Human Rights

Adalah demands that Euro-Med Youth Volunteers be granted entry to Israel

Adalah 28 May 2003

Today, Adalah submitted a petition to the Nazareth District Court on behalf of nine members of the European Voluntary Service (EVS) Program and Baladna - Association for Arab Youth, against the Ministry of Interior. In the petition, Adalah requested that the Ministry of Interior allow the nine volunteers to enter Israel and issue them new three-month tourist visas. Adalah also filed a motion for an immediate hearing in the case. 

International rights groups decry increased harassment of monitors

Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, International Federation for Human Rights, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and World Organisation Against Torture 26 May 2003

Amnesty International, the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Human Rights (EMNHR), Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) are deeply concerned about the increase of Israeli restrictions against human rights and humanitarian workers. 

We reap what we sow

Nick Pretzlik 25 May 2003

“The relocation policy of shifting the Bedouin population into official settlements has the added benefit of creating a cheap source of labour for the Jewish economy. Life for the Bedouins is made as difficult as possible in order to pressure them into making that move. With the help of the legal ‘hocus pocus’ involved with the 1965 Planning and Construction Law, Unrecognised Villages became ‘de-legalised’ — existing buildings were unable to obtain permits and those which already possessed them, schools for example, had them rescinded. Whole communities became illegal.” Nick Pretzlik details the vast array of injustices committed against Bedouin citizens of Israel since 1948. 

B'Tselem response to incitement Israel's Foreign Minister against human rights groups

B'Tselem 21 May 2003

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom’s statement that “most human rights organizations whose offices are in Gaza and the West Bank provide refuge to Palestinian terrorists,” is a direct continuation of the campaign that Israel’s government has been waging against human rights organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. 

Trapped at Surda checkpoint

Birzeit University Right to Education Campaign 24 May 2003

After one day of curfew in Ramallah on May 18 and the two following days of complete siege, Israeli occupying forces suddenly opened the checkpoint on Wednesday. However, Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint closed the checkpoint just as suddenly at around 2 pm, trapping hundreds of ordinary citizens, Birzeit faculty staff and students. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 21 May 2003

This week Israeli forces killed 13 Palestinians, including a woman and three children, two mentally disabled, and two during the raid on Beit Hanoun. Israeli forces demolished 15 homes in Beit Hanoun and razed large areas of agricultural land. In Khan Yunis Israeli forces razed 272 dunums of agricultural land and in Rafah demolished 33 homes. Israeli forces continued indiscriminately shelling Palestinian residential areas, wounding a number of civilians. Israel continued to impose its siege on Palestinian villages and towns and denied movement to civilians, including internationals. 

Israeli Foreign Minister's incitement against Palestinian NGOs

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 22 May 2003


Silvan Shalom
In a statement published in an Israeli newspaper, the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, Silvan Shalom, alleged that Palestinian NGOs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip harbor terrorists. PCHR believes that these comments represent a threat to the work of Palestinian human rights NGOs and contends that the comments are particularly disturbing coming from a senior politician, indicating that they may reflect the official government position. 

No peace without human rights

Miranda Sissons 18 May 2003

‘Security, security, security’ is the motto of the Middle East road map. Human rights are the missing guest at the diplomatic table. Miranda Sissons is the author of a number of Human Rights Watch reports on Israel and the Occupied Territories. She was arrested by Israel on May 9. 

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