In the evening of Sunday 11 February 2001, a Palestinian military court in Hebron sentenced 59 year-old Colonel Hassan Musalam, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, to death by firing squad after he was found guilty of collaborating with the Israeli Intelligence Services since 1994. The bill of indictment brought against Hassan, which was read in a closed session on Saturday 10 February, stated that he had confessed of collaborating with the Israeli Intelligence Services from whom he had twice received the sum of NIS 1,800. The bill of indictment also included testimony by a witness who was himself a collaborator and alleged that Musalam had voluntarily collaborated with the Israeli Intelligence.
The military court, presided over by Captain Fawzi Auda, based its sentence on Article 131 Paragraph A of the 1979 Palestinian Revolutionary Penal Code. However, the sentence is subject to appeal and requires the President of the PNA’s ratification before being carried out. Prosecutor Nasser Ishish and defence lawyers Samir Al Tamimi and Tariq Fakusi (appointed by the Court) also attended the hearing.
LAW condemns acts of collaboration with Israel as detrimental to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation. However, LAW demands that individuals suspected of acts of collaboration be tried according to internationally recognised standards of fair trial and opposes the death penalty as the ultimate violation of the right to life.
* LAW urges President Arafat not to ratify any death sentences issued by Palestinian courts.
* LAW calls for the prohibition of the death penalty in the PNA.
* LAW calls on President Arafat to order a retrial for Musalam before a court operating in accordance with international fair trial standards.
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For three days running the Israeli army bombed residential areas in
Palestinian towns, especially Al Bireh. They bombed the Jinan and
Satah Marhaba areas, the offices of Al Hayat Al Jadida newspaper,
the
headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the
Ministry
of Local Governance.
According to LAW's documentation, at 10pm on 8 February 2001
Israeli
soldiers stationed at Pisagot (a settlement built on Jabal Al Taweel
east of Al Bireh) began bombing the Jinan and Satah Marhaba areas. The
bombing went on until 3am the next day, causing the following damage:
* The home of 50 year-old Abdul Salam Al Adasi and his family of
fifteen (including three children) was burnt down.
* The home of 28 year-old Mustafa Abdul Kadir and his family of six
(including four children). The furniture, entrance, windows and
electricity and water system were all destroyed.
* The home of 32 year-old Salah Daragmi and his family of five
(including three children) was bombed, destroying the balcony, windows
and doors and severely damaging the walls.
* The Al Wahidi building, which contains 15 separate apartments, was
hit and the walls, roof and sewage system partially destroyed
* The offices of Al Hayat Al Jadida newspaper were also targeted,
destroying three windows, two doors and a printing press. In the
editorial suite, six windows, three PCs, a stone pillar, the newspaper
sign and the lights were destroyed.
* The Palestinian Red Crescent headquarters and emergency room was
also bombed, burning part of the top floor and destroying the
furniture and equipment contained within. The PRC minibus, used for
transporting the handicapped, was also destroyed, as were three water
tanks and the telephone system.
Israeli forces had already bombed the same places on Wednesday 7
February. On 9 February, they bombed residential areas in Al Balo'a,
northern Al Bireh, severely damaging the Ministry of Local Governance
building, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and the Fateh
High Command offices.
According to LAW's documentation of the incident, Israeli forces used
more than 15 artillery shells as well as machineguns in their attacks
on the Ministry of Local Governance and Fateh offices. The 5th floor
of the Ministry of Local Governance building was burnt down, its
eastern façade partially destroyed and the water and electricity
systems destroyed completely. The repairs have been estimated by the
city engineer as more costly than rebuilding the building in its
entirety. This was the 15th time that Israeli forces have bombed the
Ministry of Local Governance building since 29 September 2000.
The 1949 IV Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols prohibit
attacking civilians and civilian properties, as well as acts of
violence or threats aimed at terrorising civilians. Article 33 of the
IV Geneva Convention stipulates:
"No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not
personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures
of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited.
