ALL OCCUPATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND POPULATION TRANSFERS ARE ILLEGAL.....

Israeli occupation is illegal under international law: UN Commission

By Commission of Inquiry

October 22, 2022: Information Clearing House -- "OHCR" -There are reasonable grounds to conclude that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is now unlawful under international law due to its permanence and the Israeli Government’s de-facto annexation policies, according to the first report to the General Assembly issued today by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

Underlining that under international humanitarian law the occupation of territory in wartime is a temporary situation and does not deprive the occupied Power of its statehood nor its sovereignty, the three-person Commission called on the General Assembly to request an urgent Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of Israel’s continued refusal to end its occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Recent statements by the Secretary-General and numerous member States have clearly indicated that any attempt at unilateral annexation of a State’s territory by another State is a violation of international law and is null and void; 143 member States including Israel last week voted in favor of a General Assembly resolution reaffirming this”, stated Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission. “Unless universally applied, including to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, this core principle of the United Nations Charter will become meaningless”, she added.

In reaching its findings, the Commission reviewed the policies and actions employed by the Governments of Israel to maintain the occupation, and annex parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Commission’s review was based on interviews with experts and stakeholders, and submissions received following a call for submissions issued on 22 September 2021.

The 28-page report focuses on the sustenance and advancement of the settlement enterprise, including statements made by Israeli officials indicating the intent to maintain permanent control over the land in violation of international law. The Commission concludes that by continuing to occupy the territory by force, Israel incurs international responsibilities and remains accountable for violations of the rights of the Palestinians individually and as a people.

“By ignoring international law in establishing or facilitating the establishment of settlements, and directly or indirectly transferring Israeli civilians into these settlements, successive Israel governments have set facts on the ground to ensure permanent Israeli control in the West Bank”, Ms. Pillay stated.

In producing its report, the Commission reviewed Israel’s expropriation and exploitation of land and natural resources, and Israel’s restrictive urban planning and zoning policies in the West Bank, noting that land is often confiscated for military purposes but is then used for settlement construction. The Commission reviewed statements by Israeli officials indicating that Palestinian construction is seen as an impediment to Israeli settlements, requiring action such as confiscation, demolitions and displacement. The Commission also observed similar processes in East Jerusalem where the restrictive planning and zoning regimes, which have obstructed adequate housing, infrastructure and livelihoods, have contributed to shrinking space for Palestinians.

The report also points to Israeli Government policies which have had a serious and multi-faceted impact on all areas of Palestinian life, including access to clean and affordable water, which has impacted the entire Palestinian agricultural sector, limiting opportunities for livelihoods particularly affecting women.

“There is so much ‘silent harm’ and psychological trauma, that may not be immediately apparent, resulting from the erosion of economic, social and cultural rights. These debilitating processes have severe short and long-term consequences and must be urgently addressed”, said Commissioner Miloon Kothari.

The Commission dedicated a significant part of its report to reviewing the impact of Israel’s occupation and de-facto annexation policies on Palestinian human rights, noting the coercive environment intended to force Palestinians to leave their homes and alter the demographic composition of certain areas. To this effect, the Commission reviewed the demolition of homes and destruction of property, the excessive use of force by security forces, mass incarceration, settler violence, restrictions of movement, and limitations on access to livelihoods, basic necessities, services and humanitarian assistance.

The Commission emphasized that this ongoing coercive environment has fragmented Palestinian society and ensured that Palestinians are unable of fulfil their right to self-determination among other rights. The Commission also noted the extremely harmful impact of the air, land and sea blockade of Gaza on Palestinian human rights.

The report outlines a specifically damaging impact on children, who experience constant military presence, arrest and detention, frequent attacks and acts of violence, restrictions on movement, home demolition and destruction of infrastructure and property. The Commission emphasized that the cumulative effects of occupation practices, including restrictions on movement, have had a pervasive discriminatory effect on Palestinian women, noting that they experience gender-based violence during their everyday activities.

The report concludes by saying that some of the policies and actions of the Israeli Government leading to permanent occupation and de-facto annexation may constitute elements of crimes under international criminal law, including the war crime of transferring, directly or indirectly, part of one's own civilian population into occupied territory, and the crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer.

“The actions of Israeli Governments reviewed in our report constitute an illegal occupation and annexation regime that must be addressed”, stated Commissioner Chris Sidoti. “The international system and individual States must act and uphold their obligations under international law. That must begin at this session of the General Assembly with a referral to the International Court of Justice”, he added.

Background

The UN Human Rights Council mandated the Commission on 27 May 2021 to “investigate, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law leading up and since 13 April 2021”. In July 2021, the President of the Human Rights Council announced the appointment of Navanethem Pillay (South Africa), Miloon Kothari (India) and Christopher Sidoti (Australia) to serve as the three members of the Commission and indicated that Ms. Pillay would serve as Chair. Resolution A/HRC/RES/S-30/1 further requested the commission of inquiry to “investigate all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, including systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial or religious identity.” The Commission of Inquiry was mandated to report to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly annually from June 2022 and September 2022, respectively.

The Commissioners will present their report to the General Assembly on 27 October.

The full report in six languages and more information on the work of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, can be found at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/co-israel/index

My many thanks to all my readers, stay safe and well. 

FACTS AND REALITIES ........

 

China is rapidly becoming the dominant power in the world...

 

1. They have a very low tolerance for crime. The death penalty is quickly and regularly used for terrorists, murderers and drug traffickers.

 

2. Very low tolerance for religion. They don't believe there is a magic man in the sky. Nothing like a God. Almost no religious killings???, and getting rid of all the negative aspects of the native Chinese Muslim population as fast as possible.

