The Crisis in the West Bank

Although it’s been decades since he left Palestine, building a life for himself and his loved ones in the Austin area, memories of olive trees and hills, of family and him sharing meals under an orange sun, flowed through Ahmad Zamer on most days. Having been able to visit the West Bank a few years More

Genocide and the Politics of False Equivalencies

The relentless killing of children by Israeli Defense Forces and its elimination of the most basic needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza are far from an abstraction or a sound bite that can be buried in the language of equivalence, or for that matter the, cravenly appeal to balance. The International Court of Justice reinforced South Africa’s claim, however tempered, that Israel is waging genocide and must “take all measures within its power” to uphold its obligations under Article II of the Genocide Convention. More

The ICJ’s Ruling On “Plausible Genocide” In Gaza: an Incomplete Victory

Any evaluation of the International Court of Justice’s rulings of January 26th must begin by applauding its determinations (1) that Israel’s military actions in Gaza fall within the provisions of the Genocide Convention; (2) that the Palestinians are indeed a distinct group facing the crime of genocide, and (3) that South Africa’s claim of Israeli engagement in “plausible genocide” is valid, meaning that the Court will begin trying Israel for genocide. That is a process that will take several years but is hugely important. More

Netanyahu and the IDF Provided All the Evidence the ICJ Needed

The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled last week that Israel must prevent genocide in Gaza and provide greater assistance to the Palestinians.  Sadly, the ICJ did not call for a cease-fire, which is desperately needed, but it demonstrated genuine understanding of the Israeli war crimes that point to genocidal intentions as stipulated by the Geneva International Genocide Convention in 1948. More