APPEAL
Israeli government maintains policy of illegal assassination
26 July, 2001

The Israeli army yesterday assassinated 36 year old Salah Darwazi in the Palestinian controlled Nablus area.  The Israeli army killed Darwazi by firing four rockets while he was driving near to the Al Ayn refugee camp.  Salah Darwazi, a father of six, was a member of Hamas, where he was active in the organisation’s political, not military, wing.
 
The Israeli army has now killed a total of 35 Palestinians in extra judicial killings since the beginning of the intifada.  Nine of those killed were bystanders who were not the targets of the Israeli liquidation attacks.  Numerous other Palestinians have been injured during Israeli assassination attacks since September 29, 2001.  Only nine days ago, the Israeli army assassinated Omar Saadeh in his home in Wadi Shaheen, Bethlehem.  The attack, in which three air-to-surface missiles were fired from two Israeli apache helicopters onto the civilian house, killed three other Palestinian civilians and injured a further ten, a number of whom were children.
 
Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, extra judicial killings are willful killings, and constitute war crimes.  This Israeli policy is a clear, and grave, violation of international law.  The Israeli government’s assassination policy is illegal and immoral.  Furthermore, it is condemnable that the Israeli state, constantly proclaiming itself to be democratic, openly conducts a policy of liquidation on those whom it deems to be criminals, giving the accused no recourse to justice.
 
Despite the fact that the Israeli government is violating international standards, international reaction to the Israeli government has been limited, failing to bring an end to these illegal killings.  The lack of pressure on the Israeli government was indeed made clear when after the assassination of Omar Saadeh, Sharon told President Bush that his government would continue to carry out this policy.  It is imperative that the Israeli government is condemned for this policy:  ongoing international silence to the Israeli government’s actions is tantamount to supporting them.  The delay in responding to the Israeli government’s policy has gone on too long: it is imperative that international justice and standards are upheld, and the Israeli government is made responsible for these crimes.
 
We appeal for international figures and bodies to make the Israeli government accountable for its actions, and we urge you to write to members of the Israeli government, demanding that they uphold their obligations as laid down in the Fourth Geneva Convention, and respect international standards of the Declaration of Human Rights. Please write to:
 
Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister pm@pmo.gov.il
Shimon Peres, Israeli Foreign Minister at sar@mofa.gov.il
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Israeli Minister of Defense at sar@mod.gov.il
 
For more information contact Mustafa Barghouthi, 050-254-218 and see www.palestinemonitor.org