Three villages Deir al-Hatab, Azmut and Salem are located on the eastern outskirts of Nablus. Since the last quarter of 2002 two deep trenches were dug by the Israeli army around the three villages totally preventing access. A joint expedition of the WHO, UN agencies, and human rights organisations points to severe impact of closures on health, sanitary conditions and environment. Read more about Imprisoned until further notice
Israeli police stormed a summer camp for Palestinian youth yesterday, and arrested fourteen of the organizers, after the camp had been accused of incitement against Israel in a TV report on Wednesday. The camp was organized by the Al Balad Cultural Association in the Arab village of Kabul in northern Israel, and was due to end this Sunday. At a court hearing today, the police could present no evidence of incitement. The presiding judge declared that four of the arrested should remain in court until Monday, to allow police to find evidence for the case. Read more about Police raid Palestinian cultural summer camp after accusations of incitement
Over 4,000 Palestinian political prisoners have just begun a hunger strike in Israeli jails including Shutah, Askalan, Majido, Ofer, and Nefah. A man being held without charge called yesterday from Nefah saying, “The Israeli Administration is treating us very badly.” He details human rights abuses, and adds quietly, “And sometimes they aren’t letting us go to the bathroom.” Kristen Ess and Nada Khair report from the West Bank and Gaza. Read more about 4,200 Palestinians on Hunger Strike
Israeli legislators should reject a discriminatory bill being rushed through the Knesset, Human Rights Watch said today. If passed, the bill would bar Palestinians married to Israelis from living with their spouses in Israel, affecting thousands of couples. Read more about HRW: "Don't outlaw family life"
“For more than a year now, since April 2002, the cries of Nablus have been muted by the roar of jet bombers flying overhead and the blasts from tanks encircling and effectively laying siege to the city. At all times of the day and night, and often without warning, Israeli soldiers shell and shoot at the civilians of Nablus, who never know when or where to take cover. Children, women and men have been hunted, injured and killed.” Cultural Connexion founder Fawzia A. Reda makes an appeal for Nablus. Read more about An appeal for Nablus
The Human Rights Committee this afternoon concluded its consideration, carried out over three meetings, of the second periodic report of Israel on how that country implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Read more about Human Rights Committee considers Israel's second periodic report
BADIL comments on the responses to and debate of the recent survey released by Dr. Khalil Shekaki on Palestinian refugees’ choice to not return. BADIL notes that “These comments were triggered mainly by a piece of commentary written by Jehudith Harel (14 July), who touches on many important points.” Read more about BADIL on the PRS Refugee Poll
This week, Israeli forces wounded five Palestinians while shelling indiscriminately Palestinian residential areas. Israeli forces annexed large areas of Palestinian land to the Israeli colony “Morag”, southeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli forces continued invading Palestinian areas and demolished a home in Rafah and seized another home in Deir al-Balah. Israeli forces demolished two homes in Beit Reema, near Ramallah. Israeli forces continued the siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations