ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday hailed a report by Amnesty International on Israeli apartheid against Palestinians as an “international instrument.”
The term ‘apartheid’ was originally used to refer to a political system in South Africa which explicitly enforced racial segregation, and the domination and oppression of one racial group by another. It has since been adopted by the international community to condemn and criminalize such systems and practices wherever they occur in the world.
Amnesty International said its new investigation showed that Israel imposed a system of oppression and domination against Palestinians across all areas under its control: in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and against Palestinian refugees, in order to benefit Jewish Israelis.
Laws, policies and practices, which were intended to maintain a cruel system of control over Palestinians, had left them fragmented geographically and politically, frequently impoverished, and in a constant state of fear and insecurity, the UK-based rights group said.
Quoting the report, the OIC said Israel’s system of oppression and domination over Palestinians constituted a “crime against humanity.”
“The OIC hailed the report as an international instrument, considering it yet another confirmation of the violations, crimes and racial policies of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people,” it said on Twitter.
Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories since the six-day war of 1967. Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, some 475,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank regarded as illegal under international law, alongside more than 2.9 million Palestinians.
Clashes break out frequently in Palestinian population centers in the West Bank when Israeli troops mount incursions to carry out arrests.
Amnesty’s 280-page report features a slew of allegations against Israel. One of the most egregious and widespread is the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, whether through home demolitions, intimidation, legal mechanisms or by the creation of adverse living conditions.
The OIC called on the international community to take necessary measures to make Israel account for its violations, crimes and policies of apartheid against Palestinians.
OIC hails amnesty report accusing Israel of enforcing 'apartheid' on Palestinians
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OIC hails amnesty report accusing Israel of enforcing 'apartheid' on Palestinians
- The term ‘apartheid’ was originally used for a political system in South Africa that enforced racial segregation
- Amnesty says Israeli laws, policies had left Palestinians impoverished, fragmented geographically, in constant state of fear
India to make Rafale jets with France in boost to defense ties, Macron says
- India last week gave clearance to buy 114 more Rafale jets for country’s air force, besides planes, missiles
- Rafale jets flown by the Indian Air Force were in the spotlight during India’s conflict with Pakistan last May
NEW DELHI: France and India are entering a new era of defense cooperation with plans to jointly produce Rafale fighter jets as well as helicopters, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, adding France also hopes to sell more submarines to India.
India’s expected order for another 114 Rafales is a “new step forward” in defense ties between the two countries and France hopes to see this replicated with submarines as well, Macron told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to India.
“On Rafale, what we want to do is expand. India confirmed a few days ago its willingness to command a new bunch of Rafales... 114... and to co-produce in India,” Macron said.
The Defense Acquisition Council of India’s defense ministry last week gave initial clearance to acquire 114 more Rafale jets for the air force, besides other planes and missiles, months after the worst fighting in decades between India and Pakistan.
So far, India has purchased 36 Rafales for its air force and ordered another 26 marine versions of the jet for the navy.
Details of the Rafale deal including plans for co-production, expected to be sealed after technical and commercial negotiations, are yet to be made public. Indian media reports have said that the 114 jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation are expected to cost 3.25 trillion rupees ($35.65 billion).
They have also reported that up to 90 of the 114 jets could be produced in India with a joint venture partner who is yet to be identified.
“Rafale is absolutely key,” Macron said. “I hope we will do it on submarines. We offered additional capacities.”
The Indian navy operates six French Scorpene submarines and local media reports say there are plans to order more.
On Tuesday, Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first H125 helicopter assembly line, made in India by a joint venture between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems, as well as a plan to jointly produce HAMMER missiles in India, by Safran and India’s state-owned Bharat Electronics.
Rafale jets flown by the Indian Air Force were in the spotlight during India’s conflict with Pakistan last May.
Reuters reported that Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C jets shot down at least one Rafale, citing US officials.
New Delhi has confirmed losses in the air but has not acknowledged a Rafale being shot down.
