Rachel Corrie’s Parents Take Israel to Court
March 11th, 2010 § 3 Comments
Rachel Corrie, an ISM peace activist, was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while nonviolently protesting against the demolition of a Palestinian home.
According to Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman:
The civil trial, Craig Corrie says, is not about the monetary damages, but to discover information, and “like [South African Archbishop] Desmond Tutu talks about, of mending the tear in society.” The Corries never speak solely about their daughter, but about the plight of the Palestinians and the Israeli siege of Gaza. According to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions‘ latest figures, 24,145 houses have been demolished in the occupied territories since 1967, including the United Nations estimate of 4,247 houses demolished during “Operation Cast Lead,” the name Israel gave for its military assault on Gaza last year.
Of course, more than houses were destroyed there. More than 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. The Corries also express concern about the psychological toll exacted on Israeli soldiers. Craig Corrie said, “We lost Rachel, and that hurts every day, but that bulldozer driver lost a lot of his humanity when he crushed Rachel.”
The trial begins during the same week that Joe Biden makes his first trip to Israel as vice president. As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden sought answers on the death of Rachel Corrie during the confirmation of U.S. Ambassador to Israel James Cunningham. Biden knows the pain of losing a daughter. His daughter was killed with his first wife in a car accident in 1972.
The Corries are calling on people around the world to stand with them on March 16, the anniversary of Rachel’s death, for truth, accountability and justice, “to raise and highlight many of the critical issues to which Rachel’s case is linked.”
For Goodman’s interview with Cindy, Craig and Sarah Corrie Simpson (Rachel Corrie’s parents and sister) on Democracy Now!, click here.
To get trial updates and to learn more about Corrie and the work that Cindy and Craig have been carrying out in honor of their daughter’s memory, be sure to visit the Rachel Corrie Foundation’s official website.
The following is a clip from Al Jazeera which also features a brief interview with the Corries led by Sherine Tadros.
Rachel Corrie and IDF Codes of Conduct against militants and Palestinian civilians
1. Military action can be taken only against military targets.
2. The use of force must be proportional.
3. Soldiers may only use weaponry they were issued by the IDF.
4. Anyone who surrenders cannot be attacked.
5. Only those who are properly trained can interrogate prisoners.
6. Soldiers must accord dignity and respect to the Palestinian population and those arrested.
7. Soldiers must give appropriate medical care, when conditions allow, to themselves and to enemies.
8. Pillaging is absolutely and totally illegal.
9. Soldiers must show proper respect for religious and cultural sites and artifacts.
10. Soldiers must protect international aid workers, including their property and vehicles.
11. Soldiers must report all violations of this code.
All 11 Codes of Military Conduct (with the exception only of No.8) were apparently deliberately violated by the Israeli forces in December 2008 and January 2009 in their attack against the civilian population of Gaza.
Yet no action is known to have been taken against the men and commanders responsible for the reported violations that resulted in the alleged killings of 320 children and 112 women that were committed over the six week attack.
If the Israeli government and its military commanders cannot control the actions of their forces, then not only are the Palestinians (and the Lebanese) at further risk of death and destruction but also all of Israel’s neighbours and the wider world.
I stand with you and wish you the best.
Godd luck trying to get them to admit to any wrong doing. Remember, they are “chosen”, which means they are above the law. Just ask them! No clarification needed. I think everyone knows who I am refering to.