ammunitions and internationally prohibited nerve gases against Palestinian civilians. The use of such weapons were confirmed by independent tests conducted by reputable NGOs and specialized agencies.
As Palestinians continue to endure Israeli atrocities and war crimes they look towards the international community to break the silence and deplore Israeli violations of international law and norms, particularly, the 4th Geneva Convention, Hague Regulations of 1907 and relevant conventions governing the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Moreover, states are required to move a step forward and apply economic and political pressure on Israel. States Party to international instruments should respect their obligations set in the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and ensure Israeli respect for its obligations also.
Accordingly, the Palestinian people call upon peace-loving elements in the Israeli society to reactivate the Israeli peace movement in order to bring a prompt cessation of Israeli hostilities against Palestinian civilians. Time is of essence and the situation has reached intolerable limits. Israeli peace activists know very well that there is no military solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Israeli military ventures, throughout the long years of the conflict, could not guarantee security for Israelis. Rather, these ventures would be met with yet more resoluteness and steadfastness on the Palestinian side.
Clearly, the road to genuine peace and peaceful coexistence runs through the withdrawal of Israeli occupation, including dismantling Israeli settlements, and enabling the Palestinians to realize their legitimate rights including the right to Self-Determination, the right to return and the right to establish an independent state of their own.
For the past 34 years, Israeli successive governments demanded that Palestinians welcome the occupation with open arms. Simply, this is impossible and immoral. International instruments, laws and norms recognize a people’s right to resist occupation. No to the Occupation … We Want International Protection.
1.. Jordan Warns Against Radioactive Leakage.
2.. Elimination of Israeli Nuclear Weapons A Prerequisite For Peace.
3. Libya and Syria Demand Israel Ratify Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
4. Palestinians Call For International Investigation of Israeli
Weapons.
5. Lebanon Accuses Israel of Using Depleted Uranium.
6. Israel Continues to Pollute Palestinian Land and Water.
7. Americans Inclined to Double Military Aid to Israel.
8. Israeli Ministry of Defense Requests More Funds.
9. India to Purchase More Israeli Weapons.
10. American Efforts to Curb Opposition for Anti-Missile Shield
Project.
11. France and Germany Continue to Oppose American Anti-Missile
Project.
12. China Calls For Dialogue Among Opponents of American Project.
13. Moscow Tests New Anti-Missile Defense System.
14. Demonstrations Against Daffus Forum.
15. The World Bank Warns Against Poverty in Asia.
Jordanian Minister Abdel-Rahim al-‘Uqor accused Israel of compromising safety measures at the Dimona nuclear reactor. Israeli intransigence could lead to major environmental crises for the whole region. The Minster affirmed Israel persists to ignore Arab and international calls for appropriate safety measures at the very old reactor. Mr. Al-‘Uqor called for prompt international intervention to help avert potentially devastating crises through pressuring Israel to take the necessary measures immediately. In their meeting last November, Arab Ministers demanded the United Nations and its specialized agencies convince Israel to close its Dimona reactor.
In an interview with Egyptian newspapers last November, Mr. Ossama al-Baz affirmed that peace and peaceful coexistence between Israel and its Arab neighbors is still possible. The Egyptian official asserted the pursuit of peace depends largely on Israel through recognition of Arab and Palestinian legitimate rights. He considered elimination of Israel’s nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction would guarantee the establishment of genuine peace and substantial cooperation in the region.
In a joint communiqué, issued in Tripoli in February 2001, Libya and Syria called upon the international community, the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other peace loving nations to pressure Israel to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to open its nuclear facilities for international inspection. The communiqué called for a Mediterranean free of military fleets.
Arab states, in addition to Iran, have already ratified the non-proliferation treaty. Israel is the only state in the region that refuses to do so and continues to resist international inspection of its nuclear facilities.
Palestinian Minister for the Environment, Youssef Abu-Safiah, affirmed a decision by President Arafat to form a committee to gather and investigate about Israeli use of Depleted Uranium ammunition against Palestinian civilians, residential areas and military sites. The Minister reported Israeli obstacles have hindered the work of the committee that started last January. Many of the Palestinian sites are located either in areas under total Israeli control or areas difficult to reach because of Israeli fire. Israel also prohibited the Palestinian National Authority from importing necessary testing equipment. Dr. Abu-Safiah asserted the PNA is inclined to turn the investigation to an international committee made from representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization and other international specialized agencies.
President of the Lebanese Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri, accused Israel of having used Depleted Uranium ammunition against civilians and other targets in Lebanon. Mr. Berri cited reports in the Israeli press asserting use of DU since 1985. He concluded his statement by requesting the Lebanese government to officially ask the United Nations expedite an international team to conduct an investigation. Israeli military authorities affirmed: “The army had actually used DP ammunition against naval targets only and had stopped a year and a half ago”.
Knesset Member Issam Makhoul demanded the Israeli government agree to the formation of an international to investigate the type of gas used against Palestinian civilians last February. Mr. Makhoul’s call came as fears spurred by Israel’s use of the nerve gas to disperse Palestinians near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of demonstrators were taken to hospitals with near-hysteria symptoms. Israeli authorities claimed Israeli army only used “Tear Gas”. Yet, Mr. Makhoul pointed out the gas is one of Israel’s poisonous chemical weapons. He challenged the Israeli government to agree to the investigation if they have nothing to hide.
