Acquittal of Corrie's murderers a green light for more crimes

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Director of al-Mezan center for human rights, Issam Younis, considered the acquittal of murderers of American activist Rachel Corrie a new moral disgrace and a proof of the weakness of the Israeli legal system.

Rachel Corrie was killed in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in 2003 after being run over by an Israeli military bulldozer while she was trying to prevent the demolition of Palestinian houses.

Issam Younis stated in a press release on Thursday that such crime should be considered as a war crime requiring the prosecution of those who committed the evil deed.

He added that the Israeli judiciary has been providing political, legal and security cover for the occupation crimes and granting Israeli soldiers immunity and helping them escape punishment.

The human rights activist said that such resolution represents a green light to move forward in committing more crimes, as long as the soldier is immune and above the law, stressing that justice in Corrie's case requires punishing those who ordered as well as those who committed the murder.

According to al-Mezan center director, the resolution is designed to deliver a message to the international peace activists that they are not immune from occupation crimes, even if it comes to murder. “It is a desperate attempt to stop the international solidarity with Palestinians,” he said.

Younis confirmed that the continued silence of the international community regarding the crimes committed in the Palestinian occupied territories encourages the occupation to ignore the rules of international law and to commit more crimes, which threatens international peace and security.

He further stressed that the international community is required to protect the Palestinian civilian and their properties in the occupied territories, and to ensure the respect of the rules of international law. This requires the prosecution of Israeli war criminals.

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