Reprisal against protected persons and their property are prohibited."
Article 53 prohibits destroying property, stating:
"Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property
belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the
State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative
organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is
rendered absolutely necessary by military operations."
Article 51 of Protocol 1 (Protocols Additional to the Geneva
Conventions) prohibits attacking civilians. Articles 18, 19, and 20 of
the IV Geneva Convention prohibit attacking hospitals and medical
centres.
LAW demands:
* The Israeli Government to immediately stop the use of excessive and
indiscriminate force and collective punishments against Palestinian
civilians.
* The establishment of an international investigation committee based
on United Nations Security Council resolutions 1322 of Oct 7, 2000, to
investigate the violations of international humanitarian law committed
by the Israeli forces inside the occupied Palestinian territories.
* The international community must hold a conference for the High
Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to take
practical measures to ensure Israel's adherence to the convention.
* The international community must pressurise Israel to immediately to
immediately put an end to the occupation of the Palestinian
territories and effectively support the implementation of the
Palestinian right to self-determination.
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The Arab Minority in Israel affirmed its solidarity through the
decision of boycotting the Israeli Prime Minister Elections, or
casting a blank ballot. This decision was a reaction to “Black
October” events. People from Upper Galilee to the unrecognized
villages in the Negev felt so isolated from the Israeli community and
therefore, a call for unity was heard.
Commentators and Columnists in the Arabic newspapers of this
week,
express their thanks in different ways to the Arab voters who either
chose not voting or voting for none of the two candidates (blank
ballot).
Azmi Bechara in Fasl Al-Maqal sees the Elections’ results as “an
“Earthquake” which is an indication of the important turn in the
Patriotic Awareness and the Awareness of the citizenship of Arab
minority in Israel”
(9 February).
Bechara refuses as well the claim that the boycott will lead to
National Isolation of the Arab community, but on the contrary it will
lead to a new turn in self-esteem.
Al-Sabar’s editorial resembles this election to the one after the
“Land Day clashes”, 25 years ago, when Arab people contributed in
having the Labour party out of government. But the author wonders if
this boycott will be a “passing protest step where its main aim is to
punish Ehud Barak,” or is it “a beginning of new era away from the
Labour party?” (February 7th).
The poet Samih Al-Qasem in the editorial of kull Al-Arab, is amazed at
the Israeli attitude towards the Arab’s choice. His editorial’s title:
“once more- Arab you are responsible”, where he refers to the Israeli
Left such as Yossi Sarid who claimed in the Israeli television on the
election day “that Arabs are the main reason of Barak’s fall and
Sharon’s victory”, while Amos Oaz -an Israeli writer- do not hesitate
in saying that “Sharon, is Arafat’s gift to the Israeli people and to
the Palestinians as will”. But towards the end, Al-Qasem do not forget
to thank his readers for their political awareness.
On the other hand, Al-Ein, Al-Ittihad and Al-Sinnara, refer to this
subject in a different manner. Salem Jubran claims that “the Arab
parties committed a crime by calling for boycotting or casting a blank
ballot, firstly cause it helped the Likud party success, and secondly
by asking people to give up their right of voting”. Al-Ittihad columns
see “the boycott as a passive act and wish that the Arab voters will
not get used to it”. However Al-Sinnara’s editorial thinks that Arab
leaders who called for boycott, wish inside themselves that this act
will be for once only.
The Parents committee of “Black October’s” Victims.
One of the important voices of boycotting the Israeli election was
heard from the Parents Committee of “Black October’s” victims. Mahmod
Yazbek, Uncle of the victim Wessam Yazbek from Nazareth stated in his
interview in Al-Sabbar, “we asked for boycotting but not casting a
blank ballot in order to punish Ehud Barak for his attitude towards
our children in “Black October’s” events, and towards the Arab
Minority through his rule”. The committee was established after
determination the date of the Election Day. The Committee reacted to
the boycott in a statement titled “a call for Dignity”. Where it
thanks Arab Minority in “punishing the Executioners of their
children”.
