:: Article nr. 69438 sent on 03-sep-2010 17:51 ECT

September 2, 2010

Today, DCI-Palestine, Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) have written a letter to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing deep concern over continued reports of ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children who are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system.

Each year, approximately 700 Palestinian children from the occupied West Bank are prosecuted in Israeli military courts, and reports of ill-treatment and torture are common place. Out of a sample of 100 sworn affidavits collected by lawyers from these children in 2009, 69 percent of the children reported being beaten and kicked, 49 percent reported being threatened, 14 percent were held in solitary confinement, 12 percent were threatened with sexual assault, including rape, and 32 percent were forced to sign confessions written in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.

DCI-Palestine, Adalah and PCATI call on the Israeli authorities to implement the following safeguards referred to by the UN Human rights Committee and the UN Committee Against Torture in an attempt to reduce the level of abuse reported by Palestinian children held in detention:

1. Ensure that all interrogations of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities are conducted in the presence of a family member;
2. Ensure that all interrogations of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities are conducted in the presence of a lawyer; and
3. Ensure that all interrogations of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities are audio-visually recorded.

DCI-Palestine, Adalah and PCATI call on the Israeli Prime Minister to take immediate action to stamp out what appears to be systematic and institutionalised abuse of Palestinian children held in Israeli custody. The UN Human Rights Committee is scheduled to review Israel's implementation of the above recommendations in July 2011.

:: Article nr. 69431 sent on 03-sep-2010 03:40 ECT

2 September 2010 | ISM Media

Baqa’a valley, HEBRON

Last night (1 Sept. 2010) around 150 to 175 Israeli settlers, many armed, constructed an illegal outpost at a new location in the Baqa’a valley, east of Hebron, and attempted to harass a Palestinian family.

A large group of settlers constructing an illegal near Road 60

The Israeli army did not attempt to disperse the settler gathering but later did partially raze the area on which the makeshift outpost buildings had been built – near the illegal Israeli settlements of Kiryat Arba and Givat Harsina, on the opposite side of Route 60, the road where four settlers were killed the previous night.

ISM activists were staying in the house of Palestinian farmer Atta Jabr and his family, who have been subjected to numerous attacks due to the proximity of the illegal Harsina settlement and the nearby "Hill 18" outpost. The last incident was just two weeks when Atta and his pre-teen daughter were attacked by six settlers.

From the house the family and the activists could observe the settlers’ activities a very short distance away.

At 17:00 six settlers arrived with a truck carrying a large water tank. Three soldiers approached them and spoke to them but took no action and left. Around half an hour later, a truck came carrying timber and other building supplies. It was unloaded by twelve settlers.

By 17:45, around 100 settlers had congregated at the site, including many armed with pistols and M16s. A digger arrived carrying around 40 bags of cement in its scoop.

By 18:30, around 175 settlers had arrived, many taking part in construction.

The home of the Jabr family which was besieged for three hours

Some settlers approached the Palestinian house, located about 40m up the hill, no doubt with the intention to harass the Jabr family again. Around 20 settler youths walked around the house. A settler family car stopped outside the front porch of the Palestinian house for a short period of time while the driver looked inside – however they took no further action. The family was effectively under siege for about three hours.

Shortly afterwards the Israeli army arrived, led by the same Captain who two weeks earlier had harassed peaceful internationals instead of removing a large group of settlers from the Palestinian Baqa’a.

A squad of six soldiers walked up to the Palestinian house. The Sergeant shouted in Hebrew demands for the windows to be shut and the lights to be switched off. The internationals didn’t understand so the Sgt lifted up his rifle and cocked it. The soldiers then climbed onto the roof.

By 19:00 it appeared that some settlers had started walking away back to Harsina.

At 20:00, some Israeli activists including Rabbis for Human Rights, AATW and ICAHD tried to access the area but been denied by the army. They reported that the outpost seemed to have been demolished, apparently by the civil administration. The soldiers came down from the roof.

Meanwhile across the valley at Al Buwayra tension was high and a settler attack was fully expected due to the village’s extremely close proximity to the outpost and it’s history settler violence. Three members of CPT and one ISM activist stayed at a house in the village that often bears the brunt of these attacks. At 11.30 news came in that settlers were stoning a nearby house. On arriving near to the house it was apparent that 4-5 settlers were throwing stones from behind the security fence at a Palestinian house. Not far from the scene  the chanting and yelling of  party of settlers probably numbering 30 -40 people could be heard. Not long after the internationals arrived the settlers left and the Palestinians and internationals returned to the house.

