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Facing Mecca - By Uri Avnery
Date: 17 / 02 / 2007 Time: 19:54

Must a Native-American recognize the right of the United States of America to exist?

Interesting question. The USA was established by Europeans who invaded a continent that did not belong to them, eradicated most of the indigenous population (the "Red Indians") in a prolonged campaign of genocide and exploited the labor of millions of slaves who had been brutally torn from their lives in Africa. Not to mention what is going on today. Must a Native-American - or indeed anybody at all - recognize the right of such a state to exist?

But nobody raises the question. The United States does not give a damn if anybody recognizes its right to exist or not. It does not demand this from the countries with which it maintains relations.

Why? Because this is a ridiculous demand to start with.

OK, the United States is older than the State of Israel, as well as bigger and more powerful. But countries that are not super-powers do not demand this either. India, for example, is not expected to recognize Pakistan's "right to exist", in spite of the fact that Pakistan was established at the same time as Israel, and - like Israel - on an ethnic/religious basis.

So why is Hamas required to "recognize Israel's right to exist"?

When a state "recognizes" another state, it is a formal recognition, the acknowledgement of an existing fact. It does not imply approval. The Soviet Union was not required to recognize the existence of the USA as a capitalist state. On the contrary, Nikita Khrushchev promised in 1956 to "bury" it. The US certainly did not dream of recognizing at any time the right of the Soviet Union to exist as a communist state.

So why is this weird demand addressed to the Palestinians? Why must they recognize the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish State?

I am an Israeli patriot, and I do not feel that I need anybody's recognition of the right of my state to exist. If somebody is ready to make peace with me, within borders and on conditions agreed upon in negotiations that is quite enough for me. I am prepared to leave the history, ideology and theology of the matter to the theologians, ideologues and historians.

Perhaps after 60 years of the existence of Israel, and after we have become a regional power, we are still so unsure of ourselves that we crave for constant assurance of our right to exist - and of all people, from those that we have been oppressing for the last 40 years. Perhaps it is the mentality of the Ghetto that is still so deeply ingrained in us.

But the demand addressed now to the Palestinian Unity Government is far from sincere. It has an ulterior political aim, indeed two: (a) to convince the international community not to recognize the Palestinian government that is about to be set up, and (b) to justify the refusal of the Israeli government to enter into peace negotiations with it.

The British call this a "red herring" - a smelly fish that a fugitive drags across the path in order to put the pursuing dogs off the trail.

When I was young, Jewish people in Palestine used to talk about our secret weapon: the Arab refusal. Every time somebody proposed some peace plan, we relied on the Arab side to say "no". True, the Zionist leadership was against any compromise that would have frozen the existing situation and halted the momentum of the Zionist enterprise of expansion and settlement. But the Zionist leaders used to say "yes" and "we extend our hand for peace" - and rely on the Arabs to scuttle the proposal.

That was successful for a hundred years, until Yasser Arafat changed the rules, recognized Israel and signed the Oslo Accords, which stipulated that the negotiations for the final borders between Israel and Palestine must be concluded not later than 1999. To this very day, those negotiations have not even started. Successive Israeli governments have prevented it because they were not ready under any circumstances to fix final borders. (The 2000 Camp David meeting was not a real negotiation - Ehud Barak convened it without any preparation, dictated his terms to the Palestinians and broke the dialogue off when they were refused.)

After the death of Arafat, the refusal became more and more difficult. Arafat was always described as a terrorist, cheat and liar. But Mahmoud Abbas was accepted by everybody as an honest person, who truly wanted to achieve peace. Yet Ariel Sharon succeeded in avoiding any negotiations with him. The "Unilateral Separation" served this end. President Bush supported him with both hands.

Well, Sharon suffered his stroke, and Ehud Olmert took his place. And then something happened that caused great joy in Jerusalem: the Palestinians elected Hamas.

How wonderful! After all, both the US and Europe have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization! Hamas is a part of the Shiite Axis of Evil! (They are not Shiites, but who cares!) Hamas does not recognize Israel! Hamas is trying to eliminate Mahmoud Abbas, the noble man of peace! It is clear that with such a gang there is no need, nor would it make any sense, to conduct negotiations about peace and borders.

And indeed, the US and their European satellites are boycotting the Palestinian government and starving the Palestinian population. They have set three conditions for lifting the blockade: (a) that the Palestinian government and Hamas must recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist, (b) they must stop "terrorism", and (c) they must undertake to fulfill the agreements signed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

On the face of it, that makes sense. In reality, none at all. Because all these conditions are completely one-sided:

a) The Palestinians must recognize the right of Israel to exist (without defining its borders, of course), but the Israeli government is not required to recognize the right of a Palestinian state to exist at all.

(b) The Palestinians must put an end to "terrorism", but the Israeli government is not required to stop its military operations in the Palestinian territories and stop the building of settlements. The 'roadmap' does indeed say so, but that has been completely ignored by everybody, including the Americans.

