Summary - Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (25 November – 01 December 2010):Shooting:
During the reporting period, 12 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip. A 13th civilian was wounded by IOF in al-'Eissawiya village near Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF fired at Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials, at fishermen and at farmers. As a result, 10 workers, one farmer and one fishermen were wounded by Israeli gunfire. The wounded include two children.
On 24 November 2010, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF in al-'Eissawiya village near Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, IOF used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation or sustained bruises.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including Nayef al-Rajoub, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. They also summoned 13 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one limited incursion into the northern Gaza Strip, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed.
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.
· The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
· Facts on the ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.
· Israeli declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have imposed a ban on all exports from 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.
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 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.
· 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.
· 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.
Measures Aimed at Creating a Jewish Demographic Majority in Jerusalem:
IOF have continued to take measures at creating a Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
On 25 November 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem waged a campaign against owners of shops in Hazma village near Jerusalem. They demolished 9 shops claiming that their owners do not have licenses. Losses are estimated at more than 1.5 million NIS.
On the same day, IOF demolished a house and a printing press in al-'Eissawiya village near Jerusalem.
IOF demolished a house in al-Tour neighborhood in Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, the organization committee in the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 130 housing unit between "Gilo" settlement and Beit Safafa village. The committee approved turning the area, which was devoted to the establishment of hotels, into a residential area.
On 01 December 2010, the Israeli district committee of organization and construction approved the construction of 625 housing units in "Pisgat Ze'ev" settlement, northeast of Jerusalem. It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation authorities have started to construct another 1,300 housing units in Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and 1,000 ones in settlements in the West Bank, since the end of the temporary freezing of settlement activities on 25 September 2010.
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 25 November 2010, IOF demolished a mosque, a house and 10 barracks in Kherbat Yazra village, east of Tubas, in the northern Jordan Valley.
On the same day, IOF moved into al-Dairat area to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They demolished a house in the village.
Also on the same day, IOF handed two notices to Mousa Taha and Hussein Shamsna, fom Qatna village northwest of Jerusalem, that their animal farms would be demolished.
On 29 November 2010, IOF moved into al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They handed notices to Mahmoud Ahmed Zawahra and 'Awadh Hassan Zawahra ordering the demolition of their houses. IOF also ordered the demolition of Ibrahim al-Khalil Mosque by 23 December 2010.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (11 – 24 November 2010)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 25 November 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the villages of Beit Ummar and Safa, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, especially ones belonging to persons who are active in resisting settlement activities and the annexation wall. They arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:
1. Mousa 'Abdul Hamid Abu Maria, 32, Coordinator of the National Committee against the Annexation Wall in Beit Ummar village;
2. Saddam Kassab Abu Daya, 25;
3. Yousef 'Abdul Hamid Abu Maria, 38; and
4. Mo'ayad Hassan al-Tit,20.
IOF also confiscated a laptop and some personal belongings of the first detainee. On Sunday evening, 29 November 2010, IOF released the four detainees after forcing them to sign oaths not to be present near "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the south of Beit Ummar village.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Za'tara village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Anas Mohammed Thwaib, 26, and summoned him for interrogation.
· At approximately 07:00, IOF moved nearly 350 meters into the northeast of the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of Palestinian land.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 6 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched two car maintenance workshops, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into the western neighborhood in Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time. They stopped near Ajnadin School. An Israeli soldier stepped down and beat 11-year-old Wa'ed Fat'hallah al-Hamshari, when he was playing in the area. IOF also confiscated the child's bicycle. IOF withdrew from the town later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 21:50, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village, west of Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the boys, but no casualties were reported.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of As'ad Zaidan Jaradt, 18, and arrested him.
Friday, 26 November 2010
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
· At approximately 09:10, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers from a site where the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai" used to stand. As a result, Shamekh Sa'id al-Debes, 16, from Jabalya town, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 150 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 12:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the beach to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen who were fishing nearly 350 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. As a result, Ahmed Mahmoud Jarbou', 26, from al-Shati refugee camp in the west of Gaza City.
· At approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the debris of buildings in Erez industrial zone. As a result, Khaled Ashraf Abu Sitta, 21, from Beit Hanoun town, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah, and patrolled in the streets. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the boys, but no casualties were reported.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for ssome time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aaroura village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided a number of houses and summoned 3 Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Khaled Mulaq Shamasna, 36; Taher Mohammed Jaber, 40; and Sari Mohammed Baida, 22.
· At approximately 08:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the debris of buildings in Erez industrial zone. As a result, Mukhles Jawad al-Masri, 15, from Beit Hanoun town, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 250 meters away.
· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 09:15, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the beach to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai." As a result, Mamdouh 'Aayesh al-Sous, 28, from Beit Lahia town, was wounded by a bullet to the left foot.
· At approximately 09:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the debris of buildings in Erez industrial zone. As a result, Mohammed Khalil al-Za'anin, 20, from Beit Hanoun town, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 100 meters away.
· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into 'Ejja village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:10, IOF moved into Jainsafout village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Sanour village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into al-Rama village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Bidya village, west of Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 17:50, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 19:40, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 29 November 2010
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 3 Palestinian civilians for interrogation: Gharib 'Abdul Rahman al-Dik, 20; Nash'at 'Abdul Rahman al-Dik, 20; and Shihab Karem al-Dik, 20.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Samer Jameel al-Balboul, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 11:15, IOF moved into Abu Da'if village, east of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· Also at approximately 11:15, IOF moved into al-Khalayel area near Kufor 'Abboush village, south of Tulkarm. They searched the area and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
· At approximately 14:15, IOF moved into Safarin village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
· At approximately 07:20, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at the beach to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials from the evacuated Israeli settlement of "Elli Sinai." As a result, Isma'il Sa'ed Ghaben, 31, from Beit Lahia town, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 150 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 08:20, Israeli soldiers fired at Palestinian workers in the same area. As a result, two workers were wounded:
1. Ghassan Mas'oud Abu Riala, 21, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded by a bullet to the left leg; and
2. Ameen Akram Abu Shawish, 22, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded by a bullet to the left leg.
· At approximately 08:40, a fourth worker was wounded by IOF in the same area. He was identified as Nader Mohammed al-Anqar, 21, from Beit Lahia town, wounded by a bullet to the left leg.
· At approximately 10:40, IOF stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast of Beit Lahia town opened fire at Palestinian agricultural areas near the border. As a result, Bayan Farouq Tanboura, 26, a farmer from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, when he was nearly 400 meters away from the border.
· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, including a 3-storey apartment building belonging to the family of 'Alaa' Saleh Shahin, 38, whom they interrogated. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nayef Mahmoud al-Rajoub, 53, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, without allowing him to change his sleeping clothes. It is worth noting that al-Rajoub had been released from Israeli jails on 20 June 2010.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed 'Abdul Latif Shibani, 35, a leader of Islamic Jihad. An Israeli intelligence officer interrogated him about his detention by Palestinian security services. The officer also discussed with him the current political situation. IOF then raided a house belonging to Tayseer Burhan Jaber, 48, and took him to guide then to the house of his nephew, Samer Mo'in Jaber, 30, a leader of Islamic Jihad. IOF raided the house and interrogated Samer. They then raided a house belonging to Ja'far Ibrahim 'Izziddin, 39, another leader of Islamic Jihad, and discussed with him the current political situation.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Samer Jameel al-Balboul, but no arrests were reported. .
· At approximately 11:45, Israeli soldiers positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting raw construction materials in Bourat Abu Samra area, nearly 400 meters away from the border. As a result, Murad Bassam al-Souq, 19, was wounded by a bullet to the right leg. .