When activists went to investigate the location of the Baqa’a valley outpost construction attempt this morning they found a 3×3 metres square of cement, covered in boot prints. Palestinian Atta Jabr told them that the settlers had already come up with a Hebrew name for the outpost they wish to illegally build on Palestinian land – 'Navi Hevron’.

This incident occurred following an announcement by the settlers that they would unilaterally violate the freeze on settlement construction – deemed illegal under international law – which is not due to expire until September 26^th.

The settlers carry out so-called "price tag" attacks on Palestinians whenever the Israeli authorities prevent settlement expansion. The resumption of construction comes after the shooting of four Israeli settlers in Hebron two days ago, an attack which the militant wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for.

Atta Jabr and his family have lived in the area for more than three generations. Their house has been demolished twice. Members of the family appeared in the acclaimed 2006 documentary Occupation 101 – (clip below)  – speaking about their experiences of life under Israeli occupation.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

- 6 Palestinian civilians and an international human rights defender were injured.  

- IOF arrested 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders.

· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in the Gaza Strip’s border areas.

Two Palestinian workers were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.

· IOF conducted 37 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.  

- IOF arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.

· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and other communities in the West Bank during the Ramadan Month.

- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested at least 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

· Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.

- Israeli settlers attempted to break into al-'Ein Mosque in Silwan village.

- Israeli authorities demand churches in Jerusalem to pay water bills accumulated since 1967, although churches had been historically exempted from paying such bills.

· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

- Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and shepherds in Hebron and Salfit.

- Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and their cars on the main roads following an attack against settlers in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (26 August – 01 September 2010):

Shooting:

During the reporting period, 8 Palestinian civilian and an international human rights defender were wounded by IOF in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

In the West Bank, 7 civilians, including a photojournalist and an international human rights defender, were injured, when IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall. 

In the Gaza Strip, two Palestinian workers were wounded when IOF fired at a number of workers who were collecting raw construction materials in the northern Gaza Strip.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 37 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 15 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. IOF also arrested 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders, but released them an hour later. 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into al-Boreij refugee camp. They clashed with members of the Palestinian resistance. During the clashes 3 resistance activists were lightly wounded.

Restrictions on Movement: Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 

· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels only through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons. 

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years. 

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60 - 80 'flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).

· There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem: 

IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. 

On 26 August 2010, Israeli settlers attempted to break into al-'Ein Mosque in Silwan villahe in East Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, at least 10 Israeli settlers attempted to break into al-'Ein Mosque in Wadi Hilwa quarter in Silwan village. The settlers were seen at approximately 03:30 sneaking into the area carrying tools to open the gate of the mosque. Palestinian civilians noticed the attempt and confronted it. Immediately, IOF arrived at the area to protect the settlers. Five hours earlier, the settlers attempted to the attack the mosque, and in the beginning of this month, Israeli settlers broke the gate of the mosque.  On 30 August 2010, IOF moved into Wad Hilwa quarter in Silwan village. They waged an arrest campaign against Palestinian civilians. 

The Israeli Jihon Water Company has recently sent warnings to churches and nunneries in the old town of Jerusalem demanding them to pay bills of water consumption accumulated since 1967, and threatening to cut off water supplies if due fees were not paid. It is worth noting that churches and nunneries in Jerusalem had been exempted from paying fees for water supplies over hundreds of years.

Settlement Activities:

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 27 August 2010, Israeli settlers attacked Jamal, Ahmed and Mohammed al-Nawaj'a, while they were grazing animals in Sousia area, nearly 800 meters away from "Sousia" settlement, south of Hebron. The settlers used stones and canes in the attack. 

On 31 August 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Emanuel" settlement, northwest of Salfit, attacked 3 Palestinian civilians who were working on a tract of agricultural land near Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. 

Following an attack against Israeli settlers near Hebron on 31 August 2010, Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (26 August – 01 September 2010)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 26 August 2010

· At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, southwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Surda village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Omar Mitri Qassis, 25;

2. Ramez 'Abdul Rahim Wash'ha, 25; and

3. Yousef Mousa Housha, 46.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jafna village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Tariq Nasser Matar, 21; and

2. Emile Ghassan 'Abdu, 24.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor 'Aqab village, south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha'er 'Abdul Rahim Wash'ha, 26.

· At approximately 08:55, IOF moved into al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 13:25, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 13:45, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 27 August 2010

· At approximately 00:25, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:45, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, southwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· Later, IOF moved into Brouqin village, southwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 28 August 2010

· At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting taw construction materials on a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, two workers were wounded:

1. Rami Ibrahim Ghaben, 19, wounded by a bullet to the left foot; and

2. Sharif Sa'id Ghaben, 25, wounded by a bullet to the right leg.

Israeli troops also fired at animal carts belonging to the two civilians. As a result, a donkey was killed and another one was injured.

· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Eyad Shihda Jabarin, 33, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Imad Ahmed Doula;

2. Ahmed Mohammed al-Dalu;

3. Ameer Hassan Jibara, 19; and

4. Anas Hassan Jibara, 18.

· At approximately 01:30, an Israeli infantry unit moved nearly 150 meters into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Armed clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and members of the Palestinian resistance. Soon after, IOF sent backups and shelled the area. Three members of al-Quds Brigades (the military wing of Islamic Jihad) were lightly injured.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Irsal neighborhood in Ramallah.  They raided a 5-storey apartment building belonging to the Abu 'Ein family, and searched a flat on the second floor. They then arrested Yazan 'Abdul Hadi al-Shrouf, 22.

· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· Later, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 30 August 2010

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 09:15, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, against. They raided a car maintenance workshop and confiscated 6 cars that have Israeli registration plates. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 13:40, IOF moved into the villages of Habla, 'Izbat al-Ja'oud and 'Izbat al-Salman, south of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 17:45, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· In the evening, following an attack launched by Palestinian resistance activists against Israeli settlers in the southeast of Hebron, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, east of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched many houses and turned a number of them into military sites. The Israeli operation the village was concluded on the following day evening.

· At approximately 23:25, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 31 August 2010

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, southwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1. Saleh 'Imad Abu Sharar, 14;

2. Mohammed Zakaria al-Qiq, 16; and

3. Firas Zakaria al-Qiq, 14.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Sarta village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, southwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 01 September 2010

· At approximately 09:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the debris of destroyed buildings in the industrial zone. The workers fled and no casualties were reported.   

2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities. As a result, 7 Palestinianscivilians were injured. Dozens of civilians and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders, but released them an hour later.  

· Following the Friday Prayer on 27 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders, including Martin Linton, Head of Palestinian Friendship association and former member of the British Labor Party, and a number of leaders and members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They also commemorated the 9^th anniversary of the death of the later Secretary-General of PFLP, Abu Ali Mustafa. They moved towards the annexation wall. Israeli troops stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, were wounded:

1. Ashraf Mohammed al-Khatib, 27, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

2. Bassam Mohammed Hamad, 30, hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg; and

3. Haitham Mohammed al-Khatib, 34, a photographer of the Public Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Bil'ein village; hit by a tear gas canister to the back.

Several demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli troops.   

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, several demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.  Israeli troops also arrested 4 paramedics and two human rights defenders, but released them later:

1. Murad Khalil 'Amira, 35;

2. Mohammed Mousa Jabazi, 23;

3. Ma'ath Mohammed 'Amira, 18;

4. Tariq Hani 'Amira, 21;

5. Hamouda Sa'id 'Amira, 34, a photographer of the Israeli B'Tselem; and

6. Ms. Sirit, 39, Spokesperson of B'Tselem.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 27 August 2010, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They moved towards areas of land where IOF intend to construct a section of the annexation wall. IOF had already closed the entrance of the village. Once the demonstrators arrived at the area, Israeli troops fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them, and a violently beat a number of them. As a result, 4 demonstrators, including an American human rights defender, sustained shrapnel injuries and burns:

1. Jom'a Yousef Zawahra, 40, injured by shrapnel to the right foot;

2. Mohammed Yousef Banat, 37, injured by shrapnel to the back;

3. Mahmoud Mousa 'Aladdin, 27, injured by shrapnel to the right thigh; and

4. Elika Ross, 21, sustained burns to the right hand. 

3. Continued Closure of the OPT

Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. 

· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to only allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons. 

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Since the imposition of the closure, living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.

· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years. 

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.

Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border in both directions without specifying a date for its closure. The Egyptian decisions came following the Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in international water. On the following morning, the crossing point was effectively opened and restricted categories of Palestinian civilians were allowed to travel through it.

Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point

25 – 31 August 2010

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

25 – 31 August 2010

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 25 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 975 tons of wheat and 2,886 tons of fodder. They also opened it on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,911 tons of wheat and 2,457 tons of fodder. 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

25 – 31 August 2010

The West Bank

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque. On Friday morning, 27 August 2010, the second Friday in the Holy Ramadan Month, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem. Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints around Jerusalem prevented Palestinian civilians aged below 50 from entering the city for the Friday Prayer. IOF also reinforced their presence in the city. They established a number of roadblocks and checkpoints in various areas.  

