Horrific discrimination against Palestinians under occupation with regard to COVID-19 vaccines
JVL Introduction
On 3rd January the Observer/Guardian reported Palestinians excluded from Israeli Covid vaccine rollout as jabs go to settlers.
On 6th January Amnesty International called on the Israeli government to stop ignoring its international obligations as an occupying power and immediately act to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are equally and fairly provided to Palestinians living under its occupation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. See below.
On 7th January the Financial Times reported under the headline “Palestinians wait for vaccines as Israel lauds immunisation drive ”
And the Board of Deputies of British Jews? Senior vice president Sheila Gewolb said she was “extremely troubled” by the headline used in the Observer piece, saying it gave ammunition to antisemites despite being “blatantly false”.
The Observer, to its credit refused to change it.
Meanwhile Israel decided urgently to vaccinate its prison staff but to deny the vaccine to Palestinian prisoners in their gaols…
And, as Mondoweiss points out, Israel is discriminating against its Palestinian citizens by not providing accurate COVID-19 info in Arabic.
You can read Medical Aid for Palestinians situation updates here; and donate to support MAP’s COVID-19 response.
This article was originally published by Amnesty International on Wed 6 Jan 2021. Read the original here.
Denying COVID-19 vaccines to Palestinians exposes Israel’s institutionalized discrimination
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For the past two days the BBC has been trumpeting Israel’s success in distributing the vaccine! No mention that second to the US ? Israel has abysmal record on universal public health provision OR the lack of economic protection for ‘workers’ exposed to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic
The BoD have revealed their true loyalties to the racist state of Israel. It’s OK for the occupying power to disregard their international obligations to their victims. What an appalling response to vaccine apartheid! Expecting the weakened representatives of thevictims of settler colonialism to deal with the pandemic is shocking. I can’t believe they are speaking on the behalf of the majority of the the Jewish diaspora in the UK on this matter.
Before questioning a member of the Israeli Health organisation about their record on COVID vaccinations – Piers Morgan immediately spoke up about the lack of vaccine for Palestinians. (Not sure about the BBC in the same circumstances?)
I agree though – the discrimination is a scandal.