The Occupation Causes Terrorism.....

"UN report: Israel practices apartheid, colonialism, occupation and is to blame for Palestinian terrorist acts."

"A report commissioned by the United Nations suggests that Palestinian terrorism is the inevitable consequence of Israeli occupation. It also concludes that Israeli laws resemble South African apartheid."

The occupation causes terrorism

A report commissioned by the United Nations suggests that Palestinian terrorism is the inevitable consequence of Israeli occupation. It also concludes that Israeli laws resemble South African apartheid. The report by John Dugard, independent investigator on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the UN Human Rights Council, will be presented next month, but it has been posted on the body’s Web site.

Dugard is a South African lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in the 1980s. In his report he says "common sense … dictates that a distinction must be drawn between acts of mindless terror, such as acts committed by Al-Qaida, and acts committed in the course of a war of national liberation against colonialism, apartheid or military occupation."

"While Palestinian terrorist acts are to be deplored, they must be understood as being a painful but inevitable consequence of occupation," writes Dugard, whose 25-page report accuses the Israel of acts and policies consistent with all three.

He cited house demolitions, checkpoints and roadblocks restricting Palestinian movement and what he terms the Judaization of Jerusalem. "As long as there is occupation, there will be terrorism," he argues. "Acts of terror against military occupation must be seen in historical context," Dugard says. "This is why every effort should be made to bring the occupation to a speedy end. Until this is done, peace cannot be expected, and violence will continue."

Dugard was appointed in 2001 as an unpaid expert by the now-defunct UN Human Rights Commission. His relations with Israel have long been difficult. Israel refused to allow him to conduct a UN-mandated fact-finding mission on its Gaza offensive in 2006. The report will be presented next month at the 47-nation rights council’s first regular session of the year.

Adapted from "UN expert: Palestinian terror ‘inevitable’ result of occupation" by the Associated Press and printed in Israel’s leading newspaper, Ha’aretz, on Feb 26, 2008. For full text, see: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/958358.html

Distributed by PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity).

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