Rachel Corrie, an American college student, was murdered March 16, 2003, by the Israeli Army while trying to block demolition of a Palestinian doctor’s home in Gaza by an Israeli army bulldozer, made in America by Caterpillar Inc. and paid for with American taxpayer’s dollars. The doctor was a peaceful man. “Rachel Corrie believed in non-violent resistance, put herself in harm’s way as a shield of the people, and paid with her life in a manner most brutal.” –Billy Bragg–
Eyewitness Account
The following account is from Joe Carr, a International Solidarity Movement (ISM) peace activist from Kansas City, Missouri.
“Between 16:45 and 17:00, One Israeli Defense Force bulldozer, serial number 949623, began to work near the house of a physician who is a friend of ours. It continued driving forward headed straight for Rachel. When it got so close that it was moving the earth beneath her, she climbed onto the pile of rubble being pushed by the bulldozer. She got so high onto it that she was at eye-level with the cab of the bulldozer. Despite this, he continued forward, which pulled her legs into the pile of rubble, and pulled her down out of view of the driver. We ran towards him, and waved our arms and shouted, one activist with the megaphone. But he continued forward, until Rachel was underneath the central section of the bulldozer. Despite the obviousness of her position, the bulldozer began to reverse, without lifting its blade, and drug the blade over her body again. He continued to reverse until he was on the boarder strip, about 100 meters away, and left her crushed body in the sand. Three activists ran to her and began administering first-responder medical treatment. She said, “My back is broken!” but nothing else …”
According to Amnesty International, “For years, the Israeli authorities have pursued a policy of discriminatory house demolition, on the one hand allowing scores of Israeli settlements to be built on occupied Palestinian land, in breach of international law, while simultaneously confiscating Palestinian lands, refusing building permits for Palestinians and destroying their homes. The land vacated has often been used to build illegal Israeli settlements. International law forbids occupying powers from settling their own citizens in the territories they occupy.”
“Any humanitarian looking at the sheer number of innocent civilians who have lost their homes can only condemn Israel’s house demolition policy as a hugely disproportionate military response by an occupation army… It is a policy that creates only hardship and bitterness, and in the end can only undermine hope for future reconciliation and peace.” -–Peter Hansen– Commissioner General of United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA)
In Israel, since 1947, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been guilty of genocide, an ethnic cleansing of the native palestinian people. Amnesty International rips IDF for ‘reckless disregard of life’ in Gaza. The London-based human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s attacks on Gaza, claiming they are “being carried out with reckless disregard for civilian life,” killing disproportionately huge numbers of unarmed civilian bystanders. The statement said that IDF actions this week displayed a “disproportion and recklessness” that has “characterized” its operations in Palestinian territories. In its statement, Amnesty highlighted disproportionate casualty statistics in the conflict, saying that in the last two months, close to 200 Gazans, of whom around “one-third were unarmed civilian bystanders, including 15 children” have been killed.” In the same period, the statement continued, “one Israeli civilian was killed and several injured by rocket fire,” the statement said. “This latest cycle of killings and destruction comes at a time when the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza are confronting a humanitarian crisis as a result of the increasingly stringent blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza. Hospitals and medical facilities, already struggling to cope with shortages of electricity, fuel, equipment and spare parts due to the Israeli blockade, are struggling to cope with the new influx of casualties caused by Israeli attacks in the last few days. With Gaza’s borders sealed, many patients in dire need of medical care which is not available in Gaza cannot be transferred to hospitals abroad and risk losing their lives.”
Rachel Corrie’s death is a scandalous example of American taxpayer’s dollars at work. Caterpillar Inc. and Volvo, two American companies, are involved and taking money from Israel to pay for the bulldozers. This money was obtained by Israel from American taxes to pay for the demolition of homes, and the death of Rachel Corrie. Doesn’t this make you proud be an American?
Video by staticbrain.com, music by Billy Bragg, pictures from rachelcorrie.org, scoop.nz
Technorati Tags: rachel, corrie, rachel corrie, peace, peace activists, activists, caterpillar, volvo, Israel, IDF, Israeli Defense Forces, Gaza, Palestine, taxpayer, American, America, bulldozer, bulldozers, murder
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10 Responses to “In Memory of Rachel Corrie”
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March 14th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’m afraid I can only say Rachel Corrie was a fool for trying to obstruct obvious bulldozing work in a war zone. According to Israeli reports, which I believe over any ISM reports, the driver could not see her. If it’s any ones fault it is the ‘peace campaigners’ own. It’s also strange how Amnesty International often refuses to condemn Palestinian atrocities against their own people, let alone Israelis. The Palestinians are their own worst enemy and until they find the concept of peace and development, will unfortunately continue to be stateless and in poverty.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Beaman: Fool? Rachel Corrie was certainly not a fool, but you are most certainly uneducated about what matters.
