2 apr 2014
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G4S is a British-Danish private security company that profits from the imprisonment of Palestinian political prisoners and systems of Israeli occupation and apartheid.
They maintain security equipment at checkpoints and in illegal Israeli settlements, and they employ private security personnel posted at checkpoints and to protect construction sites for the settlements and the Annexation Wall. G4S provides security equipment and services in five Israeli occupation prisons that detain Palestinian political prisoners. As is shown in the video. G4S is complicit in Israeli war crimes: including the death of Arafat Jaradat by torture, the unjust imprisonment of Palestinian children like Ali Shamlawi, and the torture of Oday Jumhour. |
Israeli Apartheid Wall
By Sami Klein
The European Parliament's delegation made a report about Israel-Palestine situation. Among the conclusions: degrading hospital care in Palestine, the Israel's colonial policy and the false action of EU and UN authorities.
“The Parliament’s decision to have separate Israel and Palestine delegations leaves MEPs too often divided in the perspectives they acquire. This weakness in our formal arrangements is compounded by the apparent reluctance of the two delegations to work closely together and share in joint activities,” regretted Chris Davies (ALDE), member of the delegation consisted also by Norbert Neuser (S&D) and Nicole Kiil-Nielsen (Greens/EFA).
The delegation visited the Palestinian Legislative Council from 23 to 27 March 2014. During this period, the delegation wanted to strengthen his understanding of the circumstances of the Palestinian people and assess the state of the peace process between Israeli and Palestine. For example, regarding the Gaza Strip, particularly to gain a better appreciation of the situation after eight years of Israel's blockade, and at a time when the 1.7 million residents are again trapped behind barriers that are closed entirely to all commercial transactions.
Following this visit, several lessons have been learned by Chris Davies. The report is alarming.
First of all, living conditions and the hospital greeting. The Makassed hospital, situated in East Jerusalem, has unusual problems to overcome. “It is the main referral hospital for all Palestinians and for alleged ‘security reasons’ the Israeli occupation denies many people under 60 a permit to accompany children brought for emergency operations so parents have to leave their offspring in the care of others. They are issued only with day permits so at the hospital are trapped, unable to leave the grounds for weeks on end,” said Davies. “Moreover a formal building permit has been refused by the Israeli occupation (building permits are hardly ever issued to Palestinians).“
Secondly, the way Israel behaves with Palestinian citizens. “Israel continues to consolidate its control of Palestine through confiscations and demolitions, settlement building and new roads for the exclusive use of Israelis,” stated Chris Davies. He continued by saying: “62% of the Palestinian territories, including the Jordan valley, were defined in the Oslo accords as ‘Area C’ and Palestinians are now being excluded from it by the Israeli forces. Israel claims ‘security’ as its justification but Palestinians believe the motives to be purely economic and accuse Israel of seizing their mineral and agricultural wealth.”
Also, the EU is currently helping Palestine with financial funds (hundreds of millions euros each year) with an aim of developing Palestinian institutions. “But this is supposed to be preparing them for a statehood that may never be realized.” In spite of the Geneva Convention, which makes clear that the occupiers of a land should safeguard the well-being of the people under their control, ”it must be questioned why the EU is, in effect (and for the best possible reasons), subsidising the occupation and letting Israel escape its financial burdens,” declared Davies.
Finally, with regard to a possible peace agreement, Palestinian doesn’t seem to believe in it. The Palestinian believes that “Israel wants a continuing peace process solely to provide itself with PR cover from criticism while it continues to build settlements, change the facts on the ground and make the creation of an independent Palestinian state impossible,” he concluded.
The negotiations, conducted through American interlocutors, between Israeli and Palestinians are stopped since November. Israel demands Palestinians to accept living in a Jewish state. There is then no progress in this case and maybe UN bodies should act. Establish two countries, if it’s not already too late, or unify them.
Source New Europe
ALRAY contributed to this
By Sami Klein
The European Parliament's delegation made a report about Israel-Palestine situation. Among the conclusions: degrading hospital care in Palestine, the Israel's colonial policy and the false action of EU and UN authorities.
“The Parliament’s decision to have separate Israel and Palestine delegations leaves MEPs too often divided in the perspectives they acquire. This weakness in our formal arrangements is compounded by the apparent reluctance of the two delegations to work closely together and share in joint activities,” regretted Chris Davies (ALDE), member of the delegation consisted also by Norbert Neuser (S&D) and Nicole Kiil-Nielsen (Greens/EFA).
The delegation visited the Palestinian Legislative Council from 23 to 27 March 2014. During this period, the delegation wanted to strengthen his understanding of the circumstances of the Palestinian people and assess the state of the peace process between Israeli and Palestine. For example, regarding the Gaza Strip, particularly to gain a better appreciation of the situation after eight years of Israel's blockade, and at a time when the 1.7 million residents are again trapped behind barriers that are closed entirely to all commercial transactions.
