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TITLE: Hear Palestine |
AUTHOR: Ross Castle |
PUB: |
DATE: January 25, 2001 |
Ariel Sharon thought that he was outsmarting his competitor for the premiership of Israel, Ehud Barak, by carrying talks with Muhammed Rashid, the partner of Ehud Barak s advisor, ex-Mossad (Intelligence) Chief Yossi Genossar.
The talks were carried under a colourful camouflage- an Austrian casino in Vienna, a major shareholder in Jericho s Casino Oasis, which is controlled by Muhammed Rashid (Khaled Salam). The meeting attended by Sharon s son and his campaign advisor included the top management of Austria s casino and, of course, Khaled Salam.
The PNA ambassador to Vienna denied any political aspect to the meeting or importance. He stressed that the meeting had to do with casino affairs and ways and means of re-opening Jericho s casino. In other words, Sharon s delegation was discussing with the casino owners, the Austrians and Salam, security measures concerning Casino Oasis.
Sharon, on the other hand, denied that his delegation was discussing casino affairs, insinuating that they were discussing politics under the banner Casino Austria.
Ehud Barak criticised Sharon for holding negotiations with the Palestinians, at a time when the Israeli government is negotiating with the Palestinians a final agreement in Taba.
No further information was reported on the meeting. It is already established, however, that the meeting did take place and that Likud officials were the negotiating party with Mr. Salam in the presence of Casino Austria. So, what were they doing?
It is clear that the Likud delegation was not gambling in Vienna, so discussions either centred on security measures to allow Casino Oasis to reopen after four months of closure because of Israeli occupation army attacks or on politics. Either way, Likud leader Sharon fell into his self-deceit trap, unveiling it without doubt.
Ariel Sharon has no right to discuss security or political matters since these are the responsibilities of the current Israeli government, which is in the midst of the most sensitive stages of negotiations with the PNA.
Once again, Ariel Sharon is acting in a similar way to Ofadia Yossef, Shas spiritual leader, above the law in Israel. The last time Sharon practised out of his self-centred conviction, more than 25,000 innocent Palestinians and Lebanese were killed. That was in 1982 when he deceived Menahim Begin and carried on to the outskirts of Beirut, committing afterwards the massacres of Sabra and Shatilla.
The question concerning the reason behind the meeting in Vienna should be discussed seriously by both Palestinians and Israelis.
Events in the Occupied Territories
Israeli killed by Palestinian gunfire north of Jerusalem
Israeli radio reported that an Israeli was killed tonight when his car was shot at near Atarot industrial zone, north of Jerusalem. The man was heading towards 'Givat Ze'ev' settlement, built illegally on confiscated Palestinian land.
Two Palestinians shot dead in Rafah by occupation forces
Two Palestinians were killed when Israeli occupation forces opened fire at three Palestinians in Rafah late last night. Israeli military sources said that the three Palestinians were armed and tried to sneak out of Tel al-Sultan in Rafah to al-Dufai at area situated in the midst of Israeli settlements. The Palestinian who managed to escape said that the three of them were not trying to infiltrate but were sitting on a sandy hill talking when they came under fire from the Israeli settlement. According to the Ha aretz Israeli daily, the IDF later reported that they did not know if the three had been armed, but the fact they had been in the area late at night was a clear indication of their hostile intentions.
Military reinforcements in military bases near Morag settlement south of Khan Younis have been taking place. Witnesses said that Israeli forces surrounded the military location set up southeast Morag settlement with more cement blocks and sand barriers, in addition to two tanks, four heavy machine gun launchers and dozens of soldiers.
Witnesses said that a number of observation towers were placed inside the settlement. One Palestinian citizen said that an Israeli bulldozer protected by a large number of soldiers yesterday morning destroyed 10 dunums of his and another citizen s land cultivated with potatoes outside the borders of the settlement.
Tulkarem and Salfeet
Israeli forces tightened the imposed closure on Salfeet and Tulkarem and underwent military reinforcements near a number of towns and cities. Israeli authorities tightened the imposed military closure on Salfeet and reinforced its military checkpoints at the entrances of the town.
Citizens from within the green line were prevented from entering Tilkarem for shopping purposes. Israeli soldiers at al-Tiba checkpoint chased Palestinian workers and attacked a number of them physically for attempting to leave the town.
