- by Peter Farmer
- The Guardian
- Issue #2120
Palestine Solidarity Protest in San Francisco. Photo: Hossam el-Hamalawy – flickr.com (CC BY 2.0)
“The world stands upon the edge of a knife: Either we travel collectively towards a future of just peace and lawfulness – or hurtle towards anarchy and dystopia, and a world where might makes right.”
So ends a statement from Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, and Working Groups of the Special Procedures of the UN’s Human Rights Council. They’ve listed 14 steps UN states need to take in order to comply with the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.
How does Australia measure up? Let’s have a look.
States should:
“Immediately review all diplomatic, political, and economic interactions with Israel to ensure they do not support or provide aid or assistance to its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
That’s a fail, although Labor seems to feel they’ve been very brave by referring to the occupied Palestinian territory as “occupied.”
“Take all measures to ensure that the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory can fully exercise and realise their right to self-determination including by recognition of the State of Palestine.”
(Another fail; despite being ALP policy, apart from Senator Fatima Payman who was punished by the Labor Party for voting with the Greens in favour of Labor policy)
“Impose a full arms embargo on Israel, halting all arms agreements, imports, exports and transfers, including of dual-use items that could be used against the Palestinian population under occupation.”
(Parts for the F-35 jets which have been bombing Israel are made in Australia. There’s also the $970 million contract with Israeli arms company Elbit Systems.)
“Ban goods and services emerging from both the colonisation of occupied Palestinian territory and other unlawful activities that may be detrimental to Palestinians’ rights, from entering their territory and markets, and take measures to label and permit goods and services emerging from Palestinian individuals and entities in occupied territory.”
(This has not been done.)
“Cancel or suspend economic relationships, trade agreements and academic relations with Israel that may contribute to its unlawful presence and apartheid regime in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
(This has not been done.)
“Impose sanctions, … on Israeli individuals, entities including businesses, corporations and financial institutions, involved in the unlawful occupation and apartheid regime as well as on any foreign or domestic entities and individuals subject to their jurisdiction that supply goods and services that may aid, assist or enable occupation and apartheid.”
(this has not been done)
“Prevent all of their citizens who hold dual citizenship with Israel from serving in the Israeli military or other services that contribute to the occupation and apartheid regime or from buying or renting property anywhere in occupied Palestinian territory.”
(It has been estimated that around 1000 Australians are fighting for the IDF.)
“Investigate and prosecute those subjects to their jurisdiction, who are involved in crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory, including dual citizens serving in Israel’s military, including mercenaries or those involved in settler violence.”
(Not happening)
“Disseminate the Court’s findings widely, ensuring that the occupied status of the West Bank including east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and the illegality of Israel’s presence are reflected in public documents and education systems.”
(Labor’s attitude is more an ‘ignore it and it’ll go away’ approach)
“Make submissions to the ICC so that it investigates international crimes included in the ICJ opinion.
(Albanese is certainly not doing this)
“Convene General Assemblies of States parties under the Rome Statute or the Fourth Geneva Convention, to ensure full compliance by all parties in Palestine and Israel with international humanitarian law and international criminal law.”
(Not being done)
“Ensure full protection of Palestinians, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons by establishing a protective presence and ensuring safe and full access for independent experts and mechanisms charged with monitoring and investigating human rights violations and international crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
(Australia is not doing this)
“Acknowledging the “irresponsible inaction” of most states on the issue, the statement calls on civil society organisations and National Human Rights Institutions to mobilise and call on their states to comply with the ICJ’s landmark Advisory Opinion.”
As they say, the world stands upon the edge of a knife. Call on your representatives to comply with the Advisory Opinion, and get out there and protest to motivate them and support Palestine and Lebanon!
