Addameer, Al Dameer, Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center For Human Rights, Badil, Defence for Children International-Palestine Section, ENSAN Association for Democracy and Human Rights, Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies and Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling
29 September 2010
As members of the Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations, we strongly condemn the decision of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to support a UN Human Rights Council resolution that accords further time for ineffective domestic investigations, thus effectively failing to pursue accountability for crimes committed during the Israeli offensive code-named “Operation Cast Lead.” Read more about PA decision at UN a "betrayal of Gaza victims' rights"
Oxford University’s Balliol College has decided to honor Shimon Peres and the apartheid state of Israel by inviting him to speak in Oxford, and by planning to establish a lecture series in his name. Peres will deliver his lecture on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 under the title “The Globalization of Peace.” Read more about Tell Oxford not to create lecture series in Peres' honor
Last weekend, 13 bodies, most likely of Palestinian refugees from Iraq, were recovered on the coast of Italy after their boats, carrying at least 127 persons in search of safety, had broken apart. These tragedies highlight the failure of the international community to protect Palestinian refugees. Read more about Thirteen Palestinians fleeing Iraq drown after boat capsizes
Commemorations of the 59th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba in May, followed by the 40th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in June, and the ongoing struggle against the Apartheid Wall and Palestinian displacement from the occupied city of Jerusalem result in a surge of activity and events. Palestinian civil society networks and political organization and movements from the 1967 occupied Palestinian territories and Israel have agreed to combine forces for effective coordination and maximum impact. The establishment of a national coordination committee was announced in the Palestinian press on 19 April. Read more about Palestinians unite for freedom from occupation and the right of return
“Recent Israeli statements claiming readiness to engage with the Arab Initiative, if Arab states dropped the clause on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in accordance with UN Resolution 194, is nothing but yet another attempt to deceive Arabs and Palestinians and obtain free concessions … Any compromise of the rights of the refugees stands for the continuation of the Nakba (catastrophe) inflicted upon the Palestinian people since 1948 and perpetuates the conflict with Israel,” say Palestinian civil society organizations to Arab leaders convening today, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the summit of the Arab League. Read more about Palestinians call upon Arab Summit: "Protect Palestinian Refugees and Work for their Right of Return"
Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the world comes together to reaffirm that racial discrimination is an assault on the foundation of the human rights system - the principle of equality. On this occasion, Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, “a society that tolerates discrimination holds itself back, foregoing the contribution of whole parts of its population, and potentially sowing the seeds of violent conflict.” She added that despite the fact that many states have accepted to fight racial discrimination “a reality check demonstrates that formal commitments are not enough.” Read more about Anti-Racism Day: "Israel is guilty of apartheid and colonization"
On 22-23 February 2007, after nearly 10 years of evading its responsibility, Israel finally met with the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to discuss its report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. A number of Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs attended, including Adalah, ACRI, Al Haq, Amnesty International, Badil, B’Tselem, Habitat Coalition International, and National Lawyers Guild. Summarized are some of the issues raised by the members of the Committee during their discussion with the Israeli delegation and in their Concluding Observations. Read more about The UN Anti-Racism Committee questions Israel's policy of apartheid
Israel’s ongoing policies against the Palestinian people of land expropriation, house demolition, population transfer, colonial settlement expansion, denial of freedom of movement, and expropriation of water and other resources, present the Human Rights Council with one of the longest-standing, yet urgent cases of denial of internationally-recognized human rights. Under Israeli law and policy, only “Jewish nationals” exclusively enjoy a range of economic, social and cultural rights, including the “Law of Return” that allows free immigration for Jews, but denies the same to the Palestinian indigenous population tracing its ties to the land for thousands of years. Read more about BADIL: "Ongoing population transfer in OPT and Israel"
A broad and unified delegation will present the agenda of Palestinian civil society at the first global World Social Forum to be held on the African continent between 20 and 25 January 2007, namely, building the global Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it ends its apartheid-like regime of discrimination, occupation and colonization, and respects the right of return of Palestinian refugees and IDPs. The some 30 members-strong delegation represents all major Palestinian community and NGO networks operating in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel and Lebanon. Read more about Palestinians attend World Social Forum
June 6, 2007 marks 40 years since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, May 15, 2008 marks 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe). The future of the Palestinian people is at a crossroads; 2007 - 2008 marks a historic opportunity for faith-based organizations, individuals, community groups, the solidarity movement, unions and political parties to pool resources and activities and campaign for a rights-based solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critical is the focus on the enforcement of the rights of Palestinian refugees under international law. Read more about The 40/60 Campaign for Freedom and Return
