The following is the text of the performance-based and goal driven roadmap, with clear phases, timelines, target dates, and benchmarks aiming at progress through reciprocal steps by the two parties in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-building fields, under the auspices of the Quartet. The destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict by 2005, as presented in President Bush’s speech of 24 June, and welcomed by the EU, Russia, and the UN in the 16 July and 17 September Quartet Ministerial statements. Read more about Text of proposed "road map"
As further evidence of the seemingly unconditional support of the Israeli judiciary for the Israeli military and its actions, the Israeli High Court this morning issued a decision effectively permitting the Israeli military’s use of flechette anti-personnel tank shells, which are being used with increasing frequency by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Read more about Israeli High Court rules to permit Israeli army's use of flechette shells
Israeli authorities have arrested four Israeli Border Policemen suspected of beating to death ‘Imran Abu Hamdia, 18, in Hebron in December 2002. The Department for the Investigation of Police (DIP), of the Ministry of Justice, investigated the incident after B’Tselem provided its findings to DIP and requested that it open an investigation into the matter. Read more about Israeli authorities arrest Israeli border policemen suspected of killing 'Imran Abu Hamdia
This week, Israeli occupying forces killed nine Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a journalist. Five of them were killed during a wide-scale incursion into Rafah refugee camp. Israeli forces demolished more homes. Israeli forces threatened seven families with the demolition of their homes. Wide-scale arrest campaigns in Tulkarem refugee camp resulted in the transfer of hundreds of civilians to Nour Shams refugee camp. Israeli forces destroyed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Gaza. Israeli forces continued indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas. Israeli forces raided two Palestinian hospitals in Jenin, arresting two injured Palestinians. Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields and continued its siege on Palestinian towns and refugee camps. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
“The wall is no secret. Even if people have not visited Qalqilya and Jayyous, the story is there in the newspapers. Or here, on this website. The people of Qalqilya are locked in a prison. There is only one way out, and few have permits to leave so as to find work elsewhere. Half the farmland is now gone and vital water supplies have been cut off. Palestinians do not have the permission to dig for more water. Israel is unilaterally setting boundaries, with no negotiation, no court of appeal. ” Isabelle Humphries revisits the concrete embodiment of Israeli impunity near Qalqilya and reports on the abuses suffered by farmers and merchants for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about The wall goes on and on and on...
An Israeli army investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist, has concluded that its forces were not to blame for her death. It accused Corrie and other members of the International Solidarity Movement of “illegal, irresponsible and dangerous” behaviour. Corrie, 23, was crushed to death by an army bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza, as she protested against house demolitions. The investigation, led by the chief of the general staff of the Israeli Defence Force, found that Israeli forces were not guilty of any misconduct. Read more about Israeli report clears troops over US death
In the most recent incursion into Palestinian territory, Israeli occupying forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians including 2 children and wounded 30 others in Rafah on Saturday, 19 April, 2002. The condition of 10 of the wounded is said to be critical and the number of injured included 7 children. Read more about Rafah: Israeli occupation kills 5 Palestinians, including two children
The father of Tom Hurndall, a British peace activist in Palestine critically wounded in the head by an Israeli sniper in Gaza last week, is demanding that the British and Israeli governments to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to establish how his son was shot. Read more about Brain-dead peace activist's father demands probe