On the other hand, “Adalah”, the Legal Center for Arab Rights In
Israel is calling for accepting a member of the Parents Committee in
The Investigation Committee. Adalah’s advocates Mr. Hassan Jabarin and
Mr. Riad Anis, came back from Ireland where a 13 persons where killed
by the British Police in 1972. (Al-Ittihad, February 9th). The
Advocates meet with the victim’s parents who struggle for years
against the decisions of the Investigation Committee, which were taken
in 1972, till having another committee on 1998. The important
difference between the two committees that the second one contains
representatives from the Parent’s committee. Mr. Jabarin stated that
their main aim is learning from the similarity of the two events in
order to achieve better results.
Kul Al-Arab published in its last issue that an IDF soldier changed
his testimony regard Rami Garah who was killed in “Black October” in
Jat village. The soldier admitted that Garah did not participate in
the clashes and wasn’t a threat to Police that day, as he claimed in
his first testimony.
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Tomorrow, 13 February, at 8:30 A.M., human rights supporters will
hold
a demonstration at the Jerusalem District Court in protest against
the
sentence imposed on Nahum Korman
Nahum Korman killed Hilmi Shusha, a twelve-year-old Palestinian, by
kicking him in the head. District Court judge Ruth Orr found him
innocent, despite eyewitness testimony and the results of the autopsy
performed by Prof. Hiss at Israel’s forensic medicine center, in
Abu-Kabir. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court decision,
convicted Korman of manslaughter, and returned the case to the
District Court for sentencing. The State Attorney’s Office
surprisingly agreed to a plea bargain in which Korman would be
sentenced to six months community service, fifteen months’ probation,
and payment of NIS 70,000 compensation to the victim’s family.
Judge Orr’s decision to accept this outrageous plea bargain continues
Israeli law enforcement policy, which extends from the police and army
to the State Attorney’s office and courts and the President’s office.
For many years, these authorities have ignored cases where Israeli
have injured innocent Palestinians, and have even justified the
perpetrators. This attitude stands in stark contradiction to the
authorities’ response to cases where Palestinians harm Israelis. In
these cases, the system suddenly operates forcefully and efficiently
and employs all available means, including flagrant human rights
violations.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, at 8:30 A.M., the District Court will convene a
hearing on the community service imposed on Korman. At that time,
members and supporters of the above-mentioned human rights
organizations will demonstrate, in protest of the sentence, opposite
the Jerusalem District Court building, located on Salah-a-Din Street.
For additional details, contact:
B’Tselem, Mauricio Lazala, 050-223084,
02-6735599
Public Committee Against Torture: Guy Tatze, 058-356030,
03-5290572
Rabbis for Human Rights: Rabbi Arik Asherman, 050-607034,
02-5637731
DCI (Israel): Dr. Philip Veerman, 02-5633003
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Today, 12 February 2001, at 6:30 am the Israeli Occupying Forces
killed Ziad Ali Mohammad Abu Sowai, age 24, from al-Khader
near Bethlehem in cold blood. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli
forces positioned at a checkpoint near the al-Khader schools
asked the mini-bus in which Ziad was traveling to stop. The
driver obeyed this order at which time he was told to return to
where he had come from. The driver turned the bus around, but
when he was 30 meters from the checkpoint the soldiers opened
fire upon the bus without giving prior warning, killing Ziad.
In a similar development, Atif Ahmed al-Nablusi, age 23, from
Rafat near Ramallah was killed at approximately 8:00 am this
morning when Israeli forces located at a roadblock set up near
Rafat during the previous night opened fire upon his Ford Transit.
No verbal warning was given and no warning shots were fired.
