Amsnesty Internationals Report on Israel - Americas Friend

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

AI Index: MDE 15/095/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 247
5 October 2004

Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force
Amnesty International is concerned about the deterioration of the
human rights and humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli
army incursion in the Jabaliya refugee camp and surrounding areas in
the northern Gaza Strip (including sectors in the nearby towns of Beit
Hanoun and Beit Lahiya).

In the past week (since the evening of Tuesday 28 September) more than
70 Palestinians have been killed, more than a third of whom were
unarmed and including some 20 children. Hundreds of others have been
injured.

The Israeli army has repeatedly used excessive force, including heavy
shelling from tanks and helicopter gunships. Experience has shown that
the use of such weapons and the manner in which they have been
deployed by the army in densely populated residential areas (the
Jabaliya refugee camp is one of the most densely populated places in
the world, with more than 100,000 Palestinians living in less than two
square kilometres), invariably results in a high rate of death and
injury of bystanders and people who are not involved in armed
confrontation. These tactics betray a lack of respect for fundamental
human rights principles, including the right to life.

In certain areas the Israeli army has also unlawfully destroyed or
damaged homes, schools, water and electricity networks, roads, and
other crucial infrastructure. Israeli forces have hindered access to
medical services -- not only for those injured in the military
operation but also those who need medical care for other reasons,
including women who need to give birth. When able to reach those in
need (they often cannot reach those in need of medical treatment)
ambulances have on several occasions come under Israeli army fire.

Strict closures have also been imposed throughout the Gaza Strip in
the past week, cutting the Gaza Strip into four isolated sections,
paralysing all aspects of life, with people unable to reach their
workplace and students unable to reach the universities. In addition
schools in the area besieged by the Israeli army in the northern Gaza
Strip are closed. Thousands of people living in the besieged areas are
also experiencing shortages of food and other essential goods.

Amnesty International is calling on the Israeli authority to:
· put an immediate end to the use of excessive lethal force
· put an immediate end to unlawful destruction and damage of
Palestinian homes and properties, roads and other infrastructure
· allow immediate access to medical care and other essential
services
for the Palestinian population in the affected areas
· respect the right to freedom of movement for the Palestinian
population elsewhere in the Gaza Strip

Amnesty International also calls on Palestinian armed groups not to
initiate attacks and armed confrontation with Israeli troops from
amongst residential areas, as this puts the local residents at risk of
return fire and retaliation from the Israeli army, and reiterates its
call on Palestinian armed groups to put an end to attacks directed
against Israeli civilians in Israel or in the Occupied Territories.

(Notice how Amnesty International deliberately refuses to condemn
Palestinians from attacking Israeli military or government targets
because they are fully aware of the true situation the Palestinians
are in).

That's it Mr Bush...Turn your blind eye again (50 years in a row
now)...tell the Israeli's they are being a bit too naughty and pay the
Palestinian state idea a bit of lip service and sit on the fence...and
people wont notice you are actually supporting a real terrorist state.

Is it any wonder why America is being targeted by terrorists when
America gives around 50% $Billions of its annual foreign aid to this
country that has one of the worst human rights records on the planet.

Alpha wrote:

Is it any wonder why America is being targeted by terrorists when
America gives around 50% $Billions of its annual foreign aid to this
country that has one of the worst human rights records on the planet.

The only wonder is WTF is this doing in this news group. Try alt.
amnestyinternational or alt. palestine.whogivesadamn.

The date of the press release is October 5, 2004, more than 18 months ago.
You are aware, are you not, that Israel has since withdrawn completely from
the Gaza Strip?

"Alpha" wrote in message
oups.com...
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

AI Index: MDE 15/095/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 247
5 October 2004

Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force
Amnesty International is concerned about the deterioration of the
human rights and humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli
army incursion in the Jabaliya refugee camp and surrounding areas in
the northern Gaza Strip (including sectors in the nearby towns of Beit
Hanoun and Beit Lahiya).

This has duly reported as spam. It has nothing to with travelling in
the USA or Canada and everything to do with the widespread double
standard of organizations like Amnesty which, by the way, would have no
business by its own "high standards", foregoing condemnation becuase of
its assessment of "true situations". Amnesty, in theory at least, does
not excuse barbarity in teh service of ostensibly just causes.