!["The state can't accept the fact that [Palestinians] are citizens," says Haneen Zoabi, a representative of the National Democratic Assembly. (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)](http://www.vocfm.co.za/media/k2/items/cache/88ef4947bc838e25afe26677036db057_XL.jpg)
"The state can't accept the fact that [Palestinians] are citizens," says Haneen Zoabi, a representative of the National Democratic Assembly. (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)
As the third session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) came to a close on Monday at the District Six Homecoming Centre, the testimony given at the Tribunal already had a ripple affect with not only their website being hacked but also one of the witnesses being declared a persona non grata in Israel.
Summarising its finding, British barrister Michael Mansfield QC, who was a member of the jury, said their decision was unanimous. “The Tribunal concludes that Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, collectively amounts to a single integrated regime of Apartheid.” But the tribunal was dismayed when on Sunday it learnt that one of the witnesses, Haneen Zoabi, was notified within minutes of testifying, that her Israeli citizenship was under threat.
“They [Israeli Authority] issued a recommendation (not a government decision yet) to the ethics committee of the Knesset to withdraw the Israeli citizenship from that witness… this is not a veiled threat, but an actual threat.” Zoabi, a Member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) gave evidence to the Tribunal about the arrest, imprisonment, travel bans and the targeting of Palestinian parliamentarians, national political, leaders, human rights defenders, the closing down of related organisation, and the current legislation being enacted to punish those who initiate or promote boycott measures for opposition to Israeli domination.
Mansfield said that in most judicial and non-judicial proceedings and tribunals, a threat of this nature cannot be countenanced and has to be deplored. “We have constructed a letter which will be sent to the Israeli government, but also to the SA government. The letter would request the SA Authorities to lend their weight to our actions and ensure the safe passage to this individual, and the situation which she does not have her citizenship withdrawn.”
He said the letter makes the position of the RToP clear that she is not alone and that the tribunal is conscious of the arbitrary nature of detention and those other witnesses may also be victimised. “We are requesting the SA government to ensure that no witness, that has been here and who has had the time, patience and courage to partake in the RToP is going to be subjected to that kind of treatment upon return.”
Mansfield said the letter will not be limited to the SA government, a copy will go to the Israeli government, but will also be individualised to other governments who may have some interest in the proceedings. “The letter will be sent to the Belgium, France, Spain, UK, USA and Ireland governments as well.”
Meanwhile, Mansfield said during the proceedings were broadcast via video streaming on the website www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com, but was interrupted by hackers. “Within minutes of the announcement made yesterday, the tribunal’s website was hacked into and closed down. We discovered from those who are experts in the technological field which include hacking, that this was a precision job. You would think the website was working, but nothing came up…
He said there was a certain type of expertise required to do so, which is limited to certain people. “I ask the question, who benefits most from the website’s disappearance? We will not say when, but there will be a website reappearing,” Mansfield assured. VOC (Aqeelah Bawa)
Summarising its finding, British barrister Michael Mansfield QC, who was a member of the jury, said their decision was unanimous. “The Tribunal concludes that Israel’s rule over the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, collectively amounts to a single integrated regime of Apartheid.” But the tribunal was dismayed when on Sunday it learnt that one of the witnesses, Haneen Zoabi, was notified within minutes of testifying, that her Israeli citizenship was under threat.
“They [Israeli Authority] issued a recommendation (not a government decision yet) to the ethics committee of the Knesset to withdraw the Israeli citizenship from that witness… this is not a veiled threat, but an actual threat.” Zoabi, a Member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) gave evidence to the Tribunal about the arrest, imprisonment, travel bans and the targeting of Palestinian parliamentarians, national political, leaders, human rights defenders, the closing down of related organisation, and the current legislation being enacted to punish those who initiate or promote boycott measures for opposition to Israeli domination.
Mansfield said that in most judicial and non-judicial proceedings and tribunals, a threat of this nature cannot be countenanced and has to be deplored. “We have constructed a letter which will be sent to the Israeli government, but also to the SA government. The letter would request the SA Authorities to lend their weight to our actions and ensure the safe passage to this individual, and the situation which she does not have her citizenship withdrawn.”
He said the letter makes the position of the RToP clear that she is not alone and that the tribunal is conscious of the arbitrary nature of detention and those other witnesses may also be victimised. “We are requesting the SA government to ensure that no witness, that has been here and who has had the time, patience and courage to partake in the RToP is going to be subjected to that kind of treatment upon return.”
Mansfield said the letter will not be limited to the SA government, a copy will go to the Israeli government, but will also be individualised to other governments who may have some interest in the proceedings. “The letter will be sent to the Belgium, France, Spain, UK, USA and Ireland governments as well.”
Meanwhile, Mansfield said during the proceedings were broadcast via video streaming on the website www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com, but was interrupted by hackers. “Within minutes of the announcement made yesterday, the tribunal’s website was hacked into and closed down. We discovered from those who are experts in the technological field which include hacking, that this was a precision job. You would think the website was working, but nothing came up…
He said there was a certain type of expertise required to do so, which is limited to certain people. “I ask the question, who benefits most from the website’s disappearance? We will not say when, but there will be a website reappearing,” Mansfield assured. VOC (Aqeelah Bawa)
