Le BLOG de la FIDH

President Obama gave his speech in Cairo in the aftermath of the most brutal offensive in the history of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, an offensive which claimed the lives of 1,414 Palestinians and injured 5,303, the vast majority of whom were civilians. He gave his speech in the context of the nearly two year long siege of the Gaza Strip, the annexation of occupied East Jerusalem, and the strangulation and bantustanisation of the West Bank. He gave his speech as the President of America, one of the most powerful men in the World, and a key player in Middle Eastern politics. True, this was perhaps not the venue for detailed policy statements or concrete action. But it was the venue for real affirmation of policy, for words that were substantial and not merely eloquent, for real change, and an acknowledgement of the equality of humanity and the necessity that the individual and the rule of law be placed above the political. In 1957, in response to the British, French and Israeli invasion of the Suez, former American President Eisenhower simply said ‘enough’ and three major powers withdrew. This is the power of President Obama’s office. He is no longer a university professor addressing students; he is the President of America addressing the world. There must be content to his words, and this content must be translated into reality. Until a true shift in American foreign policy is realized, based not on political gestures, but on the principles of human rights and the rule of law – principles espoused by President Obama in his speech – nothing will change.

GAZA ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL- Benjamin Barthe

A Charm El-Cheikh, en Egypte, les donateurs occidentaux, réunis le 2 mars, ont compté le montant de l'aide promise pour la reconstruction de la bande de Gaza : 4,5 milliards de dollars (3,5 milliards d'euros). Au Caire, où ils négocient depuis mardi 10 mars une hypothétique réconciliation, le Hamas et le Fatah comptent leurs motifs de désaccord. Mais, à Gaza, les ONG de défense des droits de l'homme comptent encore et toujours les morts. Deux mois après la fin de la guerre, leurs employés achèvent à peine l'inventaire de l'hécatombe. Mohamed Ghanem est l'un de ces petits comptables. Quartier après quartier, en s'aidant des posters placardés sur les murs et de son réseau d'informateurs, il piste le domicile des chahid (martyrs) tués durant les 22 jours de l'offensive israélienne (27 décembre - 18 janvier).

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