(c) The Palestinians must undertake to fulfill the agreements, but no such undertaking is required from the Israeli government, which has broken almost all provision of the Oslo agreement. Among others: the opening of the 'safe passages' between Gaza and the West Bank, the carrying out of the third 'redeployment' (withdrawal from Palestinian territories), the treatment of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as one single territory, etc. etc.

Since Hamas came to power, its leaders have understood the need to become more flexible. They are very sensitive to the mood of their people. The Palestinian population is longing for an end to the occupation and for a life of peace. Therefore, step by step, Hamas has come nearer to recognition of Israel. Their religious doctrine does not allow them to declare this publicly (Jewish fundamentalists too cling to the word of God "To your seed I have given this land") but it has been doing so indirectly. Little steps, but a big revolution.

Hamas has announced its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state bounded by the June 1967 borders - meaning: next to Israel and not in place of Israel. (This week, ex-minister Kadura Fares repeated that Hamas leader Khaled Mashal has confirmed this.) Hamas has given Mahmoud Abbas a power of attorney to conduct the negotiations with Israel and has undertaken in advance to accept any agreement ratified in a referendum. Abbas, of course, clearly advocates the setting up of a Palestinian state next to Israel, across the Green Line. There is no doubt whatsoever that if such an agreement is achieved, the huge majority of the Palestinian population will vote for it.

In Jerusalem, worry has set in. If this goes on, the world might even get the impression that Hamas has changed, and then - God forbid - lift the economic blockade on the Palestinian people.

Now the King of Saudi Arabia comes and disturbs Olmert's plans even more.

In an impressive event, facing the holiest site of Islam, the king put an end to the bloody strife between the Palestinian security organs and prepared the ground for a Palestinian government of national unity. Hamas undertook to respect the agreements signed by the PLO, including the Oslo agreement, which is based on the mutual recognition of the State of Israel and the PLO as representative of the Palestinian people.

The king has extracted the Palestinian issue from the embrace of Iran, to which Hamas had turned because it had no alternative, and has returned Hamas to the lap of the Sunni family. Since Saudi Arabia is the main ally of the US in the Arab world, the king has put the Palestinian issue firmly on the table of the Oval Room.

In Jerusalem, near panic broke out. This is the scariest of nightmares: the fear that the unconditional support of the US and Europe for Israeli policy will be reconsidered.

The panic had immediate results: "political circles" in Jerusalem announced that they rejected the Mecca agreement out of hand. Then second thoughts set in. Shimon Peres, long established master of the "yes-but-no" method, convinced Olmert that the brazen "no" must be replaced with a more subtle "no". For this purpose, the red herring was again taken out of the freezer.

It is not enough that Hamas recognize Israel in practice. Israel insists that its 'right to exist' must also be recognized. Political recognition does not suffice, ideological recognition is required. By this logic, one could also demand that Khaled Mashal join the Zionist organization.

If one thinks that peace is more important for Israel than expansion and settlements, one must welcome the change in the position of Hamas - as expressed in the Mecca agreement - and encourage it to continue along this road. The king of Saudi Arabia, who has already convinced the leaders of all Arab countries to recognize Israel in exchange for the establishment of the state of Palestine across the Green Line, should be warmly congratulated.

But if one opposes peace because it would fix the final borders of Israel and allow for no more expansion, one will do everything to convince the Americans and Europeans to continue with the boycott on the Palestinian government and the blockade of the Palestinian people.

The day after tomorrow, Condoleezza Rice will convene a meeting of Olmert and Abbas in Jerusalem.

The Americans now have a problem. On one side, they need the Saudi king. Not only does he sit on huge oil reservoirs, but he is also the center-piece of the 'moderate Sunni bloc'. If the king tells Bush that the solution of the Palestinian problem is needed in order to damn the spread of Iranian influence across the Middle East, his words will carry a lot of weight. If Bush is planning a military attack on Iran, as it seems he is, it is important for him to have the united support of the Sunnis.

On the other side, the pro-Israel lobby - both Jewish and Christian - is very important for Bush. It is vital for him to be able to count on the 'Christian base' of the Republican Party, which is composed of fundamentalists who support the extreme Right in Israel, come what may.

So what is to be done? Nothing. For this nothing, Condi found an apt diplomatic slogan, taken from up-to-date American slang: "New Political Horizons".

Clearly, she did not ponder on the meaning of these words. Because the horizon is the symbol of a goal that will never be reached: the more you approach it, the more it recedes.

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2007%20News%20Archives/February/17%20n/Israeli%20Prison%20Service%20Uses%20Palestinian%20Prisoners%20As%20Experimental%20Rats,%20Says%20Issa%20Qaraqa'a.htm

Israeli Prison Service Uses Palestinian Prisoners As "Experimental Rats," Says Issa Qaraqa'a

GAZA, Palestine, February 17,2007 (IPC+ Agencies ) - -

Issa Qaraqa'a, lawmaker and prisoners committees special Rapporteur, disclosed that the Israeli Prisons services has conducted medical experiments on the Palestinian prisoners are being jailed in Israeli jails considering them as experimental rats.

