(c) Anne Paq/Activestills, Lyon, France, October 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
interesting step
PA takes steps to become ICC member
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian Minister of Justice Ali Al-Khashan presented documents to the attorney general of the International Criminal Court on Friday, which outlined allegations of Israeli war crimes committed prior to the war on Gaza.
Al-Khashan said he also answered several inquiries from the court that would guarantee Palestine a place within the Rome Statute and thus full membership at the court. He said in a phone interview that he and a delegation were preparing papers requested by the court in preparation for full membership.
In order to become a member a state must sign then ratify the Rome Statute. Once a state is a member of the ICC, the court can proceed with investigations into crimes which may have occurred on the territory of the member, or by a national of the member. The member is obligated to surrender suspects from their state once they have ratified the agreement. Members are also entitled to vote in the ICC’s governing body.
He cautioned, however, that those waiting for ICC action on alleged Israeli war crimes should “have patience” since “we do not have any documentation for the Israeli crimes,” but said membership in the international body would give Palestinians the “ability to confront with peaceful follow-up the revelation of Israeli war crimes.”
The minister said the efforts were a continuation of previous efforts to gain membership at the court. He noted that “the Palestinian Authority is following up steps that were made previously to gain membership in the Rome agreement.”
“The Goldstone report set out mechanisms [leading to the prosecution of Israeli war criminals], and the Human Rights Council set out mechanisms that clarified those steps,” Al-Khasham said, “now the PA is carrying out those steps.”
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Palestinian Minister of Justice Ali Al-Khashan presented documents to the attorney general of the International Criminal Court on Friday, which outlined allegations of Israeli war crimes committed prior to the war on Gaza.
Al-Khashan said he also answered several inquiries from the court that would guarantee Palestine a place within the Rome Statute and thus full membership at the court. He said in a phone interview that he and a delegation were preparing papers requested by the court in preparation for full membership.
In order to become a member a state must sign then ratify the Rome Statute. Once a state is a member of the ICC, the court can proceed with investigations into crimes which may have occurred on the territory of the member, or by a national of the member. The member is obligated to surrender suspects from their state once they have ratified the agreement. Members are also entitled to vote in the ICC’s governing body.
He cautioned, however, that those waiting for ICC action on alleged Israeli war crimes should “have patience” since “we do not have any documentation for the Israeli crimes,” but said membership in the international body would give Palestinians the “ability to confront with peaceful follow-up the revelation of Israeli war crimes.”
The minister said the efforts were a continuation of previous efforts to gain membership at the court. He noted that “the Palestinian Authority is following up steps that were made previously to gain membership in the Rome agreement.”
“The Goldstone report set out mechanisms [leading to the prosecution of Israeli war criminals], and the Human Rights Council set out mechanisms that clarified those steps,” Al-Khasham said, “now the PA is carrying out those steps.”
Friday, October 16, 2009
whats next?
UN rights body endorses Goldstone report
Published today (updated) 16/10/2009 19:57
Author of the report, Justice Richard Goldstone [MaanImages]
Geneva - Ma'an - After listening to about 20 states and 30 nongovernmental organizations, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted the resolution submitted by Palestine by a vote of 25 to six, with 11 abstentions.
The council is made up of 47 members and requires a majority of votes to pass a resolution.
The Palestinian envoy to Geneva, Ibrahim Kraishi, had demanded the UN body pursue criminals "wherever they are and whoever they are."
"The occupying power wants to make it look like it's doing the right thing," he said. "It wants the international community to look as if it's mistaken. But it's not logical. It's not possible for everybody to be wrong at the expense of one power."
"My people will not forgive the international community," Kraishi concluded, if it cannot see fit to pursue investigations against the crimes in Gaza.
The Israeli representative called the report's adoption "a setback for the efforts to revive peace," and said the move to pass the resolution would be "rewarded by terrorism." He reiterated Israel's right to defend itself.
The few Western states that spoke showed concern about why the special session was being called when the report had been on the agenda just two weeks earlier during a regular session of the Human Rights Council.
Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff called the resolution "regrettable," and said it went "beyond the scope of the Goldstone report." He said the resolution contained elements that should be "discussed within a final-status agreement," including Jerusalem.
Wolff said the report failed to deal adequately with the asymmetrical nature of the confrontation, and the adoption of the resolution could only postpone a lasting peace and deepen the divide between Israel and Palestine.
Among those voting yes were Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and South Africa.
Six countries voted against the report, including US, Italy, Holland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Ukraine.
Those that abstained were Bosnia, Burkina-Faso, Cameron, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Belgium, South Korea, Slovenia and Uruguay.
Madagascar and Kyrgyzstan were not present during the vote.
The voting was postponed for several hours before the session started. Following the delay, more than 20 states and 30 nongovernmental organizations, including the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Al-Dameer and Adalah addressed the council.
Delay and preambles
The French requested first a short delay for consultations and then a longer two-hour delay, to which Egypt, one of the sponsors of the resolution, objected. Although stating immediately after the Egyptian objection that he heard "no objections" to the French request, the Belgian president said that council would then proceed to a vote.
Finally opening the Friday morning session, the League of Arab States lamented what it termed the continuing violations of human rights and aggression by the government of Israel against the people of Palestine.
Syria, Iran, and Libya associated themselves with the Arab statement and emphasized the necessity, in the Libyan delegate's words, of "continuing to discuss the Goldstone report and look into its recommendations."
The Libyan delegate, whose country had raised the report in the Security Council session held this past Wednesday, also called for the matter to be considered and acted upon by the UN General Assembly.
The Libyan delegate called the draft resolution a "a litmus test" that would prove whether international human rights law creates legal obligations or are mere "slogans that are misused" to accomplish political ends.