Following this visit, several lessons have been learned by Chris Davies. The report is alarming.
First of all, living conditions and the hospital greeting. The Makassed hospital, situated in East Jerusalem, has unusual problems to overcome. “It is the main referral hospital for all Palestinians and for alleged ‘security reasons’ the Israeli occupation denies many people under 60 a permit to accompany children brought for emergency operations so parents have to leave their offspring in the care of others. They are issued only with day permits so at the hospital are trapped, unable to leave the grounds for weeks on end,” said Davies. “Moreover a formal building permit has been refused by the Israeli occupation (building permits are hardly ever issued to Palestinians).“
Secondly, the way Israel behaves with Palestinian citizens. “Israel continues to consolidate its control of Palestine through confiscations and demolitions, settlement building and new roads for the exclusive use of Israelis,” stated Chris Davies. He continued by saying: “62% of the Palestinian territories, including the Jordan valley, were defined in the Oslo accords as ‘Area C’ and Palestinians are now being excluded from it by the Israeli forces. Israel claims ‘security’ as its justification but Palestinians believe the motives to be purely economic and accuse Israel of seizing their mineral and agricultural wealth.”
Also, the EU is currently helping Palestine with financial funds (hundreds of millions euros each year) with an aim of developing Palestinian institutions. “But this is supposed to be preparing them for a statehood that may never be realized.” In spite of the Geneva Convention, which makes clear that the occupiers of a land should safeguard the well-being of the people under their control, ”it must be questioned why the EU is, in effect (and for the best possible reasons), subsidising the occupation and letting Israel escape its financial burdens,” declared Davies.
Finally, with regard to a possible peace agreement, Palestinian doesn’t seem to believe in it. The Palestinian believes that “Israel wants a continuing peace process solely to provide itself with PR cover from criticism while it continues to build settlements, change the facts on the ground and make the creation of an independent Palestinian state impossible,” he concluded.
The negotiations, conducted through American interlocutors, between Israeli and Palestinians are stopped since November. Israel demands Palestinians to accept living in a Jewish state. There is then no progress in this case and maybe UN bodies should act. Establish two countries, if it’s not already too late, or unify them.
Source New Europe
ALRAY contributed to this
In a report published on April 1, 2014, the Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies and Human Rights has reported that Israeli soldiers have killed twelve Palestinians since the beginning of this year, kidnapped 364 in March, and 1059 since January first.
The center said that Israeli army fire and shells in the Gaza Strip killed six Palestinians, and six more were killed by Israeli military fire in the West Bank.
Palestinians killed In March:
1. Amna Qdeih, 57, from Khuza’a town, in southern Gaza; she was killed by Israeli army fire on March 1, 2014.
2. Mos’ab az-Za’anin, 21, killed on March 3 in an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
3. Sharif Nasser, 31, killed on March 3 in an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza.
4. Ra’ed Zeitar, 37, a Palestinian judge from the northern West Bank city of Nablus; he worked as a judge in Jordan and was shot and killed at the al-Karama border terminal on March 10.
5. Saje Darwish, 18, was killed, on March 10, by army fire as he was heading to the family barn, close to the Givat Asaf illegal Israeli settlement, built on lands belonging to residents of Beiteen village, north of Ramallah. He was a student at the Media College in Birzeit University.
6. Ismael Abu Jouda, 23, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
7. Shaher Abu Shanab, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
8. Abdul-Shafy Mo’ammar, 33, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
9. Yousef Shawamra, 16, from Doura near Hebron, was killed by army fire near the Annexation Wall on March 19.
10. Jamal Abu al-Haija, 21, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
11. Mahmoud Abu Zeina, 27, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp.
12. Yazan Jabarin, 21, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp.
Palestinians kidnapped by the army in March:
A total of 364 kidnapped in the West Bank in March alone; 83 in Jerusalem, 81 in Hebron, 48 in Jenin, 46 in Bethlehem, 43 in Nablus, 17 in Qalqilia, 13 in Ramallah, 11 in Jericho, 8 in Tulkarem, and 8 in Salfit.
Six more Palestinians were kidnapped in the Gaza Strip, the center added.
As for the total number of arrests carried out by the army since the beginning of this year (three months), the Ahrar Center revealed that the soldiers kidnapped 1059 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, occupied Jerusalem and the besieged Gaza Strip.
Former political prisoner, Fuad al-Khuffash, head of the Ahrar Center, stated that this number shows a significant increase in arrests comparing to last year as the army kidnapped 968 Palestinians in 2013.
Al-Khuffash said that most arrests were carried out in Hebron as the soldiers kidnapped 248 Palestinians, followed by Jerusalem (207 Palestinians), Nablus (148), Bethlehem (132), Jenin (114) Ramallah (68), Qalqilia (56), Gaza (26), Jericho (24), Tulkarem (23), Salfit (23), and 1 Palestinian in Tubas.
