PIJ.ORG: In Memory of Rachel Corrie

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Robert F. Kennedy

The co-editors of the Palestine-Israel Journal, Palestinian Legislative Council Member, Ziad Abu Zayyad, professor of political psychology, Daniel Bar-Tal, and the PIJ staff, extend their sincerest condolences to the family of Rachel Corrie, to the International Solidarity Movement and to peace lovers everywhere, on the death of Rachel, a 23-year-old college student from Olympia, Washington, killed while trying to stop an Israeli bulldozer demolishing a pharmacist's house in Rafah, Gaza.

According to an eyewitness, the bulldozer ran over Rachel crushing her chest and skull. She was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Many peace activists have come to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) to show solidarity with the Palestinians during this Intifada. According to international law (in particular, Chapter 7 of the UN Charter), the international community has the right to send a protection force to the OPT to restore peace and end Israel's human rights violations. Thus Rachel's death constitutes a dangerous precedent, aimed at deterring peace activists from keeping the brutal and violent Israeli occupation in check.