Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (19 -25 August 2010)
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· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises.
- IOF arrested a Norwegian human rights defender.
· IOF continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in the Gaza Strip’s border areas.
- A Palestinian child was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
· IOF conducted 14 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.
. Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and other communities in the West Bank during the Ramadan Month.
- Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem.
- A new plan was set out to establish an elevator and a tunnel in al-Buraq yard near al-Aqsa Mosque.
- The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced 3 Palestinian civilians to demolish their houses in Sour Baher village.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- Israeli settlers stormed a house and set fire to a tract of agricultural land in the north of Tulkarm.
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (19 – 25 August 2010):
Shooting:
In the West Bank, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises.
In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian child was wounded when Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials in the northern Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 14 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children. IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians, 4 Israeli human rights defenders and an international one.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into the northern Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.
Restrictions on Movement:
Israel had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels only through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.
. The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
- Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
. Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years.
· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.
West Bank
IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
· There are approximately 630 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60 - 80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.
· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall have already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.
· At least 65% of the main roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).
· There are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.
· IOF continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.
· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.
IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
During the reporting the Jewish District Construction and Development Company in Jerusalem submitted a plan to the Planning and Construction Committee in the Israeli Ministry of Interior, to establish a large elevator to link the Jewish district with al-Nuraq Yard. The elevator would pass by two wells, through which Jewish visitor would be able to reach a 56-meter-ling tunnel that leads to the al-Buraq Yard. The plan includes also public services, large halls, a biblical museum, shops of monuments and public toilettes.
On Monday and Tuesday, 23 and 24 August 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced 3 members of the Dabash family to demolish their houses in Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem, claiming that the houses were built without licenses.
Settlement Activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 22 August 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, stormed Joseph Tomb, east of Nablus. They conducted Jewish rituals until 05:00. They then left the area.
On 23 August 2010, Israeli settlers stormed Khirbat al-Hamam area to the north of Tulkarm. They broke into a house belonging to Mohammed al-Jalouli. They held the family inside the house, and at approximately 19:00, they set fire to a 5-donum area of agricultural land near the house.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19 – 25 August 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 19 August 2010
· At approximately 02:00, an infantry unit of IOF moved into al-'Eissawiya village, northeast of Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers took position atop of a hill in the east of the village and opened fire into the air. They withdrew from the village later, and no casualties were reported.
Friday, 20 August 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Amjad Isma'il Ghnaimat, 31;
2. Lu'ai Fawaz 'Aabed, 24; and
3. Mos'ab Mustafa al-Hour, 20.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:45, IOF moved into 'Izbat al-Ashqar village, south of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Rafat village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 23 August 2010
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Haitham Murad al-Khatib, 18; and
2. Amjad Khaled al-Barghouthi, 19.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Azmi Hussein Bani 'Ouda, 35.
· At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers, who were collecting raw construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlements of "Elli Sinai" and "Dogit" used to stand. The workers fled from the area and no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved nearly 150 meters into the northwest of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. They patrolled in the area for a few hours. They moved back to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel at approximately 20:00.
· Also at approximately 16:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 18:15, an Israeli undercover unit moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, traveling in a civilian vehicles with a Palestinian registration plate. Israeli soldiers raided a house belonging to the family of Ramzi Mohammed Abu Maria, 21, and arrested him.
· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Eskaka village, northeast of Salfit. They raided a house belonging to Zaidan Mohammed Lami and summoned him for interrogation.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Murad Jamal al-Jamal, 16, and arrested him.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ta'mar village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Maher Hassan al-Wahesh, and summoned him for interrogation.
· At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers, who were collecting raw construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlements of "Elli Sinai" and "Dogit" used to stand. As a result, Mohammed Ramadan Subeh, 17, from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left thigh.
· At approximately 06:40, Israeli troops stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired at a number of Palestinian workers, who were collecting raw construction materials from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlements of "Elli Sinai" and "Dogit" used to stand. The workers fled from the area and no casualties were reported.
During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested a Norwegian human rights defender.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 20 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the annexation wall. Israeli troops stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, several demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli troops. Additionally, Israeli troops arrested Evi, 28, a Norwegian human rights defender.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, several demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 August 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 August 2010, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They moved towards areas of land where IOF intend to construct a section of the annexation wall. IOF had already closed the entrance of the village. Once the demonstrators arrived at the area, Israeli troops fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them, and a violently beat a number of them. As a result, 12 demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
3. Continued Closure of the OPT
Israel has continued to impose a tightened closure of the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than three years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
· On Friday, 01 January 2010, IOF decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing permanently, and to only allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security reasons.
· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than three years.
· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas and energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, since 10 December 2008.
· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.
· Israel had continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.
· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.
· Since the imposition of the closure, living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have mounted sharply.
· At least 800 Gazan prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived of family visitation for more than three years.
· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the coast of the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 01 June 2010, the Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border in both directions without specifying a date for its closure. The Egyptian decisions came following the Israeli attack on the Gaza-aid flotilla in international water. On the following morning, the crossing point was effectively opened and restricted categories of Palestinian civilians were allowed to travel through it.
Movement at Rafah International Crossing Point
18 – 24 August 2010
Date
Details
18 August 2010
454 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 255 others and the body of a dead one were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 August 2010
402 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 351 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 August 2010
141 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 297 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 August 2010
332 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 422 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 August 2010
416 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 249 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 August 2010
417 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 249 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
24 August 2010
423 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 184 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing
18 – 24 August 2010
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Liters
18 August 2010
Foodstuffs
993
Agricultural materials
221
Various goods
2,066
Humanitarian aids
183
Cooking gas
153.340
Industrial fuel
160,988
19 August 2010
Foodstuffs
703
Agricultural materials
267
Various goods
1,317
Humanitarian aids
404
Cooking gas
155
Industrial fuel
307,994
22 August 2010
Foodstuffs
973
Agricultural materials
249
Various goods
1,972
Cooking gas
154.390
Industrial fuel
153,994
23 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,120
Agricultural materials
228
Various goods
1,209
Cooking gas
132.310
Industrial fuel
154,001
24 August 2010
Foodstuffs
1,054
Agricultural materials
278
Various goods
1,386
Humanitarian aids
226
Cooking gas
129.780
Industrial fuel
154,006
Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Thursday, 19 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 741 tons of wheat and 1,677 tons of fodder. They also opened it on Monday, 23 August 2010, and allowed the entry of 1,560 tons of wheat and 2,340 tons of fodder.
Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing
18 – 24 August 2010
Date
18 August
19 August
20 August
21 August
22 August
23 August
24 August
Patients
15
17
1
Nil
34
37
27
Companions
18
16
1
Nil
34
37
27
Palestinians from Israel
6
13
1
Nil
4
Nil
2
Diplomats
1
5
Nil
Nil
Nil
13
2
International Journalists
1
3
5
Nil
Nil
Nil
4
International Workers
39
65
7
Nil
13
14
19
Travelers abroad
8
7
Nil
Nil
3
1
1
Traders
20
4
Nil
Nil
11
9
6
Business People
3
4
Nil
Nil
2
13
7
Meetings
18
4
Nil
Nil
5
5
1
Ambulances to Israel
2
1
Nil
Nil
1
3
2
Ambulances from Israel
Nil
1
Nil
Nil
Nil
2
1
The West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque. On Friday morning, 20 August 2010, the second Friday in the Holy Ramadan Month, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem. Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints around Jerusalem prevented Palestinian civilians aged below 50 from entering the city for the Friday Prayer. IOF also reinforced their presence in the city. They established a number of roadblocks and checkpoints in various areas.
· Bethlehem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have maintained their presence at 41 checkpoints around the town. The town has been also impacted by the construction of the annexation wall to the north and west, and large areas of Palestinian land have been isolated by the wall. During the reporting period, Israeli troops stationed at the 300 checkpoint (Rachel Toms), north of Bethlehem, continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians are forced to wait in queues on two routes outside the checkpoint. They are then checked by Israeli soldiers using electronic checking machines. Such checking is often prolonged and humiliating. During the reporting period, only Palestinians who have permits and those aged over 50 were allowed to travel to Jerusalem. In the meantime, Israeli troops stationed the container checkpoint imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 20 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed at the Container checkpoint stopped a Palestinian bus. They checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians for nearly 3 hours. On Wednesday, 25 August 2010, IOF expanded a checkpoint established at Beit Fajjar intersection, southwest of Bethlehem.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close a number of roads in the center, south and southeast of Hebron for several years. The crises of water in Hebron has devastated the community and damaged the economy. During the reporting period, Palestinian civilians were forced to buy water tanks in high prices from a selling point belonging to Israeli settlers who closed it completely on Sunday noon, 22 August 2010. Israeli troops also imposed severe restrictions on trucks transporting water tanks. Some civilians were forced to carry water jars to their homes, or on animals. During the reporting period, Israeli troops stationed in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque stopped and checked Palestinian civilians wishing to pray in the mosque.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 22 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint opposite to al-Tanib factory in the west of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported. On Wednesday morning, 25 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, southwest of Nablus. They also established a checkpoint at "Yits'har" intersection, south of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. Also on Wednesday, IOF closed al-Bathan checkpoint, northeast of Nablus, and the 17 checkpoint, northwest of Nablus.
· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. IOF troops positioned at the Jaba' and Qalandiya checkpoints, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 21 August 2010, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, but no arrests were reported. At approximately 17:00 on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Mughayar village, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 20:00 on Friday, 20 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 16:50 on Sunday, 22 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Far'oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the agricultural road located to the east of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, since 2009. The village is also separated from road #55, which links between Nablus and Qalqilya, with a barbwire fence. The fence cuts off the village from agricultural land belonging to it in the north. At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 20 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint near 'Izbat al-Tabib village at road #55 between Nablus and Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday evening, 24 August 2010, IOF established a number of checkpoints on roads leading to Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 04:00 on Wednesday, 25 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Salfit: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the northern entrance of Salfit with cement blocks and sand barriers since 2000. They have also continued to close two roads linking Marda village with agricultural land belonging to it. At approximately 21:30 on Friday, 20 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Brouqin – Kufor al-Dik road, west of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 21:00 on Tuesday, 24 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint on Salfit-Brouqin road, west of Salfit, and another checkpoint between the villages of Brouqin and Qarawat Bani Zaid, west of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 23:00 on Friday, 20 August 2010, IOF established a checkpoint near Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Fu'ad Mustafa Diab, 17, from Deir Estia village northwest of Salfit.
· At approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 22 August 2010, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Anas Ibrahim Zaidani, 22, from Beit Reema village northwest of Ramallah.
· At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 22 August 2010, Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint near 'Arraba intersection, south of Jenin, arrested Nader Ibrahim Kharouf, 30, from 'Allar village north of Tulkarm.
· On Tuesday morning, 24 August 2010, Israeli troops stationed at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested two Palestinian civilians: Munir Saleh Bisharat, 34; and Jalal Jameel Bisharat, 41, both are teachers from Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas.
· On Tuesday evening, Israeli troops stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, arrested Sobhi 'Issam Da'bas, 18, a university student.
· At approximately 17:00 on the same day, Israeli troops patrolling on bypass road #60, east of Hebron, stormed an agricultural field in the area and attempted to expel a number of Palestinian civilians who were farming it. Israeli troops arrested 3 of those civilians: Muhannad Mohammed Jaber, 17; 'Aahed Hisham Jaber, 18; and Mohammed Hisham Jaber.
· At approximately 20:30 also on Tuesday, IOF established a checkpoint near "Ariel" settlement, north of Salfit. They arrested Moaqffaq Mohammed Shbaita, 38, from 'Azzoun village east of Qalqilya.
4. Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem
Israel has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem in order to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlighting violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.
· During the reporting the Jewish District Construction and Development Company in Jerusalem submitted a plan to the Planning and Construction Committee in the Israeli Ministry of Interior, to establish a large elevator to link the Jewish district with al-Nuraq Yard. The elevator would pass by two wells, through which Jewish visitor would be able to reach a 56-meter-ling tunnel that leads to the al-Buraq Yard. The plan includes also public services, large halls, a biblical museum, shops of monuments and public toilettes. The Director of Tourism in the Islamic Endowments Department stated that this project aims at removing the Arab culture from the area, and create Jewish nature in the old town of Jerusalem, and it also aims at surrounding the al-'Aqsa Mosque and isolating it from its Palestinian surrounding.
· On Monday and Tuesday, 23 and 24 August 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced 3 members of the Dabash family to demolish their houses in Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem, claiming that the houses were built without licenses:
1. A 130-square-meter house belonging to 'Omar Ahmed Dabash, in which 7 people live, built in 1994;
2. A 120-square-meter house belong to 'Imad Ahmed Dabash, in which 8 people live; and
3. A 200-square-meter house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed Dabash, in which 6 people live, built in 1968.
According to 'Imad Dabash, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the demolition of these houses in 1997. Since that time, members of then family had been challenging the decision before Israeli courts. They were also forced to pay fines that exceeded 170,000 NIS (approximately US$ 43,000). In the end, an Israeli court ordered them to demolish their houses themselves; otherwise, they would be imprisoned for 3 months, forced to pay a fine that exceeds 10,000 for each house, and the municipality would demolish the house on their expenses.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
· At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 22 August 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, stormed Joseph Tomb, east of Nablus. They conducted Jewish rituals until 05:00. They then left the area.
· At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 23 August 2010, Israeli settlers stormed Khirbat al-Hamam area to the north of Tulkarm. They broke into a house belonging to Mohammed al-Jalouli. They held the family inside the house, and at approximately 19:00, they set fire to a 5-donum area of agricultural land near the house.
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1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
4. PCHR calls for the immediate implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.
5. PCHR recommends that international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the perpetrators to justice.
6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.
7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website (www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ( pchr@pchrgaza.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or telephone (+972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893).
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