Stadtepartnerschaft Andernach Dimona/Letter to the mayor of Andernach about relationship with Dimona

STADTEPARTNERSCHAFT ANDERNACH DIMONA/LETTER TO THE
MAYOR OF ANDERNACH ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAELI SISTER
CITY DIMONA

TO THE MAYOR OF ANDERNACH
MR A HUTTEN
Subject :
The alliance between your city Andernach and the Israeli city
Dimona

Dear Mr Hutten,

I’ve recently learnt, that your city, Andernach and the Israeli city Dimona
are twin cities since 1975. [1]
Not only Dimona, with its nuclear Research Centre, is a threat to peace and
humanity [2], there is a horrendous racism, reason enough
for you to break all ties immediately.
To that racism I refer later.

First this :

ISRAELI OCCUPATION, OPPRESSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Dimona, as a city is not only part of the Israeli occupation State,
but by its nuclear involvement also an destructive military guardian
of the occupation.
Occupation State Israel is systematically violating the rights of the
occupied Palestinians.
The list is long, but here some horrible examples

Illegal settlements :

Since the end of the sixties [former century] Israel builds and expands
settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, which are illegal according
to International Law. [3]
Building settlements means disowning Palestinian land, so mere landtheft.
And if this isn’t worse enough, often settlers are terrorising the Palestinian
population without being punished [we call that ; impunity] , since the Israeli army either tolerates this, or, still worse, is helping the settlers with their crimes. [4]

Illegal Israeli Wall

Not only the Israeli Wall is illegal, running through occupied
Palestinian territories [5], it also restricts Palestinian freedom of
movement, and is a hindrance for access to schools and hospitals. [6]

Gaza Blockade

To Israel´s shame and disgrace, the Gaza Blockade goes on and on.
Since the Israeli government, in 2007, classified Gaza as a ´´hostile
entity´´, as a whole (7), considering the civilian population
as ´´combatants´´ (a warcrime) (8), it blockades foods, fuel and
other life necessities.
This is a crime against humanity, (9)

BLOODY GAZA WARS/PROTECTIVE EDGE

Of course you are informed about the bloody Israeli military
operations in Gaza.
The last one, in 2014, ’’Protective Edge’’, caused more than 2100
Palestinian deaths [10] a third of them were children.
Health workers were attacked and even hospitals and schools
[11].
Thousands of people were made homeless.

Worse :
According to an UNCTAD report, a great part of Gaza is now
uninhabitable because of ’’Protective Edge’’ [12]

ISRAELI ARMY CONDUCT IN GENERAL

And apart from those Gaza operations :
An Amnesty International report revealed the trigger happy
behaviour of the Israeli army in general. [13]

PRESENT TIME/OCCUPATION HORROR GOES ON

All those horrific [war]crimes are going on and on :
Civilian houses are being bombed [14], people are
killed at military checkpoints
[15], unlawful killings and collective punishments take place [16]
,demonstrators are being shot at [17] and to my horror
I learned of an extrajudicial execution in a hospital. [18]
Yes, you read it well.
A hospital !
A barbaric act.

Dimona is not an island in a sea, but part of the Israeli occupation
State to which it also gives a nuclear-military contribution. [19]
That alone is reason enough to break all ties.

RACISM IN DIMONA

Shocking to me are two things :
The racism in Dimona and the fact, that you were informed
about it [20], yet you seem to ignore it.

Therefore a refreshing of your memory :

Dimona is so racist stricken, that it seems ’’acceptable’’
to most of the inhabitants :
Throughout the town, racist graffiti can be seen in abundance on signs,
walls and buildings.
’’Death to Arabs’’ is a common sight.
On the highway sign marking the towns main entry point,
’’Death to Arabs’’ is written. [21]
Later it was painted over. [22]
But with that the problem is, of course, not solved :
Stickers of the extreme right wing Lehava organisation flourish [23]
’’Death to Arabs’’ racist graffiti is also written in the neigbourhood of pre
schools and the city hall is not very cooperative to remove
this rubbish. [24]

And that’s not all !
Fysical attacks also take place !

Recently [in october], three Palestinian construction workers and
a Bedouin were stabbed by a Jewish man in Dimona. [25]

And that’s the city you have a twin sistership with !
Shame to you !

Is that, your an example of twin sistership with Dimona,
’’European values’’ ?

