PCHR: Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations

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

* 16 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

* 10 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

* 18 Palestinians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

* IOF conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two ones into the Gaza Strip.

* IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.

* IOF shelled fishing boats and arrested 8 Palestinian fishermen in Rafah.

* IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

* IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and a humanitarian crisis has emerged.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (16 – 22 August 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 16 Palestinians, including 3 children, and wounded 18 others, including 2 children, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including two children. Ten of the victims were extra-judicially-executed by IOF in less than 48 hours.

On 18 August 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian and arrested two others when they attempted to cross the border into Israel to search for jobs. On 20 August 2007, IOF extra-judicially 4 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) and two members of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. On 21 August 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at 3 armed Palestinians in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Soon after, an IOF infantry unit moved into the area and opened fire. The three Palestinian were killed. On 22 August 2007, IOF extra-judicially executed a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and wounded another one in the east of Gaza City. Since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada, 655 Palestinians, including 221 civilian bystanders, have been extra-judicially executed by IOF. The victims have included 73 children. On 22 August 2007, two Palestinian children were killed, when IOF fired a missile at them while they were playing near a launcher of home-made rockets. Additionally, during the reporting period, 6 Palestinians, including two children, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday morning, IOF shelled fishing boats and arrested 8 Palestinian fishermen in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

In the west Bank, IOF killed 3 Palestinians, including a child. On 16 August 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child during an incursion into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. A Palestinian resistance activist was killed by IOF during clashes that followed the child’s death. On 21 August 2007, a Palestinian resistance activist was killed in armed clashes with IOF during their incursion into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. During the reporting period, 11 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank. In addition, on 17 August 2007, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and 4 journalists suffered from tear gas inhalation when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 1,803.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two incursions into al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and ‘Abasan village in the southern Gaza Strip. During these incursions, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have 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

IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. IOF had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25 June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip. IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing.

West Bank

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16 – 22 August 2007)

The full report is available online at:

html format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2007/23-08-2007.htm

pdf format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2007/pdf/Weekly%20Report%2033.pdf

Toward a Realistic Peace: The Palestine Monitor’s response to Rudy Giuliani

Toward a Realistic Peace: The Palestine Monitor’s response to Rudy Giuliani
Palestine Monitor
22 August 2007

Dear Mr. Giuliani,

Regarding your article published in the September/October edition of
Foreign Affairs entitled “Toward a Realistic Peace,” [1] you present
the American public with an outline of your vision for future American
foreign policy. This vision, however, is one that we here at the
Palestine Monitor feel will lead to a destructive and counter
productive outcome.

You begin your article by stating that “The defining challenges of the
twentieth century ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall,” and you
conclude by stating that “the 9/11 generation has learned from the
history of the twentieth century.” While there is no doubt that many
have learned from the past, your call for the permanent support of
Israel, (a country that is in the process of building a new apartheid
wall twice as tall and four times as long as the Berlin wall itself)
makes it apparent that you have not.

One of the weakest and most illogical statements of your entire
article reads as follows: “Palestinian statehood will have to be
earned through sustained good governance, a clear commitment to
fighting terrorism, and a willingness to live in peace with Israel.”
Surely you realize that “good governance” is impossible when 45
democratically elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council
(PLC) including the minister of education are imprisoned by the
Israeli military.

Moreover, the “willingness to live in peace with Israel” can only be
achieved when Israel itself exhibits a willingness to live in peace
with the Palestinian people. Israel continues to illegally detain and
torture Palestinians on a daily basis, it uses tactics such as house
demolitions to collectively punish the Palestinian people, and it
indiscriminately targets children, as documented by numerous human
rights organizations such as Israel�EURO(tm)s B�EURO(tm)tselem, as well as by the
international community. Furthermore, through the construction of the
separation barrier (deemed illegal by the International Court of
Justice) and through settlement expansion, Israel is actively
attempting to change the facts on the ground, and is therefore in no
way committed to peace.

Throughout your article you deliver one-sided rhetoric that sounds
good to the uninformed, but actually undermines your own legitimacy
and exhibits your shortsightedness on the Palestinian Israeli
conflict. You state that “our enemies must know that they cannot
murder our citizens with impunity and escape retaliation,” but if
Americans cannot be murdered without punishment and retaliation, then
why can Palestinians? Since 2000 more than four thousand five hundred
Palestinians have been killed by the occupying Israeli military.

