A notice recently issued by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (CoGAT), states changes in Israel’s policy of denying entry to foreign nationals traveling into the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The notice, delivered to chief Palestinian negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erakat on December 28, 2006, states that entry of foreign nationals “will be permitted through means of the military commander’s consent.” The notice further explains that restricted foreign nationals will be ‘eligible’ to apply for temporary entry into the oPt as well as periodic visa renewals. It outlines the procedures for processing these applications. Read more about Changes to denial of entry policy fail to resolve crisis
On Tuesday, 16 January 2007, Jamal Hasan ‘Abdullah al-Sarahin, 37, from Beit Oula village north of Hebron, a father of a child, died in the Negev Prison (Ansar 3) inside Israel. PCHR is concerned that he might have died as a result medical negligence and delay in offering him medical treatment. Al-Sarahin was suffering from a blood disease. His health condition deteriorated approximately a week ago, but the administration of the prison procrastinated his transfer to the hospital. On Tuesday morning, his health condition further deteriorated. Read more about Palestinian Detainee Dies in Israeli Prison
Eight Israeli human rights organizations petition High Court of Justice: order is legal basis for targeted, systematic, institutional discrimination, amounting to apartheid. The organizations demand to abolish the order supposed to take effect on January 19. The order issued by OC central command, Major General Yair Naveh, forbids Palestinians to travel with Israelis and internationals in their vehicles within the West Bank. The organizations are demanding the HCJ abolish the order and issue an interim order postponing the implementation of the order until it has ruled on the matter. Read more about "Abolish order forbidding Israelis and foreigners to travel with Palestinians"
The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) and the Center Against Racism (hereinafter “the investigating organizations”) have accumulated numerous complaints submitted by Arab citizens relating to discriminatory security inspections they have undergone at the hands of security personnel, despite the fact that they did not pose the slightest security risk to the other passengers. These travelers have never been suspected of security offenses and nothing in their past could justify such special treatment. Read more about Suspected Citizens: Racial Profiling against Arab Passengers by Israeli Airports and Airlines
On Tuesday, January 9th, Israeli forces entered the Bedouin village of Twail Abu Jarwal in the Northern Negev for the fifth time, in order to demolish it. Large police forces, with the aid of special-task forces and with the aerial help of a helicopter and two bulldozers, demolished the entire village. Twenty-one homes, shacks, brick rooms, and tents were destroyed. During the last battle Israel waged against the residents of this village, on 6 December 2006, Israeli forces demolished 17 homes - more than half the village. But the villagers managed to rebuild roofs over their heads to protect them from the harsh Negev winter weather. Read more about Israel destroys Negev Bedouin village for second time
The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem calls on Israeli authorities not to make the settler, Yifat Alkoby a scapegoat for law enforcement failures in the West Bank. Alkoby was summoned for questioning following the extensive airing of a B’Tselem video in which she is seen assaulting and swearing at women and girls from the Abu-‘Ayesha family, in Tel Rumeida, Hebron. The incident, as grave as it is, is only the tip of the iceberg of the daily violence committed by Hebron settlers, against their Palestinian neighbors, under the protection of the army. Read more about Videotaped Hebron settler violence just the tip of the iceberg
On Monday, 8 January 2007, a Palestinian was killed as a result of the misuse of weapons in Nablus, and 22 stores were damaged in Ramallah and al-Bireh when unknown gunmen opened fire at them. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 14:45 on Monday, 8 January 2007, Fadi Hussam Hassiba, 21, from Nablus, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head unleashed from a pistol he was cheking when he was in a shop owned by his father in the old town of Nablus. He was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital, but he died from his wound. Read more about One death in Nablus in weapons misuse
On 19 November 2006, the commander of IDF forces in the West Bank, Major-General Yair Naveh, issued an order prohibiting Israelis and tourists from using their vehicles to transport Palestinians in the West Bank without a permit from the army. The order is to take effect on 19 January 2007. The order does not apply to Palestinians who hold a permit to enter Israel or the settlements, to Israeli bus drivers, Israel residents carrying Palestinians who are first-degree relatives, and soldiers and police officers on duty. Read more about B'Tselem: Repeal order forbidding transport of Palestinians in Israeli vehicles
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns bloody incidents in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip, that have taken place in the context of the persistent political conflict between Hamas and Fatah movements. This conflict has been translated into violent armed clashes between armed wings of the two movements, among security services and among clans, in addition to other attacks. In the past 6 days, 16 persons have been killed and 117 others have been wounded as an outcome of these incidents. Read more about PCHR Calls for an End of Violence between Fatah and Hamas
Ma’an news agency photojournalist, Fadi Arouri, has been shot in the flank by Israeli military forces during an Israeli invasion of Ramallah. Fadi was photographing the incursion for Ma’an news. Two Palestinians were killed [editor’s note: later reports indicated four Palestinians were killed] during the incursion. Ma’an’s correspondent reports that one of those killed has been identified as Yousif Abdul-Qadir, 23, while the other remains anonymous. Israeli military vehicles invaded the central West Bank city of Ramallah shooting heavily. Read more about Israeli troops kill four in Ramallah raid
