by Sylvia Schwartz, March 11, 2011

Steve Hunegs’ piece, “Divesting from Israeli bonds is morally wrong” repeats often propagated myths, per usual, omitting some important facts. Israel is a violator of human rights and international law. Numerous reports detailing these violations can be found in studies by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Israel-based human rights organization B’Tselem, and many agencies in the United Nations.

Democracy for Jews only

Israel is often called “the only democracy in the Middle East.” Within the borders of Israel (that is the territory internationally known as Israel, which does not include the West Bank, Gaza, or the Golan Heights) Israel’s minority Palestinian population are subject to ethnic based discriminatory laws which prevent them from purchasing, leasing, or working on most of the land (land owned by the Jewish National Fund is by law only for Jews), marrying and living with a spouse who is not an Israeli citizen, and visiting holy sites. In the United States such discriminatory laws would be found unconstitutional and struck down, but since Israel has no constitution there is no restriction on passing racist laws.

In the occupied territories two systems of laws are in effect and which system applies depends solely on ethnicity. Jewish Israelis (illegal settlers according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49), are subject to Israeli civilian law. Palestinian Christians and Muslims, living only meters away from these illegal settlements, are subject to military orders, which are random and capricious. Palestinians can be and often are subject to “administrative detention,” which is detention without charges or trial, can last 180 days and be extended indefinitely. Adalah, the legal center for Arab minority rights in Israel, keeps statistics regarding the number of administrative detainees (including many children).

Occupation

According to the Hague Convention of 1907 and the Fourth Geneva Convention, military occupation is considered a temporary condition during which the occupied population is to be protected under international law. Israel routinely violates provisions, including Article 3 (persons taking no part in hostilities shall be treated humanely), Article 33 (no protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed), Article 34 (the taking of hostages is prohibited), Article 49 (the Occupying power shall not transfer civilians into occupied territory), and many others.

The Separation Wall

In July 2004 the International Court of Justice found that Israel’s construction of a wall snaking deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory violates international law and ordered Israel to cease its construction and dismantle parts already built. The ICJ noted that the wall violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other covenants.

Rather than complying with the ICJ ruling, Israel has continued building the wall. It now runs more than 400 miles within the occupied territories and completely surrounds many villages, resulting in the confiscation of thousands of acres of Palestinian land and preventing Palestinians from accessing water sources, crops, workplaces, hospitals, schools, and even neighbors.

Minnesota’s involvement

These and many more Israeli human rights violations are what we, as Minnesotans, pay for with our investments in Israel bonds that total more than $18 million. The money from these investments goes into Israel’s general treasury and is used in projects like the wall, infrastructure, including roads and water distribution networks in the occupied territories which benefit only illegal Israeli settlers, and result in severe hardship, loss of land and livelihood for Palestinians.

If Hunegs believes, as he claims, that he is “work[ing] toward the realization of a two-state solution – a safe and secure Israel side by side a free and democratic Palestinian state,” why does he support investing in projects which make this solution impossible? These are projects which illegally appropriate Palestinian land, confine Palestinians into non-contiguous areas, and devastate the Palestinian economy. No Palestinian state can arise with those impediments; therefore the only conclusion to be drawn is that those who want to continue investing in these projects do not want a Palestinian state or Palestinian self-determination at all, despite the mantric repetition of those words.

After the US veto of the settlement resolution in the UN two weeks ago, and nearly 20 years of “negotiations,” it should be clear to all that we can no longer wait for governments to comply with human rights laws on their own.

MN BBC

Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign (MN BBC) was founded to follow the Palestinian civil society call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) until Israel complies with international law. BDS is a non-violent tactic, modeled after the international BDS movement instrumental in ending South African Apartheid, which allows all of us, citizens of the world, to put pressure on governments to change their policies.

We believe in human rights for all and we believe that we have the moral obligation to make sound investments that will not aid in the oppression of any race or ethnicity. Because of its education and outreach program, more than 2,000 people across Minnesota have signed on to the campaign. We say, “We no longer want to be responsible for Israel’s actions. Divest for Justice!”

Photo: activestills.org

Thursday, March 3, 2011, over 40 MN BBC members and supporters packed the quarterly MN State Board of Investments meeting to let those responsible know that we, as people in Minnesota, do not want our money funding Israel’s actions.

Although we were not officially given a spot on the agenda, a group of MN BBCers were able to read comments (click to read them) speaking to our legal and moral arguments for divestment of Minnesota money from Israel Bonds and thus Israeli atrocities.

MN BBC was represented at the meeting by students, teachers, lawyers, journalists, parents, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Palestinian refugees, professionals, lay people and more.

After we made our comments, one of the members of the Board, Rebecca Otto, put forth a motion which was quickly passed for the State Board of Investments’ staff to engage with MN BBC directly, and for the attorney general’s office to assess the legal issues we raised and report back. We view this action-item as yet another small victory on this road to justice! The morning concluded with a celebratory rally outside the capitol.

Photos can be viewed on our group facebook page here: http://on.fb.me/e31QnD. If you haven’t already, join the group! Unedited footage of the entire presentation and rally can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/e2VI4P.  Thanks to everyone who attended, and to those of you who were unable to do so, we look forward to you joining us next time!

Don’t forget: Save the Date! Take off of Work! Whatever you need to do to be at the MN Break the Bonds Day on the Hill, March 30th!

MINNESOTA BREAK THE BONDS CAMPAIGN DEMANDS THAT THE STATE BOARD OF INVESTMENT DIVEST FROM ISRAEL

MINNEAPOLIS – February 1, 2011 – The Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign (MN BBC), a statewide campaign aimed at ending Minnesota investment in Israel until Israel complies with international law and respects human rights, has issued a written demand, a copy of which is attached, to the Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI) that the Board divest from Israel Bonds. The demand is based on both legal and moral grounds. MN BBC has also requested that the issue be placed on the Board’s agenda for its next scheduled meeting on March 3, 2011.

The SBI’s investments in Israel Bonds are unlawful. MN BBC’s demand letter refers to provisions of the Minnesota Statutes that restrict state investment in foreign governments. These investments also entangle Minnesota in Israel’s myriad international law and human rights violations.

MN BBC has formally advised the SBI that it will pursue legal action if the Board fails to place the issue on the March 3, 2011 meeting agenda and fails to divest.

Click here for a PDF copy of the actual press release:  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEB 1

Click here for a PDF copy of the Letter to the SBI: Letter to the SBI

Media Contacts

Flo Razowsky: 612-850-4942

Susie Gad: 612-227-5286

Email: mn@breakthebonds.org

Photo: i-consult.org