Mr. Giuliani, there are two statements you make with which we could
not agree more. The first is that: “the next president must champion
human rights and speak out when they are violated,” second, that “we
are at the dawn of a new era in global affairs, when old ideas have to
be rethought and new ideas have to be devised to meet new challenges.”
However, by blindly supporting the state of Israel and its ongoing
human rights abuses you make it quite clear that you do not intend to
adhere to either of these policy goals.

As keen followers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we ask that if
you are elected as the next President of the United States of America,
you both acknowledge and work for the protection of the Palestinian�EURO(tm)s
civil and human rights, as well as hold Israel accountable for its
illegal occupation.

Yours, The Palestine Monitor Staff

From EAPPI: Settler with Automatic Rifle Threatens Internationals and Shepherds

Update from At-Tuwani and Masafer Yatta August 12th- 20th 2007

Main facts:

Wednesday 15 Settler with automatic rifle threatens internationals and shepherds

Monday 20 Settlers working on a Palestinian field near Susya

The team has been carrying on the school patrol until Thursday 14th besides accompanying shepherds in Humra valley every morning.

Two team members spent two whole days in Sh’ab el Botom with two EAPPI Hebron team members (September 15th and 16th).

Wednesday 15 August 2007
Settler with automatic rifle threatens internationals and shepherds

In the morning three CPTers went out to the shepherds in Khoruba when they heard there was some problem with settlers. When they arrived, a shepherd told them that children from Tuba had been attempting to walk through Khoruba to come to Tuwani, not having gotten the message that there was no summer camp that day. Settlers from Havot Ma’on came out and threatened them with stones but then went inside when the shepherds yelled at them.

6:00pm Shepherds called for them to go out to the field with them while they were grazing their sheep on a hillside below the Mits’pe Yaer outpost. A settler, holding an automatic rifle, from the outpost walked down and stood on the hill yelling at the shepherds to leave with their sheep. Team members videotaped the events. The settler, who was also video taping them, called to them in perfect American English, “Come here to me!” Three times he pointed the gun at the team. The settler did not respond to the team members trying to communicate, whereas he made a phone call. A few minutes later, two brown boot Israeli soldiers came (without a vehicle) and stood with him. The commander spoke to the shepherd (sounded like ordering him to leave.) a CPTer asked the commander, “What’s the problem?”. He did not look at her or respond. Soon the shepherd started taking his sheep down the hill and motioned for the internationals to follow him, so they did. The soldiers and settler then turned and walked up the hill.

Friday 17 August 2007

In the morning two CPTers travel to Khoruba and accompany three shepherds in valley, gradually moving their flock east along north side of valley to a location southeast of the Mit’spe Ya’er outpost. Patrol pickup drove along Roman road and stopped for observation. After a few minutes a jeep with four soldiers arrived and met with patrol. Several Palestinian men from at-Tuwani soon arrive in the area. Following discussion with the patrol, two soldiers approached shepherds to inquire about their presence. Shepherds explained their intention to graze their flocks on family land as they have done for many years. Soldiers hassled shepherds about having no ID. Soldiers returned to jeep, talked on phone and with patrol, took pictures and then patrol drove away. Soldiers appeared content with the situation, then casually withdrew while shepherds begin moving the flock back toward village.

Sunday 19 August 2007

In the morning two CPTers accompanied shepherds with their flocks on the north side of Humra valley. No disturbance. As flock moved from watering site on south side of valley, a young boy alerts shepherds. A white sadden driving on the roman road and stopping across the valley from our location. Drover got out and began blowing the shofar, ram’s horn, a display that lasted a few minutes. Afterward he took a guitar from the hatchback and sat for a while beside the car, playing and singing. Some shouts were exchanged between the entertainer and the villagers. Next he proceeded to again blow the shofar for a minute or so. He retreated to the car and gradually departed, driving back to the east as he had come.

In the morning two CPTers went to monitor a flying checkpoint partway up the road to Karmel. Four soldiers were there in jeep 737, # 610769. Several vehicles passed through without any delay.

At mid-day, an army helicopter flew over village apparently observing and monitoring village activity.

