USPCN is proud to endorse the NY session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP)

 The Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) will be holding its fourth international session in New York City from 6 & 7 October 2012. The RToP is an International People’s Tribunal created in response to the international community’s inaction regarding Israel’s recognized violations of international law. The Tribunal aims to bring attention to the complicity and responsibility of various national, international and corporate actors in the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the perpetuation of Israel’s impunity under international law. Although the RToP has no legal status, like other Russell Tribunals onVietnam, Chile and Iraq, its legitimacy comes from its universality and the strength that it draws from the will of citizens and the support of international  personalities who advocate for an end to the Israeli occupation and Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights. (For more information on the Tribunal, please see: ://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/.)

The New York session of the RToP will focus on the complicity of the United States of America and the United Nations in Israel’s occupation and violations of Palestinian rights.  As with previous sessions, the 2012 New York session will see dozens of experts and witnesses present their testimonies to a jury of international personalities who will deliberate on the proceedings. The jury will then issue their conclusions publicly and bring them to the attention of the relevant international actors.  The previous three session of the RToP focused on the complicity and responsibility of the European Union and international corporations in Israel’s violations of international law, as well as on the question of whether Israeli practices towards the Palestinian people violate the prohibition on apartheid.