Al-Nablusi was struck by numerous bullets. He was driving
through an Israeli controlled area when he was shot. The soldiers
prevented medical personnel who immediately arrived at the sight
of the shooting from providing aid to al-Nablusi. The ambulance
was forbidden from approaching the checkpoint for thirty
minutes. When the ambulance was finally allowed to approach
the checkpoint it was stopped again and searched by the soldiers,
preventing the aid workers from providing assistance for another
thirty minutes. The Israeli Forces also delayed the ambulance’s
departure for approximately one-half hour at which time they
ordered the driver to accompany them to the Ofer Settlement
near Betunia. Al-Nablusi died as the ambulance and soldiers
reached the entrance to the settlement. In total medical aid was
delayed for one and a half hours, if al-Nablusi had been allowed to
receive treatment during this time his life might have been saved.
It should be noted that soldiers at the same location seriously
injured three other individuals today. Two were shot and one was
beaten until his back was broken. Al-Haq is currently
investigating these cases.
Al-Haq views with grave concern the continued willful killings
committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians. In light
of the continued gross human rights violations committed by
Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians al-Haq demands that:
1. The Israeli Military investigate the circumstances
surrounding the unjustified firing of live ammunition without
warning at Palestinian civilians. The events of today took
place at times during which no clashes were reported. Al-Haq
therefore calls for the trial of the perpetrators of these willful
killing.
2. States Parties to the Fourth Geneva convention of 1949
immediately move to provide protection for Palestinian civilians
living under Israeli Occupation and that they also place
pressure upon Israel to stop its continued violations of the
convention as is their duty under Article 1 that calls for them
“to respect and ensure respect for the present Convention in
all circumstances.”
3. The UN Human Rights Commission currently visiting the
Occupied Territories stress in its report the need, in light of the
recent increased aggression by Israeli forces, for intervention
by the UN in the form of a protection force provided for the
Palestinian people.
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Dear friends:
The following are information about the five Palestinian women
political prisoners received from the Women's Affairs Technical
Committee in Ramallah, Palestine. For those who wre interested in
more details, I encourage you to visit www.addameer.org
Monzer
Dear Friends,
Many of you requested more information about the five Palestinian
women prisoners. Here it is, I hope it will be of help. 1. Nisreen
Taha, born 1974, from the village of Yatta in the suburbs of Salfeet
north of the West Bank. She was arrested in Jerusalem on
25,March,1988
while trying to stab an Israeli soldier. She did not succeed. She is
divorced and has three children. She is currently suffering from a
psychological trauma after being tortured and placed under solitary
confinement for twenty days. 2. Suad Ghazal, born, 1983 from the
village of Sabastia in the suburbs of Nablus, She was arrested near
the SafiShomron settlement after she was accused of trying to stab a
woman settler. She was subjected to torture although she was not yet
fifteen years of age. She has been arrested since December,13,1998 and
sentenced for six and the half years. 3. Souna Mahmoud Ar-Ra'i, born
1968, she was arrested while trying to return back to the homeland
from Jordan across the Allenby bridge, she was charged with the
attempt of stabbing an Israeli soldier and has been imprisoned since
April 12,1997. She is married with one child. 4. Maha Ibrahim Al-Ik,
born in 1977, from Bethlehem, she was arrested after being accused of
attempting to stab an Israeli soldier, She is suffering from bad
imprisonment conditions after her arrest on August 2,2000. She is
single and this is her second arrest. 5. Amneh Munna, born in 1975
from Bir nabala in the suburbs of Jerusalem. She was arrested after
being accused of luring a young Jewish boy from Askalan to come to
Ramallah after few months of internet chats, where he was killed. She
was arrested on January,19,2001. There were news reports that she is
being tortured by the Israeli Intelligence, she has denied all charges
that she had anything to do with the killing of the Israeli boy. For
more information about the prisoners, please see Ad-dameer website:
http://www.addameer.org ADDAMEER Prisoners Support and Human Right
Assoication: Jerusalem, P.O.Box 17338, Ramallah, Al-Irsal Street,
Al-Irsal Bldg., 7th floor, tel:02-2960446; fax:02-2960447
e-mail:addameer@palnet.edu. I hope you will find this information
useful. Suheir Azzouni Director Women's Affairs Technical Committee
Palestine
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Israeli attacks on Al Bireh and Bethlehem on Sunday and Monday
11 and
12 February 2001 left two dead and many wounded. 22 year-old
Ziyad Abu
Sawi from Artas near Bethlehem died on Monday 12 February after
receiving a bullet in the heart when Israeli soldiers opened fire at a
minibus at Al Khader junction. Two other Palestinian labourers from
Bethlehem were wounded in the attack: Mohammed Al Barmeel,
47, was
admitted to Al Makasid Hospital in a critical condition after being
shot in the in the neck, and Haidar Ayish, 18, was wounded by
shrapnel
in the head.