2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall
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 in the West Bank. As a result, 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders also suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. IOF also arrested 5 international and Israeli human rights defenders and a Palestinian child.
· Following the Friday Prayer on 26 November 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 soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 26 November 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, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
· Also following the Friday Prayer on 26 November 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in commemoration of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and 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 also suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also chased the demonstrators into the village. They also turned a house belonging to Helmi Tamimi into a military site. They withdrew from the village at approximately 17:00.
· Also on Friday noon, 26 November 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They moved towards the annexation wall in the north and northwest of the village. IOF reinforced their presence at the entrance of the village. They attacked the demonstrators and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 6 demonstrators, including 15-year-old Mo'tassem Mos'ad Fawaghra, suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 29 November 2010, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire about 50 demonstrators, including 7 international solidarity activists, who demonstrated nearly 50 meters away from the border in protest to the establishment of a restricted buffer zone along the border. No casualties were reported.
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 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.
· The illegal closure has caused not only a humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.
· Expanding the list of items allowed into Gaza does not change the illegality of this policy, which is inconsistent with Israel’s legal obligations both as an Occupying Power and under international human rights treaties to which it is party, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
· Facts on the ground refute Israeli claims with respect to the easing of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the reduction of restrictions imposed on the entry of goods.
· Israeli declaration of allowing new goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip constitutes an attempt to delude the international community, as such goods do not meet the minimal needs of the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have continued to ban the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip.
· IOF have imposed a ban on all exports from 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.
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.
· 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 Tomb), 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.
· 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 established a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 16:30 on Thursday, 25 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 23:00 on the same day, IOF re-established their presence at 'Attara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians. At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 26 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint under Deir Dibwan Bridge, northeast of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 27 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at Kharabtha al-Misbah intersection, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 26 November 2010, IOF established 5 checkpoints around Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 27 November 2010, IOF established 4 checkpoints around Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 26 November 2010, IOF established 3 checkpoints around Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 25 November 2010, IOF closed Eannab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for several hours. At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 26 November 2010, Israeli soldiers stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At the same time, IOF established a checkpoint near Kufor Sour intersection on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 28 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint near Far'oun intersection on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 28 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 29 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint Beit Leed intersection on Nablus-Tulkarm road, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 29 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint near Deir Sharaf intersection on Nablus-Tulkarm road, west of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 25 November 2010, IOF closed Barta'a checkpoint to the east of Barta'a village, which has been isolated by the annexation wall, west of Jenin, for several hours, claiming that they found explosives. At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 28 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Jaba' village, south of Jenin, and another one at the entrance of 'Anza village, south of the town. 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 23:00 on Friday, 26 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 06 on Friday, 26 November 2010, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Ein al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 14:00 on =, Israeli soldiers positioned at Ertah checkpoint near Tulkarm arrested Ma'rouf Mahmoud al-Rammal, 20.
· On Tuesday evening, 30 November 2010, Israeli soldiers positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Nour al-Din Hafez Sawafta, 30, from Tubas.
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.
· On Thursday morning, 25 November 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem waged a campaign against owners of shops in Hazma village near Jerusalem. They demolished 9 shops claiming that their owners do not have licenses.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:30 on Thursday, IOF moved into Hazma village, east of Jerusalem. They demolished 9 shops after confiscating the majority of their contents:
1. A shop of bricks belonging to Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Rahim;
2. An agricultural nursery belonging to Malek 'Abdul Karim;
3. An agricultural nursery belonging to 'Azmi al-Khatib and Samed Sabi;
4. An agricultural nursery belonging to Nader Salem and Hassan 'Abdul Latif;
5. A shop of bricks belonging to Mohammed Tafatfa;
6. A shop of furniture belonging to Riad 'Othman;
7. An agricultural nursery and a shop of bricks belonging to 'Afif Suleiman;
8. An agricultural nursery and a shop of bricks belonging to Jamal Salem; and
9. An agricultural nursery belonging to Mohammed Saladin.
Losses are estimated at more than 1.5 million NIS.