A spokesperson for UN Watch, a pro-Israel NGO, claimed Israel had done more than the US or the UK in Iraq or Afghanistan to "safeguard the rights of civilians in the war zone" in Gaza.
A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col. Richard Kemp addressed the UN session and said that based on his knowledge and experience, Israel "did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare."
This was immediately followed by a statement from the Israeli NGO, the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, stating that based on its long and extensive experience in the Israeli courts, these courts have failed to adequately deal with violations of law by Israeli soldiers. She went on to enumerate the laws and some examples of cases that evidence the failure of the Israel judicial and legislative bodies.
Mustapha Barghouti, speaking for the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, recounted the international crimes that he had witnessed as a doctor in Palestine. He called the Goldstone report a test of the integrity of the UN's concern for human rights and respect for the rule of law.
The deputy permanent representative of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, then introduced the resolution with an oral amendment for a new paragraph "condemning all targeting of civilians and stressing the urgent need to ensure accountability for all violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law to prevent future violations."
The president of council then gave the permanent representative of Israel the floor as a concerned country, who quoted Justice Goldstone as expressing his concern that the draft resolution was too harsh on Israel, stating "this time Justice Goldstone is correct." He continued that Israel, however, did not agree with what Justice Goldstone had said in the report. He ended with an implicit threat by his government to stop cooperating with the council and to sabotage the Middle East peace process.
The Palestinian ambassador then spoke, saying that he "would not use the rostrum of the council to condemn either Hamas or Israel," and plead that "all we want is to ensure that criminals everywhere do not enjoy impunity."
He ended by requesting consensus in the council on the resolution.
The United States made a statement before the vote lamenting the council, for dealing with the report as an urgent manner, instead hoping that the council would delay action on the report. As in his statement delivered during the general debate on the resolution, the US delegate again recalled that more than six months should be given to Israel to investigate the allegations of international crimes.
He did not address the statements by several Israel officials that unequivocally stated that "no Israeli soldier" would be prosecuted because of the allegations made in the report. The US also called for a vote on the resolution stating that it would vote no and calling on other states to join them.
Also speaking before the vote Chile, Brazil, and Argentina generally spoke in support of the resolution, although most expressed dissatisfaction with the way this session had been convened.
Slovenia, Uruguay, Norway, and Mexico stated that while they could not support the draft resolution and would abstain. Several of these states also reiterated their support for the Goldstone report and the human rights of the Palestinian people.
No state joined the United States in announcing it would vote against the resolution.
The resolution
The three-part resolution calls for Israel to cease settlements in East Jerusalem, to allow unhindered access to the Al-Asqa Mosque and for the council to refer the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict to the General Assembly. The omnibus resolution also called for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to report on the situation of human rights in Palestine.
When the vote was finally taken in recorded form at the request of the United States, 25 states voted for the resolution, six voted against, and eleven abstained.
After the resolution was passed, about a dozen states elaborated on their votes. The HRC president then stated he would transmit the resolution "urgently" to the General Assembly.
Finally, the Algerian ambassador challenged the US ambassador to back his oral commitment to making the Human Rights Council a real body of action, by ending the armed conflict in Palestine and taking meaningful action on violations of human rights in Palestine.
Curtis Doebbler contributed to this report.
Published today (updated) 16/10/2009 19:57
Author of the report, Justice Richard Goldstone [MaanImages]
Geneva - Ma'an - After listening to about 20 states and 30 nongovernmental organizations, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted the resolution submitted by Palestine by a vote of 25 to six, with 11 abstentions.
The council is made up of 47 members and requires a majority of votes to pass a resolution.
The Palestinian envoy to Geneva, Ibrahim Kraishi, had demanded the UN body pursue criminals "wherever they are and whoever they are."
"The occupying power wants to make it look like it's doing the right thing," he said. "It wants the international community to look as if it's mistaken. But it's not logical. It's not possible for everybody to be wrong at the expense of one power."
"My people will not forgive the international community," Kraishi concluded, if it cannot see fit to pursue investigations against the crimes in Gaza.
The Israeli representative called the report's adoption "a setback for the efforts to revive peace," and said the move to pass the resolution would be "rewarded by terrorism." He reiterated Israel's right to defend itself.
The few Western states that spoke showed concern about why the special session was being called when the report had been on the agenda just two weeks earlier during a regular session of the Human Rights Council.
Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff called the resolution "regrettable," and said it went "beyond the scope of the Goldstone report." He said the resolution contained elements that should be "discussed within a final-status agreement," including Jerusalem.
Wolff said the report failed to deal adequately with the asymmetrical nature of the confrontation, and the adoption of the resolution could only postpone a lasting peace and deepen the divide between Israel and Palestine.
Among those voting yes were Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and South Africa.
Six countries voted against the report, including US, Italy, Holland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Ukraine.
Those that abstained were Bosnia, Burkina-Faso, Cameron, Gabon, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Belgium, South Korea, Slovenia and Uruguay.
Madagascar and Kyrgyzstan were not present during the vote.
The voting was postponed for several hours before the session started. Following the delay, more than 20 states and 30 nongovernmental organizations, including the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Al-Dameer and Adalah addressed the council.
Delay and preambles
The French requested first a short delay for consultations and then a longer two-hour delay, to which Egypt, one of the sponsors of the resolution, objected. Although stating immediately after the Egyptian objection that he heard "no objections" to the French request, the Belgian president said that council would then proceed to a vote.
Finally opening the Friday morning session, the League of Arab States lamented what it termed the continuing violations of human rights and aggression by the government of Israel against the people of Palestine.
Syria, Iran, and Libya associated themselves with the Arab statement and emphasized the necessity, in the Libyan delegate's words, of "continuing to discuss the Goldstone report and look into its recommendations."
