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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	928
Proposal	Endorse GPAX letter to International Criminal Court to investigate Israeli war in Palestine
Presenter	Green Party Peace Action Committee GPAX and International Committee iC
Floor Manager	Margaret Flowers
Phase	Closed - Adopted
Discussion	08-06-2018 - 09-02-2018
Voting	09-03-2018 - 09-09-2018
Presens Quorum	Two Thirds of Active Accredited States/Caucuses
Consens Quorum	A Majority of Yes and No Votes

Background

The GPUS platform: D Foreign Policy, h. Palestinian-Israeli Conflict states “We recognize that despite decades of continuous diplomatic attempts by the international community, it has failed to bring about Israel's compliance with international law or respect for basic Palestinian human rights; and that, despite abundant condemnation of Israel's policies by the UN, International Court of Justice, and all relevant international conventions, the international community of nations has failed to stop Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights in Israel and the OPT, while Israeli crimes continue with impunity.”

The purpose of our letter is to help bring Israel into compliance with international law and promote awareness among Greens everywhere of the awesome potential of International Green parties and the International Criminal Court working in unison to bring all war criminals to justice; thereby paving the path to lasting peace on earth starting with Palestine and Israel. Connecting with Greens around the Globe and joining with peace and justice organizations, we show our strength in numbers and diversity. At the same time we communicate to the ICC that they have widespread support in their vital yet very precarious and monumental work of bringing the International Military Industrial Complex, which instigates and then feeds off all wars, to its knees - one by one.

Proposal

In an open letter (see References below), to be circulated for signatures to Green Parties around the Globe, Peace and Justice organizations and notable individuals, GPAX and GPUS request the ICC (International Criminal Court) open a full investigation into the Israeli war crimes since June 2014 when the ICC was given jurisdiction over crimes committed in the recognized State of Palestine.

Resources

IMPLEMENTATION: GPAX will circulate the letter to Green Parties around the Globe, peace and justice organizations and individuals for their signatures. Working with the media committee, GPAX will draft two email blasts to send to the GPUS list requesting endorsements and sharing of the letter with local contacts. We will also draft text for promoting the letter on the GPUS Facebook and Twitter. When we have completed signature gathering, GPAX will draft a press release and provide contacts for the media committee to post and send to its press list. GPAX will work to identify a spokesperson who is willing to deliver the letter to the ICC in The Netherlands. If found, GPAX will raise funds for the trip and work with the Green Party in the Netherlands to organize a press event.

CONTACT: Marie Spike - MarieLMHC@gmail.com, 561-414-1317; Rich Whitney, RichWhitney@frontier.com

References

Open Letter

Date to be inserted when approved & published

The Right Honorable Ms. Fatou Bensouda
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
Post Office Box 19519
2500 CM, The Hague
The Netherlands

Re: Israeli War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity

Dear Madame Prosecutor:

We, the undersigned, are crying out in unison with all people of conscience and compassion for the ICC to use its momentous authority to establish and preserve peace and justice throughout the world, most urgently for the oppressed and besieged people of Palestine. We, therefore, implore you to institute a full investigation in relation to the preliminary inquiry opened in 2015.1

We agree with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki who told reporters at the ICC in The Hague on May 22, 2018 that the evidence against the Israelis was “insurmountable.” Maliki said his request to move beyond a preliminary inquiry would give prosecutors the authority to investigate alleged crimes starting in 2014 and beyond, including the recent deaths during the protests in Gaza.2 When Palestine was recognized as a State in 2012 by the UN General Assembly, the ICC was given jurisdiction over crimes committed in their homeland, however, not before June, 2014. 3

Although the Court cannot investigate crimes committed before 2014, historical events set the stage for the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The arbitrary UN Partition Resolution of 1947 arrogated 56% of Palestinian land to the Zionists for the creation of a Jewish State. The Palestinians naturally rejected the resolution because it did not include any provisions for their civil or human rights. The newly anointed Israelis knew they would have to take the appropriated land by force, so they prepared well for the initial onslaught. Palestinians call that first invasion the ‘Nakba’ or Catastrophe, which resulted in ethnic cleansing.4 Zionist militias brutally raped and molested women and girls; slaughtered men, women and children; sacked 500 villages; and drove out 750,000 Arab and Muslim human beings from their homes, property and livelihoods.5

The quality of life for Palestinians has been poor, with little peace or stability since 1947. The wealthy, U.S.- backed, and nuclear-armed Israelis have fought war after war for supremacy and the acquisition of more and more land, while the Palestinians have defended themselves mostly with rocks, burning kites, balloons and tires, homemade rockets and starkly tragic human suicide bombers. For 70 years they have: suffered the most appalling living conditions imposed upon them by the military occupation and apartheid rule; peacefully resisted the unabated illegal settlements upon their land (at least 80% has been seized since the Nakba); withstood the blockade of Gaza and survived genocidal assaults.6 Since 1947 the Palestinians have steadfastly and peacefully fought for their safety, dignity, freedoms and Right of Return proclaimed by the UN General Assembly Resolution 194 passed in 1948. The Right of Return, to include damages and compensation, was deemed their inalienable right in Resolution 3236 passed in 1974.7

Nevertheless, we understand that only alleged crimes that have been reported since June of 2014 may be investigated by the ICC starting with Operation Protective Edge launched on July 8, 2014 against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. By August 25th the IDF had killed 2,076 Palestinians including 525 children.8 In all 10,224 were injured and Gaza was left in ruins .One teen, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, was abducted and burned alive. 9

Since March 30, 2018, at the heavily blockaded Gaza border, IDF snipers have used live fire and tear gas, a chemical weapon banned in warfare, on Palestinians peacefully protesting on a weekly basis for their Right of Return. As of August 17, 2018 records indicate that more than 18,000 have been seriously injured and at least 166 killed.10 On June 13, 2018 the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution condemning the use of excessive force by Israeli troops on the Palestinian civilians during the protests.11

Lastly, we request the Court investigate the reports of 150 illegal settlements on private Palestinian property in the occupied territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank housing 750,000 Israelis. It is our understanding that these settlements are in violation of the UN Security Resolution 242. 12

Thank you for your consideration of our most sincere and urgent request.

Peace and best wishes,

The Green Party of the United States

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