He indicated that the hygiene situation of the prisoners is going sharply downhill in latest years , resulted in the death of 14 prisoners by late seven years and dozens of prisoners were poisoned.

Qaraqa'a elaborated" member of Knesset and head of Israeli parliamentary science committee in11997 revealed that there has been 1000 dangerous medicine experiments have been carrying out yearly on the Palestinian and Arab prisoners."

He added " this MK's remarks were enhanced when the chief of drug division at Israeli Health ministry Ami Liftat told the Knesset at that time that there has been a yearly increase about 15% in the number of permission allowed by the ministry to carry out further dangerous drug's experiments on the Palestinian prisoner per year."

According to lawmaker Qaraqa'a such experiments are still being carried out on unknowingly prisoners and no proofs find out Israel stop doing so until this moment, a dangerous crime inhumane act perpetrated by the Israeli government against the prisoners whose life is protected by the international conventions and norms.

PLC deputy: Israeli government conducting medical experiments on political prisoners

PNN, (Bethlehem) Najib Farag Saturday, 17 February 2007

Legislative Council deputy, Issa Qaraqa'a, is working to expose the Israeli practice of conducting medical experiments on Palestinian political prisoners. Qaraqa' is the former Director of the Palestinian Prisoner Society and is in charge of prisoner affairs in the PLC.

He said that while proper medical treatment is neglected, there were 14 deaths during the past seven years attributed to medical experiments. The PLC deputy said, “These tests are being conducted without their knowledge.”

Qaraqa'a said, “There are 1,000 experimental medicines being used in serious tests conducted annually on Palestinian and Arab political prisoners with an annual increase in volume of 15 percent.”

He said that members of the Israeli Knesset have knowledge of the tests and support is given by the government, “contravening international principles.”

The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits such acts.

http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2007%20Opinion%20Editorials/February/13%20o/Deconstructing%20Anti%20Semitism,%20a%20logical%20investigation%20By%20Gilad%20Atzmon.htm

Deconstructing Anti Semitism, a logical investigation

By Gilad Atzmon

Al-Jazeerah, February 13, 2007


1.• While in the old days an 'anti-Semite' was someone who hates Jews, nowadays it is the other way around: an anti-Semite is someone the Jews hate.


• Because Jews are theoretically capable of hating anyone including other Jews, everyone is a potential anti-Semite.
• Since ‘everyone’ refers to the entire human family, we are entitled to deduce that humanity is, how to say it, potentially anti-Semitic.
• This is indeed very concerning.


2.• Since the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinians can never be morally justified, every morally orientated critical voice of Israel i.e., every moral being, is hated by some Jews. Thus, every moral being is an anti-Semite.


• Since Israel is a regional ecological disaster as well as nuclear threat every eco-enthusiast is potentially hated by some Jew or other and ecology is on the verge of becoming anti-Semitic.
• Since Jazz music is a call for freedom and this entails as well freedom for Palestine, Some Jazz is indeed hated by some Jews. In other words, Jazz is anti-Semitic.


3.• Even Bush and Blair, the most famous Zio-philic Goyim of our time, people who sacrifice their political careers just to save the Jewish State are hated by some anti-Zionist Jews which is enough to make Bush and Blair into proper anti-Semites.


• Even the Zionists themselves, those who rob Palestine and cleanse its indigenous inhabitants, are apparently hated by the Torah Jews, the true followers of the Judaic tradition. In other words, Zionism is nothing but anti-Semitic.
• Needless to say that the ‘Torah Jews’ themselves, those who happen to oppose Zionism in the name of the Torah are hated by the vast majority of secular Jews, by the totality of Marxist Jews and by Zionist Jews in particular, in short, Torah Jews are nothing but anti-Semites.


4.• If humanity is anti-Semitic, moralists and environmentalists are anti-Semitic, Zionists are anti-Semites, Jews in general are anti-Semites and even Jazz is no different (anti-Semitic), we are left to accept the fact that anti-Semitism is apparently the entirety, the totality, the medium in which everything else takes place.


• Though it must be admitted that anti-Semitism is beyond time and place. Yet it isn’t as great as God.
• While God was there before time, thus before the Jews, anti-Semitism is a subsequent Jewish product.
• Thus, Jews are greater than anti-Semitism but lesser than God.
• Saying that, some radical atheist Jews hate God, something that qualifies God as an anti-Semite.
• A Talmudic riddle: can God be greater than anti-Semitism and the Jews and yet be an anti-Semite himself?
• Yes, only if God is himself a self-hating Jew.
• Though one self-hating Jew made it into God, not every self-hating Jew is God. I, for instance, just play the saxophone and deconstruct the Jewish identity.