The Libyan delegate, whose country had raised the report in the Security Council session held this past Wednesday, also called for the matter to be considered and acted upon by the UN General Assembly.
The Libyan delegate called the draft resolution a "a litmus test" that would prove whether international human rights law creates legal obligations or are mere "slogans that are misused" to accomplish political ends.
A spokesperson for UN Watch, a pro-Israel NGO, claimed Israel had done more than the US or the UK in Iraq or Afghanistan to "safeguard the rights of civilians in the war zone" in Gaza.
A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Col. Richard Kemp addressed the UN session and said that based on his knowledge and experience, Israel "did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare."
This was immediately followed by a statement from the Israeli NGO, the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, stating that based on its long and extensive experience in the Israeli courts, these courts have failed to adequately deal with violations of law by Israeli soldiers. She went on to enumerate the laws and some examples of cases that evidence the failure of the Israel judicial and legislative bodies.
Mustapha Barghouti, speaking for the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, recounted the international crimes that he had witnessed as a doctor in Palestine. He called the Goldstone report a test of the integrity of the UN's concern for human rights and respect for the rule of law.
The deputy permanent representative of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, then introduced the resolution with an oral amendment for a new paragraph "condemning all targeting of civilians and stressing the urgent need to ensure accountability for all violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law to prevent future violations."
The president of council then gave the permanent representative of Israel the floor as a concerned country, who quoted Justice Goldstone as expressing his concern that the draft resolution was too harsh on Israel, stating "this time Justice Goldstone is correct." He continued that Israel, however, did not agree with what Justice Goldstone had said in the report. He ended with an implicit threat by his government to stop cooperating with the council and to sabotage the Middle East peace process.
The Palestinian ambassador then spoke, saying that he "would not use the rostrum of the council to condemn either Hamas or Israel," and plead that "all we want is to ensure that criminals everywhere do not enjoy impunity."
He ended by requesting consensus in the council on the resolution.
The United States made a statement before the vote lamenting the council, for dealing with the report as an urgent manner, instead hoping that the council would delay action on the report. As in his statement delivered during the general debate on the resolution, the US delegate again recalled that more than six months should be given to Israel to investigate the allegations of international crimes.
He did not address the statements by several Israel officials that unequivocally stated that "no Israeli soldier" would be prosecuted because of the allegations made in the report. The US also called for a vote on the resolution stating that it would vote no and calling on other states to join them.
Also speaking before the vote Chile, Brazil, and Argentina generally spoke in support of the resolution, although most expressed dissatisfaction with the way this session had been convened.
Slovenia, Uruguay, Norway, and Mexico stated that while they could not support the draft resolution and would abstain. Several of these states also reiterated their support for the Goldstone report and the human rights of the Palestinian people.
No state joined the United States in announcing it would vote against the resolution.
The resolution
The three-part resolution calls for Israel to cease settlements in East Jerusalem, to allow unhindered access to the Al-Asqa Mosque and for the council to refer the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict to the General Assembly. The omnibus resolution also called for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to report on the situation of human rights in Palestine.
When the vote was finally taken in recorded form at the request of the United States, 25 states voted for the resolution, six voted against, and eleven abstained.
After the resolution was passed, about a dozen states elaborated on their votes. The HRC president then stated he would transmit the resolution "urgently" to the General Assembly.
Finally, the Algerian ambassador challenged the US ambassador to back his oral commitment to making the Human Rights Council a real body of action, by ending the armed conflict in Palestine and taking meaningful action on violations of human rights in Palestine.
Curtis Doebbler contributed to this report.
Monday, October 12, 2009
I'll be away for a while / Je vais etre abstente pour un temps
I forgot to tell you...i'll be away from Palestine/israel for a while. so dont be surprised if I post some pictures from other places....but I will keep posting some articles also so please dont give up on my blog!
J'ai oublie de vous dire que je ne vais pas etre en Palestine/Israel pour un temps. alors il ne faut pas vous etonner de voir des photos d'ailleurs. mais je vais continuer aussi a mettre des articles sur la palestine...enfin bref, n'abandonnez pas mon blog!
J'ai oublie de vous dire que je ne vais pas etre en Palestine/Israel pour un temps. alors il ne faut pas vous etonner de voir des photos d'ailleurs. mais je vais continuer aussi a mettre des articles sur la palestine...enfin bref, n'abandonnez pas mon blog!
the just people of Israel
Students refuse to enlist due to 'occupation'
Traditional letter signed by high school seniors slams Israel's 'oppressive policy in occupied territories'
Daniel Edelson
Dozens of students signed this year's high school seniors' letter, which has traditionally attempted to challenge Israel's mandatory army service policy. Similar letters have circulated every few years since 1979, all calling on teens to object to IDF service.
"We Jewish and Arab teens from throughout Israel hereby announce that we object to Israel's oppressive policy in the occupied territories and within the state of Israel, and therefore we will refuse to take part in these activities, which are carried out in our name by the Israel Defense Army," says the letter, signed by 80 students.
Students: Don't enlist (Photo: Yaron Brener)
"The occupation has led the Israeli army to violate time and time again the international accords Israel has signed, UN resolutions, international laws, and the constitutional laws of Israel itself."
The letter concludes by stating, "Our refusal to be soldiers of occupation derives from our fidelity to the values and society that surround us, and is part of our continuing battle for peace and equality, a battle whose Jewish-Arab character proves peace and coexistence are possible."
Amalia Merkovitch, an 18-year old high school senior, told Ynet she and her comrades would send the letter to various ministers, as had been done in previous years.
She says the letter does not refer specifically to the Second Lebanon War or even Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, but rather calls on teens to evade army service because of "everything that happens on a daily basis in the IDF – the evils of occupation, large and small".
