PA daily columnist: Rock throwing legitimate under international law, which allows resisting occupation “through all available means”
Op-ed by Hafez Al-Barghouti, regular columnist for Al-Hayat Al-Jadida
Headline: "Law encouraging shooting"
"There is not a more criminal law than the recent Israeli law, which increases the punishment for rock throwing in Jerusalem to imprisonment of up to 20 years. This law will not prevent resistance to the occupation through use of the weakest means, which is rock throwing, since a rock is not a deadly weapon. However, the occupation and the rightist Israeli Parliament (Knesset) have chosen a punishment which is inappropriate to the act, an act that is permitted from an international perspective as long as there is occupation, since international law permits whoever is under occupation to resist through all possible means. However, Israel does not consider itself an occupying force in Jerusalem, and therefore it has passed this criminal law against those who are under occupation. However, it doesn't matter how severe the punishment, it won't prevent the resistance to the daily attacks of the settlers, and it will not scare anyone. Indeed, it is actually a call to escalate the conflict, since if the punishment for rock throwing is equal to the punishment for shooting, whoever wants to throw [rocks], will reconsider and look for a firearm, as long as the punishment is the same. Therefore, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) is responsible for any blood spilled in Jerusalem, since this law encourages the use of weapons instead of rocks."
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Note: The law (Penal Code 2015, section 332A), promoted by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, was passed by the Israeli Parliament on July 21, 2015. It imposes up to 10 years imprisonment for throwing rocks at civilian vehicles and up to 20 years when intent to injure is proven.
PA leaders and officials have legitimized Palestinian violence by quoting UN resolution 3236 which "recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means." The PA interprets "all means" as including violence against civilians, but has chosen to ignore the continuation of the resolution which states that the use of "all means" should be "in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations..." The UN Charter prohibits targeting civilians, even in war. Chapter 1, Article 1, opens by saying that "international disputes" should be resolved "by peaceful means."
Headline: "Law encouraging shooting"
"There is not a more criminal law than the recent Israeli law, which increases the punishment for rock throwing in Jerusalem to imprisonment of up to 20 years. This law will not prevent resistance to the occupation through use of the weakest means, which is rock throwing, since a rock is not a deadly weapon. However, the occupation and the rightist Israeli Parliament (Knesset) have chosen a punishment which is inappropriate to the act, an act that is permitted from an international perspective as long as there is occupation, since international law permits whoever is under occupation to resist through all possible means. However, Israel does not consider itself an occupying force in Jerusalem, and therefore it has passed this criminal law against those who are under occupation. However, it doesn't matter how severe the punishment, it won't prevent the resistance to the daily attacks of the settlers, and it will not scare anyone. Indeed, it is actually a call to escalate the conflict, since if the punishment for rock throwing is equal to the punishment for shooting, whoever wants to throw [rocks], will reconsider and look for a firearm, as long as the punishment is the same. Therefore, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) is responsible for any blood spilled in Jerusalem, since this law encourages the use of weapons instead of rocks."
Click to view bulletin
Note: The law (Penal Code 2015, section 332A), promoted by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, was passed by the Israeli Parliament on July 21, 2015. It imposes up to 10 years imprisonment for throwing rocks at civilian vehicles and up to 20 years when intent to injure is proven.
PA leaders and officials have legitimized Palestinian violence by quoting UN resolution 3236 which "recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to regain its rights by all means." The PA interprets "all means" as including violence against civilians, but has chosen to ignore the continuation of the resolution which states that the use of "all means" should be "in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations..." The UN Charter prohibits targeting civilians, even in war. Chapter 1, Article 1, opens by saying that "international disputes" should be resolved "by peaceful means."
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