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2007%20News%20Archives/February/16%20n/Israeli%20occupation%20forces%20target%20family%20members%20of%20Palestinian%20political%20prisoners%20and%20of%20the%20wanted.htm

Israeli occupation forces target family members of Palestinian political prisoners and of the "wanted"

Prisons Ministry denounces Israeli policy of targeting family members of the wanted and imprisoned

Palestine News Network Friday, 16 February 2007

Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and Ex Detainees Affairs denounced a 2006 deportation of a Palestinian woman to Jordan. The Ministry is drawing attention to the case at this particular time as Israeli abduction of political prisoners' family members and those of the so-called wanted are on the rise.

The Israeli government arrested the wife of political prisoner Samir Fahmi Taher, Roidah, during the summer of 2006. A statement released today by the Ministry gives the date as 8 August.

By early September the Israeli government was deporting the severely ill woman, sending her from her home, child and husband.

For his part, Roidah's husband Samir could do little to help his wife. He is a political prisoner in the Israeli Mejido Prison. The tactic of targeting family members, says the Ministry, is intended to pressure confessions by those already imprisoned or surrender by those being hunted.

With her hands bound, on 3 September 2006 Roidah was taken in a military jeep to the border with Jordan. With the wind hitting her from every direction, Roidah was forced to leave her husband who remains in prison, her child who is with a grandfather, and her homeland.

The Minister of Detainees and Ex Detainees Affairs, Wasfi Qabha, equated the Israeli administration's treatment of Roidah as akin to imprisoning a pregnant woman and forcing her to undergo and abortion. He also described the treatment as one execution after another, including losing access to her husband and then to her child, and now her homeland.

***

Al-Jazeerah Editor's Note:

Israeli media describe killing civilians as terrorism. However, when Israeli occupation soldiers kill Palestinian civilians, they do not describe the Israeli killers of civilians as terrorists. It's time for Israeli terrorist acts to be described as terrorism.

Israeli occupation forces use the term "arrest" for "kidnapping" or "abduction" of Palestinians from their homes. Objective media worldwide should not fall to the Israeli trap. This is kidnapping or abduction.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal under international law. The Israeli occupation government and its occupation forces have no jurisdiction over Palestinians. Only legitimate governments can arrest citizens. It follows that the correct term is "kidnapping" or "abduction" of Palestinians, not "arresting" them by Israeli occupation forces.

Israeli occupation forces abduct Palestinians in the streets, on checkpoints, or during house searches, and house raids, then they claim that the abductees were on the list of Palestinians who are wanted by Israeli occupation forces. Why are they wanted? This has never been disclosed in advance. They have never been wanted as a result of a court decision. Israeli occupation forces use the word, wanted, as if it is a justification for abducting thousands of Palestinians, or killing them during the abduction.

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2007%20News%20Archives/February/16%20n/Israeli%20Violations%20of%20Palestinian%20Human%20Rights%20in%20the%20Period%20of%20February%208-14,%202007,%20a%20PCHR%20Report.htm

Israeli Violations of Palestinian Human Rights in the Period of February 8-14, 2007, a PCHR Report

Weekly human rights report: Israeli occupation forces confiscate 44 dunams in Nablus & evict 11 Hebron families

(Gaza City) PCHR Friday, 16 February 2007

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) released its weekly report for the period of 8 through 14 February marked by the Makkah talks and the Israeli destruction at Al-Magharibah Gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the ensuing protests.

The full text follows.

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

22 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, and an Israeli solidarity activist, were wounded by IOF gunfire.

IOF conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

IOF arrested 75 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children.

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank.

IOF confiscated 44 donums[1] of land in Brouqin and Kufor al-Dik villages near Nablus.

IOF ordered 11 families in Ethan al-Zahiriya villages near Hebron to leave their property.

IOF conducted diggings in occupied Jerusalem.

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

IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

The Gaza Strip has suffered from shortages in fuels and basic goods.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (8 - 14 February 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, 22 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, 16 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children , were wounded when IOF fired at peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to diggings conducted by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In addition, a Palestinian civilian and an Israeli solidarity activist were wounded when IOF fired at a peaceful demonstration organized in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. IOF also wounded and arrested a Palestinian girl at a checkpoint near Nablus, claiming that she attempted to stab an IOF soldier.

In the Gaza Strip, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire in 4 separate attacks in Beit Lahia town in the north and Deir al-Balah town in the center.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 75 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 463.

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 since 25 June 2006, even though they do not directly control it. During the reporting period, IOF reopened the crossing point for two days. IOF have partially reopened commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, but many goods and medical supplies have been lacked in markets in the Gaza Strip. 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. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, only few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. In addition, IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian fishermen from fishing for nearly 8 months.

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. Contrary to Israeli claims, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. IOF wounded and arrested one of the children at a checkpoint near Nablus, claiming that she attempted to stab an IOF soldier.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF issued a new military order seizing 44600 square meters of land in Brouqin and Kufor al-Dik, southwest of Nablus, for alleged military purposes to establish a security fence. IOF plan to initiate a new stage of the construction of the Wall in the area. The construction of this section of the Wall will isolate large areas of land in the two villages, and will deprive them of their need for expansion. Additionally, IOF issued 17 military orders concerning areas of land isolated by the Wall to the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. According to the orders, 11 Palestinian families would be forced to leave their houses and not to build any structure in the area.