Merkovitch classifies herself as a "future army refuser", and says that she and three friends plan to be taken to military prison on the day of their mandatory enlistment until it is canceled.
Traditional letter signed by high school seniors slams Israel's 'oppressive policy in occupied territories'
Daniel Edelson
Dozens of students signed this year's high school seniors' letter, which has traditionally attempted to challenge Israel's mandatory army service policy. Similar letters have circulated every few years since 1979, all calling on teens to object to IDF service.
"We Jewish and Arab teens from throughout Israel hereby announce that we object to Israel's oppressive policy in the occupied territories and within the state of Israel, and therefore we will refuse to take part in these activities, which are carried out in our name by the Israel Defense Army," says the letter, signed by 80 students.
Students: Don't enlist (Photo: Yaron Brener)
"The occupation has led the Israeli army to violate time and time again the international accords Israel has signed, UN resolutions, international laws, and the constitutional laws of Israel itself."
The letter concludes by stating, "Our refusal to be soldiers of occupation derives from our fidelity to the values and society that surround us, and is part of our continuing battle for peace and equality, a battle whose Jewish-Arab character proves peace and coexistence are possible."
Amalia Merkovitch, an 18-year old high school senior, told Ynet she and her comrades would send the letter to various ministers, as had been done in previous years.
She says the letter does not refer specifically to the Second Lebanon War or even Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, but rather calls on teens to evade army service because of "everything that happens on a daily basis in the IDF – the evils of occupation, large and small".
Merkovitch classifies herself as a "future army refuser", and says that she and three friends plan to be taken to military prison on the day of their mandatory enlistment until it is canceled.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Decision of Palestinian Leadership and International Pressure an Insult to the Victims
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Decision of Palestinian Leadership
and International Pressure an Insult to the Victims
Adalah * Addameer * Aldameer * Al Haq * Al Mezan * Badil * Civic
Coalition for Jerusalem * DCI-Palestine * ENSAN Centre * Independent
Commission for Human Rights * Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights
Centre * Palestinian Centre for Human Rights * Ramallah Centre for Human
Rights Studies * Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling *
Yesterday, 2 October 2009, the Palestinian leadership – under heavy
international pressure lead by the United States – deferred the draft
proposal at the Human Rights Council endorsing all the recommendations
of the UN Fact Finding Mission (the Goldstone Report). This deferral
denies the Palestinian peoples’ right to an effective judicial remedy
and the equal protection of the law. It represents the triumph of
politics over human rights. It is an insult to all victims and a
rejection of their rights.
The crimes documented in the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission
represent the most serious violations of international law; Justice
Goldstone concluded that there was evidence to indicate that crimes
against humanity may have been committed in the Gaza Strip. Violations
of international law continue to this day, inter alia, through the
continuing Israeli-imposed illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. The
findings of the Mission confirmed earlier investigations conducted by
independent Palestinian, Israeli and international organisations.
The injustice that has now been brought upon Palestinians has been
brought upon everyone on this globe. International human rights and
humanitarian law are not subject to discrimination, they are not
dependent on nationality, religion, or political affiliation.
International human rights and humanitarian law apply universally to all
human beings.
The rule of law is intended to protect individuals, to guarantee their
fundamental rights. Yet, if the rule of law is to be respected it must
be enforced. World history, and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
land has shown us that as long as impunity persists, the law will
continue to be violated; innocent civilians will continue to suffer the
horrific consequences.
Justice delayed is justice denied. All victims have a legitimate right
to an effective judicial remedy, and the equal protection of the law.
These rights are universal: they are not subject to political
considerations. In the nine months since Operation Cast Lead, no
effective judicial investigations have been conducted into the conflict.
Impunity prevails. In such situations, international law demands
recourse to international judicial mechanisms. Victims’ rights must be
upheld. Those responsible must be held to account.
The belief that accountability and the rule of law can be brushed aside
in the pursuit of peace is misguided. History has taught us time and
time again, that sustainable peace can only be built on human rights, on
justice, and the rule of law. For many years in Palestine international
law, and the rule of law, has been sacrificed in the name of politics,
and cast aside in favour of the peace process. This approach has been
tried, and it has failed: the occupation has been solidified, illegal
settlements have continued to expand, the right to self determination
has been denied; innocent civilians suffer the horrific consequences. It
is now time to pursue justice, and a peace built on a foundation of
human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. In Justice Goldstone’s
words, there is no peace without justice.
As human rights organisations we strongly condemn the Palestinian
leaderships’ decision to defer the proposal endorsing all the
recommendations of the Fact Finding Mission, and the pressure exerted by
certain members of the international community. Such pressure is in
conflict with States' international obligations, and is an insult to the
Palestinian people.
As human rights organizations concerned with rights and justice, we
declare that we will double our efforts to seek justice for the victims
of the violations of human rights and international law in oPt without
delay.
and International Pressure an Insult to the Victims
Adalah * Addameer * Aldameer * Al Haq * Al Mezan * Badil * Civic
Coalition for Jerusalem * DCI-Palestine * ENSAN Centre * Independent
Commission for Human Rights * Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights
Centre * Palestinian Centre for Human Rights * Ramallah Centre for Human
Rights Studies * Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling *
Yesterday, 2 October 2009, the Palestinian leadership – under heavy
international pressure lead by the United States – deferred the draft
proposal at the Human Rights Council endorsing all the recommendations
of the UN Fact Finding Mission (the Goldstone Report). This deferral
denies the Palestinian peoples’ right to an effective judicial remedy
and the equal protection of the law. It represents the triumph of
politics over human rights. It is an insult to all victims and a
rejection of their rights.
