Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 22:12:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: nowardc@yahoo.com ("International A.N.S.W.E.R.")
Subject: [anti_war_protests_in_arizona] COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON U.S.-BACKED ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN PALESTINE
To: dc@internationalanswer.org
Reply-To: anti_war_protests_in_arizona@yahoogroups.com
The Other Apartheid:
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE U.S.-BACKED
ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN PALESTINE
*WHY A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY?
Day after day, as Israeli Defense Forces continue to
kill, attack and humiliate the Palestinian people in a
brutal occupation, the U.S. Government lays the blame
for the conflict and responsibility for peace on the
Palestinians. It arrogantly insists on "reform" of all
Palestinian institutions, the overturn of the
Palestinian leadership and an end to all Palestinian
resistance to occupation. The powerful combination of
U.S. policys vast diplomatic support, arming and
funding of Israel and the corporate medias wildly
distorted portrayal of the occupation creats mass
confusion about the situation for people in the U.S.
The Commission of Inquiry is being titled The Other
Apartheid as a comparison to the apartheid policies
faced by Palestinian people in the Occupied
Territories and within the 1948 border of Israel, and
to those faced in South Africa. This is clearly a
policy that comes from the top levels of the Israeli
governemnt with the full support of the United States,
just as the U.S. and Israel supported the
now-overthrown apartheid regime in South Africa.
Few people in the U.S. realize that the U.S.-backed
Israeli occupation breaks dozens of international laws
and human rights conventions. Even fewer know of the
dispossession of the Palestinian people to make way
for the state of Israel, or of the long history of
Palestinian resistance.
*WHAT IS THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY?
The Commission of Inquiry to investigate U.S.-Backed
Israeli War Crimes in Palestine will hold an opening
hearing in New York City on Saturday, October 5.
Major hearings will follow on the West Coast in San
Francisco and Los Angeles, and then in cities around
the country and the world.
At these hearings, we will present an indictment
charging the state of Israel and the United States
with conspiring and acting in a common course of
conduct to commit the most serious crimes of apartheid
and crimes of occupation, war crimes and crimes
against humanity in violation of all international
norms and standards, and of U.S. law. They will stand
charged before the jury of the world--including
experts, communities and the people of all countries.
After hearing and seeing evidence first hand of
Isrraeli war crimes, crimes against humanity and
crimes against peace--and, very importantly, U.S.
collusion in those crimes--a judgment will be issued
in the name of the people.
This summer, activists from across the U.S. and
internationally are initiating a grassroots research
and information gathering effort to collect
information and evidence of U.S.-backed Israeli war
crimes against the Palestinian people.
We are gathering a vast body of evidence that will
include witnesses from Palestine with first hand
accounts of atrocities; information collected by the
A.N.S.W.E.R. fact-finding delegation that visited the
West Bank, Gaza Strip and inside 1948 Israeli; new
video images from besieged lands, including Ramallah,
Jenin, occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza; and
assessments from experts in legal, medical and other
fields.
Presentation of testimony will include video footage,
expert witnesses, photo displays, written reports, and
in some cities live video and audio feed bringing
testimony from people in the Occupied Territories.
Research will be gathered in many areas to support the
charges of the Commission of Inquirys indictment,
including inhumane treatment of civilians and
prisoners, deliberate destruction of the Palestinian
economy, denying medical aid, the racist character of
the Israeli state, and more. Additional information
will be sent out via email. A detailed listing of
research categories is availabe at
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/COI/index.html
Our intention, in addition to documenting the
countless violations of humanitarian and other laws,
is to assemble an accurate narrative that depicts the
historical and contemporary oppression imposed upon
the Palestinian people that will be a lasting tool
that can be used for education and outreach in
building solidarity for the Palestinian struggle for
freedom.
The presentation of evidence at mass public hearings
in major cities across the U.S. and internationally
will present an opportunity for many people to learn
the true story of the Palestinian people, and for
significant displays of opposition to the
U.S.-supported Israeli occupation.
*HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMISSION OF
INQUIRY?
1) BECOME A VOLUNTEER WITH THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY:
Regardless of where you live, you can volunteer to
help gather information to support the Commission of
Inqiury to Investigate U.S.-backed Israeli War Crimes
in Palestine. Go to
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/COI/index.html
for a detailed listing of research categories or email
commission@nypublish.com for more information
2) MARK YOUR CALENDAR & ATTEND THE MASS PUBLIC
HEARINGS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY:
The opening hearings will be held on Saturday, October
5 in New York City, with subsequent hearings in San
Francisco and Los Angeles, and then in cities around
the U.S. and internatinoally. For more information,
call 212-633-6646, 415-821-6545 or 213-487-2368 or
email dc@internationalanswer.org
3) ORGANIZE A HEARING IN YOUR CITY OR COMMUNITY:
If youre interested in organzing a hearing of the
Commission of Inqiry in your city next Fall or Winter,
email dc@internationalanswer.org
4) MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT:
Make an invaluable contribution to the struggle for
truth and justice for the Palestinian people.
Tax-deductible contributions can be made online at
http://www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION
dc@internationalanswer.org
New York: 212-633-6646
Washington DC: 202-332-5757
Chicago: 773-381-5839
Los Angeles: 213-487-2368
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
International A.N.S.W.E.R.
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
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