Settlement Activities: During the reporting period, Israeli settlers living in the West Bank in violation of international law continued their systematic attacks on Palestinian civilians and property. IOF also continued to destroy civilian property for the purpose of settlement expansion. They demolished 17 civilian structures near Hebron and Jenin.

The outcome of crimes committed by IOF since 25 June 2006:

o 504 Palestinians, 320 of whom are civilians, including 96 children and 30 women, have been killed by IOF. In the Gaza Strip alone, 411 Palestinians, 246 of whom are civilians, including 85 children, 28 women and 4 paramedics, have been killed by IOF.

o At least 1719 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 369 children, 111 women. In the Gaza Strip alone, 1297 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 351 children, 104 women, 4 paramedics and 7 journalists, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.

o At least 329 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip.

o Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.

o The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked.

o 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed.

o Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed.

o Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 10 ministers and 31 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, have been arrested. Minster of Prisoners’ Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Labor and Second Deputy Speaker of the PLC were released.

o The Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus has been destroyed.

o Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses.

o IOF intelligence has warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked.

o 73 houses belonging to activists of Palestinian factions have been destroyed by IOF warplanes.

o IOF have imposed a strict siege on the OPT, and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (8 – 14 February 2007)

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

Thursday, 8 February 2007

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Artah suburb, southwest of Tulkarm. They raided and searched animal farms in the area. Before their withdrawal from the area at approximately 07:00, IOF arrested Nasser Mohammed Sabarini, 35, and confiscated a number of beehives belonging to him.

· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Jihad Mohammed Sawasia, 28;

2. Ahmed Yousef Qattawi, 22; and

3. Hussam Khamis Abu Mustafa, 27.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Hatem Ibrahim al-Debes, 18; and

2. ‘Omar Ahmed ‘Izziya, 17.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Mahmoud Salem, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Farouq Mohammed Halabiya, 19, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Dura al-Qare’ village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Nasser Hamdan, 26;

2. Saleem Hamdan, 25;

3. ‘Abdul Qader Hamdan, 22; and

4. ‘Abdullah Fawaqa, 20.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They besieged and photographed the building of the municipality for unknown reasons.

· At noon, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Hebron in protest to the ongoing diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators and bystanders. IOF soldiers also moved into the main streets in the center of Hebron and a number of them took positions atop of a number of buildings. As a result of the IOF gunfire, two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Mohammed Hussein ‘Owaiwi, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen; and

2. Samer ‘Izziddin Taha, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

Additionally, Naziha Mohammed ‘Omarn, 33, sustained a fracture to the left leg as she fell when she was trying to escape. IOF also forced traders to close their shops.

· At approximately 12:45, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia, fired at Khaled Mohammed al-Hsoumi, 32, from Beit Lahia, when he was collecting metals in al-Sayafa area, nearly 400 meters away from the border. He was wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

· At approximately 17:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya village, north of Tulkarm, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate. The car intercepted another can that was traveling near the entrance of the village. IOF soldiers got out of their car and arrested two Palestinians from the second car:

1. Rabee’ Yousef ‘Ammar, 24; and

2. Anas Ussama Te’ma, 22, both from Qiffin village north of Tulkarm.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF permanently positioned in the center and south of Hebron raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hisham al-Ja’bari, 16, near the Ibrahimi Mosque, and arrested him.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets, and arrested Atheer Khaled Naifa, 17, when he was near his house. According to the child’s family, IOF had raided the house before searching for him.

Friday, 9 February 2007

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at the children. No casualties were reported, but IOF arrested two civilian bystanders:

1. Zaid Hussam Saleem, 21; and

2. ‘Omar ‘Ali Abu Haniya, 20.

· In a scene reminding of the incidents that led to the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada on 28 September 2000, at noon, IOF stormed the yards of the al-Aqsa Mosque in the old town of occupied Arab Jerusalem. IOF used excessive force against prayers, wounding dozens of them. Storming the al-Aqsa Mosque and imposing restrictions on access to the Mosque aimed to prevent Palestinian peaceful protests against diggings conducted by IOF in the vicinity of the Mosque, which began on 6 February 2007.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Friday morning, IOF deployed thousands of members of the Israeli police and “Border Guard” in the vicinity and at the entrances of the old town of occupied Arab Jerusalem. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and prevented those aged under 45 from entering the old town. At the conclusion of the Friday Prayer, the prayers saw hundreds of members of the Israeli Police and “Border Guard” in the yards of the Mosque, so a number of them started to loudly magnify God. Immediately, IOF fired dozens of tear gas canisters, sound bombs and bullets at the prayers. The payers moved back into the Mosque, but members of the Israeli police and “Border Guard” continued to move towards the Mosque, opening fire. They closed the doors of the Mosque with metal chains and held hundreds of prayers inside until 14:00.