· Bethlehem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have maintained their presence at 41 checkpoints around the town. The town has been also impacted by the construction of the annexation wall to the north and west, and large areas of Palestinian land have been isolated by the wall. During the reporting period, Israeli troops stationed at the 300 checkpoint (Rachel Toms), north of Bethlehem, continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians are forced to wait in queues on two routes outside the checkpoint. They are then checked by Israeli soldiers using electronic checking machines. Such checking is often prolonged and humiliating. During the reporting period, only Palestinians who have permits and those aged over 50 were allowed to travel to Jerusalem. In the meantime, Israeli troops stationed the container checkpoint imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, Israeli troops stationed at the Container checkpoint imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Following an attack against Israeli settlers near Hebron on Tuesday evening, 31 August 2010, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They established more checkpoints on the main roads. They also closed all entrances to Hebron, and a number of villages near the town. Additionally, IOF banned the movement of Palestinians on bypass road #60.   

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 30 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint opposite to al-Tanib factory in the west of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported. On Wednesday morning, 25 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, southwest of Nablus. They also established a checkpoint at "Yits'har" intersection, south of Nablus.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. on Friday noon, 27 August 2010, IOF closed Jaba' checkpoint. As a result, thousands of Palestinian civilians, who prayed in the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, had to wait for long hours before they were allowed to travel back homes. At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 28 August 2010, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported. At approximately 18:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

· Qalqilya:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the agricultural road located to the east of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, since 2009. The village is also separated from road #55, which links between Nablus and Qalqilya, with a barbwire fence. The fence cuts off the village from agricultural land belonging to it in the north. At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 26 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 15:40 on Thursday, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 27 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 22:15 on Friday, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Assala village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles. At approximately 08:10 on Saturday, 28 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles. At approximately 14:20 on Sunday, 29 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Jayous-'Azzoun road, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 20:45 also on Sunday, IOF established a checkpoint at Jainsafout intersection, east of Qalqilya. Israeli troops stationed at those checkpoints stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 30 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 14:00 on Monday, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They held and handcuffed 4 Palestinian civilians for an hour. At approximately 00:10 on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya. At approximately 14:45, they established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10 on Thursday, 26 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the northern entrance of Salfit with cement blocks and sand barriers since 2000. They have also continued to close two roads linking Marda village with agricultural land belonging to it. At approximately 19:30 on Monday, 30 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.  

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

· On Thursday morning, 26 August 2010, IOF arrested Zaid Burhan Hamdallah, 19, from 'Anabta village east of Tulkarm, after summoning him for interrogation. 

· At approximately 23:00 on Friday, 27 August 2010, IOF arrested Ahmed Rasheed Basheer, 20, from Jainsafout village east of Qalqilya, when he was going to his work in "Emanuel" settlement. 

· At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 29 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested 'Abdul Rahim Mohammed Daoud, 23. 

· At approximately 16:00 also on Sunday, IOF arrested Mohammed Mashour Salim, 15, and Yousef Mahmoud 'Edwan, 15, both from 'Azzoun village east of Qalqilya, claiming that they threw stones at Israeli cars traveling on bypass road #55 north of the village. 

· At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 30 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Hani Mohammed Mas'oud. 

· At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, and arrested Jalal Ameen Samara.

4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem

Israel has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

· On Thursday morning, 26 August 2010, Israeli settlers attempted to break into al-'Ein Mosque in Silwan villahe in East Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, at least 10 Israeli settlers attempted to break into al-'Ein Mosque in Wadi Hilwa quarter in Silwan village. The settlers were seen at approximately 03:30 sneaking into the area carrying tools to open the gate of the mosque. Palestinian civilians noticed the attempt and confronted it. Immediately, IOF arrived at the area to protect the settlers. Five hours earlier, the settlers attempted to the attack the mosque, and in the beginning of this month, Israeli settlers broke the gate of the mosque. 

On Monday morning, 30 August 2010, IOF moved into Wad Hilwa quarter in Silwan village. They waged an arrest campaign against Palestinian civilians. They arrested Su'ad Abu Ramouz and her brother Jawad. They released the woman a few hours later, but kept her brother in custody. They also attested Fadi Siam, 28, his brother Nour, 20, and Adam Samrin, 68, the guard of al-'Ein Mosque, but released them at noon. 