Al-Khuffash added that the army kidnapped 17 Palestinian women since the beginning of this year; the youngest of the kidnapped women are Deema Sawahra, 16, and Hanin Abu al-Hummus, 18.
One of the kidnapped women, identified as Nawal Obeyyat, from Bethlehem, is a cancer patient and requires specialized medical attention.
Al-Khuffash stated that the army conducts daily arrests, assaults and violations against the Palestinian people, their lands and property, and that the soldiers carry out frequent arrests at roadblocks and border terminals, as part of Israel’s violations of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The center said that Israeli army fire and shells in the Gaza Strip killed six Palestinians, and six more were killed by Israeli military fire in the West Bank.
Palestinians killed In March:
1. Amna Qdeih, 57, from Khuza’a town, in southern Gaza; she was killed by Israeli army fire on March 1, 2014.
2. Mos’ab az-Za’anin, 21, killed on March 3 in an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
3. Sharif Nasser, 31, killed on March 3 in an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza.
4. Ra’ed Zeitar, 37, a Palestinian judge from the northern West Bank city of Nablus; he worked as a judge in Jordan and was shot and killed at the al-Karama border terminal on March 10.
5. Saje Darwish, 18, was killed, on March 10, by army fire as he was heading to the family barn, close to the Givat Asaf illegal Israeli settlement, built on lands belonging to residents of Beiteen village, north of Ramallah. He was a student at the Media College in Birzeit University.
6. Ismael Abu Jouda, 23, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
7. Shaher Abu Shanab, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
8. Abdul-Shafy Mo’ammar, 33, member of the al-Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, killed on March 11, in an Israeli bombardment in southern Gaza.
9. Yousef Shawamra, 16, from Doura near Hebron, was killed by army fire near the Annexation Wall on March 19.
10. Jamal Abu al-Haija, 21, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
11. Mahmoud Abu Zeina, 27, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp.
12. Yazan Jabarin, 21, killed by army fire on March 22 in the Jenin refugee camp.
Palestinians kidnapped by the army in March:
A total of 364 kidnapped in the West Bank in March alone; 83 in Jerusalem, 81 in Hebron, 48 in Jenin, 46 in Bethlehem, 43 in Nablus, 17 in Qalqilia, 13 in Ramallah, 11 in Jericho, 8 in Tulkarem, and 8 in Salfit.
Six more Palestinians were kidnapped in the Gaza Strip, the center added.
As for the total number of arrests carried out by the army since the beginning of this year (three months), the Ahrar Center revealed that the soldiers kidnapped 1059 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, occupied Jerusalem and the besieged Gaza Strip.
Former political prisoner, Fuad al-Khuffash, head of the Ahrar Center, stated that this number shows a significant increase in arrests comparing to last year as the army kidnapped 968 Palestinians in 2013.
Al-Khuffash said that most arrests were carried out in Hebron as the soldiers kidnapped 248 Palestinians, followed by Jerusalem (207 Palestinians), Nablus (148), Bethlehem (132), Jenin (114) Ramallah (68), Qalqilia (56), Gaza (26), Jericho (24), Tulkarem (23), Salfit (23), and 1 Palestinian in Tubas.
Al-Khuffash added that the army kidnapped 17 Palestinian women since the beginning of this year; the youngest of the kidnapped women are Deema Sawahra, 16, and Hanin Abu al-Hummus, 18.
One of the kidnapped women, identified as Nawal Obeyyat, from Bethlehem, is a cancer patient and requires specialized medical attention.
Al-Khuffash stated that the army conducts daily arrests, assaults and violations against the Palestinian people, their lands and property, and that the soldiers carry out frequent arrests at roadblocks and border terminals, as part of Israel’s violations of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
1 apr 2014
Last week, Israel found itself isolated and condemned in Geneva, as the United Nations Human Rights Council passed four damning resolutions, each by 46-1. The resolutions testify to grave violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, as well as systematic discrimination and wide-scale human rights abuses.
Settlements, whose illegality is confirmed in the resolutions, are described as entailing "the confiscation of land, the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, including Bedouin families, the exploitation of natural resources and other actions against the Palestinian civilian population".
The resolutions also cite "the continuing demolition of Palestinian homes and eviction of Palestinian families from [East Jerusalem]", "the destruction of orchards and crops", the "expulsion of Palestinians", a "two-tier legal system", and a "discriminatory allocation of water resources".
Importantly, the UNHRC's resolutions contextualise the litany of abuses as part of a "systematic violation" of Palestinians' human rights". Israeli policies "discriminate against" an occupied people, while settlers are afforded "preferential treatment over the Palestinian population in terms of access to roads, infrastructure, land, property, housing, natural resources and judicial mechanisms".