Dozens of prayers were wounded. IOF prevented ambulances from attending the wounded, so prayers were forced to carry the wounded and take them to ambulances which were far from the Mosque. According to sources of the al-Mqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, 24 of the wounded were admitted into the hospital. The others were evacuated to Israeli hospitals.

· In the afternoon, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Hebron and demonstrated in protest to the diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at those civilians. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation, and IOF arrested Hammoda Mohammed Jaber, 52.

· At approximately 13:00, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and demonstrated at the northern entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, in protest to the diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at those civilians, seriously wounding 15-year-old ‘Omar Ahmed Mohammed Abu Sil with a bullet to the head.

Saturday, 10 February 2007

· In the morning, IOF positioned in the center of Hebron forced Palestinian traders to close their shops and shoppers to leave markets. They also fired tear gas canisters and sound bomb at civilians. As a result, Nawal As’ad Salimiya, 27, suffered from tear gas inhalation, and ‘Abdul Mohaimen ‘Abdul Mon’em Shaheen, 53, was hit by a sound bomb to the face.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Deir al-Balah fired at Muneer Hasan Abu Sha’ar, 24, while he was grazing animals nearly 600 meters away from the border. He was wounded by two bullets to the right foot.

· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. Dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at them, wounding 18-year-old Nadi Isma’il Radwan with a bullet to the buttocks.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Beit al-Roush al-Tahta village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Bassel ‘Aqel Hraibat, 26; and

2. Muntasser Mohammed Khallaf, 22.

Sunday, 11 February 2007

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Budros village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Sa’id Khalifa Khalifa, 17; and

2. Eihab Ahmed ‘Abdu, 18.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

1. Ayman Mohammed Samara, 22, a police officer;

2. Ra’ed Khairi ‘Awad, 18; and

3. Rani Khairi ‘Awad, 22.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested Mohammed Fawzi Radwan, 35.

· Also at approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Essam Rasmi Dmairi, 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tha’er Mohammed Rabai’a, 20, the spokesman of the Islamic Jihad in Tulkarm, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 brothers:

1. Wajdi al-Sakhel, 23; 23;

2. Sameh Salem, 22;

3. Taleb ‘Olaiwi, 24;

4. Maher Salahat, 22;

5. Eyad ‘Awadh Dwaikat, 26;

6. Yasser ‘Awadh Dwaikat, 24;

7. Wissam ‘Awadh Dwaikat, 23; and

8. Jihad ‘Awadh Dwaikat, 20.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Braida’a village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned a number of young men for interrogation.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Zawata village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mufeed Mahmoud Mousa, 30, and arrested him.

· In the evening, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated at the western entrance of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, in protest to the diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. When they reached settler bypass road (60), IOF soldiers fired at them. Two civilians were wounded:

1. ‘Ammar Yousef Jabarin, 23, wounded by a bullet to the right shoulder;

2. Tha’er Mohammed Jaradat, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left thigh.

Monday, 12 February 2007

· At approximately 12:00, dozens of Palestinian school children demonstrated in Biddu village, northwest of Jerusalem, in protest to the diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. When the children moved towards the site of the Annexation Wall in the village, IOF soldiers attacked them and arrested 5 children:

1. ‘Alaa’ Mahdi, 14;

2. Mohammed Abu ‘Eid, 14;

3. Ma’rouf Samara, 15;

4. Ahmed Diab, 14; and

5. Ra’ed Abu ‘Eid, 13.

· At noon, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated in the center of Hebron in protest to the diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, wounding 3 of them, including a woman and a child:

1. Ibrahim Sa’di Aa’mar, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the legs;

2. Samah ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Tamimi, 26, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

3. Muhannad ‘Izziddin al-Nazer, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand.

· At approximately 15:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into the main streets adjacent to al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate. IOF soldiers got out of the car and immediately arrested 16-year-old Hamza ‘Omar Hamed.

· In the evening, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, in protest to diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF soldiers fired bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators, wounding 17-year-old Yousef Mohammed Za’aqiq with two bullets to the right arm.

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched dozens of car maintenance workshops and confiscated a number of cars which were under maintenance.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zaytoun and al-Jilda neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Adnan Younis Abu Tabbana, 41, a university lecturer;

2. Sameer ‘Abdul Halim al-Dwaik, 27; and

3. ‘Abdul ‘Azim Jameel al-Natsha, 26.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Azmi ‘Ali Abu Zalata, 44, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed Saleh Abu Theraa’, 21; and

2. ‘Aamer al-Sarkaji, 26.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud ‘Abdullah Farajallah, 42, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 21-year-old Yousef Hasan ‘Eissa.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Yousef Hasan ‘Eissa, 21.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kharsa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 brothers and a child:

1. Khalil ‘Abdul Jaleel Shahatit, 20;

2. Yousef ‘Abdul Jaleel Shahatit, 23;

3. Salem ‘Abdul Jaleel Shahatit, 31;

4. Isma’il Ghaleb al-Zabadi, 18;

5. Rami Ahmed Shahatit, 20;

6. Samer Mohammed Shahatit, 19; and

7. Nidal Shebli al-Zabadi, 17.

· At approximately 07:00, IOF gunboats sailing opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip fired at the beach, wounding 22-year-old Nidal Sha’ban al-Hsoumi with a bullet to the right thigh.