CONCLUSION

Knowing about the atrocities the Israeli occupation
State, the nuclear role of Dimona and the flourishing racism,
you have only one option :

To break immediately and unconditionally all ties with
Dimona.
It is a shame and disgrace already, that I have to write you
this letter to point this out to you, while it is your
task to be informed about all this.

So mr Hutten, break all ties with Dimona now !

If not, you are co responsible for occupation, oppression
and racism.

Make the right choice.

I write you this letter, so that you can’t say :

’’Ich habe ess nicht gewusst.’’

Kind greetings

Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

NOTES

[1]

’’Diese Städtepartnerschaft war die erste zwischen einer israelischen und einer deutschen Stadt überhaupt, die am 18. Oktober 1975 ins Leben gerufen wurde.’’

ISRAEL HEUTE
30 JAHRE STADTEPARTNERSCHAFT
ANDERNACH-DIMONA
DIENSTAG 20 SEPTEMBER 2005

http://www.israelheute.com/ Nachrichten/Artikel/tabid/179/ nid/4578/Default.aspx

WIKIPEDIA
LIST OF ISRAELI TWIN TOWNS AND SISTER CITIES
DIMONA-ANDERLACH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_Israeli_twin_towns_ and_sister_cities#D

ORIGINAL SOURCE :

WIKIPEDIA
LIST OF ISRAELI TWIN TOWNS AND SISTER CITIES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_Israeli_twin_towns_ and_sister_cities

[2]

WIKIPEDIA
NEGEV NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTER

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Negev_Nuclear_Research_Center

GLOBAL RESEARCH.COM
PENTAGON ADMITS THAT ISRAEL IS A NUCLEAR POWER
1 APRIL 2015

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ pentagon-admits-that-israel- is-a-nuclear-power/5439938

[3]

BTSELEM.ORG

LAND EXPROPRIATION AND SETTLEMENTS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL LAW

http://www.btselem.org/ settlements/international_law

[4]

BTSELEM.ORG
PRESS RELEASE
VIDEO DOCUMENTATION :
SOLDIERS ESCORTING YITZHAR SETTLERS ON
VIOLENT RAMPAGE
8 OCTOBER 2015

http://www.btselem.org/press_ releases/20151008_soldiers_ provide_security_to_vigilante_ settlers

[5]

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WALL
IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/ index.php ?pr=71&code=mwp&p1=3& p2=4&p3=6&ca

[6]

´´Construction of the Barrier has imposed new restrictions on movement for Palestinians living near its route, in addition to the sweeping restrictions in force since the outbreak of the second intifada. Thousands of Palestinians have difficulty reaching their fields and marketing their produce to other areas of the West Bank. The areas west of the Separation Barrier are among the most fertile in the West Bank. According to the World Bank, the agriculture there generates 8 percent of overall Palestinian agricultural production. The damage to the agricultural sector means that Palestinian farmers cannot get supplementary income and makes it impossible to increase the number of workers in what is the primary sector of Palestinian economy.
The restrictions on freedom of movement also limit the access of Palestinian villagers to hospitals in nearby towns ; the educational system suffers because many schools, primarily village schools, depend on teachers who live outside the community and must commute to the school ; also family ties and social connections are adversely affected.
BTSELEM.ORG
THE SEPARATION BARRIER
http://www.btselem.org/ separation_barrier/map

(7)

On 19 September 2007, the Israeli security cabinet classified the Gaza Strip as a “hostile entity.”

BTSELEM.ORG
THE SIEGE ON GAZA
http://www.btselem.org/gaza_ strip/siege

[8]

´´ 7 - Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order to
spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be the
object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.´´

BASIC RULES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN ARMED
CONFLICTS

https://www.icrc.org/eng/ resources/documents/misc/ basic-rules-ihl-311288.htm

[9]

BBC
UN OFFICIAL SLAMS ISRAEL ”CRIMES”
10 DECEMBER 2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ middle_east/7774988.stm

BLOCKADE ON GAZA : CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
ASTRID ESSED
14 FEBRUARY 2008

http://la.indymedia.org/news/ 2008/02/213864.php

[10]

ALAKHBAR/ENGLISH
THE VICTIMS OF GAZA : A LIST OF PALESTINIANS KILLED
IN ISRAEL’S ONGOING ASSAULT

http://english.al-akhbar.com/ content/victims-gaza-list- palestinians-killed-israels- ongoing-assault

[11]

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
GAZA : AIRSTRIKE DEATHS RAISE CONCERNS ON
GROUND OFFENSIVE
22 JULI 2014