And who condemned Israeli policies in these terms? 46 of 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council - everyone, in other words, bar the USA. What's noteworthy about this consensus (Washington aside) is that it included nine European Union member states: Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Romania, and the UK.
Even before the vote, Italy's representative Maurizio Enrico Serra told the council that the EU supports the motions and member states would be voting accordingly. This united stance by European members of the Council was lamented by Israeli officials, and well they might - for it undermines a key part of the propaganda campaign against the UNHRC.
Netanyahu, and others like UN Watch, typically lambast the Council as a hypocritical body dominated by serial human rights abusers - yet for the votes of 9 EU member states they have no rejoinder. These are the countries who Israel has looked to in the UN for a so-called "quality minority" of support. Last week in Geneva, Israel's 'quality minority' consisted solely of the US delegation - while on the other side were countries from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
Another accusation levelled at the UNHRC by Israeli officials and Zionist lobby groups is that the body is, in the words of American Jewish Committee head David Harris, obsessed with "singling out" Israel. Netanyahu complained that while human rights abuses afflict the region, Israel is condemned "for closing off a balcony" (a reference to settlement construction).
Yet the claim is disingenuous. During its 25th session, the UNHRC passed 42 resolutions - five of which pertained to Israel. A whole host of issues came under the spotlight: Syria, torture, Burma, violence against children, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, drones, sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Guinea, and more.
As a senior Amnesty campaigner drily put it, "Netanyahu wants the UN to condemn every single human rights violation in the world before he ignores them on Israel's abuses".
The UNHRC also decided to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. In response, the country's president Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that the resolution "hurts our reconciliation efforts", while Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, slammed the resolution as "partisan".
Compare this to remarks made by World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer, who described UNHRC resolutions on Israel as "one-sided" and "harmful to the peace process". Israel and its lobbyists are in awkward company.
46 countries, including nine EU member states, have endorsed four resolutions that describe Israel as a persistent violator of international law and guilty of systematic discrimination. This is, in other words, reflective of the EU's understanding of what is happening on the ground.
Holding Europe back from taking punitive measures against such a reality is Kerry's peace process. With the talks in deep trouble, last week's resolutions augur something more serious for Israel than yet more condemnation in an international forum.
(Middle East Monitor)
Settlements, whose illegality is confirmed in the resolutions, are described as entailing "the confiscation of land, the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, including Bedouin families, the exploitation of natural resources and other actions against the Palestinian civilian population".
The resolutions also cite "the continuing demolition of Palestinian homes and eviction of Palestinian families from [East Jerusalem]", "the destruction of orchards and crops", the "expulsion of Palestinians", a "two-tier legal system", and a "discriminatory allocation of water resources".
Importantly, the UNHRC's resolutions contextualise the litany of abuses as part of a "systematic violation" of Palestinians' human rights". Israeli policies "discriminate against" an occupied people, while settlers are afforded "preferential treatment over the Palestinian population in terms of access to roads, infrastructure, land, property, housing, natural resources and judicial mechanisms".
And who condemned Israeli policies in these terms? 46 of 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council - everyone, in other words, bar the USA. What's noteworthy about this consensus (Washington aside) is that it included nine European Union member states: Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Romania, and the UK.
Even before the vote, Italy's representative Maurizio Enrico Serra told the council that the EU supports the motions and member states would be voting accordingly. This united stance by European members of the Council was lamented by Israeli officials, and well they might - for it undermines a key part of the propaganda campaign against the UNHRC.
Netanyahu, and others like UN Watch, typically lambast the Council as a hypocritical body dominated by serial human rights abusers - yet for the votes of 9 EU member states they have no rejoinder. These are the countries who Israel has looked to in the UN for a so-called "quality minority" of support. Last week in Geneva, Israel's 'quality minority' consisted solely of the US delegation - while on the other side were countries from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
Another accusation levelled at the UNHRC by Israeli officials and Zionist lobby groups is that the body is, in the words of American Jewish Committee head David Harris, obsessed with "singling out" Israel. Netanyahu complained that while human rights abuses afflict the region, Israel is condemned "for closing off a balcony" (a reference to settlement construction).
Yet the claim is disingenuous. During its 25th session, the UNHRC passed 42 resolutions - five of which pertained to Israel. A whole host of issues came under the spotlight: Syria, torture, Burma, violence against children, Libya, South Sudan, Mali, drones, sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Guinea, and more.
As a senior Amnesty campaigner drily put it, "Netanyahu wants the UN to condemn every single human rights violation in the world before he ignores them on Israel's abuses".
The UNHRC also decided to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. In response, the country's president Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that the resolution "hurts our reconciliation efforts", while Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, slammed the resolution as "partisan".
Compare this to remarks made by World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer, who described UNHRC resolutions on Israel as "one-sided" and "harmful to the peace process". Israel and its lobbyists are in awkward company.