The crimes documented in the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission
represent the most serious violations of international law; Justice
Goldstone concluded that there was evidence to indicate that crimes
against humanity may have been committed in the Gaza Strip. Violations
of international law continue to this day, inter alia, through the
continuing Israeli-imposed illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. The
findings of the Mission confirmed earlier investigations conducted by
independent Palestinian, Israeli and international organisations.
The injustice that has now been brought upon Palestinians has been
brought upon everyone on this globe. International human rights and
humanitarian law are not subject to discrimination, they are not
dependent on nationality, religion, or political affiliation.
International human rights and humanitarian law apply universally to all
human beings.
The rule of law is intended to protect individuals, to guarantee their
fundamental rights. Yet, if the rule of law is to be respected it must
be enforced. World history, and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian
land has shown us that as long as impunity persists, the law will
continue to be violated; innocent civilians will continue to suffer the
horrific consequences.
Justice delayed is justice denied. All victims have a legitimate right
to an effective judicial remedy, and the equal protection of the law.
These rights are universal: they are not subject to political
considerations. In the nine months since Operation Cast Lead, no
effective judicial investigations have been conducted into the conflict.
Impunity prevails. In such situations, international law demands
recourse to international judicial mechanisms. Victims’ rights must be
upheld. Those responsible must be held to account.
The belief that accountability and the rule of law can be brushed aside
in the pursuit of peace is misguided. History has taught us time and
time again, that sustainable peace can only be built on human rights, on
justice, and the rule of law. For many years in Palestine international
law, and the rule of law, has been sacrificed in the name of politics,
and cast aside in favour of the peace process. This approach has been
tried, and it has failed: the occupation has been solidified, illegal
settlements have continued to expand, the right to self determination
has been denied; innocent civilians suffer the horrific consequences. It
is now time to pursue justice, and a peace built on a foundation of
human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. In Justice Goldstone’s
words, there is no peace without justice.
As human rights organisations we strongly condemn the Palestinian
leaderships’ decision to defer the proposal endorsing all the
recommendations of the Fact Finding Mission, and the pressure exerted by
certain members of the international community. Such pressure is in
conflict with States' international obligations, and is an insult to the
Palestinian people.
As human rights organizations concerned with rights and justice, we
declare that we will double our efforts to seek justice for the victims
of the violations of human rights and international law in oPt without
delay.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Human rights defender arrested- please take action
Dear Friends
On September 22, Mohammad Othman was arrested and detained by Israeli soldiers on the Allenby Bridge Crossing, the border from Jordan to Palestine. He was returning from a trip to Norway and other European countries, where he was raising awareness about Palestine.
Mohammad, 33 is the youth coordinator for the Stop the Wall Campaign. He has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the defense of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, has lost most of its land to the Wall and the settlements. He has worked constantly to let the world know about the crimes against his people and has developed relations of international solidarity.
Please sign the petition to show your support and urge Norway, and the EU to seek his release:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/stopwall/petition.html
In peace
Grietje
PS Mohammad is one of around 8000 Palestinian political prisoners currently being held by Israel, around 550 of whom are held without charge or trial.
Stop the Wall campaign youth organizer detained at Allenby
Bethlehem - Ma'an - Coordinator of the youth programs for the Stop the Wall Campaign Mohammad Othman was arrested by Israeli soldiers as he returned to the West Bank following a tour in Norway on Tuesday, the Badil research center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights said in a statement.
He is reported to be in the Huwara prison, likely under administrative detention, and was detained e. Othman was had met with several Norwegian officials, particularly around the recent steps for the country and its large pension fund to divest from companies involved in the construction of the separation wall and Israeli settlements. During his visit he met with Norwegian Finance Minister Kristen Halvorsen.
This is the second time in recent memory that Palestinian activists have been detained at the Allenby bridge and held ostensably for their works. Earlier int the year eyewitness for the UN Fact Finding Mission Muhammad Srour, was detained on his way home from testifying in Geneva.
The 33-year-old Othman has worked in the field of Palestinian rights for the last ten years. His recent work focused on the nvolvement of Israeli and international business in the violations of Palestinian human rights.
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=227633
On September 22, Mohammad Othman was arrested and detained by Israeli soldiers on the Allenby Bridge Crossing, the border from Jordan to Palestine. He was returning from a trip to Norway and other European countries, where he was raising awareness about Palestine.
Mohammad, 33 is the youth coordinator for the Stop the Wall Campaign. He has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the defense of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, has lost most of its land to the Wall and the settlements. He has worked constantly to let the world know about the crimes against his people and has developed relations of international solidarity.
Please sign the petition to show your support and urge Norway, and the EU to seek his release:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/stopwall/petition.html
In peace
Grietje
PS Mohammad is one of around 8000 Palestinian political prisoners currently being held by Israel, around 550 of whom are held without charge or trial.
Stop the Wall campaign youth organizer detained at Allenby
Bethlehem - Ma'an - Coordinator of the youth programs for the Stop the Wall Campaign Mohammad Othman was arrested by Israeli soldiers as he returned to the West Bank following a tour in Norway on Tuesday, the Badil research center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights said in a statement.
He is reported to be in the Huwara prison, likely under administrative detention, and was detained e. Othman was had met with several Norwegian officials, particularly around the recent steps for the country and its large pension fund to divest from companies involved in the construction of the separation wall and Israeli settlements. During his visit he met with Norwegian Finance Minister Kristen Halvorsen.
This is the second time in recent memory that Palestinian activists have been detained at the Allenby bridge and held ostensably for their works. Earlier int the year eyewitness for the UN Fact Finding Mission Muhammad Srour, was detained on his way home from testifying in Geneva.
The 33-year-old Othman has worked in the field of Palestinian rights for the last ten years. His recent work focused on the nvolvement of Israeli and international business in the violations of Palestinian human rights.
