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Israel not complying with General Assembly demand to halt barrier - Annan

28 November 2003


The Secretary-General today released his report, requested by the General Assembly, on the Government of Israel’s compliance with the Assembly’s resolution of 21 October 2003, which demands that Israel stop and reverse construction of a barrier in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Secretary-General points out that Israel’s right to live in peace and security “should not be carried out in a way that is in contradiction to international law, that could damage the longer-term prospects for peace. 

'I punched an Arab in the face'

Gideon Levy Tel Aviv 28 November 2003


Liran Ron Furer, a sensitive and creative young man, says he became a sadist in the course of his military service at checkpoints. Four years later, he has written a confessional book about his experience, which he says transforms every soldier into a beast. Written in the blunt and coarse language of soldiers, he reconstructs scenes from the years in which he served in Gaza, between 1996 and 1999, years that, one must remember, were relatively quiet. Ha’aretz’s Gideon Levy looks at the content and issues surrounding the publication of Furer’s diary. 

Children under siege

27 November 2003


Every Palestinian living in the Occupied Territories has suffered under the severe movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli army in the past three years. The impact on children has, however, been particularly severe. 

No more ideas, we need implementation

Rifat Odeh Kassis 26 November 2003


One wonders why the Geneva Accord has not created any serious debate inside the Palestinian community. For the past three decades, tens if not hundreds of initiatives have been launched and each new one has claimed that it is better than the previous initiative. In almost every Arab summit since the early eighties, there has been a peace initiative that did not see the light of day for various and sundry reasons; the most prevalent reason has been the continuous Israeli rejection of Arab peace plans. Rifat Odeh Kassis calls for implementation, no more new ideas. 

Backs to the Wall

Lucy Mair and Robyn Long 24 November 2003


If a just peace is to prevail in the region, Israel must agree to dismantle the Wall, return confiscated land to its owners, and compensate Palestinians for damages and lost income, argue Lucy Mair and Robyn Long. Israeli occupation has made the Palestinian economy dependent upon Israel. The wall would exacerbate that dependence and vulnerability. 

New apartheid orders: 11,400 Palestinians need permits to live in their homes

21 November 2003

In early October 2003, the OC Central Command ordered the area between the separation barrier in the northern section of the West Bank and the Green Line a closed military area for an indefinite period of time. This area, known as the “seam area” includes twelve Palestinian villages, containing 11.400 residents.