CITIZENS International urges the Malaysian government to set up a committee, including representatives of civil society, to assess how to implement the recommendations of the report "Israeli Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid".
(See the commentary "Overwhelming evidence that Israel is guilty of apartheid" published on March 22).
The report by Prof Richard Falk and Prof Virginia Tilley was commissioned by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
Both the authors are highly distinguished in the field of human rights and international relations and their competence and integrity, are unimpeachable.
After a rigorous and thorough review of Israel's laws and practices concerning the Palestinians, the authors have come to the conclusion that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid. Apartheid ranks second, after genocide, in the hierarchy of criminality.
The prohibition of apartheid is considered jus cogens in international customary law. States have a separate and collective duty (a) not to recognise an apartheid regime as lawful; (b) not to aid or assist a state in maintaining an apartheid regime; and (c) to cooperate with the UN and other states in bringing apartheid regimes to an end.
A state that fails to fulfil those duties could be held legally responsible for engaging in wrongful acts involving complicity with maintaining an apartheid regime. The UN and its agencies, and all member states, have a legal obligation to act within their capabilities to prevent and punish instances of apartheid that are brought to their attention.
We urge our government to:
» Issue a statement supporting the findings and recommendations of the report.
» Call for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to formulate a plan of action to implement the report.
» Move the UN General Assembly to:
Revive the special committee against apartheid, and the UN Centre against Apartheid, which would report authoritatively on Israeli practices and policies relating to the crime of apartheid.
Seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ as to whether the means used by Israel to maintain control over the Palestinians amount to the crime of apartheid and, if so, what steps should be taken to end it promptly.
» Call on the International Criminal Court to investigate, as a matter of urgency, whether Israel, its governments and individuals, in implementing policies and practices with respect to the Palestinian people, are guilty of the crime of apartheid.
» Support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign initiated by Palestinian civil society groups.
» Remind the private sector actors of their legal, moral and political responsibility to sever ties with commercial ventures and projects that directly or indirectly aid and abet the apartheid regime.
S. M. Mohamed Idris
Chairman
Citizens International
(See the commentary "Overwhelming evidence that Israel is guilty of apartheid" published on March 22).
The report by Prof Richard Falk and Prof Virginia Tilley was commissioned by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
Both the authors are highly distinguished in the field of human rights and international relations and their competence and integrity, are unimpeachable.
After a rigorous and thorough review of Israel's laws and practices concerning the Palestinians, the authors have come to the conclusion that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid. Apartheid ranks second, after genocide, in the hierarchy of criminality.
The prohibition of apartheid is considered jus cogens in international customary law. States have a separate and collective duty (a) not to recognise an apartheid regime as lawful; (b) not to aid or assist a state in maintaining an apartheid regime; and (c) to cooperate with the UN and other states in bringing apartheid regimes to an end.
A state that fails to fulfil those duties could be held legally responsible for engaging in wrongful acts involving complicity with maintaining an apartheid regime. The UN and its agencies, and all member states, have a legal obligation to act within their capabilities to prevent and punish instances of apartheid that are brought to their attention.
We urge our government to:
» Issue a statement supporting the findings and recommendations of the report.
» Call for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to formulate a plan of action to implement the report.
» Move the UN General Assembly to:
Revive the special committee against apartheid, and the UN Centre against Apartheid, which would report authoritatively on Israeli practices and policies relating to the crime of apartheid.
Seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ as to whether the means used by Israel to maintain control over the Palestinians amount to the crime of apartheid and, if so, what steps should be taken to end it promptly.
» Call on the International Criminal Court to investigate, as a matter of urgency, whether Israel, its governments and individuals, in implementing policies and practices with respect to the Palestinian people, are guilty of the crime of apartheid.
» Support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign initiated by Palestinian civil society groups.
» Remind the private sector actors of their legal, moral and political responsibility to sever ties with commercial ventures and projects that directly or indirectly aid and abet the apartheid regime.
S. M. Mohamed Idris
Chairman
Citizens International