46 countries, including nine EU member states, have endorsed four resolutions that describe Israel as a persistent violator of international law and guilty of systematic discrimination. This is, in other words, reflective of the EU's understanding of what is happening on the ground.
Holding Europe back from taking punitive measures against such a reality is Kerry's peace process. With the talks in deep trouble, last week's resolutions augur something more serious for Israel than yet more condemnation in an international forum.
(Middle East Monitor)
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) approved the construction of more than 2000 housing units every single month during the past year, official Palestinian statistic indicated. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said in a press release issued Sunday on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the Land Day: “Israel takes control over 85% of historical Palestine whose total land area is 27,000 square kilometers while Palestinians have power over only 15% of the land.”
The report further stated that an unsympathetic attack was launched against the Palestinians in 2013, which resulted in the confiscation of more than eight thousand dunums of land and the destruction of thousands of fruitful trees, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment.
The IOA also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units around Jerusalem governorate while several Palestinian homes were reduced to rubble.
House demolitions escalate in Jerusalem
The report said that the IOA razed 1,230 houses in East Jerusalem (the area annexed by Israel in 1967) during 2000-2013 which resulted in the displacement of more than 5000 Palestinians, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
Data indicate the increase of forced self-demolitions ever since 2000. The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010. Several official statistics are kept out of reach by the Israeli government which had, according to Israeli human rights institutions, demolished more than 25 thousand houses ever since 1967.
Furthermore, Israeli statistics indicate that the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 reached 86 square kilometers. A great proportion of the land is irrigated by water stolen from Palestinian aquifers.
The report further stated that an unsympathetic attack was launched against the Palestinians in 2013, which resulted in the confiscation of more than eight thousand dunums of land and the destruction of thousands of fruitful trees, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment.
The IOA also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units around Jerusalem governorate while several Palestinian homes were reduced to rubble.
House demolitions escalate in Jerusalem
The report said that the IOA razed 1,230 houses in East Jerusalem (the area annexed by Israel in 1967) during 2000-2013 which resulted in the displacement of more than 5000 Palestinians, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
Data indicate the increase of forced self-demolitions ever since 2000. The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010. Several official statistics are kept out of reach by the Israeli government which had, according to Israeli human rights institutions, demolished more than 25 thousand houses ever since 1967.
Furthermore, Israeli statistics indicate that the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 reached 86 square kilometers. A great proportion of the land is irrigated by water stolen from Palestinian aquifers.
31 mar 2014
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday slammed a UN rights body for a string of resolutions condemning the Jewish state despite a wave of rights abuses elsewhere in the region. "At the end of last week, the UN Human Rights Council condemned Israel five times, at a time when the slaughter in Syria is continuing, innocent people are being hung in the Middle East and human rights are being eroded," he told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting.
"In many countries the free media are closed down and the UN Human Rights Council decided to condemn Israel," he added. "It's absurd. This procession of hypocrisy goes on and we shall continue to denounce and expose it."
The 47-member UN body on Friday passed four resolutions critical of Israel's conduct toward the Palestinians and one on its occupation of the Golan Heights.
The motions on the Palestinians were carried by 46 votes to one, with only the United States against, while the Golan resolution garnered 13 abstentions and a US "no" vote.
"In many countries the free media are closed down and the UN Human Rights Council decided to condemn Israel," he added. "It's absurd. This procession of hypocrisy goes on and we shall continue to denounce and expose it."
The 47-member UN body on Friday passed four resolutions critical of Israel's conduct toward the Palestinians and one on its occupation of the Golan Heights.
The motions on the Palestinians were carried by 46 votes to one, with only the United States against, while the Golan resolution garnered 13 abstentions and a US "no" vote.
The Palestinian people protests yearly against the confiscation of 21 thousand dunums of land in the Jalil, Al-Muthalath and the Naqab on the 30th of March 1976, the Israeli response resulted in the death of six young demonstrators.
On the occasion of Land Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)issued a press release as follows:
Jerusalem; Systematically Judaizing
The Israeli occupation authorities demolish Palestinian houses and impose obstacles and constraints on building licenses for Palestinians. According to Al-Maqdisi Institute, during 2000 - 2013, the Israeli authorities demolished 1,230 buildings in East Jerusalem (the areas annexed by Israel in 1967). This has resulted in the displacement of 5,419 people, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
The estimated losses to Palestinians of the demolition of buildings in Jerusalem total around three and half million US dollars. (This does not include the large fines imposed on so-called construction violations.) Data indicate an increase in cases where residents have to demolish their own houses: 320 people have been forced to demolish their own homes since 2000.
The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010 with 70 demolitions compared to 49 in 2009.
Data indicate that the total area of residential houses demolished in Jerusalem during 2013 increased in comparison with 2012. A total area of 6,196 m2 was affected during 2013: the area of non-residential establishments demolished totaled 1,150 m2.
