American Rachel Corrie killed by IDF bulldozer
17 March 2003
American Rachel Corrie killed by IDF bulldozer
Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American from Olympia, Washington, was killed yesterday by an Israeli bulldozer as she attempted to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military bulldozer ran her over even as activists present at the scene shouted for it to stop. Rachel was wearing bright orange and the accounts from witnesses indicate that the driver clearly knew she was there. IDF spokespeople have shamelessly tried to shift responsibility for her death onto Rachel herself by saying her actions were “dangerous and irresponsible.”
Rachel is the first member of the International Solidarity Movement to be killed. Others have been beaten, deported, tear-gassed, threatened, shot, and fired upon. Partners for Peace has urged the State Department and members of Congress numerous times to condemn such actions. To date, there has been no such action, though Congressman Pete DeFazio (OR) did introduce a resolution calling on both Israelis and Palestinians to protect international human rights observers and aid workers (see related links below).
Previous experience has established for Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon that he can act with impunity. Without an American condemnation of this incident, he felt comfortable with the IDF sending troops into Gaza today. At least nine Palestinians were killed, including a four-year-old, and some 700 Palestinians were detained in the northern Gaza Strip. There is a very real danger that under cover of war with Iraq, Sharon will order a complete re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. Many Palestinian civilians will undoubtedly be killed and injured during any such military action. Palestinians are terrified that this could take place in the very near future with little media coverage as a result of impending war with Iraq.
Rachel’s death is a tragedy for all those committed to a nonviolent and just resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
ACTION
Partners for Peace urges emails and calls be placed to the Secretary of State. Concerns can be directed to secretary@state.gov or 202-647-5291.
The White House should be contacted at 202-456-1111 or president@whitehouse.gov.
Your individual members of Congress can be reached at 202-225-3121.
TALKING POINTS
1. A full congressional inquiry should be carried out. The embassy should make sure that the IDF pursues a vigorous investigation of its own. Many such requests by the embassy go unanswered for long stretches of time. This should not be permitted in Rachel’s case.
2. A courageous American has been killed by an Israeli military receiving billions of dollars per year from the United States. This aid should be stopped immediately. The State Department should specifically be urged to report to Congress that Israel is in violation of the Arms Export Control Act through its use of American weaponry against Palestinian civilians.
3. The State Department, Congress, and White House should be urged to speak out now against a possible Israeli military invasion of all of the Gaza Strip that would coincide with a war with Iraq in contravention of the UN Charter.
RELATED LINKS
H. Res. 394 could have sent a strong congressional message to the IDF not to harm international human rights workers such as Rachel Corrie. Unfortunately, less than five percent of House members were willing to co-sponsor it last year. Go to Partners for Peace document on H. Res. 394.
Further information on Rachel Corrie from the ElectronicIntifada
Further information on Rachel Corrie from the International Solidarity Movement
