PALESTINE: International Appeal to Invoke the Genocide and Apartheid Conventions to Protect the Palestinian People

Enviado por tortilla el Vie, 24/11/2023 - 04:59

Alexandra Valiente, Internationalist 360º, November 23rd 2023
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2023/11/24/international-appeal-to-invoke-the-genocide-and-apartheid-conventions-to-protect-the-palestinian-people/

With each day that passes, more precious lives are lost. Not only are the genocidal actions of the Zionist occupation regime escalating, emerging reports reveal projects of both the United States and Israel that involve plans for the extermination of the Palestinian people and the expropriation of their remaining lands.

A genocide is happening in the midst of what appears to be a total collapse of International Law as initiatives within the United Nations, particularly the United Nations Security Council, are sabotaged by the ruthless abuse of veto by the United States and United Kingdom who have interests in the region and are aiding and abetting the genocide of the Palestinian population. The “State of Israel” has always been an advanced military and intelligence base of Anglo-American, European imperialism and this is no longer concealed.

Nations have also been slow to act independently to condemn, isolate and file legal complaints against the State of Israel for genocide and crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court has proven itself to be a sham, under the control of the United States and the United Kingdom. The only remaining course of action that holds promise because of its potential to shatter the impasse, is outlined in the appeal below.

The letter has been drafted as a text that readers can copy and send independently to the relevant government missions to the UN missions in the list of e-mail addresses at the end. I have chosen not to use a petition service to protect the privacy of those who may wish to use this form and to empower each individual with full control of the sending of the appeal and reception of receipts and responses. Translations of the letter of appeal are available in Spanish and French. I submitted the appeal this evening to confirm that all the email addresses are active and received a receipt from each one.

Alexandra Valiente

Fraternal Greetings

To those who continue working tirelessly towards finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Palestine;

To those who have recently severed diplomatic ties and filed complaints against Israel with the International Criminal Court;

To those who never acknowledged the legitimacy of the State of Israel.

Never before in history have the perpetrators of genocide spoken so openly of their crimes, completely confident in their impunity. Neither has there been such extensive documentation of their genocidal crimes by human rights organizations, diverse international bodies, aid agencies and the United Nations itself.

The urgency of the present situation compels me to write to you, inviting you to consider invoking the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as an urgent measure to stop the genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel’s government and armed forces. Using this vital instrument of international law may well avoid impediments to justice for Palestine’s people and open the way for the establishment of a lasting solution.

I therefore ask that you initiate legal proceedings under this Convention against Israel in the International Court of Justice, which I understand will provide an effective Order from the Court against Israel to cease and desist from committing all acts of genocide against the Palestinian people.

This order would be transmitted to the United Nations Security Council for enforcement. If obstructed in the UN Security Council, then the UN General Assembly Uniting for Peace Resolution of 1950 can be invoked, empowering the UN General Assembly to enforce the order. The 1950 Uniting for Peace Resolution would enable the United Nations General Assembly both to recommend enforcement measures to every state in the world and also to accept Palestine as a fully-fledged UN member state.

As an additional measure I invite you also to consider employing the 1976 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. Article IV of this convention urges its State parties to adopt any legislative or other measures necessary to suppress the crime of apartheid and similar segregationist policies or their manifestations and to punish persons responsible for that crime, whether or not such persons reside in the territory of the State in which the acts are committed, are nationals of that State or of some other State or are stateless persons. Article VIII of the Apartheid Convention explains that any State Party to it may call upon any competent organ of the United Nations to take such action under the UN Charter of the United Nations considered appropriate for the prevention and suppression of the crime of apartheid.

As I observe the ruthless determination of certain member states to obstruct efforts to bring about peace, as casualties of Palestinian civilians continue to rise with no end in sight and as this threatens a wider war that will engulf not only the region, but the entire world, I hold out hope that the implementation of these instruments of law will strengthen efforts to stop the genocide, end Israeli apartheid and ensure a future of peace, prosperity and self-determination for the Palestinian people.

Additionally, undertaking this action would contribute to ending the impunity of the “rules based order” state actors and the restoration of the “rule of law” under the United Nations Charter.

Respectfully,

Your Signature

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