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Act immediately to lift the siege off Nablus, Balata and Beit Foreek

3 January 2004


Nablus has been under siege for the last 10 days while Balata refugee camp has been under siege for the last 18 consecutive days. We have just heard that every single entrance/exit to Balata has been sealed off completely. No food or medicine is allowed in. Medical relief teams are being obstructed and at times completely prevented from passing through. Activists from ISM (the International Solidarity Movement) were attacked while carrying out their missions to observe and bear witness on what the Israeli occupation authorities are brutalizing the Palestinian population. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

3 January 2004


This week, Israeli forces killed 8 Palestinian civilians. Five of the victims were killed during an extra-judicial assassination in Gaza city. Israeli forces invaded a number of areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and razed more agricultural land and demolished seven homes and a school in the Gaza Strip and three homes in Nablus. Israeli continued construction of the Separation Wall in the West Bank and continued indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas. In Hebron, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians. 

Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians, including two children in Nablus

3 January 2004


In the past 24 hours, Israeli forces have killed four Palestinians, including two children in Nablus. A number of civilians were injured when Israeli forces used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli forces have demolished a number of historical sites in the city’s ancient center. Israeli forces opened fire at a group of children. Israeli forces imposed a siege on the town since December 25. During a funeral procession an Israeli armored personnel carrier moved towards the direction of the mourners and opened fire. 

Relative Humanity: The Fundamental Obstacle to a One-State Solution in Historic Palestine (2/2)

Omar Barghouti 6 January 2004


Israeli politicians, intellectuals and media often passionately debate how best to face the country’s demographic “war” with the Palestinians. Few Israelis dissent from the belief that such a war exists or ought to exist. The popular call to subordinate democracy to demography, however, has entailed the adoption of reminiscent population control mechanisms to keep the number of Palestinians in check. Conclusion of the two part article by Omar Barghouti, examining more of the issues relating to Israel’s unwillingness and inability to consider full equality for Palestinians and Jews in historic Palestine. 

Relative Humanity: The Fundamental Obstacle to a One-State Solution in Historic Palestine (1/2)

Omar Barghouti 6 January 2004


From the scandalous Nusseibeh-Ayalon agreement to the irreparably flawed Geneva Accords, the last true Zionists — with the crucial help of acquiescent Palestinian officials — have tried their best to resuscitate the two-state solution with the declared intention of saving Zionism. But it is arguably too little, too late. The two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is really dead. Good riddance! In this article for EI, Omar Barghouti examines the largest obstacle to the success of the one-state solution. 

Israeli assassination attempt injures 14 Palestinians

31 December 2003


Yesterday evening, December 30, Israeli attack helicopters launched two missiles at a civilian car in the center of Gaza City. The attack targeted a member of the military wing of Hamas. The targeted individual, Jamal Jarrah, who is allegedly wanted by Israel, and 13 civilians were injured in the assault. Two civilians are in serious condition. The white Peugeot 104 with three other passengers was moving north in a densely populated area. Israel’s assassination policy is widely condemned as grave breaches of international humanitarian law. 

2003: A year of Israeli and US defiance of International Law (2/2)

Laurie King 2 January 2004


“For all the revolutionary potential of Universal Jurisdiction in Belgium, very little changed for the better for the Sabra and Shatila plaintiffs. In fact, Belgium’s decision to annul its progressive anti-atrocity legislation rendered the massacre survivors victims a second time over. Their attempts to realize justice in a Belgian court revealed not only the implicit political dimensions of Universal Jurisdiction, but also highlighted the fact that abstract, universal principles do not exist a priori. EI’s Laurie King-Irani concludes her discussion of lessons learned during a difficult year for international law in the Middle East. (Part II of II) 

2003: A year of US and Israeli defiance of International Law (1/2)

Laurie King 2 January 2004


“Benefiting from a growing international focus on Iraq and the folly of the US global ‘war on terror,’ Israel enjoyed enhanced impunity for its violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a raft of UN resolutions throughout 2003. Even the supposedly ‘positive’ developments of 2003 — the US-backed ‘Road Map’ to peace and the Geneva Accords — are based on a tacit premise that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and several UN resolutions can be ignored or suspended so as to legitimate and excuse Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, lives, lands, and resources.” EI’s Laurie King-Irani reviews the prevailing legal trends of 2003 in Occupied Palestine. (Part I of II) 

2003: Israeli attacks on the Press

Arjan El Fassed 30 December 2003


In 2003, Israel continued its attacks on the press. Two journalists, a Palestinian cameraman and a British documentary filmmaker were killed by the Israeli army. Media watchdogs counted attacks and harrassment of journalists and the increasing restrictions imposed on foreign and Palestinian journalists. In January 2004, new Israeli guidelines for press accreditation will impose more restrictions on the work of foreign journalist trying to cover events on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territories. EI’s Arjan El Fassed highlights journalists in danger in 2003. 

Rafah in 2003

Arjan El Fassed 30 December 2003


The year 2003 started and ended with Israeli forces invading Rafah refugee camp and demolishing refugee homes. This year, in Rafah alone, Israeli forces killed at least 60 Palestinians, an American peace activist and a British TV cameraman. In three years, Israeli forces have demolished 800 homes in Rafah alone. Rafah in 2003 is an example of occupied Palestine in 2003. Despite road maps and declarations, the residents of Rafah are in urgent need of protection. They want to stop counting the deaths. EI’s Arjan El Fassed reviews 2003.