A report issued last November by the Palestinian Ministry for the Environment indicated that Israeli occupation authorities and the so called “Israeli Administration of the Territories” had intensified the “Transfer” of polluting chemical factories from Israel to areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip still under Israeli control. Israeli settlers have already set up over 200 such factories on confiscated Arab land in the Occupied Palestinian Territories over the past years. Many of these factories are located near Palestinian towns and villages. Israeli public complaints about the presence of chemical plants near their residential areas spurred the “Transfer”.
The report concluded with a call to the United Nations and specialized international NGOs concerned with the environment to pressure Israel to cease regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territories as “A dump for Israeli poisonous waste”. The Palestinian environment already suffers various effects including widespread of insects and the pollution of aquifers.
Israeli newspapers reported last November a mutual understanding between Israel and the United Sates to double American military aid to Israel. Israeli sources cited statements by Edward Walker, a State Department official, who pointed out that economic aid to Israel would be gradually decreased to end in 2008 and the money would be allocated to arms purchases. Israeli papers were reporting American plans to deliver 24 new fighter jets to Israel. Israel would be the only country allowed to have these most sophisticated planes. The Israeli army receives annually about $2.5 billion dollars out of the estimated American aid of $4 billions.
Israeli Chief of Staff and the Defense Ministry requested an additional sum of 520 million Shekels in the budget for 2001. The request was based on the army’s plans and its anticipations the current uprising could last much longer. The total Israeli budget set for 2001 was inflated by an additional sum of 2 billion Shekels.
Israeli Radio reported on 5 February 2001 that India had signed a contract to purchase Israeli naval missiles with a value of $270 million dollars. The total value of Israeli arms sales last year had reached $2.3 billion dollars. With such sales Israel ranks fifth among world suppliers of arms.
The newly elected American administration started intense efforts to activate its plans to build the Anti-Missile Shield. Among these are the efforts to overcome Chinese, European and Russian opposition to the project. Secretary of Defense Ronald Ramsfield, an enthusiast of the project, declared: “Washington is ready to begin a serious dialogue with its allies and friends regarding the project. The US is not interested in building a defense project apart from its allies”. Another American official said: “The Us is seriously reconsidering its nuclear arsenal and is willing to reduce it if necessary to win over opponents particularly Russia”.
At a meeting held in Munich last February regarding European security, German Chancellor Gerhard Shroeder affirmed his country opposes any changes to the START Treaty especially if the changes are to pave the road towards building the American Anti-Missile Shield. Mr. Shroeder called for more deliberations between Europe and the US in that regard.
French President Jacque Chirac considered the project “A new motive to boost another arms race in the world”. With apparent sarcasm, Chirac added: “History proved the Shield cannot defeat the sword. If the shield overcomes the sword this would compel further development of the sword and the circle would go on over and over again. The American Shield project would intensify international tension and strain international relations creating new animosities”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry declared in mid February that China welcomes the American call for dialogue regarding the Anti-Missile Shield Project. Yet, he asserted his country insists that any dialogue should be based upon complete respect for the START Treaty that guarantees international stability. The Spokesperson added: “There is a need for serious dialogue among all nations to push towards disarmament and to coordinate monitoring of weapons”.
Russian General Lionid Ivanov indicated on 9 February 2001 that his country had designed a plan to build an effective and inexpensive anti-missile shield system and could cover Europe. The planned system is a response to the challenge posed by the proposed American plans to deploy missiles in space. The Russian official affirmed the system would be a last resort should the Americans decide to go ahead with their plans. The Russian system would guarantee Russian deterrent capabilities against nuclear weapons.
Thousands of environmentalists, union leaders, intellectuals and farmers took to the streets in Rio de Janeiro to demonstrate against the Economic Summit held in Switzerland last November. Demonstrators denounced the free enterprise policies trumpeted by the rich countries to serve its own selfish interests. Tanzanian President, who participated in the Summit, said: “We cannot provide more support to Globalization if we have nothing to offer our impoverished peoples”. The President was criticizing the widening gap between the rich and poor.
A spokesperson of the Swiss police affirmed 800-1000 people demonstrated on 26 January 2001 in Bern and Zurich against the Economic Summit held in Switzerland. Demonstrators, who could not reach the Swiss resort where the Summit was held because of security measures, burned cars, broke store windows and shouted slogans against Globalization policies.
Few days after the Economic Summit, the Presidents of Asia Development Bank and the World Bank affirmed that poverty levels have increased in Asia to the extent that could hinder development. The President of Asia Bank indicated resentment is on the rise as unfair distribution of wealth casts doubt over the credibility of economic and liberalization measures professed by Globalization advocates. He affirmed a balanced distribution of dividends would guarantee social stability. On the other hand, the World Bank President warned inability to alleviate poverty would lead to social unrest. He asserted Globalization is driving peoples’ attention to unfair distribution of wealth..