The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in relation to Israel / Palestine

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I posted this on another thread but felt it was worth a discussion in and of itself.

Was reading these human rights and wishing that both Palestinians and Israelis could have them all, but reading through was a stark reminder of how far we are from this for so many people.

Article 1 Right to Equality
Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination
Article 3 Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
Article 4 Freedom from Slavery
Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
Article 6 Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
Article 7 Right to Equality before the Law
Article 8 Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
Article 10 Right to Fair Public Hearing
Article 11 Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
Article 12 Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
Article 13 Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
Article 14 Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
Article 15 Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It
Article 16 Right to Marriage and Family
Article 17 Right to Own Property
Article 18 Freedom of Belief and Religion
Article 19 Freedom of Opinion and Information
Article 20 Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Article 21 Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
Article 22 Right to Social Security
Article 23 Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure
Article 25 Right to Adequate Living Standard
Article 26 Right to Education
Article 27 Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community
Article 28 Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document
Article 29 Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
Article 30 Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights

How do people feel about these human rights with regards to Israel / Palestine?

It's quite a long list. To start with Article 1 = Right to Equality. In Israel itself, Arab residents are said to live in poorer neighbourhoods and to have poorer socioeconomic outcomes. While all Jewish people are granted the law of return, Palestinian people are not. The nation state law gives Jewish people the unique right to self determination within Israel, and Israeli Arabs do not have this right.

In East Jerusalem Palestinians can not vote in national elections, and can be deported if the Israeli government decides that East Jerusalem is no longer their primary residence, which is not the same for other Israeli residents of East Jerusalem.

In the occupied WB I imagine there are a number of ways in which Palestinians are treated unequally with Israelis. Most well known is trial in military court, less provision of water, denial of building permits, and night time house raids. These are actions carried out by the occupying forces. There are also issues with the PA as governing body, and whether they treat the population equally as well - for example, women's rights.

I think there's a lot more to say here, regarding equality in Gaza and the experiences of other minorities within Israel, but I am tired so will leave it there for now. I have to say I think Palestinians are not receiving many of those rights on the list.

24 of the 40 Palestinians released today were held without knowing any charges against them, and without any legal process. I think that violates Article 10 - the right to a fair public hearing. Probably quite a few others too!

That info was from CNN live updates.

They might aswell be written on toilet paper, Israel don't think they apply to Palestinians.

@feralunderclass@stormy4319trevor exactly. I was reading through the list last night with family and with the exception of just a few, we agreed that Palestinians didn't currently enjoy these human rights.

And even the ones they do have seem to be curtailed some of the time in certain ways.

Have you only just discovered European Law OP? Any particular reason?

@Cashncarry68 beg pardon? I felt highlighting the human rights charter would be a good way of showing how the Palestinian people are oppressed. Do you have a problem with that? Any reason?

Reminder to all to please not allow the thread to be derailed!

Article 1 - Right to equality - Palestinians definitely not treated as equals.

Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination - Palestinians discriminated against on a daily basis

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/

Israel’s continuing oppressive and discriminatory system of governing Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) constituted a system of apartheid, and Israeli officials committed the crime of apartheid under international law.

Article 3 - Right to Life, Liberty and Security. It was interesting to hear David Cameron say that murderers of Palestinians in the WB need to be prosecuted. You would think that would happen automatically, but he seemed to be saying it doesn't. So, if true, Palestinians in the WB do not have the rights in Article 3. In Gaza the people clearly do not have this right, as they have been placed under siege and deprived of the essentials, bombed etc.

Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment

Just a couple of examples.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/israel-opt-horrifying-cases-of-torture-and-degrading-treatment-of-palestinian-detainees-amid-spike-in-arbitrary-arrests/

Testimony from released detainees and human rights lawyers, as well as video footage and images illustrate some of the forms of torture and other ill-treatment prisoners have been subjected to by Israeli forces over the past four weeks. These include severe beatings and humiliation of detainees, including by forcing them to keep their heads down, to kneel on the floor during inmate count, and to sing Israeli songs.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/1/he-threw-up-blood-palestinian-detainees-face-abuse-in-israeli-custody

Hamas also commit torture against Palestinians.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/

Article 4 - Here's a quick look at the status of modern slavery and sex trafficking in Israel. It does not just affect Palestinians, and does not give much info about the OT, so not sure how relevant. It appears there are issues the country is attempting to address.
Thousands of slaves in Israel, global study finds | The Times of Israel

A bit more on women and trafficking here
Modern slavery in Israel: The women victims of human trafficking - Israel News - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

Israeli Arabs absolutely have equal rights. In fact they can be found in every position of power, including the parliament and supreme court. About a third of the medical profession is Arabs.

The right to return is a law that states every Jew from anywhere in the world has an automatic right to Israeli citizenship. This BTW isn't (positive) discrimination by race but by religion, as Jews come in all colours, and anyone can convert to Judaism.

The reason for this law is actually the reasoning behind the existence of Israel in the first place - for there to be a safe haven for every Jew.

Arabs can also become Israeli citizens, much like anyone else. But there is a process. Just like there is a process for a Syrian or Lebanese person who wants to become a British citizen.