The Commission on Human Rights this morning continued its general debate on the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine. The Representative of Palestine said he extended a hand to the Israeli neighbour in order to live side-by-side in peace, harmony and cooperation. The Representative of Israel said dramatic changes were taking place in the real world, perhaps nowhere more so than in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israeli and Palestinian undertakings, agreed at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, as well as the renewed commitment to the Road Map, had created a new reality of shared responsibility. Read more about Commission on Human Rights continues debate on violations in occupied Arab territories (2/2)
The Commission on Human Rights this morning continued its general debate on the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine. The Representative of Palestine said he extended a hand to the Israeli neighbour in order to live side-by-side in peace, harmony and cooperation. The Representative of Israel said dramatic changes were taking place in the real world, perhaps nowhere more so than in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israeli and Palestinian undertakings, agreed at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, as well as the renewed commitment to the Road Map, had created a new reality of shared responsibility. Read more about Commission on Human Rights continues debate on violations in occupied Arab territories (1/2)
For the first time in four and a half years, we are witnessing some positive developments in the human rights situation Israel and the Occupied Territories. In recent months killings by both the Israeli army and Palestinian armed groups have significantly diminished, as has the destruction of Palestinian homes and properties by Israeli forces. The evacuation of some 8,000 Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and from some very sparsely populated settlements in the West Bank must not be allowed to be used by Israel as an opportunity to expand other settlements in the West Bank, where some 400,000 Israelis live in violation of international law. Read more about Amnesty: Time to act on removal of unlawful Israeli settlements
Frequently in the global economy, it seems that corporations are able to get away with activities which would see an individual locked up in the Hague for decades. Take the case of Caterpillar. Without selling a single bomb, gun or F16 fighter, Caterpillar has been supplying the Israeli military with its “key weapon”, in the words one Israeli commander, in its illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine. Caterpillar’s D-9 bulldozers have been responsible for destroying “agricultural farms, greenhouses, ancient olive groves.. numerous Palestinian homes and sometimes human lives”. Read more about Caterpillar: Making a Killing in Palestine?
This week Israeli forces killed two Palestinians and wounded five Palestinians, including two children in the Gaza Strip. Israel continued the construction of the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank. Israeli forces confiscated more land for this purpose. Jerusalem has been isolated from the rest of the West Bank. Israeli forces invaded a number of areas in the occupied West Bank, raided homes and arrested at least 23 Palestinians, including 6 children. Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank. Israeli forces continued to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli forces continue to close a number of roads. Israel continues the curfew imposed on the old town of Hebron. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
S. spent all of her childhood years and some of her adolescence with nine siblings: four brothers and five sisters. All of them lived in fear of their father, whose violence excluded none of them. Her father, rendered unemployed by Israeli closures on the Gaza Strip, only communicated with his children through physical and verbal abuse. S.’s story is one that is becoming increasingly common in Palestinian society. Statistics show that instances of domestic abuse have trebled in the years of the Intifada, and most experts agree that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Read more about Victims of violence
Last month the UN offices in Palestine issued its report regarding the effects of the Wall in the light of the latest publication of the Israeli Occupation Government’s “modifications”. The UN’s latest report revealed various positions that compromise, and even directly contradict, international law and the principles for self-determination and human rights as laid out in its Charter. Read more about Stop The Wall activists protest to Kofi Annan about UN Wall Report
There is a quiet battle going on for the memory of a young woman who could have been my daughter, or perhaps yours. On one side are those who would like to erase her from history - her actions, her beliefs, her murder. If they are unsuccessful at that, they will settle for posthumous slurs on her character, falsifications of her death. On the other side are those who feel her shining principles should be praised, her courage honored, her death grieved. On this side are those who believe that heroism is noble, bravery admirable, and compassion for others the most fundamental form of morality. Read more about Rachel Corrie: On the Anniversary of a Death
This week, Israeli forces wounded 12 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. Israel continues the construction of its Wall on occupied Palestinian land. Israeli forces condiscated more Palestinian-owned land for that purpose. Israel isolates Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Israeli forces raided numerous homes and arrested at least twenty Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. A Palestinian civilian was used as a human shield during a house raid in the village of Mughraqa in central Gaza Strip. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank. Israeli forces have continued to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
You won’t hear about the story of my Palestinian friend Ali Zbeidat and the threatened demolition of his “illegal” home, either from the hundreds of international correspondents in Jerusalem or from the Hebrew media. None of them will tell you about the story of Ali’s family and the imminent physical and financial ruin of their lives by Israel, even though Ali’s plight is far from unique. There are tens of thousands of other Palestinians in the same desperate situation as Ali, living in homes Israel defines as illegal. The problem for Ali is not just that he is Palestinian; if he were, you might learn of his story. Ali’s problem is that he is also a citizen of Israel. Read more about Apartheid targets Palestinian home-owners inside Israel
