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Russell Tribunal on Palestine Part II – Rachel Corrie

October 8, 2012

Perhaps the most emotionally charged talk was the short one given by parents of Rachel Corrie, Cindy and Craig Corrie. Rachel was an American activist who was run over and crushed to the death by an Israel Defense Forces armored bulldozer in the Gaza Strip in 2003. Cindy and Craig Corrie spoke briefly about the incident, although I imagine most people in the audience were familiar with the general details. They focused more on how Israel and United States have responded to the incident since, which really highlights the level of self-aware complicity of the United States government. The official United States position on the death of Rachel Corrie is that “there has not been a thorough, credible and transparent investigation into Rachel’s case.” The United States refuses to investigation the death independently and has yet to do anything else, at all, to bring about justice for Rachel Corrie or closure for her parents.

Because they had no other options, Craig and Cindy Corrie brought about a civil case against Israel for the murder of their daughter. They sued for one symbolic U.S. dollar. On August 28, an Israeli judge determined that Israel acted against Rachel Corrie in an act of war and therefore Israel has no culpability in Rachel’s case. The military investigator testified that “there are no more citizens in Gaza and that Israel is at war with everyone in Gaza, including peace activists”.  The implications are this, if you are anyone willing to stand up to Israel in the face of egregious human rights violations, prepare to die.

At least 22 Palestinians have also been confirmed as being murdered while protesting non-violently. Needless to say, their families too have received not so much as an apology from Israel as their deaths are fully protected by Israel’s undemocratic law.

- Robert