Violations of International Law and the Impact
of These Violations on Palestinian Lives
A continuation of Session 6
Scripture:
Blessed are they who maintain justice; upright men will see his face. Psalms 106:3
{5 minutes} Have participants explain what this verse from Psalms means to them and how these words of God might be relevant to our study of international laws and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
PART C. Other situations and applicable international laws
The following are a series of situations/ violations of international law
- Forced removal from property
“Living in fear of eviction” Video
“Surge in East Jerusalem Palestinians losing residency” Reading
Click above to read.
[Note: Article 17 UDHR; 4th Geneva Convention: Article 49, 147] - Impact on children and families
“Gaza children struggle for education” Video
“Growing up in conflict” Audio
[Note: 4th Geneva Convention: Articles 27, 31, 33, 47, 50, 147; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Articles 6, 13] - Destruction of property (House demolition)
[Note: Articles 27, 53 – 4th Geneva Convention; Article 17, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)] - Restriction of movement
Testimony: Soldiers prevent pregnant, bleeding woman from crossing checkpoint and she gives birth to a stillborn baby, September 2008 Reading
Ribhiyah Abu Rideh, 56
[Note: Article 13 – UDHR] - Family separation
Testimony: Daniella Shumar, a resident of Far’on, has not seen her parents abroad for nine years
Ayman Shumar, father of three Reading
[Note: Article 27, 4th Geneva Convention] - Other violations
Testimony: Settlers assault Thawabteh family out picking olives on their land by the Elon Moreh settlement, October 2008
Mustafa Thawabteh, farmer Reading
[Note: Articles 27 & 51, 4th Geneva Convention] - Separation Barrier and work
Testimony: Family becomes unemployed after the army denies them permits to cross the separation barrier to work their land, November 2005 Reading
Itaf Khaled, 57
[Note: Article 17, UDHR; Article 12, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 1, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights] - Punishment and Abuse
Testimony: 12-year-old beaten and imprisoned with adults, Sept. ’08
Muhammad Khawajah, 12 Reading
[Note: Articles 71, 147, 4th Geneva Convention] - Restriction of movement; Separation Barrier
Testimony: Restrictions on residents of a-Dab’a due to the Separation Barrier, Qalqiliya District, July 2005
‘Abd a-Latif ‘Odeh, farmer Reading[Note: UDHR Article 13; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 12; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Articles 1,6,12,13 - United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict
Head of the UN Fact Finding Mission Justice Richard Goldstone presented the report of the Mission to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 29 September 2009, urging the Council and the international community as a whole to put an end to impunity for violations of international law in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In closing, engage participants in this discussion:
How does understanding international laws and their relationship to the reality of life for Palestinians under occupation improve your perceptions of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
In the future, pay attention to news stories that highlight aspects of the conflict. Critique these stories using what you have learned thus far about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Final Scripture for discussion:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58: 6 -7
Our final session, Session 8, will ask you to discuss what we as United Methodists and you individually can do to bring justice and peace to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Return to the Kairos Document, especially Parts 5 through 10, and attempt to discern what our fellow Palestinian Christians are saying to us about our responsibilities as Christians.