Inhumane treatment of Palestinians justifies Dirco’s censuring Israel

IN REPLY to Allan Wolman’s letter in Cape Argus, December 1, it is my view that Dirco censures Israel since it is the only country that has forced a nation off its land and occupied its territory militarily for more than 52 years.

No other country is guilty of such a horrendous act.

The occupation by Israel was condemned by the United Nations and most countries, including Britain.

During the Intifada, Israeli soldiers deliberately broke the bones of Palestinian prisoners.

Desperate pregnant women, on the verge of giving birth and en route to the hospital were blocked and turned around at Israeli road blocks.

Years ago, journalist John Pilger reported that more than 500 Israeli soldiers who called themselves the conscience of their country, have refused to serve in the occupied territories.

The identity document is to a Palestinian similar to the “dompas” that restricted movement of blacks during apartheid.

To allow two or three Israeli settlers safe passage along roads, Palestinians are often forced to wait for hours at checkpoints before being allowed to travel along the same road that normally takes 20 minutes.

The Israelis have transformed every town in the West Bank into a prison surrounded by barbed wire and control every movement of Palestinians in and out of the towns.

Sadly, Allan refers to several countries where gender abuse is the norm, and which are not censured by Dirco, but he misses the point that Israel tops them all for its total disregard for Palestinian life.

Finally, how can we ever forget the images of Muhammad al-Durrah, a young Palestinian boy, on the front pages of all major newspapers in 2000, crouching behind his father, then slumped after being killed by snipers. And Rachel Corrie, the young American peace activist who was murdered in 2003 by an Israel Defence Force armoured bulldozer.

In 2018, Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian girl was jailed for eight months after kicking and slapping two Israeli soldiers.

The above justifies Dirco’s censuring Israel. ADIEL ISMAIL | Mount View