SECRETARY-GENERAL, NOTING RECENT TURMOIL, SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST HELP PALESTINIANS, ISRAELIS IN 'HISTORIC QUEST FOR PEACE'
Solidarity Observance Told of 'Despair, Frustration' in Occupied Territories; PLO Chairman States Terms on Which Authority Still Committed to Peace Process
On the occasion of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning called on the international community to assist the Palestinians and the Israelis in their "historic quest" for peace.
Addressing a special meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Secretary-General underscored the "growing sense of despair, frustration and anger" among Palestinians. It was absolutely essential to restore calm as soon as possible and revive the peace negotiations, in order to restart the economy. He further called on both sides to preserve the achievements of the nine-year peace process and steadily progress along the path to peace and reconciliation.
In a statement read on his behalf, Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and President of the Palestinian Authority, said the expectation had been that today's commemoration would be marked by the celebration of Palestine's admission as a Member of the United Nations. Instead, the Palestinian people were being subjected to a "bloody military campaign" waged by the occupying Power in an apparent attempt to break the political will of the Palestinians and its leadership and impose on them unacceptable solutions. He called for a United Nations observer force to be deployed in all localities occupied by Israel since 1967. He said the Palestinian Authority remained committed to the peace process on the basis of Security Council resolutions and the principle of land for peace.
The Chairman of the Committee, Ibra Deguene Ka (Senegal) drew attention to the "brutal interruption" of the peace negotiations in September. He said a settlement of the conflict required the parties' acceptance of and respect for all relevant United Nations resolutions. Only the full implementation of the recommendations produced at Sharm el-Sheikh and the immediate resumption of peace talks could end the crisis.
The President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri (Finland), said the year 2000 should have been special, in the sense that a final status agreement should have been reached. Instead, the situation had deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, challenging the very foundations of the peace process. He said the Assembly and the Security Council had responded with urgency and determination, and in accordance with the Assembly's position, the United Nations should retain a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it was effectively resolved in all its aspects, in accordance with international law and justice.
The President of the Security Council, Peter Van Walsum (Netherlands), stressed that the recent outbreak of violence was a grave concern and preoccupation of the Council, which had acted promptly in response to the situation on the ground. The parties should implement understandings swiftly and fully, and together confront the common problems associated with their unavoidable coexistence.
Statements were also made by the Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories; by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries; by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia in his capacity as Chairman of the 27th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers; by the representative of Togo, on behalf of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and by a representative of the League of Arab States.
An additional statement was made by a representative of the International Network of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine.
Messages of support and solidarity, in observance of the occasion, were received from the heads of State of Venezuela, Guinea, Brazil, Philippines, Afghanistan, Namibia, Cyprus, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Viet Nam, Tunisia, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Russian Federation, Cuba, Iran, Peru, and Turkey.
Messages were also sent by the heads of the Governments of Lesotho, Thailand, China, Mauritius, India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Belarus. The observance was acknowledged by the Foreign Ministers of Oman, Hungary, Japan, Romania, Madagascar, Colombia, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, and Argentina.
Messages were received from the Governments of Uruguay, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Yemen, Pakistan, and Guyana, and from the Permanent Mission of Zimbabwe to the United Nations.
The European Union, the OAU, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and several NGOs also sent messages.
The head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, also spoke.
Continued: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20001129.gapal849.doc.html return to top
AN URGENT APPEAL FROM THE WOMEN OF PALESTINE TO
THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD
Join Hands for the Right to Life, Peace and Justice
Ramallah, Palestine -- On this day declared by the United Nations General Assembly as a day of international solidarity with the Palestinian people, the women of Palestine issue an urgent appeal to our sisters around the globe to join hands to defend the right of Palestinian women, men and children to life, peace and justice under international resolutions and international law. As international human rights day approaches on December 10, we specifically ask that women throughout the world engage in lobbying, educational and protest activities to demand:
· International protection for the Palestinian people as a responsibility of the international community under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
· Implementation of binding United Nations Resolutions, particularly 194, 224 and 338, calling for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces (including settlers) from the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, including East Jerusalem and for the affirmation of the right of return of Palestinian refugee and a just solution to the refugee problem.
As the death toll mounts daily, Israel's excessive force has already resulted in the loss of 25O Palestinian lives as of 25 November, 67 of which are children of seventeen years or younger, and 25 of which are under the age of 14. About 8000 Palestinians have been injured. International protection is a right of the Palestinian people and a responsibility of the international community under the Fourth Geneva Convention. We appreciate the call of United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson to the High Contracting Parties of the Geneva Convention to activate their responsibility and her support for an international monitoring force and urge women around the world to add their voice to this call for an effective international force to protect the Palestinian people.
