In a press conference he held in his office on Saturday, 27 November 2004, Brigadier Rashid Abu Shebak, the head of the Palestinian Authority Preventive Security Service in the Gaza Strip, announced the disbandment of the Security and Protection Department, known locally as the “Death Squad,” and stated that its members would be reassigned to various departments of the security service. PCHR welcomes this announcement, but believes it is not enough to restore order, ensure the safety and security of people and enforce the rule of law. The Palestinian Authority should take other measures to end the state of security chaos. Read more about Break up of Palestinian "death squad" is not enough
The circumstances surrounding the killing of Iman al-Hams are grave. However, the large number of Palestinian civilians killed indicate that her death is not unusual. What is unusual about this case, however, is the fact that the IDF initiated a Military Police investigation that led to an indictment. There is no such accountability for the vast majority of Palestinian civilian deaths. The combination of rules of engagement that encourage a trigger-happy attitude among soldiers together with the climate of impunity results in a clear and very troubling message about the value the IDF places on Palestinian life. Read more about Israeli rights group: "Trigger-happy attitude among Israeli soldiers"
On 21 November 2004, Adalah submitted a petition to the Supreme Court of Israel to compel the Minister of Religious Affairs to issue regulations for the protection of Muslim holy sites in Israel, after consultation with Muslim religious leaders, as has been done for Jewish holy sites. The Minister of Religious Affairs has used his powers in a discriminatory manner by setting forth regulations which specify only Jewish holy places. The Protection of Holy Sites Law requires the Minister of Religious Affairs to regulate holy sites in general, and not selectively on the basis of religious grouping. Thus far, however, the Minister has only used his powers to promulgate regulations for Jewish holy sites. A petition was filed by Adalah Attorney Adel Bader. Read more about Adalah: Muslim sites need to be protected
The volume of children recruited in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a small fracton of the problem in other conflict zones such as in Africa. A new report stated that both Israeli and Palestinian government forces have been implicated in the misuse of Palestinian children. While the Palestinian Authority has recruited some under-18s for its security forces, the Israeli army and intelligence services have sought to recruit children as informers, often putting pressure on them to collaborate. Israel detaines at least 350 Palestinian children a year. Some of these children have reported torture and are often treated in ways which fall short of standards on juvenile justice. Read more about Limited number of child soldiers, all sides implicated
The Palestinian Legislative Council has begun making changes in the electoral system. One should expect that those members of the Legislative Council would have learned from mistakes made during the 1996 elections. Again, party politics has driven politicians change the rules to benefit the ruling party. Reviewing the 1996 electoral system, one must expect that people learn from their mistakes. Between 1996 and 1998 EI’s Arjan El Fassed was doing research on institutional design and the choices made by Palestinian officials. Today he looks back at the 1996 elections to draw conclusions for the coming elections. Read more about On the Palestinian Road to Elections: The System
In June 2001 a criminal complaint on behalf of twenty-eight survivors of the 1982 massacre at the the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut was brought before a Belgian court. For their roles in the massacre, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, Army Major General Amos Yaron, and several members of the the Lebanese Christian militia were charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The entire proceeding immediately became known as the “case of Ariel Sharon.” This book is a series of essays about the case of Ariel Sharon, its meaning and consequences for the fate of universal jurisdiction. Read more about The Case of Ariel Sharon and the Fate of Universal Jurisdiction
This week Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinians, including a woman. Israeli forces killed also an Egyptian citizen. Israeli forces conducted a number of incursions into Palestinian areas and razed at least 370 donums of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces raided homes and arrested dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel continued shelling of residential areas and the construction of the Apartheid Wall. Israeli forces have continued to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel imposed a comprehensive closure on the West Bank and arrested a number of Palestinians at various military checkpoints. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
“After the death of Yasser Arafat, it was impossible not to note the grief and sadness of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories and in the Diaspora, an emotion echoed by leaders of other liberation struggles, including Nelson Mandela. Most of the Jewish voices inside Israel were conveyed a different perspective, one that ignored the fact that Israel is also the home of many Palestinians. A free election to choose a new leader must ensure the participation of all Palestinians, including prisoners and refugees.” Adri Nieuwhof and Jeff Handmaker comment from The Netherlands. Read more about World must take firm stand on free elections in Palestine
Today B’Tselem publishes a comprehensive report on Israel’s extensive use of punitive demolitions: the demolition of homes of the relatives of Palestinians suspected of involvement in attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. B’Tselem’s research indicates that since the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada, the IDF has demolished 628 housing units, which were home to 3,983 persons. These homes were demolished because of the acts of 333 Palestinians. Read more about Israeli rights group slams demolition of Palestinian homes
This week Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinians, 6 of whom were civilians, including a child. Four of the victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops in Jenin. Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli forces destroyed six homes and razed at least 50 donums of agricultural land in Rafah. At least 70 donums of agricultural land were razed in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. In the West Bank Israeli forces destroyed three homes. Israeli forces raided homes and arrested dozens of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the territories. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
