The International State Crime Initiative (ISCI), based at Queen Mary University of London, today launched the fifth volume of its research journal: State Crime.
Published in advance of the 50th anniversary of the occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights, the special issue brings together leading specialists and academic voices on the experiences of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
The special issue was launched by Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University, and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories.
Speaking at the launch Professor Falk said: “More than ever, it is important that the world not forget the ordeal that has been imposed on the Palestinian people for decades. In this spirit it is my great honour to take part in this event calling attention to the Special Issue of the Journal of State Crime.”
He added: “We meet at a time when it is important to recognise a new phase in the ongoing struggle for the attainment of fundamental Palestinian rights.”
Professor Penny Green, Director of the International State Crime Initiative said: “The special issue demands that we ask about state violence in relation to historic Palestine…Palestinians it seems must simply accommodate the abuses, killings, discrimination, segregation, land theft and multitudinous deprivations, inflicted upon them by Israel. The only “acceptable” form of resistance, from this perspective, is departure, exile or death.”
Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Professor at Hebrew University Jerusalem and co-Editor of State Crime said: “We hope that this special issue can offer new insights into theorizations of state criminality and state crime. State criminality, as an all-encompassing power that traps communities in a state of slow death, results in transforming populations from “must live” conditions to “have to die” conditions.”
Articles in the special issue focus on a range of issues including: evictions, discrimination against children, settler colonialism, and as assessment of non-violent resistance.
An online version can be accessed through JSTOR (subscription required).
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