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=227633
Israeli forces target Palestinian cameramen at Bil’in demonstration
Israeli forces target Palestinian cameramen at Bil’in demonstration
Posted on: September 25, 2009 | ISM
Israeli forces storm Bil'in and arrest 3 demonstrators
Israeli forces storm Bil'in and arrest 3 demonstrators, photo courtesy of Hamde Abu Rahma
For Immediate Release
25 September 2009: Israeli forces target Palestinian cameramen at Bil’in demonstration.
Around 1pm, Israeli forces arrested 2 Israeli solidarity activists and a Palestinian cameraman, Haitham al-Khatib (33 years old) during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil’in.
Witnesses say that Israeli soldiers ran in and arrested the 3 demonstrators. Haitham al-Khatib was filming the demonstration near the Wall when he was taken.
Haitham has been filming the ongoing Israeli arrest campaign in Bil’in. One of his videos was recently used by several news sources, including the Israeli news, YNet (see: http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3778117,00.html), to showcase the violence and intimidation used by the army against Bil’in residents. Thousands of viewers worldwide have been following the night raids in Bil’in through Haitham’s videos on http://www.youtube.com/user/haithmkatib.
Haitham was previously detained by Israeli forces on 24 July 2009 when he arrived at Ofer prison to wait for the release of another Bil’in resident. He was held for several hours and interrogated.
Coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Abdedallah abu Rahme, stated, “Soldiers coming to arrest Palestinians from Bil’in in the night is only part of intimidation campaign, the Israeli authorities are also targeting our supporters and journalists. They want us to stop our non-violent demonstrations, but as long as our land is being stolen, we cannot stop.”
Background:
The recent raids began concurrently with the opening of a legal trial in Montreal. The village of Bil’in has taken two companies registered in Canada (Green Park International & Green Mount International) to court for participating in war crimes by building settlements on Bil’in’s land under the 2000 Canadian Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Statute (which incorporates both the articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute into Canadian federal law).
Since the trail began Israeli forces have arrested 30 people (most of which are under 18). Twenty-one residents of Bil’in remain in Israeli detention.
Through Israel’s interrogation and intimidation tactics, some of arrested youth have falsely ‘confessed’ that the Bil’in Popular Committee urges the demonstrators to throw stones. With such ‘confessions’, Israeli forces then proceed to raid the village at night invade homes and arrest leaders of the non-violent struggle in the community.
Two of the three popular committee members who traveled to Montreal to represent the villages case , Mohammad Khatib and Mohammad Abu Rahme were arrested and have since been released on bail. (see B’Tselem report: http://www.btselem.org/english/separation_barrier/20090818_night_arrests_in_bilin.asp).
Another leading Bil’in non-violent activist, Adeeb Abu Rahme, remains in detention since his arrest during a non-violent demonstration on 10 July 2009 (see report & video: http://palsolidarity.org/2009/07/7652. Adib has been charged with “incitement to damage the security of the area.”
On 29 August 2009, two additional Bil’in houses were simultaneously raided by at least 40 soldiers, arresting Ashraf Al-Khatib (age 29) and Hamru Bornat (age 24). A local cameraman, Haitham Al-Khatib, brother of the arrested Ashraf, was repeatedly forcibly moved and hit, and threatened with arrest unless he stopped filming. Soldiers declared his home a “closed military zone” but could not produce any military order.
The Palestinian village of Bil’in has become an international symbol of the Palestinian popular struggle. For almost 5 years, its residents have been continuously struggling against the de facto annexation of more than 50% of their farmlands, confiscated for the construction of the Apartheid Wall.
In a celebrated decision, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled on the 4 September 2007 that the current route of the wall in Bil’in was illegal and needs to be dismantled; the ruling however has not been implemented. The struggle of the village to liberate its lands and stop the illegal settlements has been internationally recognized and has earned the popular committee in Bil’in the Carl von Ossietzky Meda award.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
PA police works with Israeli army at checkpoint for Ramadan/ La police palestinienne travaille avec l'armee israelienne aux checkpoints
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem checkpoint, 11.09.2009 and 18.09.2009.
This year there was a coordination to handle the crowds between the Israeli army and the Palestinian police and P.A police members (unarmed) were seen at the checkpoint in Bethlehem working side by side with the Israeli army, a scene judged by many as very disturbing to say the least.
Cette annee, il y avait une coordination organisee entre l'armee israelienne et la police palestinienne pour gerer les foules aux checkpoints les vendredi du Ramadan. A Bethleem, la coordination etait evidente puisques les soldats israeliens et les policiers palestiniens (non armes) travaillaient vraiment cote a cote, ce qui a ete juge pour beaucoup comme tres perturbant et problematique.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Protester from Nil'in managed to damage the Wall
Nil'in anti-wall protest damages wall, marchers pass into stolen land
Yesterday Time 23:01
Bethlehem - Ma'an -
More than 100 of farmers, youth, international and Israeli peace activists marched against the Israeli separation wall Friday, and armed with car tires and home made ladder to climb the high wall they managed to burn one section and pull down three others.
According to participants one of the youth passed over the wall and set fire to car tires, damaging the fence and the sensors attached to it. A second group of youth burned a stack of 10 tires at one of the gates in the concrete wall, with black smoke billowing toward the nearby settlement.
"This is the first message sent from N'lin's people that the wall will not prevent them from going to their lands that was taken from them," a statement from the local popular committee said.
The committee reported that groups of demonstrators were met by 70 soldiers and 15 jeeps. Dozens of tear gas canisters were launched at the ralliers and many suffered from temporary respiratory problems due to the noxious fumes.
Youth, who had been collecting full tear gas canisters that failed to detonate over the past several weeks of protests, began shooting these back to the soldiers. "This was a strong message from the village: 'shoot us, and we will shoot back'," the statement said.