Data from Israeli human rights organizations indicate that more than 25 thousand houses have been demolished in Palestine since 1967.
Half of Israeli settlers live in Jerusalem governorate
There were 482 Israeli locations in the West Bank (including settlements, outposts and military bases) by the end of 2013. Data indicate that the total number of settlers in the West Bank was 563,546 at the end of 2012; 277,501 settlers live in Jerusalem governorate and constitute 49.2% of all settlers occupying the West Bank: 203,176 of them live in areas of Jerusalem annexed by Israel in 1967. In demographic terms, the proportion of settlers to the Palestinian population in West Bank is around 21 settlers per 100 Palestinians compared with 69 settlers per 100 Palestinians in Jerusalem governorate.
Israeli settlers use 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians to cultivate the land seized by the Israeli occupation
According to Israeli statistics, the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 was 86 km2. The majority of land is irrigated with around 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians per year. Irrigated areas cultivated by Palestinians are about 78 km2 consuming around 30 million m3 of water per year only due to the Israeli restrictions. The areas cultivated and water consumed by settlers would provide 100 thousand job opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank if they were able to take advantage of them. This would contribute to GDP and the share of agriculture to the economy. It would also reduce the unemployment rate. In addition, a large agricultural area is located at the borders of the eastern Gaza Strip, but cannot be utilized by Palestinians because of Israeli measures.
Israel controls more than 85% of land of historical Palestine
Historical land area of Palestine reached, 27,000 km2, Israel uses more than 85% of the total area of the land, while the Palestinian comprise 48% of the total population and use less than 15% only of the land, a Palestinian therefore has less than a fifth of the area available to an Israeli.
Israeli occupation approves over 2,000 housing units monthly
During 2013, more than eight thousand dunums of land were confiscated from Palestinians and more than 15 thousand horticultural trees were destroyed, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment. The Israeli occupation authorities also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units concentrated in settlements around Jerusalem governorate, according to the annual report issued by the International Relations Department of the PLO.
Israeli occupation plunders the natural resources of the West Bank
International law prohibits Israel from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories, but Israel continues regardless and treats Palestinian land as its own. Israel has taken over the management of tourist sites in the Jordan valley: Solomon's caves, Al Fashkha spring and the protected area of Wadi Al-Qilt.
Israel exploits the Palestinian beaches of the Dead Sea and prevents Palestinians from developing tourism in this region by disposing of wastewater and solid waste from Israeli settlements and industrial zones in these areas according to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem) .
The occupation authorities have started to drill and explore for oil and natural gas in the West Bank to deprive Palestinians of these resources.
On the occasion of Land Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)issued a press release as follows:
Jerusalem; Systematically Judaizing
The Israeli occupation authorities demolish Palestinian houses and impose obstacles and constraints on building licenses for Palestinians. According to Al-Maqdisi Institute, during 2000 - 2013, the Israeli authorities demolished 1,230 buildings in East Jerusalem (the areas annexed by Israel in 1967). This has resulted in the displacement of 5,419 people, including 2,832 children and 1,423 women.
The estimated losses to Palestinians of the demolition of buildings in Jerusalem total around three and half million US dollars. (This does not include the large fines imposed on so-called construction violations.) Data indicate an increase in cases where residents have to demolish their own houses: 320 people have been forced to demolish their own homes since 2000.
The highest rate of self-demolition was recorded in 2010 with 70 demolitions compared to 49 in 2009.
Data indicate that the total area of residential houses demolished in Jerusalem during 2013 increased in comparison with 2012. A total area of 6,196 m2 was affected during 2013: the area of non-residential establishments demolished totaled 1,150 m2.
Data from Israeli human rights organizations indicate that more than 25 thousand houses have been demolished in Palestine since 1967.
Half of Israeli settlers live in Jerusalem governorate
There were 482 Israeli locations in the West Bank (including settlements, outposts and military bases) by the end of 2013. Data indicate that the total number of settlers in the West Bank was 563,546 at the end of 2012; 277,501 settlers live in Jerusalem governorate and constitute 49.2% of all settlers occupying the West Bank: 203,176 of them live in areas of Jerusalem annexed by Israel in 1967. In demographic terms, the proportion of settlers to the Palestinian population in West Bank is around 21 settlers per 100 Palestinians compared with 69 settlers per 100 Palestinians in Jerusalem governorate.
Israeli settlers use 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians to cultivate the land seized by the Israeli occupation
According to Israeli statistics, the total cultivated area in Israeli settlements in the West Bank during 2012 was 86 km2. The majority of land is irrigated with around 50 million m3 of stolen water from the Palestinians per year. Irrigated areas cultivated by Palestinians are about 78 km2 consuming around 30 million m3 of water per year only due to the Israeli restrictions. The areas cultivated and water consumed by settlers would provide 100 thousand job opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank if they were able to take advantage of them. This would contribute to GDP and the share of agriculture to the economy. It would also reduce the unemployment rate. In addition, a large agricultural area is located at the borders of the eastern Gaza Strip, but cannot be utilized by Palestinians because of Israeli measures.
