Let me quote from Laurie King-Irani’s article in The Electronic Intifada, Mar 19, 2003 ¹, regarding the death of a 23-year-old American activist named Rachel Corrie. She was run over by a bulldozer as she stood barring its way, like the lone man standing in front of a tank on Tiananmen Square on that famous picture ².
In the absence of US backing for, and Israeli acceptance of, Robinson’s proposals, it has fallen on the frail shoulders of young women like Rachel Corrie to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the Israeli-Occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank. Without the backing, support, and affiliation of the High Contracting Parties to that Convention, Rachel and other ISM observers lack the necessary powers and protection accorded foreign ministers, UN peace-keepers, and diplomatic representatives to undertake this urgent task. Yet it is brave people like Rachel who keep alive the spirit of International Humanitarian Law, guarding its wavering flame during dark times such as ours.
Rachel Corrie died for the sins of all High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions who have neglected to discharge their legally binding obligations to protect human rights and prevent impunity for confirmed rights violators. It should not fall on the shoulders of college seniors from Olympia, Washington to rectify the disasters and tragedies that nation states helped to create and are obligated to prevent.
#Israel