DICHIARAZIONE SULL'OMICIDIO DI RACHEL CORRIE

[Carlo Gubitosa <c.gubitosa@peacelink.it>]

Fonte: http://www.palsolidarity.org/

From: "Huwaida Arraf" <huwaidaa@yahoo.com>
To: <palsolidarity@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [palsolidarity] STATEMENT ON THE MURDER OF RACHEL CORRIE
Date: יום שני 17 מרץ 2003 06:17


INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org
Contact:
In Palestine: Michael - +972-2-277-4602
In US: Huwaida 202-494-0471 or 202-986-6160

March 16, 2003

STATEMENT ON THE MURDER OF RACHEL CORRIE

In Rafah, Gaza Strip today Rachel Corrie, a 23-year old American woman from 
Olympia, Washington, who was a volunteer with the International Solidarity 
Movement, was killed by the Israeli Army. Rachel was standing in the path 
of the bulldozer as it advanced towards her. When the bulldozer refused to 
stop or turn aside she climbed up onto the mound of dirt and rubble being 
gathered in front of it wearing a fluorescent jacket to look directly at 
the driver who kept on advancing. The bulldozer continued to advance so 
that she was pulled under the pile of dirt and rubble. After she had 
disappeared from view the driver kept advancing until the bulldozer was 
completely on top of her. The driver did not lift the bulldozer blade and 
so she was crushed beneath it. Then the driver backed up - effectively 
running over her again. The seven other ISM activists taking part in the 
action rushed to dig out her body. An ambulance rushed her to Al-Najar 
Hospital where she died.

The Israeli Army consistently bulldozes Palestinian homes, particularly in 
Rafah, where over 100 homes have been demolished in the last two years. The 
International Solidarity Movement - both Palestinian and international 
citizens - calls upon the international community to break the silence 
around Israel's grotesque human rights abuses. International civilians are 
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories attempting to protect Palestinian 
human rights and lives precisely because formal international bodies have 
refused to take action to do so. Dozens of Palestinian civilians are being 
systematically murdered weekly, and today, a beautiful, conscientious 
American defender of human rights was killed trying to protect the home of 
a Palestinian family.

This murder, along with Israel's continued destruction of Palestinian homes 
must be strongly condemned by the United States and the United Nations and 
they must insist that Israel abide by international law and UN Resolutions. 
The International Solidarity Movement also calls upon the United States 
government to conduct its own independent investigation into this incident 
and to take responsibility for the manner in which the Israeli government 
is using the $2.2 billion in military aid that we grant to Israel per year. 
This money and US-made weaponry is daily being used by the Israeli military 
to harm innocent civilians. The bulldozer that killed Rachel Corrie was an 
American-made Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer.

The murder of Rachel Corrie was clearly NOT an accident. Eyewitnesses 
report that the bulldozer driver was able to see Rachel, and that they were 
shouting to the driver to stop. The Israeli government and army continue to 
blame the victims of violence carried out by the Israeli Army for their own 
suffering. Israel must be accountable for this criminal act and all 
criminal acts it is carrying out on a daily basis in the Occupied 
Palestinian Territories.

The International Solidarity Movement greatly mourns the loss of Rachel 
Corrie and extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. We 
pledge to continue actively working for the ideals of freedom and justice 
that Rachel died for.

For photos of the incident, please visit www.palsolidarity.org.


END







Huwaida Arraf
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
www.palsolidarity.org

"If the people lead, the leaders will follow"