It isn’t just Amnesty International condemning the Israeli’s for the genocide and ethnic cleansing going on. It is also the U.N. and Human Rights Watch, and anyone else with a conscience.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission has condemned Israel for committing crimes against humanity, which is the direct precursor to genocide.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission: “Also affirms that the deliberate and systematic killing of civilians and children by the Israeli occupying authorities constitutes a flagrant and grave violation of the right to life and also constitutes a crime against humanity;…” Article 68 of the United Nations Charter had expressly required the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council to “set up” this Commission “for the promotion of human rights.”
The architect of all this suffering is Ariel Sharon, aka The Butcher. And Sharon was a butcher. As Israeli Defence Minister in 1982 he led the fateful invasion into Lebanon and caused the needless death of untold thousands of Palestinians living in the refugee camps, by directing the murderous Phalange militias in their rampage through the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps. He was charged by an Israeli commission as a war criminal for alleged crimes related to the Sabra and Shatila massacre during the 1982 Lebanon War.
During the massacre soldiers raided refugee camps, and raped women, and children and disemboweled them. Ariel Sharon’s name is synonymous with butchery; with bloated corpses and disemboweled women and dead babies, with rape and pillage and murder.
The Kahan Commission held him personally responsible for the massacre. The Kahan Commission formally known as the Commission of Inquiry into the Events at the Refugee Camps in Beirut, was established by the Israeli government on 28 September 1982, to investigate the Sabra and Shatila Massacre (16 September-18 September, 1982). The Commission was to make recommendations on Israeli involvement in the massacre. And it was the decision of the commission that Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon, was found to be personally responsible. for the murderous Phalange militias in their rampage through the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps.
To date over 20,000 Palestinian homes have been demolished, and only one Israeli home was exploded. “Any humanitarian looking at the sheer number of innocent civilians who have lost their homes can only condemn Israel’s house demolition policy as a hugely disproportionate military response by an occupation army. According to -–Peter Hansen– Commissioner General of United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA)
The Israeli blockades and brutally enforced curfews are effectively stopping Palestinian bread winners from going to work. The bulldozing of Palestinian owned olive and other agricultural fields is having a horrific effect on the Palestinian people’s ability to survive. The bulldozing of Palestinian homes by the Israeli military and police forces is throwing hundreds of families into the streets. It is collective punishment of a people and the murder of hundreds of Palestinian children and women is a policy of genocide!
So this is not a symmetrical situation. As matters of fact and of law, the gross and repeated violations of Palestinian rights by the Israeli army and Israeli settlers living illegally in occupied Palestine constitute war crimes. Conversely, the Palestinian People are defending Themselves and their Land and their Homes against Israeli war crimes and Israeli war criminals, both military and civilian.
March 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Fool? Rachel Corrie was certainly not a fool, but you are most certainly uneducated about what matters.
I dislike to speak ill of the dead, but that’s exactly what she was, a fool.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission has condemned Israel for committing crimes against humanity, which is the direct precursor to genocide.
The same Commission that condemns Israel but only has ‘deep concern’ for Darfur? The same Commission that has refused to condemn Palestinian militants using children as human shields? They didn’t even condemn Rwanda in their previous incarnation.
The U.N. Human Rights Commission: “Also affirms that the deliberate and systematic killing of civilians and children by the Israeli occupying authorities constitutes a flagrant and grave violation of the right to life and also constitutes a crime against humanity;…”
Legally binding? no. brought about by Arab States naturally hostile to Israel? yes. Factually correct? no. A load of old tosh? yes.
The architect of all this suffering is Ariel Sharon, aka The Butcher. And Sharon was a butcher…directing the murderous Phalange militias in their rampage through the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps.
The first point. He did not directly lead the Christian Phalange attack on the two camps. There has never been any proof he ordered such a massacre either. Sharon was one of the greatest Israeli commanders in history.
The Kahan Commission held him personally responsible for the massacre.
That’s not true! The Commission determined that the massacre at Sabra and Shatilla was carried out by a Phalangist unit, acting on its own but its entry was known to Israel. No Israeli was directly responsible for the events which occurred in the camps. Sharon’s worst crime in this incident was being ignorant of the potential danger.
March 16th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Honestly, this is the first time I’ve heard about Rachel Corrie. Or, at least I don’t remember hearing about her earlier. Sadly, I have to admit that this type of story is so common that to me it often just sort-of blends in to the background noise. I don’t do this consciously, but maybe it’s the only way I can keep on going with such awful things happening in the world.
Anyway, I’m glad you’re getting the word out.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Beaman: Again you speak of things that you know nothing of. This only backs up my point that you are uneducated about the things that really matter.
The UN has condemned the Sudan for committing crimes against humanity in Darfur. They have condemned Rwanda.
Report condemns Sudan over Darfur Monday, 12 March 2007
UN condemns “barbaric” Rwandan massacre Friday, December 12, 1997
UN tribunal condemns former Rwandan councilor for 1994 genocide, rape 28 April 2005
And last but not least they have condemned the Palestinians but along with that Israels disproportionate response.