· At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 30 November 2010, IOF moved into al-'Eissawiya village near Jerusalem. They demolished a 120-square-meter, under-construction house belonging to 'Atiya Isma'il Mtair, claiming that it was being built without a license. According to Mtair, he had not received any demolition notice, and the issue of licensing was being considered by an Israeli court. IOF then demolished a 30-square-meter structure belonging to Mohammed Robin 'Olayan, 28, which served as a printing press.
During this operation, IOF attacked Palestinian civilians who gathered in the area. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at civilians. As a result, Ghassan 'Olayan, 35, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet that caused fractures to the skull and the nose. They also violently beat a number of civilians. As a result, Robin 'Olayan sustained bruises throughout the body. Additionally, 5 women suffered from tear gas inhalation.
· At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 24 November 2010, IOF moved into al-Tour neighborhood in Jerusalem. They demolished a house belonging to 'Aziz Zablah, claiming that it was built without a license. As a result, 7 individuals, including 4 children, have become homeless.
· During the reporting period, the organization committee in the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved the construction of 130 housing unit between "Gilo" settlement and Beit Safafa village. The committee approved turning the area, which was devoted to the establishment of hotels, into a residential area.
· On Wednesday, 01 December 2010, the Israeli district committee of organization and construction approved the construction of 625 housing units in "Pisgat Ze'ev" settlement, northeast of Jerusalem. It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation authorities have started to construct another 1,300 housing units in Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and 1,000 ones in settlements in the West Bank, since the end of the temporary freezing of settlement activities on 25 September 2010.
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 06:30 on Thursday, 25 November 2010, IOF, accompanied by 3 bulldozers, moved into Kherbat Yazra village, east of Tubas, in the northern Jordan Valley. They closed the entrances of the village. At approximately 07:00, they demolished a 100-suqaure-meter mosque and a 20-square-meter subordinate room. Soon after, they demolished a 50-square-meter house belonging to Fayez Hamed Daraghma, in which 15 individuals, including 8 children, lived. They then demolished 10 tin-made barracks, which served as stores and barnyards:
1. A 120-square-meter barrack belonging to Na'im Hafez Masa'id;
2. A 60-square-meter barrack belonging to Hafez Na'im Masa'id;
3. An 80-square-meter barrack belonging to Mithqal Fayez Daraghma;
4. An 80-square-meter barrack belonging to Fawzi Mahmoud Daraghma;
5. An 80-square-meter barrack belonging to Hassan Khaled Daraghma;
6. A 75-square-meter barrack belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Darghma;
7. A 50-square-meter barrack belonging to Mahmoud Fawzi Daraghma;
8. An 80-square-meter barrack belonging to Sami Khaled Daraghma;
9. A 70-square-meter barrack belonging to 'Omair Khaled Daraghma; and
10. A 50-square-meter barrack belonging to Khaled Mohammed Masa'id.
· At approximately 07:00 also on Thursday, IOF, accompanied by two bulldozers, moved into al-Dairat area to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They besieged a 250-square-meter house belonging to Eyad and Mohammed Musleh al-'Omour, in which 25 individuals live. They forced its residents out and demolished it, claiming that it was built without a license. According to the two brothers, they applied for a license, but IOF refused to delay the demolition.
· On Thursday, 25 November 2010, IOF handed two notices to Mousa Taha and Hussein Shamsna, fom Qatna village northwest of Jerusalem, that their animal farms would be demolished.
· On Monday, 29 November 2010, IOF moved into al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They handed notices to Mahmoud Ahmed Zawahra and 'Awadh Hassan Zawahra ordering the demolition of their houses; a 200-square-meter house and 230-square-meter one respectively. IOF also ordered the demolition of Ibrahim al-Khalil Mosque by 23 December 2010.
Recommendations to the International Community
1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with 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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