Washington, DC | www.adc.org | October 20, 2015 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) strongly condemns the ongoing state-sponsored Israeli violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Jerusalem. ADC demands that President Obama and the international community take immediate steps to bring about an end to Israeli aggression, continued occupation, and Israel’s policy of “shoot first and ask questions later.”
In the time period following the 2014 bombardment of Gaza, Israel has continued to use lethal force against Palestinians. Less than a month ago, Israel relaxed restrictions regulating the use of live ammunition by police in Occupied Jerusalem. The change in regulation has led to the extrajudicial killing of over 50 Palestinians by Israeli Occupying Forces.
Furthermore, Israel has taken draconian measures against Palestinians which include the extrajudicial killing of Palestinians, sending Israeli Occupying Forces (in addition to the police, thugs, and border patrols) into East Jerusalem, creating roadblocks around villages and main intersections, revoking Jerusalem residency rights for Palestinians and demolishing their homes. So far, 45 Palestinians have been killed in the violence this month, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed this year to 96. Moreover, more than 2,000 Palestinians have been injured since the beginning of October and 650 Palestinians have been detained. The majority of these prisoners are under the age of 20. In comparison, 9 Israelis have been killed and 83 have been injured this month.
Samer Khalaf, ADC’s National President, stated that, “Israel cannot be treated as a country above international law with extrajudicial rights of killing Palestinians on the spot with little or no suspicion that they might pose a threat, many of whom are children.” ADC urges Americans who believe in justice and freedom to act by calling upon their elected representatives to demand that Israel stop violating Palestinians’ basic human rights.
ADC demands that the Obama Administration take immediate measures to ensure that Israel adheres to international law and ceases its carnage against the Palestinians in Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It is time that the Obama Administration held Israel responsible for human rights abuses and illegal settlements in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention and multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The renewed violence, as well as the continued occupation of Palestine must end immediately. Israel must comply with the relevant UN resolutions, and withdraws its forces from the Palestinian Occupied Territories, including Occupied Jerusalem, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.