Another youth climbed the concrete wall and tied rope to the hand-sized holes in the top of each slab. Together protesters pulled on the rope and reportedly managed to take down three concrete blocks of the Wall. "This is the first time something like this has ever been happened, and the people were happy to have such a success," the committee said. "This was the third message: one day the wall will fall and Ni'lin will be the start."
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=226769
Yesterday Time 23:01
Bethlehem - Ma'an -
More than 100 of farmers, youth, international and Israeli peace activists marched against the Israeli separation wall Friday, and armed with car tires and home made ladder to climb the high wall they managed to burn one section and pull down three others.
According to participants one of the youth passed over the wall and set fire to car tires, damaging the fence and the sensors attached to it. A second group of youth burned a stack of 10 tires at one of the gates in the concrete wall, with black smoke billowing toward the nearby settlement.
"This is the first message sent from N'lin's people that the wall will not prevent them from going to their lands that was taken from them," a statement from the local popular committee said.
The committee reported that groups of demonstrators were met by 70 soldiers and 15 jeeps. Dozens of tear gas canisters were launched at the ralliers and many suffered from temporary respiratory problems due to the noxious fumes.
Youth, who had been collecting full tear gas canisters that failed to detonate over the past several weeks of protests, began shooting these back to the soldiers. "This was a strong message from the village: 'shoot us, and we will shoot back'," the statement said.
Another youth climbed the concrete wall and tied rope to the hand-sized holes in the top of each slab. Together protesters pulled on the rope and reportedly managed to take down three concrete blocks of the Wall. "This is the first time something like this has ever been happened, and the people were happy to have such a success," the committee said. "This was the third message: one day the wall will fall and Ni'lin will be the start."
Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=226769
Friday, September 18, 2009
Last Friday of Ramadan / Dernier Vendredi du Ramadan, Bethlehem checkpoint, 18.09.200
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem checkpoint, Friday 18.09.2009.
Last Friday of Ramadan / Dernier Vendredi du Ramadan, Bethlehem checkpoint, 18.09.2009
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem checkpoint, Friday 18.09.2009.
Thousands of Palestinians try to reach Jerusalem through Bethlehem checkpoint, on 18.09.2009. Harsh restrictions and confusion about the rules stopped many Palestinians to even go to the checkpoints, while many who attempted to pass were turned down. This week end, the West Bank will be under total closure because of Jewish Rosh Hashana.
Des milliers de Palestiniens ont tente une nouvelle fois de se rendre a Jerusalem pour le dernier vendredi du Ramadan. Des restrictions drastiques, ainsi qu'une certaine confusion dans les procedures ont empeche beaucoup de Palestiniens de se rendre meme aux checkpoints, et parmi ceux qui ont tente leurs chances beaucoup ont ete refoules.
Ce week end, la Cisjordanie sera completement bouclee a cause de la fete juive Rosh Hashana.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Young photographers without borders workshop in Aida / ateliers photos a Aida
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, 12.09.2009.
Continuation of the photo workshops in Aida. Youth choose their second set of pictures.
Continuation des ateliers de photos a Aida, les jeunes decouvrent et choisissent leur deuxieme set de photos
Third Friday of Ramadan / Troisieme vendredi du Ramadan
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, 10.09.2009, Bethlehem checkpoint
Third Friday of Ramadan / Troisieme vendredi du Ramadan
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, 10.09.2009, Bethlehem checkpoint
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
/>Beginning of the young photographers without borders workshop in Aida / Debut des ateliers photos a Aida
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Aida refugee camp, Al Rowwad Center 06.09.2009.
Beginning of the workshop Young Photographers without borders.. The concept of the workshop is quite simple: 3 groups of young people, one in Aida refugee camp, one in Silwan in Jerusalem and one in Luxembourg will held the same workshop about their way to school or university. They will exchange their pictures and comment each other's work in order to build a common vision. The result will be a common photo exhibition, with all the pictures will be mixed.
We started our workshops in Aida and in Silwan, where 20 kids turned up!
This project is supported by Anna Lindh foundation.
Debut des ateliers du projet Young photographers without borders.
Le concept est assez simple: trois groupes de jeunes (un dans le camp de refugies de Aida, un group a Silwan a Jerusalem, et un groupe au Luxembourg) vont participer aux memes ateliers ou on va leur demander de documenter leur chemin vers l'ecole ou vers l'universite. Ils echangeront ensuite leurs photos via un site internet et commenterons les photos des uns et des autres afin de construire une vision commune qui sera traduite dans une exposition photo ou toutes les photos seront melangees. Nous avons commence nos ateliers a Aida et a Silwan, ou 20 jeunes sont venus!
Ce projet est soutenu par la Fondation Anna Lindh.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Bitter Sweet Ramadan- Second Friday of Ramadan, Bethlehem checkpoint, 04.09.2009
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem checkpoint, 04.09.2009.
Thousands of Palestinian worshipers try to reach Jerusalem for the second Friday of Ramadan, on 04.09.2009. Most of the worshipers were elderly men and women, since Israeli restrictions prohibit men under the age of 50 and women under 45 from entering the city and praying at the mosque.
Des milliers de fidèles palestiniens tentent d'aller à Jérusalem pour le deuxième vendredi du Ramadan, le 04.09.2009. La plupart des fidèles étaient des hommes et des femmes âgées, car les restrictions israéliennes empêchent les hommes de moins de 50 ans et les femmes de moins de 45 d'entrer dans la ville et de prier à la mosquée.
Bitter Sweet Ramadan- Second Friday of Ramadan, Bethlehem checkpoint, 04.09.2009
(c) Anne Paq/Activestills.org, Bethlehem checkpoint, 04.09.2009.
