31 March 1997

Israeli Army Imposes Curfews on Palestinian Villages:

Following the bombing in Tel Aviv on March 21, the Israeli army imposed a total curfew on the village of Surif where the alleged bomber lived. The village is now on its tenth day of curfew and, since Thursday, on its fourth day of virtual house arrest. None of the residents have been allowed to leave their homes to buy food or to obtain other supplies. No shipments of food or other supplies have entered the village, resulting in shortages of all goods. Surif, with a population of 5000 residents, has been overrun with some three to four hundred soldiers, who daily conduct searches and harass the village. During yesterday’s searches, Israeli soldiers reportedly entered into residents’ homes, broke furniture and beat at least two women. An attorney for LAW who resides in Surif reported that soldiers walked through the village, shouting into a loudspeaker: “Go outside, you sons of bitches, if you are really men, and throw stones at us.”

In the most disturbing report of Israeli army conduct in Surif, yesterday at 2:30 p.m. two soldiers entered the home of a Palestinian woman and one reportedly raped her. As soon as the alleged assailent left, the woman contacted the District Coordinating Office, who referred the incident to the Israeli army. Following reports of the rape, the army confiscated the soldier’s weapon and took him to interrogation. The Israeli army confirmed that “indecent acts” had taken place.

In addition, residents report that the house of the widow of the alleged bomber was demolished this morning following the High Court’s rejection of the LAW’s petition to stop the demolition. These reports cannot be confirmed as residents are simply unable to leave their homes and no journalists are allowed into the village. The news blackout on the village continues.

Three Palestinian villages in addition to Surif were placed under curfew yesterday by the Israeli army: Huwarra village, south of Nablus; Baka’a al Sharqiyya near Tulkarem; and Qalandia refugee camp, the scene of some of the most violent clashes.

Summary of the events that took place yesterday:

Following the shooting death of a university student from Beit Sahour, a village bordering Bethlehem, on 30 March, clashes broke out throughout the West Bank yesterday.

Bethlehem/Beit Sahour: In the morning, thousands participated in the funeral of the student from Beit Sahour, and clashes ensued at the military checkpoint south of this village. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used against the demonstrators. At Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, demonstrators threw stones and the army responded also with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Hebron: Demonstrations continued in this city, and the Israeli army again used tear gas.

Ramallah: Massive demonstrations and stone-throwing at the military checkpoint into the city. Israeli army again responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Jenin: Hundreds demonstrated in this city, and clashes resulted in dozens injured from rubber bullets and tear gas. One demonstrator was seriously wounded when a tear gas canister hit him in the head.

Nablus: Some 3000 demonstrators marched towards Joseph’s Tomb, a Jewish enclave inside Nablus’ borders. Palestinian police stopped the demonstrators about 100 meters from the Tomb.

The Israeli army deployed tanks around Ramallah and Nablus.

To date, about 460 Palestinians have been injured in clashes and rioting throughout the West Bank, mainly from tear gas and rubber bullets. There have been reports of live gunfire being used against civilians, most notably in the shooting death of the Bir Zeit student from Beit Sahour. Another civilian was wounded by live ammunition from Calandia refugee camp and is now in serious condition, and Jenin hospital reports that it is treating wounded civilians from live ammunition.

LAW protests in the strongest possible terms the collective punishment and terrorism of the residents of Surif village by the Israeli army. These residents continue to suffer from the most degrading and humiliating actions of the Occupation army. They are short of food, confined to their homes, threatened and terrorized by the Israeli occupying army.

As the situation falls increasingly out of control, LAW calls on the international community to demand that construction on Abu Ghneim mountain end immediately, that the Israeli army forbid the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, and that the Israeli army halt the terrorism of Surif village.

LAW - 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. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.