The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

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Statement from Corrie family in response to the Israeli Supreme Court’s Dismissal of Appeal in Wrongful Death of Rachel Corrie

Posted on February 12, 2015

February 12, 2015

Today we received word from our attorneys that the Supreme Court of Israel dismissed our appeal in the wrongful death case of our daughter and sister Rachel Corrie.  Our family is disappointed but not surprised. We had hoped for a different outcome, though we have come to see through this experience how deeply all of Israel’s institutions are implicated in the impunity enjoyed by the Israeli military.

It will take some time before we have ability to read the decision in English and to process all the court has said. Nevertheless, it is clear that this decision, affirming the August 2012 lower court finding, amounts to judicial sanction of immunity for Israeli military forces when they commit injustices and human rights violations.

The Supreme Court decision ignores international law arguments regarding the protection of civilians and human rights defenders in armed conflict and grossly violates the internationally recognized right to effective remedy.

The court has determined that our separate case against Dr. Yehuda Hiss and Abu Kabir Institute, regarding inappropriate ways in which Rachel’s autopsy was conducted, may go forward in the lower court. We continue to be appalled that it requires a lawsuit to have a truthful accounting of what occurred, and complete repatriation of Rachel’s remains. Decisions as to next steps will be made by the family in consultation with our attorneys.

Despite the verdict, our family remains convinced we were correct in bringing this case forward.  The day after Rachel was killed, Prime Minister Sharon promised President Bush a thorough, credible and transparent investigation. Clearly, that standard was not met. The U.S. government continues to call for such an investigation by Israel.  A civil lawsuit cannot substitute for an impartial investigation, but it is the only process through which a family can discover more information and move forward when governments fail to act.

Rachel’s case provides yet another example of how the Israeli justice system is failing to provide accountability. We urge the international community, and not least the U.S. government, to stand with victims of human rights violations and against impunity, and to uphold fundamental tenets of international justice.

We are immensely grateful to our attorney Hussein Abu Hussein and to his entire legal team for the decade of work they have contributed to Rachel’s case, and continue to provide.  We are grateful to all of our friends in Palestine, Israel, and elsewhere, who in so many different ways have supported our efforts.

We have taken this path for Rachel, the daughter and sister we love, lost, and miss. Her spirit lives. She has inspired all of our actions and will continue to do so.

———–

For the Supreme Court Decision (in Hebrew) see: http://elyon1.court.gov.il/files/12/820/069/v11/12069820.v11.pdf

For more information about the trial visit: http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/trial

Media inquiries contact Stacy Sullivan at:

Phone: 917-971-1003

E-mail: [email protected]

Filed Under: News and Updates, Trial Press Releases Tagged With: civil trial, Hussein Abu Hussein, Israel, lawsuit, Legal Case, Rachel Corrie, trial

Israeli Supreme Court to Hear Rachel Corrie Appeal on May 21

Posted on May 12, 2014

CORRIE FAMILY TO ATTEND JERUSALEM HEARING

Nine years after filing a civil suit against the State of Israel for the wrongful death of American peace activist Rachel Corrie, her family will have their appeal heard before the Israeli Supreme Court on May 21 at 11:30 a.m. in Jerusalem. The appeal, which will be argued by attorney Hussein Abu Hussein, challenges the Haifa District Court’s August 2012 ruling which concluded that the Israeli military was not responsible for Rachel’s death and that it conducted a credible investigation.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News and Updates, Trial, Trial Press Releases Tagged With: appeal, civil trial, Craig and Cindy Corrie, Craig Corrie, Haifa, Hussein Abu Hussein, investigation, Israel, Israeli Supreme Court, Jerusalem, Judge Oded Gershon, lawsuit, Legal Case, My Name is Rachel Corrie, Rachel Corrie, supreme court, trial, verdict

The deeply disturbing Israel court ruling on Rachel Corrie

Posted on September 29, 2012

THE SEATTLE TIMES – by Cindy Corrie

Special to the Times: Op-Ed

Last month, in a deeply disturbing ruling, an Israeli court dismissed the civil lawsuit brought by my family against the state of Israel for the wrongful death of my daughter Rachel Corrie.

Born and raised in Olympia, Rachel was a human rights defender and peace activist killed in 2003 by an armored Israeli military bulldozer as she stood for hours, visibly and nonviolently protesting the Israeli government’s policy of civilian home demolitions in Rafah, Gaza.

The home Rachel and her friends from the International Solidarity Movement defended was eventually demolished with hundreds more in mass-clearing operations to create a buffer along Gaza’s southern border.

Our lawsuit was not a solution, but rather a symptom of a broken system of accountability within Israel and our own U.S. Government. Despite a promise from Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for a “thorough, credible, and transparent” investigation and repeated calls from the highest levels of our government for such an investigation to occur, there was no diplomatic resolution. According to the U.S. State Department, its calls “have gone unanswered or ignored.”

[link to full article at The Seattle Times]

Filed Under: Family Reflections Tagged With: accountability, Ariel Sharon, Cindy Corrie, civil trial, Embassy, Hussein Abu Hussein, investigation, Israel, Judge Oded Gershon, justice, lawsuit, Legal Case, Military Police, trial, Trial Verdict, U.S. Government, U.S. State Department, verdict

Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th – Family to Hold Press Conference in Haifa

Posted on August 21, 2012

(Haifa, Israel – August 21, 2012) – The verdict in the civil lawsuit against the State of Israel for the killing of peace activist Rachel Corrie over nine years ago will be announced August 28, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. at the Haifa District Court.

Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American from Olympia, Washington, was crushed to death March 16, 2003, by an Israeli military Caterpillar D9-R bulldozer while nonviolently protesting demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in Rafah, Gaza.

Download: Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (2295 downloads) Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (1769 downloads) Verdict in Rachel Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28th (1896 downloads)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News and Updates, Trial, Trial Press Releases Tagged With: civil trial, Haifa, Hussein Abu Hussein, Israel, Judge Oded Gershon, lawsuit, Legal Case, press release, Rachel Corrie, Rafah, Sarah Corrie Simpson, trial

Verdict in Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28, 2012

Posted on May 16, 2012

(Olympia, WA USA – May 16, 2012)– The verdict in the civil lawsuit against the State of Israel for the killing of peace activist Rachel Corrie more than nine years ago will be announced August 28, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. at the Haifa District Court.

Members of the Corrie family, including Rachel’s parents, Craig and Cindy Corrie, and her sister, Sarah Corrie Simpson, plan to return to Israel in advance of the hearing and be present when the verdict is read. […]

Download:  Verdict in Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28, 2012 (1720 downloads)   Verdict in Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28, 2012 (1488 downloads)   Verdict in Corrie Lawsuit to be Announced August 28, 2012 (1657 downloads)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: News and Updates, Trial, Trial Press Releases Tagged With: Craig and Cindy Corrie, Haifa, Hussein Abu Hussein, Israel, Judge Oded Gershon, lawsuit, press release, Sarah Corrie Simpson, trial, verdict

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The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice
203 East Fourth Ave., Suite 402
Olympia, WA 98501

Phone: 360-754-3998
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      • Birzeit University Women’s Scholarship
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