The houses of Yasser Al Mashayikh and Mousa Al Masa’id in Ayda were
destroyed by the bombing. Yusif Sbaih’s house in Al Khader was hit and
partially destroyed. National Security Member Mohammad Abu Al Ataya,
17, from Gaza, was wounded in the bombing of Um Al Sharayit and
Beitunya.
LAW Society reiterates the following:
1. Israeli forces are committing increased crimes and using the
Israeli war arsenal against unarmed Palestinian civilians.
2. They continue to bomb and shell Palestinian residential areas.
3. They continue to use collective punishment against Palestinians and
deprive them of their basic human rights.
4. Israeli forces use settlements as bases from which to bomb
Palestinian areas
LAW demands:
1. The Israeli government to immediately stop its crimes and
collective punishment against Palestinians.
2. An international investigation committee to be set up, working
according to UN Resolution 1322.
3. The Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention to ensure
Israel’s compliance with the Convention.
4. Placing Palestinians under international protection.
5. The international community to put an end to these crimes and the
Israeli occupation.
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The World Alliance of YMCAs has received some reactions from
individuals and organizations calling into question the report of the
International YMCA team's visit to Palestine in November 2000. In
summary, these reactions have suggested that: · The report is
one-sided, biased, does not include issues as viewed from the
perspective of the Israelis, and is based on views from Palestinians
·
It fails to show concern and sympathy for the loss of Israeli lives ·
It makes no mention whatsoever of Palestinian violence · It is
inflammatory in nature and has cast a shadow of hatred and is
therefore detrimental to the cause of peace and non-violence The
World
Alliance has written replies along the following lines: The YMCA has
long held the view that if there is to be a settlement of the conflict
in the Middle East, it can only happen when there is justice for the
Palestinians and security for the people of Israel. We are also
convinced that our mission as a Christian organisation compels us to
work for reconciliation between people who are or have been in
conflict. Yet we know that justice is the pre-condition of
reconciliation. Our positions have been developed over many decades of
involvement with the people of the region. The recent report was based
on the visit of an international team who for reasons of time and
circumstances did not also visit Israel. In the past however our
international groups have visited Israel and this is certainly
foreseen for future visits to the region. None of the members of the
recent team has any quarrel with the people of Israel. Perhaps they
will disagree with the methods now being employed in the context of
violence in the region by the Israeli government but the report was
based on visits to villages, towns and cities, and on meetings with
many people who have been victims of Israeli aggression. We have a
long history of service to refugees and victims of war.It has always
been non discriminatory in nature. Anyone who suffers falls within the
scope of YMCA work. It is in this context that our current involvement
among the Palestinian people must be seen. Several international
figures from YMCAs in Europe, USA, Canada, Asia, Africa and Latin
America have visited the YMCAs in Palestine and Israel to study the
situation and to examine ways of a global YMCA response to it. We are
sure that you are familiar with the fact that United Nations
representatives and parliamentarians from a wide range of religious
and ideological beliefs have also visited the region. Other
international NGOs have also sent study teams into the region. The
World Alliance of YMCAs' standpoint on the question of Palestine is
similar to the positions of many organisations. It also does not
differ from what Peace Movements within Israel advocate and argue for.