Israeli military patrols spread throughout the by pass road, south of Tulkarem and set up a checkpoint on Kufrayat junction to prevent citizens and their cars from entering. Later some cars were permitted entrance after undergoing severe searching measures and having their names checked with the military's list.
Shoufa-Tulkarem road and all side sand roads were closed by military machinery and piles of sand and rocks. Israeli soldiers also spread along the Jenin-Baqa Gharbiya road, interfering with every car or Palestinian citizen passing by, attacking Palestinian workers and arresting several of them.
Tulkarem-Nablus road near Annab settlement remains closed.
Baqa Sharqiya town witnessed confrontations between unarmed Palestinian youths and occupation forces using rubber coated metal bullets, tear gas and sound bombs, which resulted in several cases of breathing difficulties.
Israeli occupation forces re-closed Ramallah-Nablus main road, placing a roadblock at the entrance of Hawara town to prevent the movement of hundred of citizens from and to Nablus.
Shooting Incidents in Various Locations in Occupied Territories
Israeli radio reported that 'Psagot' settlement, near Ramallah, was subjected to gunshots today, to which Israeli occupation forces retaliated in the like from the settlement. The radio also reported that Kfar Yam settlement in Rafah, Gaza Strip, was targeted with gun shots this afternoon.
The Palestinian territories witnessed several shooting incidents directed at Israeli army bases and settlements yesteday. Neveh Dekalim and Netsareem settlements in the Gaza Strip were targeted with gun shots yesterday afternoon, as well as an Israeli military bulldozer, which was leveling land and uprooting trees in Rafah.
In al-Bireh, Psagot settlement was targeted twice yesterday by armed Palestinians. An Israeli car passing by near Uteirit settlement north of Ramallah was also targeted with gunshots, resulting in material damage to the car.
Israeli radio reported that no injuries resulted from any of the incidents.
Settlers Attacked and Threatened to Kill a University Professor
Dr. Abdallah Abu Id, a law lecturer at al-Najah university said that he was attacked by a number of settlers, who threatened to shoot him the day before last near Aleh settlement while on his way to Beit Jala from Nablus. Dr. Abu Id said that the group of settlers destroyed his car lights and placed a machine gun in his ear threatening to kill him. Dr. Abu Id said that the settlers continued tochase him until he reached the nearest military roadblock.
Settlers of Ashkalot settlement set up a checkpoint in al-Ramadeen area south of al-Thahiriya to stop Palestinian cars and search them.
A Palestinian Woman Died at an Israeli Military Checkpoint in West Bank
A Palestinian woman with heart problems died at an Israeli military checkpoint, near Ramallah when soldiers prevented her from crossing to Ramallah hospital. Moussa Abu Hameed, general director of hospitals in the West Bank, said that Aysha Nassar, 28, was held at the checkpoint for 45 minutes and died before an ambulance could reach her.
A Palestinian Woman Gave Birth at an Israeli Military Roadblock
A Palestinian woman, Amina Moussa, from Rantees village in Ramallah gave birth last night at an Israeli checkpoint near Um Safa village. Her husband Saleh Ballout said that the four checkpoints along the way delayed their trip to hospital for two hours, by which time she gave birth at the last checkpoint. Both the mother and her infant are in good condition.
A Member of Force 17 Died Effected by Previous Injuries
Officer Ahmed Ghandour of Force 17, died effected by previous serious injuries subjected the day before last. Medical sources said that Ghandour was shot with live ammunition that destroyed his internal system.
Bulldozing Activities in Tel Rmeida in Hebron
Dr. Khaled Qawasmeh, a member of the construction council in Hebron s Old City said that settlers are undergoing construction activities in Tel Rmeida, an archaeological site where construction activities have been prohibited since before 1967. He added that the area has been placed under a strict military closure since the beginning of the Intifada, preventing inhabitants from reaching the location.
Taba Negotiations
Negotiations in Taba resumed officially today and continue despite killing incidents in the Palestinian territories.
PA Official: Israel Offering 92 Percent of West Bank
Reuters- Negotiators are working on details of how much West Bank and Gaza Strip land Israel would return to the Palestinians under a peace agreement and how much land would be swapped, a Palestinian official said on Thursday. The official, who declined to be identified, gave details of negotiations with the Israelis in Taba in Egypt on proposed maps of borders and territory for a Palestinian state.