Monday 20 August 2007 Settlers working on a Palestinian field near Susya

5.00 pm The team was required to document settlers working on the Palestinian land along Rd. 317 near the road to Susiya village. A Dove and a CPTer went along with four ISM’ers filmed and engaged with the soldiers and police. A settler named D. was pounding in new fence posts along the edge of the field near the road. Around him were about a dozen other settlers of various ages, possibly his family. Further out in the field a man was working, and someone told us it was a Thai laborer. There were two Israeli military jeeps, #737 with plates: #610769, and #738 with plates 611019. A reservist soldier, who said he was also a lawyer, had a document dated August 9, that he said allowed only D. to be on this land and no one else. He read and explained it to D. The soldiers asked D. to stop the work he was doing. He argued and then stopped. An ISMer said that they were told that there would be a final court decision on this land on Sept 24. The soldiers asked the team to stop filming but they ignored them and continued. Two police jeeps came, one with red license # 22-408-71, and the second was #61104 with license # 22-247-74 . The group of internationals pointed out to the soldiers that the Thai laborer working out in the field violated the document that said only D. could be on the land. The police then went into the field and ordered the Thai worker to leave the field. The police asked for the team passports and wrote down information. The police asked the team to leave, but they stayed until every policeman and settler left the area

Army Invades Jenin and Surrounding Villages

At approximately 1 am, the IOF, entered the city of Jenin from Haifa Street. About ten military jeeps and at least one Caterpillar bulldozer entered the market area of Jenin city, as well as the center of Jenin Refugee Camp. They stayed for about three and a half hours, shooting at several houses inside the camp as well as throwing numerous sound bombs. Some Palestinian fighters from Islamic Jihad responded to the attack by shooting in the direction of the Israeli army. Fortunately none of the people living inside Jenin city and camp were killed, arrested or injured.

The Israeli army entered several Palestinian villages in the area during the night and early morning hours.
At 8 pm, five Israeli jeeps and a car with Israeli special forces were seen entering the village of Taain. None of the villagers could report about what they were doing there.

At around midnight, fifteen jeeps coming from checkpoint Salem entered the area around the village of Kufr Dan and stayed there for several hours. Between 1 and 5 am several IOF cars were also seen in the villages of Ash Shuhada and Jamoun. According to locals, no incidents were caused by the army there.

At 8 pm an Israeli army patrol entered a Palestinian house in the town of Misiliya. Until now it’s not clear if the army caused any damage to the house or injuries to the people living there.

In the early morning hours a new checkpoint was established at the entrance of Zababida. People coming from there reported about dozens of cars waiting. At least during the morning hours all passing cars were searched carefully, as were all males passing the checkpoint.

Palestinian community says no to roadblocks, yes to freedom

*****ACTION CANCELLED*****

Following correspondance from one of our activists, we have been made aware that the army wish to remove the road block permanently on Saturday. Although we hold reservations that being Shabbat, this is unlikely to occur, we have to respect the wishes of the village who wish to cancel the demonstration for the time being in good faith that the army will actually remove the blocks.

We apologise for any inconvenience and sincerely hope that the Israeli military hold to their word and remove the road block permanently as they have claimed.

ISM Media Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Molly
ISM Media Office 0599943157
PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY SAYS NO TO ROADBLOCKS, YES TO FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT

On Friday the 24th, August 2007 at 1pm, the village of Sarra, on the
outskirts of Nablus, will demonstrate against the Israeli army’s
imposition of restrictions on freedom of movement. The villagers, for
the last five years, have had to contend with roadblocks built on the
routes they use to travel to work and school. The army erected these
roadblocks in order to accommodate the wishes of Israeli settlers, who
have moved to the area in recent years. Consequently what should be a
ten-minute journey to Nablus city requires an hour resulting in
increased hardship and financial cost to the Palestinian residents.
On Monday the 20th of August international and Palestinian activists
removed a roadblock successfully. However, as the army may replace the
roadblock, the international and Palestinian activists will
demonstrate to prevent this. The demonstrators intend to walk past the
point of the roadblock to a nearby checkpoint, Deir al Sharraf, to
demonstrate against the greater restrictions by the army impeding
Palestinian movement not just against Sarra, but against the Nablus
community as a whole.
To get to Sarra, take the service from Ramallah to Huwwara Checkpoint
and then take a taxi to Nablus. From Nablus city center, take a taxi
to Sarra. Please gather at the school in Sarra by 1:00pm. The action
will take place following prayers.