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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. 

Warsaw Ghetto Abu Dis: Five haikus on the Apartheid Wall

Laurie King 17 February 2004


An obscene monument to the belief that “too much is never enough,” Israel’s monstrous Apartheid Wall is a visible indictment of the racist folly of forcibly separating people from each other and the places they love. The visual and moral affront of the Apartheid Wall prompted these observations, expressed through a subtle Japanese poetic form, the haiku. An ancient Japanese literary form, the haiku embodies the principle that “less is more” and delights in mixing categories and crossing boundaries through the magic of metaphor. 

Exhibit in Amman conveys horrors of Israel's separation wall

Rana Sabbagh-Gargour 16 February 2004


Photographs, sound effects, replicas of barrier give visitors feeling of imprisonment, suffocation experienced by Palestinians The horrifying illusion of a journey through prison confronts anyone visiting the first extensive exhibition on the separation wall that Israel is building on occupied West Bank land. Combining photography, sound effects, replicas of the Israeli-built double walls, medieval-style observation towers, and barbed wire ripping through seized land, the Stop the Wall exhibition, which opened in Amman on Saturday, triggers feelings of pain, anger and claustrophobia. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

11 February 2004


This week, Israeli forces killed 28 Palestinians, including two children. Three of the victims were killed in two extra-judicial executions. Fifteen of the victims were killed during an Israeli assault on Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City and Rafah refugee camp. In Rafah, Israeli forces demolished 24 homes and three schools. Dozens of donums of agricultural land was razed and numerous homes were raided. Israel continues to use Palestinian civilians as human shields and the construction of Israel’s Separation Wall continued. 

EU: "Israel must stop building barrier"

Arjan El Fassed 11 February 2004


Today, the EU presented its position regarding the hearing at the ICJ. In Strasbourg, Irish Foreign Minister Dick Roche, on behalf of the Council of Ministers, said that Israel must stop building this barrier and he deplored the “regrettably uncompromising” attitude of the Israeli government. The EU’s abstention during the vote at the UN General Assembly did not bring into question the fact that the EU was opposed to the wall, which is a violation of international law. The EU, however, doubted whether bringing the case before the ICJ would be useful. 

Israel won't appear at ICJ hearing on Israel’s separation wall

Arjan El Fassed 11 February 2004


Yesterday, an Israeli ministerial committee that prepares Israel’s position for the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s Separation Wall decided to not appear at oral hearings due to begin on February 23, 2004. The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, accepted the recommendations made by a steering committee, made up of Israeli senior advisors, that discussed Israel’s position on Monday, and decided to suffice with the written declaration that Israel submitted on January 30, 2004. 

Israeli forces kill 13 Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah

11 February 2004


This morning, Israeli occupying forces killed 12 Palestinians in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza city and one Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the Rafah refugee camp.  Three of the victims killed in al-Shojaeya died when Israeli occupying forces destroyed a house over them.  In addition, at least 50 Palestinians, including 23 children, were injured in the two incidents.  Medical sources at hospitals in the Gaza Strip described the condition of 20 of those injured as moderate to serious. This took place as Israeli forces moved into Gaza city and Rafah refugee camp. 

WFP purchases olive oil to help ease hardship of Palestinian farmers

11 February 2004


In an effort to address the dire socioeconomic conditions in the Palestinian Territories, the World Food Programme — in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture — will purchase 416 MT of olive oil, at a value of US$1.3 million, from 2600 selected poor Palestinian farmers. The agency will then deliver the locally purchased olive oil to WFP beneficiaries living in Gaza and in the south of the West Bank who have limited access to oil due to its high cost and unavailability. 

Japan donates $5.9 million to Palestine refugees

7 February 2004


Japan has announced a donation of US$ 5.9 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The donation includes an emergency grant of US$ 1,513,200 to support UNRWA’s emergency activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip where the refugees have been suffering the effects of violence, curfews and closures. The emergency grant will enable UNRWA to provide equipment and supplies to its health centres in Gaza to meet the increased medical care the refugees there. 

Eyes Wide Open: The Siege

9 February 2004


B’Tselem has produced a music video as part of the campaign against Israel’s siege policy. The song - “Eyes Wide Open” - is a remake of a popular Israeli song, featuring well-known Israeli artists. The song’s lyrics speak of the need to acknowledge the reality. The music video features footage taken at roadblocks and checkpoints and shows the reality of Israel’s siege policy.