Documents
1. “Conclusions and Recommendations,” Development
Assistance and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Second Report
of Session 2003-2004, Vol. 1, 15 January 2004, House of Commons
International Development Committee (excerpts).
47. We do not agree with the European Commission’s approach. We
believe in principle that where a sufficiently egregious case of
human rights abuse has been established as to warrant economic
sanctions, the EU should not be deterred from imposing them simply
because the trade balance with the country concerned is in its
favour. We urge the UK government to take up this point with the
European Commission and with its EU partners.
"The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 wishes to add his voice to those who have expressed their horror and concern about Israeli military action in Gaza and in particular in Rafah. Conservative estimates show that 2,200 persons have lost their homes following the demolition of 191 homes in Gaza since the beginning of May. Over 30 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured. The refugees of Rafah are, once more, having to seek refuge in temporary structures. These actions constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 (Fourth Geneva Convention). They also amount to collective punishment which violates both humanitarian law and international human rights law. It is impossible to accept the Israeli argument that these actions are justified by military necessity. On the contrary, in the language of Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, they are "carried out unlawfully and wantonly."
"In the first instance, the Special Rapporteur calls upon the Government of Israel to desist from such activity and to observe its international obligations. The Special Rapporteur also calls on the Security Council to take appropriate action to stop the violence, if necessary by the imposition of mandatory arms embargo on Israel of the kind that was imposed on South Africa in 1977. The Special Rapporteur reminds Members of the Security Council in general and the Permanent Members of the Security Council in particular of their obligations to take action to restore international peace and security in the region. The Special Rapporteur sees no reason why an arms embargo should not be an appropriate measure. The Special Rapporteur is aware of the tendency of some Member States to use the veto in all action affecting Israel. In this respect, they repeat the behaviour of Permanent Members in respect of South Africa before 1977. The Special Rapporteur urgently calls on all Member States of the Security Council to behave responsibly, in accordance with their international obligations, and not to allow domestic political considerations to undermine their international obligations."
3. Letter from John Ziegler, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food to Caterpillar Corporation, 28 May 2004 (excerpts).
The right to adequate food, contained in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights among other international human rights instruments, is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or in community with others, has physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement. The actions of the occupying forces to destroy houses, water and agricultural resources which would further limit the sustainable means for the Palestinian people to enjoy physical and economic access to food, would therefore constitute the violation of the right to food.
While only States are parties to the Covenant and are thus ultimately accountable for compliance with it, all members of society – individuals, families, local communities, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, as well as the private business sector – have responsibilities in the realization of the right to adequate food. In this context, there is also a concern that allowing the delivery of your D-9 and D-10 Caterpillar bulldozers to the Israeli army through the Government of the United States in the certain knowledge that they are being used for such actions, might involve complicity or acceptance on the part of your company to actual and potential violations of human rights, including the right to food.