All Content

A Palestinian Authority steeped in paralysis and corruption

Hasan Abu Nimah 18 February 2004


The Palestinian Authority is in a critical and untenable state, writes EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah. On the international front it is engaged in futile diplomacy designed to restore its reason for existence. Meanwhile on the home front, new allegations of corruption implicate prime minister Ahmed Qureia, Suha Arafat, the wife of the Palestinian leader, and Palestinian cabinet minister Jamil Tarifi. Yet neither Qureia’s nor Mrs. Arafat’s denials will do much to clear the thickening clouds of suspicion and mistrust that hang over the PA. Neither does the ongoing Palestinian parliamentary investigation offer much hope, in the light of earlier experience. 

Palestinian Issue Riddles Bush's 2005 Budget

Sam Bahour 18 February 2004


In his January 20, 2004 State of the Union speech President Bush was criticized for not even mentioning the plight of the Palestinians. President Bush completely ignored the blatant Israeli policy of human rights violations that the Israel military occupation has sustained against the Palestinians for decades now. The same cannot be said for his proposed $2.4 trillion Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2005, which was transmitted to Congress on February 2, 2004 and covers the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2004. The budget is planned to be brought to the floor of both the House and Senate between July 1 and September 30 and is riddled with references to the Palestinian issue. Sam Bahour reports from Palestine. 

The Psychological Implications of Israel’s Separation Wall on Palestinians

18 February 2004


The Palestinian Counseling Center released its findings of a preliminary study on the psychological implications of Israel’s Separation Wall on Palestinians in the Qalqilya District. The study found that high percentages of residents in the Qalqilya area are depressed, feeling anxiety and hopelessness, have suicidal thoughts and exhibit symptoms of PTSD, however, the condition imposed on the Palestinian people and its psychological affects has gone unnoticed by the world. 

ICJ must continue with advisory opinion on wall

30 January 2004


Al-Haq is deeply disturbed by reports that the European Union, the United States, Israel and other governments have filed objections to the ICJ, stating that they believe that the ICJ should not issue an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s construction of the Annexation Wall in the occupied territories. Al Haq urges the ICJ to continue the hearings on the wall. Now is the opportunity for them to intervene so that it’s reviewed on the basis of law, not politics. 

Barrier causes serious humanitarian and legal problems

International Committee of the Red Cross 17 February 2004


The International Committee of the Red Cross is increasingly concerned about the humanitarian impact of the wall on many Palestinians living in occupied territory. The measures taken by the Israeli authorities linked to the construction of the Barrier in occupied territory go far beyond what is permissible for an occupying power under international humanitarian law. The ICRC therefore calls upon Israel not to plan, construct or maintain this Barrier within occupied territory. 

Interview: S’ra DeSantis on the Apartheid Wall in Budrus

Stefan Christoff 17 February 2004


An MP3 interview with S’ra DeSantis, a social justice activist and organic farmer in Burlington Vermont. S’ra is currently in Budrus, Palestine, a rural village in the West Bank fighting for its existence against the Israeli military and the planned construction path of the Apartheid Wall. The wall, deemed a “security measure” by the Israeli state, is clearly an effort to steal more Palestinian land. The Palestinian Environmental NGO Network has estimated that upwards of 50 per cent of the West Bank land will be plundered by the completion of the wall, which is not being built on or near the 1967 Green Line and at points reaches 16km deep into the heart of the West Bank. 

Return to Rafah: Journey to a land out of bounds

Jennifer Loewenstein Rafah, Gaza Strip 17 February 2004


” I left for Rafah on 11 January 2004 as part of a three-person pilot delegation to the city. We represented the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, an organization founded in February 2003 to establish people-to-people ties between our two communities. Sistering projects are well known in Madison, Wisconsin —a Midwestern University town north of Chicago. Madison has official, City Council-approved sister cities with El Salvador, Nicaragua, East Timor, Cuba, Vietnam, and Lithuania among others. It seemed time, some of us thought, to build ties with a city in Palestine.” Jennifer Loewenstein reports on a trip to Rafah. 

Palestinian Worker Suffocates at Erez Crossing

16 February 2004


Today, a Palestinian worker died from suffocation while attempting to pass through routes at Erez crossing designed for the passage of Palestinian workers on their way to their workplaces in Israel.  The worker died as a result of suffocation from over-crowdedness resulting from crushing together thousands of workers attempting to enter Israel at the crossing. A number of workers carried him towards the Israeli side of the crossing, however attempts to save his life failed. Two weeks ago, 25 Palestinians were injured at Erez crossing when Israeli soldiers opened fire on workers. 

The Status of Palestinian Citizens in Israel

Pax Christi International 16 February 2004


The Intifada and Israel’s reaction to it have had a great impact on the situation of Palestinians citizens in Israel, as the world witnessed during the suppression of demonstrations in Israel in October 2000, leaving 13 people dead; the Israeli public discourse on “transfer”; the “demographic threat” and the public perception of Palestinians inside Israel as being a “fifth column”. Equality under the law and freedom from discrimination are basic human rights. 

2003: The State of Human Rights in Israel

Naama Yashuvi 9 February 2004


The Association for Civil Rights in Israel published its annual report The State of Human Rights in Israel. ACRI witnessed an increase in the scope and severity of human rights violations and an unprecedented rise in injury to innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians. More than 700 Palestinians and over 200 Israelis have lost their lives, and many more have been injured. Most of the abuses occur not as a result of operational necessity but from vindictiveness on the part of soldiers.