United Nations condemns Palestinian rocket attacks and Israel’s ‘disproportionate’ response 1 March 2008
In the words of the secretary general of the UN:
The Secretary-General placed blame on both sides, calling on them to cease the violence and restore order. “I condemn Palestinian rocket attacks and call for the immediate cessation of such acts of terrorism, which serve no purpose, endanger Israeli civilians and bring misery to the Palestinian people,” he said. “While recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, I condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force that has killed and injured so many civilians, including children. Israel must fully comply with international humanitarian law and exercise the utmost constraint.”
That is what’s not true because: The investigation found that Mr Sharon - as defense minister of the Israeli forces - was indirectly but personally to blame for the massacres. And the Kahan report also condemned Israeli General Rafael Eitan for “breach of duty” in not taking steps to stop the massacre… The judicial report criticized Israeli prime minister Menachim Begin and his government’s role and dismissed the argument that Israel could not be held directly accountable. This was also not the first time Ariel Sharon got in trouble over massacres. In 1953, he founded and led the “101″ special commando unit which carried out retaliatory operations, following terrorist attacks in Israel. However, the unit remained independent for only five months and was disbanded after it raided the West Bank village of Kibya, killing nearly 70 innocent civilians.
February 8,1983: Sharon quits after massacre inquiry
Israeli defense minister Ariel Sharon has resigned after an inquiry concluded that he had failed to act to prevent the massacre of hundreds in two refugee camps. Mr Sharon was forced to step down by an Israeli tribunal investigating the 1982 Lebanon killings. The investigation found that Mr Sharon - as defense minister of the Israeli forces - was indirectly but personally to blame for the massacres. The Kahan Commission’s report said Mr Sharon had made a “grave mistake” by failing to order “appropriate measures for preventing or reducing the danger of massacre” at the camps… It concluded that the former defense minister should have foreseen what the Phalange would do when they entered the camps… The Kahan report also condemned Israeli General Rafael Eitan for “breach of duty” in not taking steps to stop the massacre… The judicial report criticised Israeli prime minister Menachim Begin and his government’s role and dismissed the argument that Israel could not be held directly accountable. In Israel, 300,000 people had taken to the streets of Tel Aviv to demand that Mr Sharon resign.”
Israel: Sharon Investigation Urged
(06/23/01) — “A criminal investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon´s role in the massacre of civilians in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla… As Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon had overall responsibility over the Israeli Defense Forces and allowed Phalangist militias to enter the camps where they terrorized the residents for three days.”
And guess what? That wasn’t Ariel’s first time dealing with the murder of innocent civilians that he was held responsible for.
Ariel Sharon Bio
Sharon’s reputation as a military hero began in 1953, when he founded and led the “101″ special commando unit which carried out retaliatory operations, following terrorist attacks in Israel. However, the unit remained independent for only five months and was disbanded after it raided the West Bank village of Kibya, killing nearly 70 innocent civilians.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Report condemns Sudan over Darfur Monday, 12 March 2007
The small UN mission issued its report to the UN Human Rights Council, which did nothing. There is a difference between a few UN individuals and the UN Council as a body. The latter did bugger all.
UN condemns “barbaric” Rwandan massacre Friday, December 12, 1997
Again, it was an individual’s condemnation. One man.
UN tribunal condemns former Rwandan councilor for 1994 genocide, rape 28 April 2005
The UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is different from that of the body I specifically mentioned, the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
And last but not least they have condemned the Palestinians but along with that the Israelis disproportionate response.
United Nations condemns Palestinian rocket attacks and Israel’s ‘disproportionate’ response 1 March 2008
Guess who called for this meeting? Libya!!!! Can you believe the hypocricy?
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter means Israel has every right to carry out defensive measures.
By the way, it was not an official condemnation. It was a ‘description’ and then discussion.
…the Kahan report…
Have you read the Kahan report, word for word? If not, I suggest you do instead of taking snippets from anti-Israeli websites.
He was found guilty of nothing more than misjudging the Phalangist unit’s actions.
Sharon’s reputation as a military hero began in 1953, when he founded and led the “101″ special commando unit which carried out retaliatory operations, following terrorist attacks in Israel. However, the unit remained independent for only five months and was disbanded after it raided the West Bank village of Kibya, killing nearly 70 innocent civilians.
They were carrying out retaliatory attacks on the Palestinian fedayeen. A terrorist group. Rather like today, the Palestinians use civilian human shields. Israel should just sit on its hands?
April 7th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
God bless Rachels family and may the word be spread far and be heard by many just what this young lady was trying to do and that people start stepping up and be heard so that more people like her wont go unnoticed. She is a true martyr. God Bless her.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
What did Rachel think would happen? She played the game “chicken” with a bulldozer and lost. That’s the chance she took. If she was worried about dying she should have found a different way to protest.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
April 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
How can you be so callous, Camden? Playing “chicken”? People who think like you do make me furious.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:25 am
Rachel Corrie’s story is very sad. She is much braver and more steadfast than I am. I think would have resorted to violence upon the bulldozer’s operator before I’d stand in front of it.