Israel controls more than 85% of land of historical Palestine
Historical land area of Palestine reached, 27,000 km2, Israel uses more than 85% of the total area of the land, while the Palestinian comprise 48% of the total population and use less than 15% only of the land, a Palestinian therefore has less than a fifth of the area available to an Israeli.
Israeli occupation approves over 2,000 housing units monthly
During 2013, more than eight thousand dunums of land were confiscated from Palestinians and more than 15 thousand horticultural trees were destroyed, causing considerable damage to the Palestinian environment. The Israeli occupation authorities also approved the establishment of more than 23 thousand housing units concentrated in settlements around Jerusalem governorate, according to the annual report issued by the International Relations Department of the PLO.
Israeli occupation plunders the natural resources of the West Bank
International law prohibits Israel from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories, but Israel continues regardless and treats Palestinian land as its own. Israel has taken over the management of tourist sites in the Jordan valley: Solomon's caves, Al Fashkha spring and the protected area of Wadi Al-Qilt.
Israel exploits the Palestinian beaches of the Dead Sea and prevents Palestinians from developing tourism in this region by disposing of wastewater and solid waste from Israeli settlements and industrial zones in these areas according to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem) .
The occupation authorities have started to drill and explore for oil and natural gas in the West Bank to deprive Palestinians of these resources.
29 mar 2014
Israeli Police deny access to Palestinian worshipers to Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, for the week of 20 - 26 March, 2014, the Israeli military killed a child and an adult, both civilians, as well as a member of a Palestinian armed group, and wounded another 12 Palestinians in Jenin refugee camp.
4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip. 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic, were wounded in a protest organized against the annexation wall. 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded in other peaceful protests, and an Italian journalist was wounded in Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and a member of a Palestinian armed group in Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank. They also wounded 30 Palestinians, including 4 children, a paramedic and a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces who was in plain clothes. They further wounded an Italian journalist.
In the West Bank, on 22 March, 2013, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and a member of a Palestinian armed group, and wounded 11 civilians and a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank. Israeli forces claimed that they killed 3 Palestinians during an exchange of fire. PCHR's investigations refute this claim and confirm that 2 civilians were killed and 11 others were wounded, when dozens of civilians attempted to recover the body of the Palestinian who had been already killed, but Israeli forces fired on them.
On 21 March, 2014, an Italian journalist was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet above the left eye, when she was reporting on clashes that erupted between Palestinian children and Israeli forces at the entrance of 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.
On 23 March, 2014, a Palestinian civilian was hit by a tear gas canister to the chest during an incursion into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 69 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 46 Palestinians, including 3 children.
A Palestinian boy was wounded during an Israeli incursion into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
46 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were abducted.
Israeli forces stormed the premises of the Palestinian Civil Defense in Salfit, and abducted 3 civil defense officers.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 2 Palestinian civilians were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child; 4 of them were wounded in access-restricted areas, and the 5th one was wounded when Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats.
In the Gaza Strip, on 21 March, 2014, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces in access-restricted areas along the border in the northern Gaza Strip.
On 26 March, 2013, a Palestinian fisherman was wounded when Israeli gunboats opened fire at fishing boats in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Additionally, 2 boats were burnt and a mosque and 3 houses were damaged.
Israeli navy forces continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea. A Palestinian fisherman was wounded, 2 fishing boats were burnt and a mosque and 3 houses were damaged at Rafah beach.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces confiscated heavy machinery and prevented establishing a road in Jeeb and Bourin villages, in the north of the West Bank.
Israeli settlers attacked farmers and shepherds using sharp tools.
Israeli settlers uprooted and stole 980 olive seedlings in the center and north of the West Bank.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, along with international and Israeli human rights defenders, during a protest over the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic were wounded. Additionally, 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in other peaceful protests.
Following the Friday Prayer, 21 March, 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
Demonstrators took the streets raising Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village, since the morning, in order to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that were stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them into the olive fields.
As a result, a 16-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right foot. Moreover, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbed wire and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it, before they responded by throwing stones.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then headed to the lands which the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halamish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village, since the morning, to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village.
As a result, a volunteer paramedic was wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the back and the right leg, and a child was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh. Many civilians also suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance, with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada (2000). Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate.
As a result, 8 civilians, including a 12-year-old child who sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, were wounded. Moreover, a number of demonstrators sustained tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On Friday, 21 March, 2014, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of "Beit Eil" settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters.