Jerusalem – Ma’an – Israel deployed a heavy police presence around the Old City of Jerusalem as tens of thousands of Palestinians headed to the city for noon prayers on the second Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Armed police and border guards were seen in each street leading to the gates of the Old City.
Most of the worshipers were elderly men and women, since Israeli restrictions prohibit men under the age of 50 and women under 45 from entering the city and praying at the mosque.
Nonetheless the surge of Muslim worshippers trying to access the holy city from West Bank access points caused havoc at the few points where West Bank residents can enter Jerusalem.
At dawn Palestinians from across the southern West Bank jammed into the concrete and barbed wire terminals at Bethlehem and Qalandiya, tangling traffic in area. Passage into Jerusalem slowed to a crawl as Israeli soldiers intensively checked each person’s ID card and passed their possessions through metal detectors.
Last Friday the Waqf, the Islamic endowment, estimated that 170,000 people prayed at the Al-Aqsa compound. Israeli police put the figure at 90,000.
Muslims worldwide are ending the second week of Ramadan, a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayer.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Rights group: Soldiers left wounded teen bleeding for an hour
Rights group: Soldiers left wounded teen bleeding for an hour
Published today (updated) 01/09/2009 20:32
Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli army’s killing of a Palestinian child on Monday night.
PCHR’s said that its investigation, which included eyewitness testimony, revealed that the children who came under fire were unarmed and did not attack nearby Israeli soldiers. The investigation also found that Israeli soldiers left the child, 15-year-old Muhammad Nayif, bleeding for an hour before he was treated.
The rights group’s report is at odds with the version of events reported by the Israeli military, which claimed that three Palestinian “gunmen” hurled “firebombs” at Israeli forces, who opened fire on their alleged attackers.
A military spokesperson also told Ma’an that soldiers administered medical treatment to the wounded Palestinian on the scene before evacuating him.
According to PCHR’s investigation, Israeli soldiers stationed at a watchtower outside the settlement of Beit El “opened fire at five Palestinian children who were near al-Jalazon UNRWA School, located near the southeastern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp.”
Muhammad Nayif, was wounded by three bullets to the chest, PCHR said. “An ambulance from Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah attempted to reach the area. However, the ambulance was stopped by at least 30 soldiers who prevented the medical crew from attending to the wounded child.” This confirmed what Ma'an was told by Palestinian medical officials on Monday night, who also said ambulance crews were barred from the area.
Meanwhile, “dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered on the spot and attempted to help the wounded child, but Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters at the crowd." Confirming Ma'an's earlier report, PCHR said an ambulance driver, Usama Hassan Ibrahim An-Najjar, 37, was hit by a tear gas canister in the left leg. Another medical worker, Ali Ahmed Mohammed Nakhla, 29, sustained similar injuries.
Muhammad “was left bleeding for approximately an hour,” PCHR said, before the Israeli army transferred the child into the Beit El settlement and then by helicopter to Hadassah Hospital in West Jerusalem. In the early morning he was declared dead.
The Israeli army has “continued to hold the child's body,” the rights group said. Israeli forces arrested the four children who were with Nayif and kept them detained in Beit El settlement until 3:00am on Tuesday.
One of the released children informed PCHR that the children were “walking normally in the street where the attack took place and that they suddenly found themselves under Israeli gunfire. The boy said that when Israeli soldiers saw the wounded child falling onto the ground, they rushed to the scene and arrested his companions. The soldiers left the boy bleeding without offering him any medical aid.”
Published today (updated) 01/09/2009 20:32
Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli army’s killing of a Palestinian child on Monday night.
PCHR’s said that its investigation, which included eyewitness testimony, revealed that the children who came under fire were unarmed and did not attack nearby Israeli soldiers. The investigation also found that Israeli soldiers left the child, 15-year-old Muhammad Nayif, bleeding for an hour before he was treated.
The rights group’s report is at odds with the version of events reported by the Israeli military, which claimed that three Palestinian “gunmen” hurled “firebombs” at Israeli forces, who opened fire on their alleged attackers.
A military spokesperson also told Ma’an that soldiers administered medical treatment to the wounded Palestinian on the scene before evacuating him.
According to PCHR’s investigation, Israeli soldiers stationed at a watchtower outside the settlement of Beit El “opened fire at five Palestinian children who were near al-Jalazon UNRWA School, located near the southeastern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp.”
Muhammad Nayif, was wounded by three bullets to the chest, PCHR said. “An ambulance from Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah attempted to reach the area. However, the ambulance was stopped by at least 30 soldiers who prevented the medical crew from attending to the wounded child.” This confirmed what Ma'an was told by Palestinian medical officials on Monday night, who also said ambulance crews were barred from the area.
Meanwhile, “dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered on the spot and attempted to help the wounded child, but Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters at the crowd." Confirming Ma'an's earlier report, PCHR said an ambulance driver, Usama Hassan Ibrahim An-Najjar, 37, was hit by a tear gas canister in the left leg. Another medical worker, Ali Ahmed Mohammed Nakhla, 29, sustained similar injuries.
Muhammad “was left bleeding for approximately an hour,” PCHR said, before the Israeli army transferred the child into the Beit El settlement and then by helicopter to Hadassah Hospital in West Jerusalem. In the early morning he was declared dead.
The Israeli army has “continued to hold the child's body,” the rights group said. Israeli forces arrested the four children who were with Nayif and kept them detained in Beit El settlement until 3:00am on Tuesday.
One of the released children informed PCHR that the children were “walking normally in the street where the attack took place and that they suddenly found themselves under Israeli gunfire. The boy said that when Israeli soldiers saw the wounded child falling onto the ground, they rushed to the scene and arrested his companions. The soldiers left the boy bleeding without offering him any medical aid.”
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