· The Israeli Jihon Water Company has recently sent warnings to churches and nunneries in the old town of Jerusalem demanding them to pay bills of water consumption accumulated since 1967, and threatening to cut off water supplies if due fees were not paid. It is worth noting that churches and nunneries in Jerusalem had been exempted from paying fees for water supplies over hundreds of years.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 27 August 2010, Israeli settlers attacked Jamal, Ahmed and Mohammed al-Nawaj'a, while they were grazing animals in Sousia area, nearly 800 meters away from "Sousia" settlement, south of Hebron. The settlers used stones and canes in the attack. 

· At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from "Emanuel" settlement, northwest of Salfit, attacked 3 Palestinian civilians who were working on a tract of agricultural land near Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. The settlers chased Yousef Mohammed al-Qaissi, 17, Sharaf Daoud 'Obaid, 18, and 'Odai 'Azzam 'Obaid, 18. They caught al-Qaissi as he fell down. They insulted him and warned him of being in the area again. 

· At approximately 20:00 on the same day, following an attack against Israeli settlers near Hebron, a number of Israeli settlers gathered near Jeet intersection, east of Qalqilya. They threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Nablus-Qalqilya road. A number of vehicles were damaged. The settlers also violently beat Nasser Nafe' Mansour.

· On Tuesday evening, a number of Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, gathered at the entrance of the settlement and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on a bypass road linking between Hawara intersection, south of Nablus, and Jeet intersection, southwest of the city.

· At approximately 22:30 on the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from "Karni Shomron" settlement, east of Qalqilya, gathered at the entrance of the settlement and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on Nablus-Qalqilya road. 

· On Wednesday morning, 01 September 2010, a number of Israeli settlers gathered at the entrance of "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus. They threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on a bypass road linking between Hawara intersection, south of Nablus, and Jeet intersection, southwest of the city.

· At approximately 12:00 also on Wednesday, at least 50 Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked a house belonging to Younis Mohammed Edris in al-Jalajel area, using stones and empty bottles. They also set fire to grass near the house. The house was damaged.

· At approximately 17:30 on the same day, Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, stormed a 15-donum area of land belonging to 'Ata 'Abdul Jawad Jaber, and started to establish a settlement outpost. IOF held Jaber's family in their house, which is located only 150 meters away from the targeted land. The settlers and IOF remained in the area until 22:30.  

…………………………………………………………

Recommendations to the International Community

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5. PCHR recommends that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.

6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ( pchr@pchrgaza.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).

MEMO, September 1, 2010

Following a visit yesterday to some young prisoners being held at the Megiddo Prison, lawyers for the Ministry of Detainees have stated that the young prisoners testified under oath that they had been interrogated and systematically electrocuted and tortured by Israeli intelligence officers in settlements near to Palestinian cities.

According to Salim Redouane who was arrested near Qalqilya on 08.05.2010, he was kept in a camp near Tzofin for 3 hours before being transferred to the settlement of Ariel where he was questioned by Shin Bet interrogators. His head was repeatedly hit against the prison room wall in an effort to get him to confess and he was beaten severely. The investigators threatened to burn his skin if he did not confess to the accusations against him.

Another detainee, Mohamed Ali Radwan, informed the lawyers that he was arrested at his home in Qalqilya Azzun on 3/8/2010 and one of the soldiers forced him to take off his shirt in order to use it as a blindfold. He was handcuffed and then taken somewhere near the village where he was told to hand in what was in his possession before he was hit in the back with a rifle butt and kicked repeatedly in the stomach and on the back. One of the soldiers then dragged him across the ground which resulted in deep wounds on his hands and he was taken to the Ariel settlement where he was questioned for several hours and was hit on the head, in the face and all over his the body.

According to the testimony of Yahya Ali Abdel-Hafez, born 03.07.1995 and a resident of the Qalqilya Governorate of Azzoun, he was arrested on 05.08.2010 near the city of Qalqilya and taken to a camp near Tzofin where he was kept for 3 hours before being transferred to the settlement of Ariel and interrogated. During the interrogation, he did not recognize some of the charges against him and so he was beaten in the face several times and repeatedly electrocuted. Under duress, Yahya eventually signed the statement to avoid further torture.

Lawyers also visited Abdul Hamid Abdul Latif Sa'id Abu Haniyeh who is currently in year 10 and was born on 12/11/1994. A resident of Azzun, he was arrested on 05.08.2010 near Qalqilya, where was also taken to the Ariel settlement and interrogated by Shin Bet interrogators. He was beaten up severely before being hit hard by a large jolt of electricity. A terrified Abdul Hamid who thought he would be imprisoned at the Megiddo prison along with his brothers, signed the statement he was given.

