Israeli writers and academics warn ICC not to trust Israel to investigate its war crimes
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda on 20 October 2020 [EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP/Getty Images] May 7, 2021 at 3:15 pm
A group of more than 180 Israeli intellectuals, writers and academics have called on the International Criminal Court s chief prosecutor not to accept Israel s own findings into alleged war crimes. In a letter addressed to Fatou Bensouda, the signatories warned that the regime does not intend to carry out a serious investigation into the allegations.
Instead they suggested that the Hague-based ICC should instead seek the assistance of Israeli human rights organisations to gather evidence of war crimes said to have been committed by the Israel Defence Forces.
Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S.) Photo: Theodorah Ndovlu, 2019
The 2021 Turner Prize shortlist, announced today, consists of five grassroots artist collectives which “work closely and continuously with communities across the breadth of the UK to inspire social change through art”, says a Tate statement. It is the first time that the Turner Prize shortlist has been made up entirely of artist collectives.
These include the London-based Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S.), a collective formed in 2018 whose aim is to “bring together a community of queer, trans and non-binary people of colour involved in art, sound and radical activism”. The jury highlighted B.O.S.S.’s live performances and their “commitment to community”, including an online 24-hour fundraising rave co-organised by collective members.
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May. 6, 2021 3:19 PM
More than 180 Israeli scientists and intellectuals have called on chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague not to accept Israel s conclusions arising from its investigation into alleged war crimes.
Instead, the group of Israelis suggested in a letter addressed to Chief ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda that the court obtain the assistance of Israeli human rights organizations to gather evidence of alleged war crimes committed by Israelis.
The letter was signed by 185 Israelis, including 10 Israel Prize recipients and 35 professors, in addition to senior reserve army officers, authors, intellectuals, left-wing activists and researchers. The letter noted the ICC’s practice of approaching countries potentially subject to an investigation to determine whether they plan to launch their own war crimes investigation of their nationals’ conduct.
Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal
More than 180 Israelis, including 10 Israel Prize laureates, 35 professors, senior reserve officers, writers, intellectuals, left-wing activists, and researchers, on Thursday sent a letter to Fatou Bensouda, the Gambian Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal (until June 15), warning her not to believe the Israeli authorities regarding the investigation of war crimes.
“We wish to express at this early stage our deepest suspicion, based on past experience, that the State of Israel, including its investigative and legal institutions, do not intend to seriously investigate complaints about war crimes,” the letter says (the text here is a translation from the Hebrew version). “Our suspicion is supported by a very large number of documented cases which allegedly relate to war crimes committed by Israel in the Occupied Territories in complete violation of international law. Most of these cases were not investigated at all, and a
Biden must pressure Israel to end its apartheid
Fawaz A. Gerges
May 05, 2021 22:47
Backdropped by the Jewish settlement of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, a Palestinian flag flutters in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Jun. 2, 2008. (AFP)
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In a well-documented report published last month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserts that the Israeli government is enforcing a systemic policy to maintain the “domination by Jewish Israelis over Palestinians.” The nearly 7 million Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and within Israel itself face collective persecution under an apartheid system.
Pointing to Israeli laws that enshrine extra-political rights for Jews over Arabs living in the same areas, HRW concludes that the Israeli government is “privileging Jewish Israelis while repressing Palestinians, most severely in the occupied territory.” While several hundred thousand Israeli settlers live in the Occupied Territories as full Israeli citizens, t