He said Israel had proposed that the Palestinians have 92 percent of the West Bank land which Israel occupied during the 1967 Middle East war.
In exchange for Israel keeping the remainder of the West Bank, mainly for Jewish settlements and their security, the Palestinians would receive Israeli land in a swap equivalent to three percent of West Bank land captured in 1967.
Israel had also proposed that the Palestinians have all the Gaza Strip, which borders Egypt, and that it be cleared of Jewish settlements built after the 1967 war, the official added.
Israeli negotiators could not be reached for comment, and the terms remained under negotiation. No agreement has been reached at the talks, due to resume on Thursday after a two-day break caused by the killing of two Israelis in the West Bank.
The Palestinian official said the Palestinians at Taba were demanding 98 percent of the West Bank, with a two percent swap. He did not say what areas might be involved in the land swap. The Palestinian official said Israel's proposal meant Israel would end up with three blocs of land in the West Bank -- in the areas of Jerusalem, the Ariel settlement in the north of the West Bank, and Gush Etzion in the south of the West Bank.
The Palestinians say they would allow Israeli control of these areas but want them to be smaller than Israel proposes.
The official said Israel wanted Atarot airport between Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank as Israeli territory and sought free air movement above the West Bank. The Palestinians said they would accept only restricted movement and Israel would have to co-ordinate all flights with them.
The percentages under discussion include east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians consider in the West Bank. But specific talks on the sensitive status of the holy city have not yet begun officially in Taba.
It was not clear whether Jerusalem or any part of it was in the 92 percent which Israel was proposing to return to the Palestinians. Details have not yet emerged of how the two sides at Taba propose to handle the Jerusalem issue.
The Palestinian official said the Israeli proposals provided for a contiguous Palestinian state, but were a "step backward" from maps discussed long before the Taba talks.
He said proposals by former U.S. president Bill Clinton would have given the Palestinians more than the total 95 percent Israel proposes. The Clinton plan offered them 97 percent.
Barak Sees No Peace Deal Before Election
Reuters- Prime Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday he did not believe Israel and the Palestinians would forge a peace deal before an Israeli prime ministerial election on February 6.
"I don't believe there will be an agreement by the elections," Barak told Israeli businessmen hours before Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were due to resume talks in the Egyptian resort of Taba.
The two sides are trying to forge at least the outline of a peace deal before the Israeli vote, which could bring right-winger Ariel Sharon to power. Sharon opposes territorial concessions Barak has shown willingness to make.
Barak repeated that he would not endorse any agreement with the Palestinians that transferred sovereignty over Jerusalem's Old City and its holy sites out of Israel's hands or gave millions of Palestinian refugees the right of return to homes lost in the 1948 war in which Israel was born.
"Any such agreement does not need to be feared. I don't know why...Sharon is afraid," Barak said.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and annexed it in a move not internationally recognised.
"Any agreement will be brought to the people," Barak said. "The Palestinians know that nothing that is not approved by...a majority of the public in Israel is not valid, and...it must also be approved in the Knesset beforehand."
Nabil Shaath: Sides Near Agreement on Territory Issue
Ha'aretz- Chief Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath told Army Radio on Thursday that Israel and the Palestinians were close to an agreement on the territorial issue whereby some four percent of the West Bank would remain in Israeli hands. Included in the four percent would be large settlement blocks containing the majority of the settlers.
Shaath was interviewed just after Israel announced it was returning to talks at the Sinai Desert resort of Taba, which Prime Minister Ehud Barak suspended Tuesday after two Israelis were murdered in the West Bank city of Tul Karm.
"Since we approved the idea of a (land) swap one had to define how much is swapped for how much," said Shaath. "Since the Israelis really came with several maps, the last of which contained what we considered too big a space in the difficult areas around Jerusalem, we had to present a counter-map that reduces what the Israelis asked to something more manageable from our point of view President Clinton presented four to six percent and I think we are close to the four percent."
Asked what were the remaining major obstacles, Shaath pointed to the issue of Jerusalem as well as the thorny problem of Palestinian refugees. "But I don't see this now as something that is impossible to solve," he added. "I think that if we keep moving with the same energy and seriousness we should be able to reach an agreement."