Lawyers for the Ministry of Prisoners also visited Ahmed Hussein Mustafa who was born on 10/01/1994 and is from Jalazoun, north of Ramallah. He was arrested from his home at three in the morning on 11.02.2010 and was beaten up inside his house before being taken to the Beit El settlement. Ahmed remained in the settlement until daybreak when he was transferred to Benjamin where he was fined 2000 NIS and sentenced to 20 months in detention. His two brothers were detained in the Negev prison

Source: News of Palestine - Agencies

How can Palestinians utilize the 2004 International Court of Justice ruling to achieve their rights?

Overview

Palestinians have struggled against Israel’s Wall in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem for the past eight years. In July 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirmed that the Wall and Israel’s occupation regime were in violation of international law. Al-Shabaka policy advisor Jamal Juma’, who has served as the coordinator of the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign since 2002, examines how and why the Wall was established, discusses the implications of the Court’s decision, and concludes with policy recommendations addressed to different sectors of Palestinian society and the international community.

What the Wall Has Done

Israel began constructing the Wall in June 2002 following its invasion of cities in the West Bank, which it dubbed "Operation Defensive Shield." In retrospect, the invasion appears to have been a prelude to the construction of the Wall and no one recognized the significance of the invasion’s code name at the time. The immense scale of the 2002 invasion -- characterized by the destruction of Palestinian civilian infrastructure, mass arrests, assassinations and massacres -- ensured that the construction of the Wall would commence with as little resistance as possible.

Accompanied by hundreds of military checkpoints, the Wall solidified the dismemberment of the West Bank’s major population centers into Bantustans, separated from each other and segregated from occupied East Jerusalem. Israel’s actions were intended to enhance its control over the Palestinian people and block the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Wall intentionally blurs the "Green Line," the internationally recognized armistice line between Israel and the occupied West Bank, thus over-riding international law and United Nations Security Council Resolutions relating to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Instead of relying on international law, Israel has substituted negotiations over "disputed" territories for which it sets the terms under an American shield (See Mouin Rabbani's policy brief).

Today, Israel’s "facts on the ground" clearly display the realities of its system of apartheid:

• The Wall, which will reach 810 km in length, isolates 46% of the occupied West Bank and divides it into three large cantons and 22 small Bantustans. It cements Israel’s control over 82-85% of Palestinian water resources in the OPT.

• A 1,400 km road network is dedicated exclusively to Israelis and separated from Palestinian roads by 48 tunnels.

• Thirty-four military checkpoints control the movement of people and goods between the different cantons and the movement of commercial traffic with Israel and the outside world.

• Industrial zones, agricultural areas and crafts workshops have been established along the Wall. These Israeli, joint, and international ventures aim to transform the Palestinian people into a cheap labor force dependent on the Israeli economy. Raw materials and exports are entirely Israeli while the capital is international, Israeli, and Palestinian.

Palestinian Civil Society’s Response

Grassroots and peaceful resistance against the Wall started three months after construction began. The delay was due in large part to the impact of the 2002 invasion on Palestinian society. Popular committees were formed in the villages and cities of the northern West Bank where the first stage of the Wall was under construction. Activists organized events, documented damages and violations, and organized international campaigns, communicating and coordinating with international solidarity activists who formed human shields at key areas around the West Bank. Dozens of rallies and activities were organized in the towns and villages across the northern and central West Bank. These protests occurred throughout the week and were coordinated with visits by international solidarity activists.

The demonstrations and other events attracted international attention. The images of the Wall and its route, which clearly showed the extent of Israel’s theft of vast agricultural lands and water resources as well as the immense environmental and agricultural destruction, shocked observers around the world.

However, the Palestinian Authority (PA) remained indifferent to these activities, angering many Palestinians. The PA’s silence was particularly glaring given the numerous letters and appeals by farmers, local councils, and popular committees for a response. Eventually, the indifference of the elected leadership raised questions and cast doubts among Palestinians and two rallies were organized outside the Prime Minister’s office to protest this stance.

Following the 2003 conference convened by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in New York, the Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign met with Nasser al-Qidwa, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) permanent observer at the UN. The Grassroots Campaign provided al-Qidwa with a detailed power point presentation about the Wall and its consequences for the "peace process." Al-Qidwa took action and coordinated with international organizations, seeking information from the committees, civil and formal institutions, and international institutions that monitored Israel’s violations in the OPT.