Our letter to Mary Robinson during her visit to Palestine is attached to our appeal to provide more information on what we call the "invisible suffering" of Palestinian women. We urge our sisters to use this information to make the world aware of the daily sufferings and struggles of Palestinian women as they keep families together, struggle to live on severely reduced income and resources, visit the injured, march with candles held high to commemorate the dead and affirm the right to life, mourn their and other mother's children, and fight for a better future in an independent Palestine.
We also greatly appreciate the upcoming visit of Italian women to Palestine under the banner "I, A woman, am going to Palestine," where women aim to serve as witnesses "in defence of Palestinian civilians," and for "the right to life, land and freedom of the Palestinian people" and for "peace between Israelis and Palestinians." We appreciate their courage and commitment and welcome women from around the world to join in similar initiatives.
We urge you to conduct information campaigns and educational activities in your community, as well as to lobby your government for international protection for the Palestinian people and the implementation of United Nations resolutions calling for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces to the 1967 borders and a just solution to the refugee problem.
To join the Women for Women network, please send an email to Women's Affairs Technical Committee, the coordinating network for Palestinian women's organizations at watcorg@palnet.com Please send us news or your activities, petitions and events and we will pass them on to other women. return to top
Israeli occupation forces continue killing Palestinians: More sweeping and demolition by the Israeli occupation forces
The past 24 hours witnessed more victims among Palestinian civilians as a result of shooting by the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, killing a young man with a live bullet in the head. In the village of Rammoun in Ramallah, a young man died as a result of inhaling tear gas used intensively by the Israeli occupation forces when they raided the village. A child from Rafah died from a previous wound, incurred on November 23, 2000, caused by an exploding bullet in the head. In Amman, yesterday evening, a young man from Gaza was pronounced dead from a previous wound with bullets in the neck and the chest that were shot by the Israeli occupation forces on November 19, 2000. Today, although there was a significant decrease in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces, these forces continued to shoot at Palestinian civilians. In addition, these forces continued to reinforce their presence, to sweep more areas of agricultural land and to demolish more houses in the Gaza Strip.
1. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
This morning, clashes broke out between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces. In the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, four Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces. Near the borderline in Rafah, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians in Al-Barazil neighborhood, wounding four. In the eastern area of Al-Boreij refugee camp, this afternoon, a Palestinian civilian was wounded with a live bullet shot by the Israeli occupation forces.
Yesterday afternoon, in the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians demonstrating more than 100 meters away from these forces. As a result, Emad Adib El-Dayeh, 19 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp, was shot dead with a live bullet in the head. El-Dayeh was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital, but was pronounced dead at about 20:00 local time.
Yesterday evening, a large number of Israeli occupation troops raided the village of Rammoun in Ramallah, where Palestinian civilians faced them. The Israeli occupation forces used tear gas intensively against Palestinian civilians. As a result, Ibrahim Abdel-Jabber Kuhleh, 24 years old, died from inhaling tear gas. Eyewitnesses stated that Kuhleh was evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah due to difficulty breathing. He died before reaching the hospital.
Also yesterday evening, Karam Fathi El-Kurd, 14 years old, died at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City from a previous wound caused by an exploding live bullet in the head, incurred on November 23, 2000, when the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians demonstrating near Salah El-Din Gate on the borderline in Rafah.
Yesterday, Ashraf Abdel-Karim El-Basous, 19 years old, from Gaza, died from a previous wound with live bullets in the neck and chest shot by the Israeli occupation forces near Al-Mentar (Karni) outlet, to the east of Gaza City. El-Basous was transferred to a hospital in Jordan on November 22, 2000, and was pronounced dead yesterday.
Yesterday evening, Israeli occupation troops, positioned in a military post in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement, to the north of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding two, one of whom was seriously injured. Eyewitnesses stated that the incident took place at 22:30 local time when there were no clashes in the area. The two wounded persons were near their houses when they were hit by bullets. They are:
1) Amin Mohammed Abdel-Qader Abu Mosallam, 24 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the thigh; and 2) Sami Abdullah Ahmed, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh that caused a cut in an artery. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
2. Continued Sweeping of Agricultural Land
Yesterday, at about 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces swept more areas of agricultural land on the northern side of the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) leading to Kissufim Border Crossing in the east. The swept areas are about 1,000 meters from Salah El-Din Street. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping included: 1) A two-donum area of agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with vegetables were established, owned by Awadh El-Semeiri. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed. 2) A one-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables was established, owned by Aae’d Abu Haddaf. 3) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Suleiman El-Semeiri. 4) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Abu Haddaf. 5) A 120-square-meter, one-story house owned by Ismail El-Saffi.
While the Israeli occupation forces continued to close the road between Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that yesterday, at about 17:00 local time, these forces started to sweep more areas (approximately 200 meters worth) along the road. Because of the heavy presence of the Israeli occupation forces in the area, reinforced with six tanks, PCHR’s field officer could not reach the area to check on the swept areas. According to a resident of the area, the sweeping included:
1) An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the El-Thalathini family.
