AFTER SETTLER ATTACK ON PROTESTERS

QARIOUT STILL UNDER CURFEW

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment

PO Box 20873

Jerusalem

Tel: (972) (2) 812364/824559

Fax: (972) (2) 811072

email: lawe@netvision.net.il

24 July 1996

Qariout, West Bank -- On Friday 19 July, nearly 200 protesters from Qariout village protested the unilateral confiscation of village land by settlers from Shilo and Rachel settlements. This peaceful demonstration turned violent when the Israeli military allowed dozens of armed Jewish settlers into the area. After the settlers had beaten three Palestinians severely enough to send them to the hospital, the demonstration ended and the Israeli military clamped a curfew on Qariout village. Qariout remained under curfew until 23 July.

A field worker and a lawyer from LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment were present, as well as representatives from the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC). All report that the violence was unprovoked, and that the Israeli soldiers, while using no violence against the protesters, did nothing to stop the settlers' attack. There were no settlers injured during the demonstration. In fact, television coverage depicted the situation well, as scenes of armed settlers clubbing Palestinian journalists were portrayed on news services. The additional irony that now the entire town of Qariout has been collectively punished (an action forbidden under international law) and placed under curfew clearly portrays Israeli "justice" in the Occupied West Bank.

Curfew in Qariout

The curfew imposed on Qariout village following the demonstration was unexpected in its intensity and duration. The curfew lasted four days, and thus far the Israeli military has offered no plausible explanation for imprisoning the entire population of this village.

All roads leading into the village were closed, and residents were prevented from moving from house to house. Villagers were harassed for even looking out the window. On Sunday, after 70 hours of total curfew, the villagers were given a short one-hour period to shop and collect supplies. Villagers reported that food supplies and other staples had run low, and many residents ran out of water. In addition, as Qariout has no clinic or resident doctor or nurse, they were cut off from any medical relief.

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment calls for a committee of inquiry to investigate this incident. LAWE condemns the unprovoked violence of the Jewish settlers, the inaction on the part of the Israeli military, and the punishing of the victims of the attack through the curfew. The presence of Jewish settlements themselves, the aggression of settlers against area residents and the curfew imposed on Qariout village has contributed to an increasingly tense and unstable situation in the area.

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.