Palestinian Rights Official Urges Comprehensive Sanctions on Israel
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Ammar Dweik, Director General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, called for comprehensive sanctions against Israel, stating that limited actions against settlements are insufficient. He noted that recent attacks on foreigners have increased international focus on the West Bank, but stressed the need for broader measures. Dweik cited statistics on settler violence, including 18 deaths and 1,600 attacks this year, and highlighted the low accountability rate for such incidents. He warned that a change in Israeli government could lead to a rollback of international measures and urged sustained advocacy.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ammar Dweik urged comprehensive sanctions on Israel, arguing that targeting only settlements is insufficient.
- He cited 18 Palestinian deaths and 1,600 settler attacks this year, with low accountability.
- Recent attacks on foreigners have increased international attention on the West Bank, Dweik noted.
- Dweik warned that a change in Israeli government could lead to a freeze or reversal of international measures.
- He emphasized the need to document violations and highlight the legal structure protecting settlers.
Ammar Dweik, Director General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, has called for comprehensive sanctions against Israel, arguing that targeting only settlements or specific settler organizations is insufficient. Dweik stated that condemnations and media coverage alone have not altered Israeli behavior regarding violations in the West Bank. He noted that recent attacks on a US journalist from The Washington Post, a diplomatic delegation, and a French mayor could increase international attention on the West Bank, potentially prompting more countries to take action against settlements and settlers. However, he stressed that these efforts are inadequate if they do not target Israel broadly, explaining the interconnectedness of settlements and the Israeli economy.
Dweik highlighted that attacks on Palestinians have not garnered the same international focus as those on foreigners. He cited statistics indicating that 18 Palestinians have been killed by settlers since the beginning of the year, approximately 1,000 injured, and 1,600 attacks recorded by the end of July. He observed that international public opinion can be influenced by the victims' identities and their connections to Western societies, but the attack on the American journalist helped refocus attention on Palestinian victims.
He emphasized the importance of documenting violations with data and evidence to strengthen accountability efforts and counter disinformation campaigns. Citing data from the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din, Dweik pointed out that 94% of police investigations into settler attacks are closed without accountability, with only 4% leading to convictions, which he described as very lenient. These figures, he stated, illustrate the gap between the number of attacks and the level of accountability, supporting human rights efforts to pressure governments for practical steps.
Dweik warned that some countries might use a change in the Israeli government as a pretext to grant a new government additional time or to freeze or even reverse previously decided measures. He urged Palestinians to work with human rights organizations and civil society in various countries to ensure that international policies and actions are not tied to specific individuals or governments. Dweik concluded that the issue is not limited to specific ministers but involves an existing legal structure in the West Bank that protects settlers and enables their continued attacks. He reiterated the need to highlight this legal structure, continue documentation, and pursue international actions that include comprehensive sanctions on Israel, not just condemnations or penalties against specific settler entities.