What does jailing a Palestinian political leader say about Israeli ‘democracy’?

Khalida Jarrar, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was sentenced to 15 months in prison this week by a kangaroo court for membership in an illegal organization and incitement, but was her trial in a military court just? The use of military courts is in contravention of international law and may constitute a war crime. And what does it say about the irrational political, diplomatic, economic and military support successive Canadian governments give the State of Israel under the hoax that it is “the only democracy in the Middle East”? Four articles and photos.

Khalida Jarrar in the courtroom of the Ofer detention facility, in May 2015 | AP

Hareetz Editorial (December 9) – Khalida Jarrar is a political prisoner. The Ofer Military Court, which on Monday sentenced the Palestinian parliamentarian to 15 months in prison for membership in an illegal organization and incitement, is a political court that punished her for her political activity, and for that alone. Thus Israel, which pretends to be a democracy, has political prisoners, political arrests and political prison sentences, at least in the occupied territories.

Globalizing Gaza

How the Zionists attempt to raise violence, anarchy and chaos to the level of authority and provide it with a legal justification called “lawfare.” JEFF HALPER

Operation Protective Edge was not merely a military assault on a primarily civilian population.

As in its previous “operations” (Cast Lead in 2008-9 and Pillar of Defense in 2012), it was also part of an ongoing assault on international humanitarian law (IHL) by a highly coordinated team of Israeli lawyers, military officers, PR people and politicians, led by (no less) a philosopher of ethics. It is an effort not only to get Israel off the hook for massive violations of human rights and international law, but to help other governments overcome similar constraints when they embark as well on “asymmetrical warfare,” “counterinsurgency” and “counter-terrorism” against peoples resisting domination. It is a campaign that Israel calls “lawfare” and had better be taken seriously by us all.

Crime against humanity: Israel destroys Gaza hospital

Along with prima facie evidence of war crimes and atrocities having been committed by the Israeli army in Gaza over the past ten days, whereby unarmed civilians including whole families with children have been executed with impunity by Israeli forces under authority of prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, U.S. and Canada-backed Israel is destroying hospitals. 

Patients in el-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza City |Rina Andolini

Allison Deger*, Mondoweiss (July 18) – The Israeli army targeted and destroyed the Gaza strip’s only rehabilitation hospital even though Israeli authorities said they did not believe weapons were inside of the facility. El-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital, which treats long-term injuries and physical disabilities, was heavily shelled  causing an emergency evacuation of all staff and patients. El-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital treats long-term injuries and physical disabilities. All of the patients have some degree of paralysis, require around the clock care and many are on oxygen support and feeding tubes.

Principles of International Law: Some relevant selections

The following documents were produced as Resource Papers for the Halifax Political Forums held at Dalhousie University from January to May, 2003 on the theme “Peace & Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War”:

1. Some relevant selections of The Charter of The United Nations

2. Principles of the Nuremberg Tribunal, 1950 Protocol 1

3. Additional to the Geneva Conventions, 1977

Israel does not have the right to self-defence in international law against Occupied Palestinian Territory

November 11, 2006, the women of Beit Hanoun rally to defend resistance fighters from Israeli Occupation Forces, after an Israeli tank opened fire on a march.

While Israel commits war crimes against the Palestinian people with impunity, the Harper dictatorship tries to claim that Palestinians have no right to defend themselves. In view of pretensions that Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip are an exercise in legitimate self-defence, we are posting an analysis of this claim by Noura Erakat* initially published in 2012. 

Palestine: Hold occupying power to account

Palestinians living in Israel shout slogans at solidarity protest with administrative detainees and other Palestinian prisoners, Umm al-Faham, June 27, 2014. The action also denounced Israel’s military operation in the West Bank the week before. Police used harsh violence to suppress the demonstration, also preventing proper evacuation of injured protesters | Activestills

On June 21, amidst Israel’s “Operation Brother’s Keeper” allegedly searching for three missing Israeli settler youth, the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council published an open letter to the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Council called for action against Israel’s crime of collective punishment and other human rights violations, in particular pertaining to its position as the occupying power in Palestine. We are posting below excerpts from that letter.

Palestine, We Are With You!

Palestine, We Are With You!

Saturday, January 10, 2009 — 1 pm

Stand in solidarity with Palestine. Bring placards, banners and your voice.

Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Gaza

We are outraged at the horrific massacres occurring on a daily basis in the Gaza Strip. On 6 January over 40 Palestinian civilians were killed after Israel bombed the United Nations Al Fahoura school in Northern Gaza. Israel bombed this UN-operated school, located in the Jabaliya refugee camp, killing many civilians who had sought shelter from Israel’s bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip. The tactics of the Israeli Army, using heavy artillery, helicopter fire and massive bombs from fighter jets on the Gaza Strip has caused more than 640 deaths and 3,000 injuries, some people being maimed for life.