Asked whether he believed an agreement could be reached before the February 6 election in Israel, Shaath said that depended on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and whether "he pulled back his negotiators" again. "If he keeps pulling them back every time there is an incident," he added, "no, we will not be able to reach an agreement."
Asked whether the sudden desire on the Palestinian side to move quickly to an agreement was a result of their fear that hard-line Likud leader Ariel Sharon would be prime minister in two weeks time, Shaath replied: "Sharon as prime minister is bad news. I'm not going to elect him or be part of the electorate. This is up to the Israeli people. But from what we know about him, from what we know of his allies, and from what we know from his team, he is bad news.
"We want this peace process to succeed," concluded Shaath. "We only lost hope in the months after Camp David because we were afraid that what Mr. Barak was presenting us was a take-it-or-leave-it offer that we could not take. But now we feel it's a little different. There is more give-and-take and more seriousness."
Palestinian Authority
Powell Expresses to Arafat Readiness to Work for Middle East Peace
In a telephone conversation between President Yasser Arafat and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last night, the latter expressed readiness of the new administration to work on the Middle East peace process. Powell also said that President George Bush is following up the Taba, carefully.
Arafat meets Sharon Representatives Aide in Vienna
Ha'aretz- Quoting senior Palestinian sources, Israel Radio reported Thursday that one of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's closest aides was meeting with three representatives of Likud prime ministerial candidate Ariel Sharon in Vienna to discuss diplomatic issues.
The radio report followed the revelation Wednesday night on Channel One Television that Sharon's son Omri had met with the owners of the Oasis Casino in Jericho which nightly drew hundreds of Israelis until the outbreak of hostilities in the territories. The radio reported that Arafat had requested that Sharon meet personally with his economic adviser Khaled Salaam, but that the Likud leader had declined, saying he was too busy with his election campaign. Representing Sharon were his son Omri, former Foreign Ministry director-general Eitan Bentzur and well-known lawyer Dov Weisglas.
A major thrust of Sharon's campaign ahead of the February 6 election has been to try and soften his hawkish image, by portraying him as the only candidate who can forge a peace deal, in an effort to win votes in the political center and soften opposition to Sharon on the left.
"I understand that it is permissible to conduct contacts with the Palestinians under fire," carped left-wing Meretz leader Yossi Sarid, who was referring sarcastically to Sharon's ongoing criticism of Prime Minister Ehud Barak for continuing negotiations with the Palestinians while hostilities continued in the West Bank and Gaza.
"The more you dig into this meeting," Sarid told Army Radio, "in the end you will find that the main reason for it was the casino. I'm not just hypothesising. I say this on the basis of certain information. To hold talks in Taba when the issue is saving life," concluded Sarid, "is apparently unacceptable, but to conduct contacts over the casino is okay."
In an interview with Israel Radio via telephone from a European airport, Bentzur denied any truth to allegations that the Jericho casino was discussed at the meeting. "There was no connection to the subject of the casino in the conversation," he said. In response to accusations that Sharon was in effect conducting negotiations with the Palestinians while the violence in the territories continues, as the Likud leader has accused Prime Minister Barak, Bentzur said, "An assorted variety of diplomatic issues [were discussed], but in no way did negotiations take place."
Senior Likud Knesset Member Moshe Arens insisted that there was a big difference between "contacts" and "negotiations."
"Apparently Arafat also reads opinion polls and he is taking into account that Sharon is going to be prime minister in two weeks time," said Arens, referring to Sharon's huge poll lead over Barak. "He wants to clarify what Sharon's positions are. But it would be ridiculous to call this negotiations."
Abu Sharif: Israeli Army Gave Orders to Shoot Palestinians During Negotiations
Bassam Abu-Sharif, member of the Palestinian National Council, accused the Israeli military institution of working against reaching an agreement during Taba talks. He said that these parties are giving orders to shoot Palestinians for no reason, with an aim of jumbling up the serious atmosphere surrounding current negotiations. Abu-Sharif referred to the killing of the two Palestinian citizens in Gaza last night as one example of random fire at Palestinian citizens.
Abu-Sharif added that there are certain circles around Prime Minster Ehud Barak who don t wish for an agreement to be reached with the Palestinians. He said General Sneh s warnings of the continuation of liquidation operations do not benefit except the extremists. "The continuation of assassination operations will provoke individual, family or popular reactions which harm any serious negotiations," he added.