2) A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by the El-Ghefari family. In addition, a well and an 80-square-meter house were destroyed.
PCHR’s field officer stated that the Israeli occupation forces have been building a new settlement road for more than one week, connecting the road branch of Al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet with the borderline.
The Israeli occupation forces have so far swept:
1) A 7.5 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Baker Oleyan El-Heraqli.
2) An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Hajjaj.
3) A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ne’man Hajjaj.
4) A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Muheisen Hajjaj.
5) An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the Abu El-Atta family.
Also yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces swept areas of agricultural land and demolished buildings along the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) leading to Gush Qatif settlement block (Al-Matahen Junction). PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping and demolition included:
1) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the heirs of Jbara Ismail El-Farra.
2) A 60-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by the heirs of Rafiq Jbara El-Farra. In addition, a well, two water pumps, two rooms and an irrigation network were destroyed.
3) An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sae’b Mustafa El-Farra.
4) A 150-square-meter house, in which four people lived, owned by Abdel-Mou’ti Abu Ghayyadh.
5) A 500-square-meter tin house, in which 13 people lived, owned by Mohammed Salim Hussein Abu Hassan.
6) A 120-square-meter house, in which seven people lived, owned by Mohammed Suleiman Boreis.
7) A 148-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Salim Suleiman El-Musseeb.
8) A 120-square-meter house, in which 14 people lived, owned by Nayef Suleiman El-Musseeb.
In Al-Qarara, near Khan Yunis, the Israeli occupation forces swept areas of agricultural land and demolished houses, 250 meters to the east of Salah El-Din Street. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that this particular action included:
1) A nine-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Fuad and Jamal Mabrouk El-Qedra. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
2) A 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the heirs of Mabrouk Ismail El-Qedra.
3) A 0.5 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Kamel Mabrouk El-Qedra.
4) An 80-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Sami Ismail El-Qedra. The house was surrounded by 500 square meters of agricultural land planted with olives.
5) A 90-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Suleiman Salem Abu Rezeq.
6) Cutting electricity and water to a number of houses in the area.
3. Continued Reinforcements and Blocking of Roads in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation forces
The Israeli occupation forces have continued to reinforce their presence throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. In the Gaza Strip, tanks and armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces are still stationed on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). The Israeli occupation forces have closed this road and its branch and agricultural roads near Kfar Darom settlement. This has divided the Gaza Strip into isolated areas.
The Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a siege on Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area in Rafah and Khan Yunis, increasing the suffering of Palestinian residents of the area. In Khan Yunis, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to close the road between Khan Yunis city and its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area – under the control of these forces – at Al-Tuffah roadblock. Jarir El-Qedwa elementary and preparatory school is still closed because its teachers, most of whom are from Khan Yunis city, have not been able to reach the area. Agricultural products have been damaged because farmers have been denied access to their agricultural land.
In Rafah, the Israeli occupation forces have kept up their actions of collective punishment by continuing to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories and by closing Gaza International Airport and Rafah Border Crossing. On November 25, 2000, the Israeli occupation forces re-closed Al-Karama border crossing on the Palestinian-Jordanian border. Yesterday, Israeli sources stated that the Israeli occupation forces reopened Rafah Border Crossing, but after this statement was checked for accuracy, it was clear that yesterday, November 28, 2000, the Israeli employees at the Crossing completed the entry procedures for about 100 people from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, while no one from the Palestinian side was present save for the director of the Palestinian Civil Liaison. This morning, the Department for Crossing of the Palestinian National Authority refused to send any Palestinian staff to the Crossing in protest over the changing work conditions violating previously signed agreements. The new conditions that the Israeli occupation forces attempted to establish were the following:
1) Work will be limited to travelers coming from abroad, while residents of the Gaza Strip will not be able to travel abroad.
2) The reduction of Palestinian personnel from 320 to seven.
3) Members of the Palestinian security services are prohibited from returning to their work at the Crossing.
4) Palestinian personnel must undergo security checks by the Israeli occupation forces.
5) Work at the Crossing will continue for only seven hours per day, 8:00-15:00 local time, although the Crossing in the past was open 24 hours per day.
6) Cars of Palestinian personnel and VIPs will not be allowed to enter the Crossing.
*** PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to immediately intervene to stop the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR calls in particular for:
1. Establishing without delay an independent commission of inquiry, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1322 (2000), to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians.
2. Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention.
3. Immediately providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories in the face of the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under the protection of these forces.
4. Use by the EU of effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights.
5. Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are increasingly deteriorating because of the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire occupied Palestinian territories.
6. Use by the international community and relevant bodies, including ICRC, of necessary measures to ensure the access of medical supplies and equipment and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces have continued to deny entry of this material through Rafah Border Crossing (into the Gaza Strip).