In December 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to refer the case to the ICJ to seek its opinion about the legal consequences of Israel’s construction of the Wall. Prior to the February 14, 2004 ICJ meeting, peaceful popular marches across the occupied West Bank increased and were met with violence and repression by the Israeli army. Five Palestinians were killed and hundreds were wounded in the villages northwest of Jerusalem, specifically from Beit Duqqu and Biddu. In anticipation of the ICJ meeting, Israel altered the route of the Wall in Baqa al-Sharqiya in the Tulkarm Governorate and Beit Sourik and Qatana in the Jerusalem Governorate, restoring thousands of dunums of land it had previously confiscated (a dunum equals a 1,000 square meters). Meanwhile, the Israeli High Court issued a ruling stating that the army should take the "human impact" of the Wall on Palestinians into consideration.1

Before the ICJ was due to announce its ruling in July 2004, then member of the Israeli Knesset Dr. Azmi Bishara organized a sit-in in cooperation with the Grassroots Campaign. A tent was erected at the northern entrance to Jerusalem and stood for 10 days, attracting hundreds of solidarity delegations and popular committees from across historic Palestine as well as foreign and international organizations, diplomatic missions, and dozens of media outlets. The tent was packed with hundreds of people around the clock and lectures and presentations were organized. However, the PA abruptly and violently shut down the tent. The PA claimed that the tent was no longer needed after the ICJ passed its ruling on July 9, 2004. In reality, the tent was becoming a source of embarrassment to the PA because it was attracting attention in the media and the public.

The ICJ Opinion and its Implications

The ICJ’s advisory opinion was a great boost to the Palestinian people, particularly those living in the villages, cities and communities closest to the path of the Wall.2

The ICJ also found – by a vote of 13-2 – that the international community was obliged not to recognize the situation resulting from the construction of the Wall or to provide assistance to maintaining the status quo. It is interesting to recall that a similar conclusion over three decades ago with regard to South Africa’s occupation of South West Africa led to sanctions against the apartheid state.

In addition, the court called for all parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to compel Israel to implement its decision and reaffirmed the applicability of the Geneva Conventions to the OPT. By a vote of 14-1, the ICJ called on the UN to "consider what further action is required to bring to an end the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the Wall and the associated régime."

After it was referred to the UN, an overwhelming majority of members of the UN General Assembly endorsed the ICJ’s opinion. However, over six years later, the UN Security Council has yet to review the advisory opinion.

The advisory opinion has had implications at both the official and popular levels. In spite of the victory at the ICJ, PA officials have deliberately disregarded the advisory opinion. Each year they justify their negligence by maintaining that the political circumstances are unfavorable and that the Europeans and the Americans would not support their request to resort to the UN Security Council. While it is evident that there is considerable pressure from Israel and the U.S., the PA has not utilized the advisory opinion as an effective bargaining chip. Instead of relying on international law it has continued to bet on the negotiations sponsored by successive American administrations. Thus, the PA is caught in a vicious cycle: The very negotiations that they rely on for international recognition are used by the U.S. and Israel to pressure them to abandon Palestinian rights.

The PA’s approach has had implications internationally. Because it represents the "official" Palestinian position, no nation – however friendly to the Palestinian people – is able to advocate forcefully on behalf of the Palestinians or its leadership. In other words, they cannot be "more Palestinian than the Palestinians."

By contrast, the popular position has been and remains well ahead of the official position. From the earliest days of the Wall’s construction, the Palestinian public recognized it as a colonial and racist project aimed at imposing a new geopolitical and security reality on the ground that would dramatically alter the West Bank and tighten Israel’s grip. Therefore, the strategy underpinning popular action was based on resisting Israel’s goals on the ground, creating broad international support with solidarity movements, and demanding the enforcement of international law and resolutions.

That popular resistance soon included moves toward boycotting Israel. Since 2003, civil society activists, including the Grassroots Campaign and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel have worked for an international boycott against Israel. The ICJ’s advisory opinion not only reinforced the Palestinian boycott efforts but also enabled Palestinian Civil Society to continue pressuring the PA to challenge Israel in international forums. Moreover, international solidarity movements began to base their demands for dismantling the Wall and settlements and ending the occupation on the ICJ’s advisory opinion.

On the first anniversary of the ICJ opinion the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) was launched by 171 Palestinian coalitions, associations, trade unions, and organizations within and outside historic Palestine. This Call, which is the first Palestinian consensus document since the founding of the PLO, seeks to boycott and impose sanctions against Israel to ensure its compliance with international law. Over the past five years, the BDS movement has grown in size and strength around the world and has become the international reference point for all solidarity initiatives and movements globally (See Omar Barghouti's policy brief). The BDS call has been followed by subsequent declarations such as the 2009 Kairos Document issued by a coalition of Palestinian churches that called on churches around the world to boycott Israel.3 Moreover, these actions by Palestinian civil society were welcomed by international solidarity groups who were eager for a non-official Palestinian grassroots initiative.

