31 July 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Call for the U.S. to Condemn Israel’s Human Rights Abuses
The Board of Directors of The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development and its educational program, the Palestine Center, condemn the continuing Israeli practice of extra-judicial executions and the indiscriminate murder of innocent Palestinian civilians. In the past two days, 14 Palestinians, including two children, ages eight and 10, have been killed by Israeli attacks.
Earlier today, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a residential building in Nablus, killing eight people and wounding many others. The Israeli policy of extra-judicial killings is a clear violation of international law. It can only exacerbate an already desperate situation in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israeli military forces, cautioned Jerusalem Fund Board Chairman Hisham Sharabi earlier today. Humanitarian organizations and concerned individuals worldwide have called for an end to such actions by the Israeli military.
Rather than stand by silently, the U.S. should take the lead in condemning such behavior no matter what country is the perpetrator. To do less than this is to further undercut the United States position in brokering peace and is a disservice to the principles upon which this country was founded.
