September 8, 2014
Mr Dieng and Ms Walsh,
I was disturbed to read Tali Shapiro’s capable and thorough analysis of the failures of your office to discharge its responsibilities in relation to the prevention of genocide and related violations of international law and applicable human rights conventions, particularly in relation to recent events in Gaza. Ms Shapiro’s analysis is available here:
Ms Shapiro demonstrates carefully and at length the profound inadequacy – if not, indeed, complicity – of the statement from your office of 24 July 2014, which goes to exceptional lengths to maintain a familiar, unconvincing and immoral “balance” amongst parties involved in or affected by the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation and blockade, and the ongoing oppression and persecution of, and discrimination against, Palestinians.
Please add my name to the growing list of people demanding a consistent and morally defensible stance from your office, and an official, urgent, public inquiry into the possibility that Israel is guilty of committing crimes of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Sincerely,
John Treat
Johannesburg, South Africa
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