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PCATI to Israeli government: "Shut down secret detention facility 1391"

Public Committee Against Torture in Israel 4 September 2003

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI), through attorneys Avigdor Feldman and Michael Sfard, this week called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz and Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein, demanding that they the revoke the status of facility 1391 as a military prison and stop incarcerating detainees, suspects, prisoners or any other persons in it. The full text of the letter follows. 

Joint appeal to denounce a series of violations of basic humanitarian laws and principles committed by the Israeli Army in Nablus

28 August 2003

Medecins du Monde (MdM), Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel) and the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC) are joining their voice to denounce a series of violations of basic humanitarian laws and principles committed by the Israeli Army in Nablus. These violations are taking place in the overall context of massive military operations led by the Israeli army for more than a week. 

UN Conference of Civil Society in support of Palestinian people to be held 4-5 September

2 September 2003

NEW YORK, 2 September — The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene the United Nations International Conference of Civil Society in Support of the Palestinian People at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 4 and 5 September. The holding of the Conference is mandated by General Assembly resolutions 57/107 and 57/108 of 3 December 2002. 

PCHR denounces the continuation of the state security courts, despite the Minister of Justice’s recent decision to abolish them

3 September 2003

 PCHR is shocked by the continued operation of the state security courts despite the recent decision issued by the Palestinian Minster of Justice to abolish them.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Attorney General to immediately halt the operation of these courts and transfer all cases to the civil courts in accordance with the ministerial decision.  

Seventh Israeli assassination in 11 days  kills one Palestinian and wounds at least 20

1 September 2003

PCHR condemns in the strongest terms the latest assassination by Israeli occupying forces in Gaza city this afternoon in which at least one Palestinian was killed and at least 25 passersby were wounded, including 7 children.  In the wake of this renewed escalation in attacks by the Israeli occupying forces on Palestinian civilians, PCHR reiterates its calls to the international community, particularly to the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take immediate measures to intervene to protect Palestinian civilians.  

3 Palestinian activists assassinated and a 9 year-old child killed by Israeli occupying forces in the Gaza Strip in 72 hours

31 August 2003

 PCHR condemns the most recent escalation in military attacks perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces, leaving 4 Palestinians, including a 9 year-old child, dead and 12 others wounded, including 3 seriously.  PCHR is concerned that these attacks may be a prelude to a larger-scale military attack on the Palestinian civilian population.  PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to halt further deterioration in the humanitarian and human rights situation in the OPTs.  

Israel's Assassination Policy Triggers Latest Suicide Bombings

Steve Niva 2 September 2003


Palestinian suicide bombings are vicious and grave abuses, clearly war crimes under international law for intentionally killing civilians. They have also been a strategic disaster for Palestinian national aspirations, souring the Israeli public on peace and damaging the Palestinian cause in the court of world opinion. Nevertheless, it is nearly impossible to avoid concluding that the current Israeli government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has either deliberately provoked a number of them or at least undertaken actions that would clearly risk them. Either way, it is complicit in the deaths of scores of Israeli citizens. Steve Niva comments.