The popular resistance embodied by the BDS movement and the weekly protests against the Wall are the foundation upon which international solidarity is built. These grassroots efforts have pushed the confrontation with Israel’s occupation to a vital battleground: the international arena with its media, civil and official institutions, organizations, trade unions, activists, universities, and even the private sector. The impact and implications of these efforts has not gone unnoticed. A recent report by the Reut Institute, an Israeli think-tank, argued that BDS represented a strategic threat to Israel.4

Recommendations

These recommendations stem from the experience of the past eight years of struggle against the Wall.

• The PA must end its compliance with U.S. dictates and fully engage in the international battle against Israel as an occupying state, demanding that the UN Security Council and General Assembly implement the ICJ’s advisory opinion as well as other relevant resolutions.

• Greater coordination and organization of the BDS movement is needed internationally in order to maintain pressure on Israel.

• Within the Arab world, it is crucial to revive the Arab Boycott Committee, bringing more Arab grassroots organizations and unions on board with the BDS movement and pressuring the Arab League to withdraw its support for negotiations until the ICJ ruling is implemented in full.

• Grassroots resistance needs to be expanded to include all contact points along the Wall and alongside Israeli settlements. At the same time all forms of formal and popular normalization must be stopped.

• The Palestinian citizens of Israel must resort to international judicial means to end the racism and discrimination they have been suffering for more than six decades.

This is the way to end Israel’s occupation, dismantle the Wall and destroy the deep-seated racist mentality of Israel’s leaders. This is the way to make Israel recognize that it is part of rather than above the international community.

Footnotes

1. 1John Sigler, "The Israeli High Court of Justice and the Apartheid Wall," The Electronic Intifada, 15 July 2004, http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2916.shtml.
2. 2For an accessible discussion of the ICJ opinion, see "Legal Analysis and Potential Consequences," by Susan Akram, Associate Professor, Boston University Law School and John Quigley, Professor, Ohio State University School of Law, published by the DC-based Palestine Center in September 2004. By a vote of 14 – 1, the ICJ found that Israel’s Wall and associated regime were illegal and said that the Wall had to be dismantled and reparations paid to Palestinians whose property was damaged by its construction.The dissenting judge on this and four other points made clear that he shared the Court’s conclusion that international law applied to the occupied Palestinian territories and must be complied with by Israel. His differences with the majority were on the basis that the Court should not have rendered an opinion without a fuller consideration of Israel’s security concerns.
3. 3See http://www.kairospalestine.ps/
4. 4Ali Abunimah "Israel's new strategy: "sabotage" and "attack" the global justice movement," The Electronic Intifada, 16 February 2010 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11080.shtml
   

:: Article nr. 69265 sent on 29-aug-2010 06:36 ECT

August 28, 2010

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) intensified their presence in the early morning hours on Friday in occupied Jerusalem turning it into military posts in an attempt to prevent the Palestinian crowds, especially the young men, from entering the Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers.

Eyewitness said the IOF troops were intensively deployed all over the holy city, especially at the entrances to the Old City and in the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque and its gates, adding that they erected barriers in all alleys of the Old City and at the Mosque's gates and searched the worshipers.

The IOF troops only allowed the men aging 50 and above, the women over 40 and holders of special permits to have access to the Aqsa Mosque.

For its part, the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage affirmed that about 180,000 Palestinian worshipers performed their Friday prayers in the Aqsa Mosque in defiance of the Israeli military measures and restrictions.

In a statement, the Aqsa foundation said this estimated number of worshipers was concluded from information provided by reporters and cameramen of news agencies who covered the events of Friday prayers.

It noted that most of the worshipers were from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands, and a few of them were from the West Bank.

Al-Bayareq foundation had afforded more than 170 buses to transport worshipers from all Palestinian cities of the 1948 occupied lands to the Aqsa Mosque, while the Aqsa foundation distributed more than 4,000 meals inside the Mosque.

In another incident, more than 17,000 Palestinians from Al-Khalil city performed their Friday prayers in the Ibrahimi Mosque, and the Mosques of Ahel Al-Sunnah and Al-Qazazin in the Old City.

Eyewitness said that Al-Khalil people flocked into the Ibrahimi Mosque after being prevented from reaching the Aqsa Mosque, adding that thousands of Israeli soldiers were deployed around the Mosque in anticipation of clashes on the anniversary of the Israeli massacre committed inside this Mosque.

The Palestinians are always electronically and manually searched many times by Israeli troops before they are allowed into the Ibrahimi Mosque.