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/ 07/22/gaza-airstrike-deaths- raise-concerns-ground- offensive

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF DELIBERATE ATTACKS
ON GAZA HEALTH WORKERS BY ISRAELI ARMY
7 AUGUST 2014

https://www.amnesty.org/en/ latest/news/2014/08/mounting- evidence-deliberate-attacks- gaza-health-workers-israeli- army/

BTSELEM.ORG
BLACK FLAG : THE LEGAL AND MORAL IMPLICATIONS
OF THE POLICY OF ATTACKING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
IN THE GAZA STRIP, SUMMER 2014

JANUARY 2015
http://www.btselem.org/ download/201501_black_flag_ eng.pdf

THE GUARDIAN
GAZA SCHOOL ATTACK DENOUNCED AS
´´CRIMINAL ACT´´ BY UN CHIEF

http://www.theguardian.com/ world/2014/aug/03/israel-air- strike-un-school-gaza-rafah

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
NO WONDER GAZANS ARE ANGRY.
THE RED CROSS CAN’T PROTECT THEM
25 JULI 2014

http://www.icrc.org/eng/ resources/documents/article/ editorial/07-24-gaza-israel- palestine-maio.htm

[12]

UN
REPORT ON UNCTAD ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIAN PEOPLE :
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
6 JULY 2015

http://unctad.org/en/ PublicationsLibrary/tdb62d3_ en.pdf

[13]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
TRIGGER HAPPY/ISRAEL’S USE OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE IN THE WESTBANK
FEBRUARY 2014

https://www.amnesty.nl/sites/ default/files/public/ embargoed_trigger_happy_ report.pdf

[14]

BTSELEM.ORG
MILITARY BOMBS HASSAN FAMILY HOME IN A-ZEITUN
NEIGHBOURHOOD, GAZA, KILLING PREGNANT WOMAN
AND TODDLER
22 OCTOBER 2015

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_ strip/20151022_bombing_of_ hassan_family_home_gaza

[15]

ALJAZEERA
YOUNG PALESTINIAN WOMAN SHOT BY ISRAELI FORCES
DIES
22 SEPTEMBER 2015

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/ 2015/09/israeli-forces-shoot- palestinian-woman-west-bank- 150922070049785.html

[16]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAELI FORCES IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
MUST END PATTERN OF UNLAWFUL KILLINGS
27 OCTOBER 2015

https://www.amnesty.org/en/ latest/news/2015/10/israeli- forces-must-end-pattern-of- unlawful-killings-in-west- bank/

COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENTS
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
THIS IS WHAT BEING ’’THOUGH ON TERROR’’ LOOKS
LIKE IN EAST JERUSALEM
30 OCTOBER 2015

https://www.amnesty.org/en/ latest/news/2015/10/iopt-this- is-what-being-tough-on-terror- looks-like-in-east-jerusalem/

[17]

ALJAZEERA
ISRAELI FORCES KILL PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS IN GAZA
9 OCTOBER 2015

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/ 2015/10/israel-opens-fire- palestinians-gaza-border- 151009114132806.html

ALJAZEERA
ISRAELI FORCES KILL PALESTINIANS AT QALANDIYA CAMP
16 NOVEMBER 2015

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/ 2015/11/israeli-forces-kill- palestinians-qalandiya- 151116091413833.html

[18]

ALJAZEERA
ISRAELI ARMY UNIT STORMS HOSPITAL AND KILLS
PALESTINIAN
13 NOVEMBER 2015

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/ 2015/11/israeli-army-unit- storms-hospital-kills- palestinian-151112050130289. html

REUTERS.COM
UNDERCOVER ISRAELI TROOPS RAID HOSPITAL, KILL
PALESTINIAN
12 NOVEMBER 2015

http://www.reuters.com/ article/2015/11/12/us-israel- palestinians-violence- idUSKCN0T10JX20151112# iDi4tUtXPTtzGRrW.97

[19]

WIKIPEDIA
NEGEV NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTER

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Negev_Nuclear_Research_Center

GLOBAL RESEARCH.COM
PENTAGON ADMITS THAT ISRAEL IS A NUCLEAR POWER
1 APRIL 2015

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ pentagon-admits-that-israel- is-a-nuclear-power/5439938

[20]

’’Recently, while the mayor of Dimona, Beni Bitton, was visiting Dimona’s
sister city of Andernach, German journalist Martin Lejeune confronted
Andernach’s mayor about the racist graffiti. Still, nothinh happened’’