The international community broadly takes the view that the
Palestinians are the victims of the ongoing tensions and lack the
basic and legitimate right to a homeland and to live in dignity as all
other people and nations. Having said this, we also hasten to state
that our position is not against the Israeli people. We condemn all
violence, Palestinian or Israeli, as a means of resolving conflict.
The death or injury of anyone in conflict is cause for sadness. The
YMCA has always been inclusive. Around the world, it is a model of
people from different religious, economic, ethnic, social and
ideological backgrounds working together to make a better world. We
pray and yearn for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which
will provide the grounds on which Jews, Muslims and Christians can all
live together - with and for each other. Allow us to share an excerpt
from our mission statement: the YMCA "seeks to share the Christian
ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and
reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation". Such a
framework implies that our view of conflict resolution can, and will,
only revolve around methods of dialogue and non violence. The World
Alliance reaffirms that it is unequivocally committed to the cause of
a peaceful, just and lasting settlement of the conflict between the
Israelis and Palestinians. The World Alliance reiterates its
understanding that Israelis and Palestinians must live in peaceful
co-existence. It reaffirms its long held view that Israel has the
right to exist within safe and secure borders. At the same time, the
Palestinians have their right to a state and nationhood. The World
Alliance believes that the peace that is required must be based on
justice for the Palestinians and security for Israel and that both
tasks must be undertaken in parallel.
LAW
Israeli army bombs Palestinian residential areas
Arab Human Rights Association
Reactions to the Arab Boycott
B'Tselem
DISCRIMINATION IN COURT
Al Haq
Al-Haq Condemns the Israeli Practices of Willful and Extra
Judicial Killing and Calls Upon the UN Human Rights
Commission to Stress the Need for Immediate UN
Intervention to Protect Palestinian Civilians
Women's Affairs Technical
Committee
Information about five Palestinian women
political prisoners
LAW
Continuing Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians
Two killed and dozens wounded
According to LAW’s information, at 6:45 a minibus belonging to the
Arkub company was taking Palestinian labourers to Israeli construction
sites. Israeli soldiers stationed at Al Khader junction stopped it and
opened fire at close range, killing Abu Sawi and wounding the other
two.
The incident sparked protests in the area, during which Sami Barakat,
17, was shot in the pelvis, and Ahmad Al Barbari, 20, was shot in the
left thigh.
35 year-old Atif Al Nabulsi a resident of east Jerusalem from Ramallah
died today after Israeli soldiers opened fire at a Palestinian car at
Rafat junction, west of Ramallah. Yihya Abu Saif, 17, and Hamdi
Arafat, 27, were also wounded in the unprovoked attack.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces continued bombing residential
areas in Al Aza and Ayda refugee camps, Al Khader, the northern
entrance to Bethlehem and the northern entrance to Al Bireh and Um Al
Sharayit. The bombing destroyed 11 houses and two cars, one of which
was a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance. The following were wounded
during the bombing near Bethlehem:
1. Said Al Aza, 41, hit in the right shoulder
2. Hanna Asmari, 42, hit in the back
3. Samar Al Masaid, 18, hit in the right leg
4. Ibraheem Da’dara, 50, hit in several parts of the body
5. Toni Al Zu’bi, 23, hit in the head
6. Mustafa Abu Ghalyun, 35, hit in the head
7. Grace Al bandak, 23, hit in the legs
8. Munthir Katamish, shot in the back and the limbs
9. Fathi Abdul Rahman, shot in the back and the limbs
10. Jabir Al Amour, shot in the back and the limbs
11. Naseem Hamida , shot in the back and the limbs
YMCA
WORLD ALLIANCE RESPONDS TO CRITICISMS OF REPORT
OF INTERNATIONAL YMCA TEAM VISIT TO PALESTINE