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Peace is a long way off

Nick Pretzlik 30 May 2003

Nick Pretzlik, now in Jenin, reports on local responses to the Road Map, noting that Palestinians “have suffered too much and too long to accept a plan which permits the apartheid walls and electrified fences to remain, a plan which leaves settler roads and key settlements in place, and allows Palestinian water resources, airspace and borders to remain under Israeli control. Even if the current generation can accept that, I doubt that their children will.” 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 29 May 2003

This week Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinians, including three children and a mentally disabled man. Israeli forces demolished 15 homes and razed large areas of agricultural land in Beit Hanoun. Israeli forces conducted a number of raids on Palestinian towns and indiscriminately shelled Palestinian residential areas. Israeli forces continued retaliatory attacks against families of wanted Palestinians, demolishing 7 homes. Israeli forces arrested more Palestinians and continued to impose a tight siege on Palestinian communities. 

Thomas Hurndall returns to the United Kingdom

29 May 2003

On 11th April Tom Hurndall - a young photographer observing and recording the work of a peace group in Gaza and the activities of the Israeli army was shot in the head by the Israeli army in the town of Rafah at the border between Gaza and Egypt. He currently lies in a deep coma in hospital in Saroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. On 29th May Tom flies back to London. He will arrive at Heathrow Airport this afternoon. 

CESCR deeply concerned about inequality between Israeli and Palestinian citizens

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 23 May 2003

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights concluded today its three-week spring session, adopting its final conclusions and recommendations on reports of Luxembourg, New Zealand, Iceland, Brazil and Israel. The Committee said it was particularly concerned, among other things, about information received concerning the construction of a “safety fence” around the occupied territories. Among its recommendations, the Committee requested that the State party provide more extensive information on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by those living in the occupied territories. 

Adalah demands that Euro-Med Youth Volunteers be granted entry to Israel

Adalah 28 May 2003

Today, Adalah submitted a petition to the Nazareth District Court on behalf of nine members of the European Voluntary Service (EVS) Program and Baladna - Association for Arab Youth, against the Ministry of Interior. In the petition, Adalah requested that the Ministry of Interior allow the nine volunteers to enter Israel and issue them new three-month tourist visas. Adalah also filed a motion for an immediate hearing in the case. 

Israeli shock as Sharon "comes out"

Avraham Avinunu 28 May 2003


Yesterday Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon shocked his nation when he told them “You may not like the word, but what’s happening is occupation,” and he insisted that “holding 3.5 million Palestinians” against their will is bad for Israel and bad for the Palestinians. Today, BNN can reveal the truly shocking fact that for years Sharon has enjoyed dressing up as a Palestinian in private and he insists that his close friends call him “Abu Omri,” following the Palestinian tradition of calling someone after the name of their eldest son. 

The last time I saw Mus'ab

Annie Higgins Cairo, Egypt 28 May 2003

“I follow the lines carefully with my finger on the screen. Mus’ab Jaber was shot dead. Do you ever become accustomed to this, as if it is normal? Why should you? It is not normal. It is excessive, but it never makes it normal. I don’t have the forbearance of many of my Arab friends. When I cried out, my Internet folk brought me a glass of water. That wouldn’t change the news, but I appreciated the care.” Regular EI contributor Annie Higgins remembers one Palestinian boy from Jenin.