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Israel's use of "Orders Prohibiting Meeting with Counsel" increase risk of torture

13 June 2003


Eric Sottas, director of the World Organization Against Torture sent a letter to Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calling on him to order the immediate cessation of the use of Orders Prohibiting Meeting with Counsel and any other practices that increase the risk of torture and to take all measures necessary to ensure that the absolute prohibition of torture is recognised by Israeli law. 

Interview with comedienne Maysoon Zayid

Nigel Parry 14 June 2003


Palestinian American comedienne Maysoon Zayid is a rising force who has appeared on MTV, As the World Turns, and 20/20. EI’s Nigel Parry caught up with Zayid at the annual conference of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) conference where she performed to a packed and appreciative crowd at the Friday dinner honoring Arab American achievements. Listen to EI’s first audio interview in MP3 format. 

ADC Resolutions Adopted at the 2003 National Convention

14 June 2003


Members of the Arab American community and its supporters gathered at the 20th Annual Convention of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC), the nation’s largest Arab-American membership organization, held in Arlington, VA from the 12th to the 15th of June, 2003. At the Convention, the ADC Board of Directors adopted and committed the organization to a number of resolutions. 

Israel can halt this now

Oona King 12 June 2003

British Labour MP Oona King visited the occupied Palestinian territories last week. She came to the conclusion that, given the scale of the atrocities and collective punishment waged by the Israelis against Palestinians, she has no choice but to boycott Israeli products. 

Israel bulldozes Palestinian buildings at Rafah crossing point

Lora Gordon 13 June 2003

We thought they would bomb the Gaza International Airport but instead they bulldozed the Palestinian-run buildings at Rafah Crossing Point (RCP), officially/unofficially ending the Palestinian-Israeli joint supervision intended for the checkpoint since it was reorganized under the Cairo Agreement after Oslo. Laura Gordon writes from occupied Rafah. 

Enough blame to go around

Ali Abunimah 13 June 2003


One week after the Aqaba summit, the Israeli-Palestinian death toll climbed into the dozens with no sign of the violence slowing. EI’s Ali Abunimah says that Sharon and Hamas have formed a strategic partnership against peace, but blame for the disaster does not stop with them. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 11 June 2003

This week Israeli forces killed 20 Palestinians, including four women and a child. The majority of the casualties, 15 of the 20, were killed during four assassinations in Gaza, including two brothers and two sisters. Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas and demolished more than 40 homes and razed large areas of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also demolished public and private facilities at the Rafah Terminal. Israeli forces continued indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas and continued illegal actions against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets, resulting the destruction of 2 homes. Israel continued its tight siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. All border crossings have been closed. Beit Hanoun has been under Israeli military siege for the fourth consecutive week. 

Palestinian Filmmaker this year's winner of the Nestor Almendros Prize for courage and commitment in human rights filmmaking

Human Rights Watch 12 June 2003


Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad is winner of this year’s Nestor Almendros Prize for courage and commitment in human rights filmmaking. He will be presented the prize at the 14th Annual Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, which takes place in New York from 13 to 26 June. 

Israeli closures spur phenomenon of Palestinian "one-shekel-kids"

Defence for Children International-Palestine Section 12 June 2003

A one shekel kid is an under-age worker selling nic-nacs, sweets, cakes or cheap plastic items for a shekel a piece. DCI took a small sample of these children this week for International Child Labour Day on June 12. DCI Palestine notes that the deteriorating economic situation in the Palestinian territories due to Israeli closures and curfews is having a significant impact on children, both in terms of a falling standard of living and loss of opportunities and the rising incidence of child labour to supplement meager family income.