· At approximately 14:20, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian farmer who were nearly 1000 meters away from the border, wounding Nasser Mohammed Ghaben with a bullet to the left hand.

Wednesday, 14 February 2007

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Be’r al-Mahjar neighborhood in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of al-Ihsan Charitable Society and confiscated many files and compact disks. This raid was the fifth of its kind in the past few years.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Atiya Jamal Zayet, 22, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched two houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Nasrallah Riadh Nasrallah, 21; and

2. Shaher Mohammed Dal’ouna, 23.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

1. Khaled Ibrahim al-Swaiti, 30;

2. Ahmed ‘Aayed al-Swaiti, 17; and

3. Ma’ath ‘Abdul Hameed al-Qahoush, 15.

· At approximately 13:00, dozens of Palestinian civilians demonstrated in Qarwat Bani Hassan village, southwest of Nablus, in protest to diggings by IOF in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF soldiers fired at the demonstrators, wounding 21-year-old ‘Ammar ‘Omar Rayan with a bullet to the left forehand.

· At noon, IOF soldiers positioned in the center and south of Hebron prevented a number of members of the Abu Subaih family from attending the funeral procession of Sabah Abu Subaih and to enter the graveyard in the old town. When members of the family insisted to enter the graveyard to attend the funeral procession, IOF soldiers arrested 6 of them, but released them later.

2. Continued Siege on the OPT

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 continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, these crossings were partially reopened to allow the entry of basic foodstuffs, medical supplies and other necessities into the Gaza Strip. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population.

· Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. 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. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006. During the reporting period, the crossing point was reopened on Monday, 12 February 2007, and about 1200 Palestinians were able to travel from the Gaza Strip, whereas 500 others were able to travel back. The crossing point was reopened again on Tuesday, 13 February 2007, and 1056 Palestinians were able to travel from the Gaza Strip, whereas 272 others were able to travel back

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have prevented Palestinian female patients aged under 40 from passing through the crossing, even though most of these patients are in serious conditions and suffer from serious diseases. Since the beginning of this year, IOF have allowed only 45 patients to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem.

· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have closed the crossing, which is the main commercial crossing for the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets.

· Nahal Ouz Crossing: This crossing is designed for the entry of fuels. IOF allow the entry of limited amounts of fuels into the Gaza Strip, which do not meet the needs of its population. On Friday, 9 February 2007, IOF denied the entry of benzene and gasoline. On Sunday, 11 February 2007, IOF denied the entry of benzene.

· Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, allowing the entry of aggregate and some food aid. However, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

The West Bank

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 8 February 2007, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also re-established their presence at “Yits’har” checkpoint, south of Nablus, and Jeet checkpoint, southwest of the city. IOF prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from passing through those checkpoints. Additionally, IOF soldiers positioned at Jeet checkpoint prevented residents of Tulkarm and Jenin from traveling to Nablus. On Saturday morning, 10 February 2007, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint at the southern entrance of Nablus and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF arrested a child claiming that he was carrying explosive devices. On the same day, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints on the roads leading to Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 11 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on al-Bathan road at the northeastern entrance of Nbalus. They obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians. Also on Saturday morning, IOF soldiers positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented residents of Jenin from passing through the checkpoint. On Tuesday morning, 13 February 2007, IOF prevented Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through checkpoints around the city.

At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 8 February 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at al-Bathan checkpoint at the northeastern entrance of Nablus fired at 17-year-old Tahani Ahmed Na’im Bani ‘Ouda, from Tammoun village near Jenin, wounding her with several gunshots to the legs. IOF soldiers fired at the child when she ran towards a car, in which her mother and her brother were traveling on their way back to their village. She was on her way to Nablus to join them there. IOF soldiers then arrested the child, claiming that she attempted to stab one of them.

On Saturday evening, 10 February 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Jihad Shalabi, 16, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp west of Nablus. They claimed that he was carrying a weapon.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have prevented Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through all checkpoints around the town. On Thursday, 8 February 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, for two hours. When they reopened it, they imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 9 February 2007, IOF closed ‘Ennab checkpoint until the afternoon. When they reopened it, they prevented Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through it. On Saturday, 10 February 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and ‘Ennab checkpoint, east of the town, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and prevented those aged under 35 from passing through them. on Monday, 12 February 2007, IOF closed all dirt roads leading to Tulkarm. Palestinian civilians travel on those roads to bypass military checkpoints. On Tuesday, 13 February 2007, IOF prevented Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through all checkpoints around Tulkarm. On Wednesday morning, 14 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday afternoon, 9 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Tammoun village, and two ones at the southern entrance of ‘Arraba village, southwest of the Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday morning, 10 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint to the north of ‘Aqaba village, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 11 February 2007, IOF closed the southern entrance of Jenin and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. On Wednesday morning, 14 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint to the east of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They prevented tractors that transport water to neighboring areas from passing through the checkpoint.

· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 8 February 2007, IOF closed the Tunnel gate established on the main road linking between Qalqilya and Haba village, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. On the same day, IOF soldiers positioned at the border crossing at the northern entrance of Qaqlilya prevented Palestinian workers from traveling to their work places inside Israel. At approximately 06:00 on the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday, 9 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 12 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Sour village, north of Qalqilya and imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 13 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Kufor Qaddoum intersection, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday, 14 February 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On the same day, IOF closed the iron gate placed at the sole entrance of ‘Ezbat al-Taneeb village, east of Qalqilya, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the village.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8, 9 and 10 February 2007, IOF prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tal al-Rumaida, al-Shuhada and Bab al-Zawia neighborhood in the center of Hebron. On Thursday morning, 8 February 2007, hundreds of Palestinian teachers and school children were not able to reach their schools in the town due to restrictions on movement imposed by IOF. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 11 February 2007, IOF closed the checkpoint established on Halhoul – Hebron bridge.

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 10 February 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint to the west of Dura village, southwest of Hebron, arrested Diaa’ Mohammed ‘Amru, 20, from Dura village, when he was on his way to Hebron.

On Saturday afternoon, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint in the old town of Hebron stopped, checked and interrogated ‘Antar Anwar al-Barad’eya, 26, and his brother Adham, 22. They then violently beat ‘Antar. He sustained bruises and cuts and fainted. IOF soldiers prevented other civilians from offering him medical aid. When Mohammed Radhi bu ‘Eisha, 79, attempted to offer him medical aid, IOF soldiers violently beat him. At the same time, IOF soldiers beat and arrested ‘Abdul Hafeez al-Hashlamoun, a cameraman of EPA news agency, claiming that he was photographing in a closed military zone.

· Bethlehem: At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 10 February 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at the western entrance of Beit Jala town arrested Ma’ath Mousa Jawabra, 16, from Beit Fajjar village southwest of Bethlehem. They violently beat him. He sustained bruises throughout the body. At noon, IOF dumped him near Bethlehem. He was evacuated to Beit Jala Hospital.

3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

· IOF issued a new military order seizing 44600 square meters of land in Brouqin and Kufor al-Dik, southwest of Nablus, for alleged military purposes to establish a security fence. IOF plan to initiate a new stage of the construction of the Wall in the area. The construction of this section of the Wall will isolate large areas of land in the two villages, and will deprive them of their need for expansion.

· During the reporting period, IOF issued 17 military orders concerning areas of land isolated by the Wall to the west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. According to the orders, 11 Palestinian families would be forced to leave their houses and not to build any structure in the area.

· At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 9 February 2007, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists demonstrated in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. IOF soldiers positioned near the Wall fired sound bombes and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. Two demonstrators, including an Israeli one, were wounded:

1. Hussam Kamal al-Khatib, 26, hit by a sound bomb to the leg; and

2. Kubi, an Israeli solidarity activist, hit by a sound bomb to the thigh.

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

· On Thursday morning, 8 February 2007, IOF razed 400 square meters of agricultural land belonging to Ahmed Ibrahim Saleem near the northern entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, to establish a military observation tower.

· Also on Thursday, IOF issued a military order confiscating 400 square meters of land belonging to Ya’qoub Salman al-Qawasmi in Hebron to establish a military observation tower. On Monday, 12 February 2007, IOF razed the land.

· On Sunday, 11 February 2007, a number of armed Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, escorted by IOF, planted areas of land belonging to a number of Palestinian civilians, apparently to annex them later to the settlement.

· On Monday, 12 February 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Kerni Shomron” and “Ginat Shomron” settlements, east of Qalqilya, prevented Palestinian farmers from working on their land located neat the two settlements. IOF soldiers also confiscated identity cards of those farmers.

· Also on Monday, a number of Israeli settlers from “Halmish” settlement, escorted by IOF, broke into Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah. They uprooted at least 50 olive trees belonging to Mahmoud Ahmed Nassar.

· On Wednesday morning, 14 February 2007, IOF moved into Mraiha village, southwest of Jenin which is located near 3 Israeli settlements. They demolished 11 huts: 3 huts belonging to Nawaf Hamdouni; 4 ones belonging to Kayed Hamdouni; and 4 ones belonging to Tawifiq Hamdouni and Mustafa Abu Ermaila.

· On Wednesday noon, 14 February 2007, IOF demolished 6 civilian structures belonging to ‘Eid Rasheed and Mahmoud Abu Qbaita in Mnaizal village, south of Hebron, which is adjacent to “Alasfir” settlement.

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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 its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

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

5. 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.

6. PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law.

7. PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.

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

9. 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.

10. 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 end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

11. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal with Israeli citizens in a similar manner.

12. 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 agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.