As a result, a 57-year-old male was hit by a tear gas canister in the forehead and left eye, and a 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg. They were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, and the first civilian was transferred to Msalam Eye Hospital.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah on the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village, near Street (60), to throw stones at the aforementioned street.
As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them to the village.
As a result, 3 civilians were wounded and taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. The first one (29) sustained a bullet wound to left leg; the second one (34) sutained a bullet wound to the left knee; and the third one (25) sustained a bullet wound to the forehead.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered near the area of the annexation wall established in the south of the lands of Beit Loqaya village, southwest of Ramallah, to throw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind the wall. As a result, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them into the olive fields.
As a result, a 19-year-old male was hit by a tear gas canister while a number of the demonstrators sustained gas inhalation and bruises. The wounded received medical treatment on the spot.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation for the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights.
The PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council, that they might impose sanctions on Israel in order to compel it to remove them.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, for the week of 20 - 26 March, 2014, the Israeli military killed a child and an adult, both civilians, as well as a member of a Palestinian armed group, and wounded another 12 Palestinians in Jenin refugee camp.
4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip. 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic, were wounded in a protest organized against the annexation wall. 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded in other peaceful protests, and an Italian journalist was wounded in Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and a member of a Palestinian armed group in Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank. They also wounded 30 Palestinians, including 4 children, a paramedic and a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces who was in plain clothes. They further wounded an Italian journalist.
In the West Bank, on 22 March, 2013, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and a member of a Palestinian armed group, and wounded 11 civilians and a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank. Israeli forces claimed that they killed 3 Palestinians during an exchange of fire. PCHR's investigations refute this claim and confirm that 2 civilians were killed and 11 others were wounded, when dozens of civilians attempted to recover the body of the Palestinian who had been already killed, but Israeli forces fired on them.
On 21 March, 2014, an Italian journalist was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet above the left eye, when she was reporting on clashes that erupted between Palestinian children and Israeli forces at the entrance of 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.
On 23 March, 2014, a Palestinian civilian was hit by a tear gas canister to the chest during an incursion into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 69 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 46 Palestinians, including 3 children.
A Palestinian boy was wounded during an Israeli incursion into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
46 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were abducted.
Israeli forces stormed the premises of the Palestinian Civil Defense in Salfit, and abducted 3 civil defense officers.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 2 Palestinian civilians were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child; 4 of them were wounded in access-restricted areas, and the 5th one was wounded when Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats.
In the Gaza Strip, on 21 March, 2014, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces in access-restricted areas along the border in the northern Gaza Strip.
On 26 March, 2013, a Palestinian fisherman was wounded when Israeli gunboats opened fire at fishing boats in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Additionally, 2 boats were burnt and a mosque and 3 houses were damaged.
Israeli navy forces continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea. A Palestinian fisherman was wounded, 2 fishing boats were burnt and a mosque and 3 houses were damaged at Rafah beach.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces confiscated heavy machinery and prevented establishing a road in Jeeb and Bourin villages, in the north of the West Bank.
Israeli settlers attacked farmers and shepherds using sharp tools.
Israeli settlers uprooted and stole 980 olive seedlings in the center and north of the West Bank.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, along with international and Israeli human rights defenders, during a protest over the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic were wounded. Additionally, 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in other peaceful protests.
Following the Friday Prayer, 21 March, 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities.
Demonstrators took the streets raising Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village, since the morning, in order to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that were stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them into the olive fields.
As a result, a 16-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right foot. Moreover, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbed wire and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it, before they responded by throwing stones.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then headed to the lands which the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halamish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village, since the morning, to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village.
As a result, a volunteer paramedic was wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the back and the right leg, and a child was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh. Many civilians also suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance, with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada (2000). Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate.
As a result, 8 civilians, including a 12-year-old child who sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, were wounded. Moreover, a number of demonstrators sustained tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On Friday, 21 March, 2014, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of "Beit Eil" settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters.
As a result, a 57-year-old male was hit by a tear gas canister in the forehead and left eye, and a 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg. They were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, and the first civilian was transferred to Msalam Eye Hospital.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah on the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village, near Street (60), to throw stones at the aforementioned street.
As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them to the village.
As a result, 3 civilians were wounded and taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. The first one (29) sustained a bullet wound to left leg; the second one (34) sutained a bullet wound to the left knee; and the third one (25) sustained a bullet wound to the forehead.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered near the area of the annexation wall established in the south of the lands of Beit Loqaya village, southwest of Ramallah, to throw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind the wall. As a result, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and chased them into the olive fields.
As a result, a 19-year-old male was hit by a tear gas canister while a number of the demonstrators sustained gas inhalation and bruises. The wounded received medical treatment on the spot.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation for the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights.
The PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council, that they might impose sanctions on Israel in order to compel it to remove them.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
The Shoafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
