Press Release at the end of the second day of the 3rd International session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine held at the District Six [6] Museum in Cape Town, November 6, 2011 The Russell Tribunal on Palestine is a public awareness tribunal set up by international civil society to investigate violations of international law perpetrated against the Palestinian people. The second day of the Third International Session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine heard testimonies from severalexpert witnesses about the denial of the right to freedom of movement of Palestinians. The tribunal is being held in Cape Town, South Africa and aims to establish whether Israel's practices against the Palestinian people, are in breach of the prohibition on Apartheid under International Law. Lea Tsemel, who is a legal advisor and a board member of the Public Committee against Torture in Israel, told the jury how Israeli laws are officially denying Palestinians their right to a nationality, education and freedom of expression and association. “This committee is also concerned that separate sectors are maintained for Jewish and Arab persons in Israel particularly in areas for housing andeducation. And that such separation will result in unequal treatment and funding,” Lea Tsemel said. The tribunal also heard about measures designed to divide the population along racial lines. This is done by the creation of separate reserves and ghettoes. Jeff Halper: Israeli Professor of Anthropology. “We don’t know how many homes have been demolished in the West Bank as far as I know. Adding that Bedouin homes were regarded as rubbish. Haneen Zoabi, is a member of the Israeli Knesset representing the Balad Party. She is a Palestinian Arab and also a Palestinian citizen living in Israel. She said there were about 43 laws which legally discriminate against Palestinians. “According to the education law, I cannot study my history. What drives us and our aim is that the Palestinians have the right to live in their homeland all of them. I would say, there was no justification for Zionist projects and to have a Jewish state in my homeland. Now there are Israeli generations who didn’t know any other homeland. We want to live with them.” She said she was not in favour of two independent states and she did not support separation. The Russell Tribunal on Palestine is a public awareness tribunal set up by international civil society to investigate violations of international law perpetrated against the Palestinian people. World renowned experts and witnesses are participating in the event. Several other high profile South Africans are also joining in discussions. The tribunal will conclude its session with a Media Conference at The Homecoming House Centre,District Six,Cape Town at 11H00 on Monday November 7. The Third International Session of the Russel Tribunal on Palestine Date:5-7 November 2011 Venue:District Six Museum, Cape Town, South Africa ** For further information: Claude Colart, media manager, RToP Cape Town +27 82 3706731
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