 

3. They have not been involved in any costly wars or invaded any country for the past seventy years.

 

4. Their main weapon of choice to take over the world is finance, and countries around the world are falling fast.

Not just the United States and Canada, but the whole world is in trouble.

 

In the near future, China will employ millions of American workers and dominate thousands of small communities across the United States. China's acquisition of US companies set a new all-time high last year, and it's on track to break that record this year.

 

The acquisition of Smithfield Foods is a prime example. Smithfield Foods is the world's largest pork producer and processor. It has facilities in 26 US states and employs tens of thousands of Americans. It directly owns 460 farms and has contracts with about 2,100 others. But now a Chinese company has bought it for $4.7 billion, meaning Chinese people will now be the biggest employer in dozens of rural communities across America.

 

Thanks in part to our massively inflated trade deficit with China, the Chinese have trillions of dollars to spend. They are only beginning to exercise their economic strength.

 

It is important to keep in mind that there is often not much difference between "Chinese government" and "Chinese companies". In 2011, 43% of all profits in China came from companies where the Chinese government held a majority stake. 

But China isn't just relying on acquisitions to expand its economic power.

 

“Economic bridgeheads” are established throughout America and Canada. For example, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. recently opened a $100 million plant in Thomasville, Alabama. Many residents of Thomasville, Alabama will be happy to have a job, but it will also become another community that will now be heavily dependent on Communist China.

 And guess where other Chinese companies are rooting? DETROIT.

Chinese companies are investing in American companies and new automotive technology, selling everything from seatbelts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in a bid to soak up talent and expertise. expertise of national car manufacturers and their suppliers. .

 If you recently purchased an "American-made" vehicle, chances are it contains a number of Chinese parts. Industry analysts struggle to put a price tag on Chinese suppliers in the United States.

 China is very interested in acquiring energy resources from the United States.

 For example, China is currently mining coal in the mountains of Tennessee. Guizhou Gouchuang Energy Holdings Group spent $616 million to acquire Triple H Coal Co. in Jacksboro, Tennessee.

 At the time, this acquisition didn't really make a big splash, but now a group of conservatives in Tennessee are trying to stop the Chinese from blowing up their mountains and taking their coal.

 And very soon, China may want to build entire cities in the United States, as it has done in other countries. Right now, China is building a city bigger than Manhattan, just outside Minsk, the capital of Belarus. And not only in America, just a quick look at Volvo, the Swedish car company and one of the leaders in car technology worldwide is fully owned by Chinese partners.... 

 

Are you starting to capture the image? China is booming and for a long time while America is playing political games.

 If in doubt, just read the following:

 

When you add up all the imports and exports, China is now the number one trading nation on the entire planet.

 # Overall, the United States has had a trade deficit with China over the past decade that amounts to over $3 trillion.

 # China has more foreign currency reserves than anyone else on the planet.

 # China now has the largest new car market in the world.

 # China now produces more than twice as many automobiles as the United States.

 # After being bailed out by US taxpayers, GM is involved in 11 joint ventures with Chinese companies.

 # China is the world's largest gold producer.

 # The US Olympic team uniforms were made in China.

 # 85% of all artificial Christmas trees in the world are made in China.

 # The new World Trade Center tower in New York features imported glass from China.

 # China now consumes more energy than the United States.

 # China is now overall the largest producer of goods worldwide.

 # China uses more cement than the rest of the world

I'm collecting and presenting these facts and numbers, not to make a statement against or for the U.S or the Western world in general, but to draw clear attention to what is China today and what might even happen in the future, I believe the U.S. and the world ought to look at China in different ways than the old classic look, and politics should follow and change from the past traditional ways, that has a lot of the old colonialist bias incorporated in it, a truly more global look with no absolute one sided leadership is the new rule, China and its people and leadership are showing great signs of responsibility in the way they're growing and becoming a true partner in leading the world and its common goals, Russia chose another way of classical behavior, war, invasion and brutality to maybe try and reach part of the same global sharing, and it's doomed to fail, let's be ourselves smarter and not push China into the same path. 

Let's not turn and build on our envious feelings and jealousy , more important let's not transform our envy and jealousy and our exaggerated sense of superiority into total cruelty and destruction.......

My usual many thanks to all my good readers, stay safe and well. 

TO SOME OF US...... THE OLDER ONES.

You know …… time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all.
I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

However, here it is …… the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise.
How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualize it or imagine fully what it would be like.

Yet, here it is …… my friends are retired and getting grey - they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant …… but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day and taking a nap is not a treat anymore. It's mandatory because if I don't of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit.

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I'm not sure how long it will last, that when it's over on this earth, it's over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done; things I should have done but truely there are many things I'm happy to have been done.
It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly.
Don't put things off too long. Life goes by so quickly.
So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the last quarter or not.

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life. So, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember - and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the past years.

‘Life’ is a gift to you.
Be Happy!
Have a great day!

Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

You may think:

Going out is good - but coming home is better!

You forget names - but it's okay because some people forgot they even knew you!

You realize you're never going to be really good at anything like golf - but you like the outdoors!

The things you used to care to do, you aren't as interested in anymore - but you really don't care that you aren't as interested.

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!

You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!

You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’

You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!

Old is good -
• Old is comfortable
• Old is safe
• Old songs
• Old movies
• …… and best of all,
• Friends of old!

So, stay well, ‘Old friend!’
Have a fantastic day!
Have an awesome quarter – whichever one you’re in!

It's not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. 

As always, many thanks to all...