Boycot Israel 50

Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights Organisations Release Joint Fact
Sheet Calling for an End to International Donor Complicity in Israeli
Violations of International Law

On 2 March 2009, major international donors convened in Sharm al-Sheikh
to collectively respond to the destruction caused by Israel’s 23 day
military offensive on the Gaza Strip. During the conference, a total of
$4.5 billion was pledged in reconstruction funds for Gaza. In light of
the extensive destruction across the Gaza Strip, especially the
destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, reconstruction is urgent.

However, as Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations, we must
note that by agreeing to reconstruction without specific, binding
assurances from the State of Israel, international donors are
effectively underwriting Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt). International law – including,
international human rights law, international humanitarian law (IHL),
and the law of state responsibility for wrongful acts – places specific,
binding obligations on the State of Israel (based, inter alia, on its
duties as an Occupying Power) with respect to the maintenance and
development of normal life in occupied territory. By repeatedly
restricting their action to providing aid, without holding Israel
accountable for its specific obligations, international donors are
relieving Israel of its legally binding responsibilities.

Individual donor States – as High Contracting Parties to the Geneva
Conventions – are under an obligation to ensure respect for the
Conventions at all times. They are also bound by international law which
prohibits complicity in internationally wrongful acts. By repeatedly
covering the cost of the occupation, without demanding accountability
from Israel, the international community is implicitly encouraging
violations of international law perpetrated by Israeli forces in
occupied territory: individual donor States may thus be acting contrary
to their own legal obligations.

We are concerned that such action negatively impacts upon respect for
the rule of law, and is in violation of States’ legal obligations.
Ultimately, the continuation of this policy may reduce the protections
afforded to civilian populations, further exposing them to violations of
the laws of war.

The legal and contextual situation relating to this issue has been
outlined in a joint fact sheet, ‘Human Rights Organisations Call for an
End to International Donor Complicity in Israeli Violations of
International Law’, released today.'

http://www.badil.org/Publications/statements/Joint-Statement-End-International-Donor-Complicity(May09).pdf