PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY THREATENS TO INTERFERE WITH ACTIVITIES OF

HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION

14 October 1996

On Saturday 12 October, the Palestinian Authority threatened to restrict LAWE's human rights monitoring and protection activities in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas (Areas A). This threat was issued during a meeting between Ahmed Safi, Director of Public Relations for the Non-Governmental Organizations Department in the Palestinian Interior Ministry and the Executive Director of LAWE - the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment, following an official written request by the Palestinian Authority to meet with LAWE.

During this meeting, Mr. Safi raised the issue of LAWE's status as an officially-registered non-profit human rights NGO in Jerusalem. Like many Palestinian NGOs, LAWE has been careful to maintain a presence in Jerusalem in order to preserve its autonomy and resist pressure by the Israeli Jerusalem municipality to push Palestinians, and Palestinian organizations, out of Jerusalem.

Mr. Safi informed LAWE that the Palestinian Authority in fact required NGOs to register themselves in the Palestinian Interior Ministry. Registration under the Palestinian Authority, which operates under an ambiguous and authoritarian legal system, presents serious dangers for an NGO concerned with maintaining its independence and documenting human rights abuses. Mr. Safi stated that if LAWE refused to register as an NGO under the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, then the Authority would prevent LAWE from providing legal aid and monitoring human rights abuses in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas (Area A).

Indeed, since the establishment of the Palestinian Autonomous Areas, LAWE has consistently stated that its mission is to monitor, protect and provide legal assistance for Palestinians living in Jerusalem and in all areas of the West Bank. Given that serious human rights abuses have been documented in Palestinian-controlled Areas A, including torture until death and imprisonment without trial, and human rights activists have been imprisoned for documenting these abuses or criticizing the Palestinian Authority (notably Dr. Eyad Sarraj and Adv. Raji Sourani), these kinds of restrictions cannot be accepted by local or international organizations involved in the protection of human rights. Attempts to undermine, control or otherwise restrict human rights organizations' activities seriously jeopardizes the pursuit and protection of human rights in this area.

LAWE will continue its human rights monitoring and legal advocacy in Jerusalem and in all areas of the West Bank.

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.