Israel
Barak Outlines Israeli Stance in First Letter to Bush
Ha'aretz- Prime Minister Ehud Barak sent his first letter to American President George W. Bush to establish Israel's ties with the new administration in Washington. In his letter, Barak enumerated the "restrictions" he had imposed on Israel's negotiating position in the talks with the Palestinians, noting that handing over sovereignty over the Temple Mount to the Palestinians would be akin to "betrayal," and that it was understood that 80 percent of the settlers would remain under Israeli sovereignty.
Barak also asked the president to support the strengthening of security ties between Israel and the United States.
Barak began his letter by congratulating Bush on his inauguration, expressing his hope for continued close ties between the two countries based on their shared values. He noted that Israel considers its friendship with the United States a major element in its policy to seek peace and security.
The prime minister also mentioned the importance of fighting terror, stating that terror must not be rewarded in the form of diplomatic concessions. He added that those who carry out terror attacks and those who are responsible for them must be made aware that it would not pay off.
Concerning the negotiations with the Palestinians, Barak underscored three points. He emphasised Israel's absolute opposition to the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees to Israel. Concerning Jerusalem, Barak wrote that the Temple Mount is the cradle of Jewish history, and that there was no way he would sign a paper handing over sovereignty of the Temple Mount to the Palestinians. For Israel, wrote Barak, this would be a betrayal of Israel's holy of holies.
Concerning the settlements, Barak wrote that it was understood that at least 80 percent of the Jews living in the territories would remain under Israeli sovereignty where they lived, as part of settlement blocs. He added that Israel attributed supreme importance to this understanding, and that the territorial dimensions proposed by President Clinton could not prevail in this context.
Barak ended his letter by saying that there is nothing Israel strives for more than peace and security. He thanked the United States for its long-term assistance, and expressed the hope and expectation that President Bush would support the maintenance of Israel's qualitative edge in defence matters, as well as the strategic alliance between the two countries.
Jeers and Anger Greet Barak and His Arab 'Dignitaries' on Campaign Visit to Nazareth
Ha'aretz- When Ehud Barak ended his election visit in Ganei Nazareth Hotel last night, some of those invited stayed behind to argue among themselves whether the prime minister had really apologized for the deaths of 13 Israeli Arab demonstrators last October.
The text of his speech shows Barak indeed expressed "sorrow and a need to express condolences" - but in no way did he apologise or take responsibility for the death of the 13.
Stormy weather and a few dozen angry demonstrators greeted those invited to the election meeting. The guests were identified as "Arab dignitaries and their families." Barak was brought in through a back entrance to avoid him meeting the demonstrators, and most of the 250 guests looked like they would rather be somewhere else.
"Dignitaries" was a bit of a misnomer. Apart from the mayors of Rami and Ilut - both Labor Party activists - other mayors boycotted the event on orders from the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee.
Representatives of families of the 13 Arabs killed in the October riots held up colour photographs of the dead loved ones and angry placards. There were a few megaphones and a great deal of fury.
They waited on the hotel driveway, spitting insults at all the arriving guests. "They have no honour," said Barda Afifi of Nazareth. "Pig, traitor," he shouted. "See them run to kiss the feet of those who kill them," he said.
There were pale faces of teenage girls and boys behind the curtains of a bus bringing them from the village of Kara. Mazen Zahalka, a dignitary from the village of Kara, said "on one hand, it is hard to look the mothers of those killed in the eye, but on the other, I know the alternative to Barak is Sharon - and that kills me."
Barak's entourage entered the hall at a quarter past five. Barak was accompanied by Ministers Beilin, Vilnai, Cohen and Tamir and a few Meretz MKs. Gradually the trauma outside was forgotten. Beilin stole the show when he said Sharon was born a racist, and that his inability to make peace was genetic.
MK Hussniya Jabara (Meretz) called Sharon a "war criminal" but Barak repudiated the epithet. By the time he got up to speak, the crowd had warmed somewhat but his speech was predictable and superficial. He said he had wanted to meet the families of those killed in October, but did not have the opportunity. He said that until a few weeks ago, he had not been aware of the deep damage wrought to the fabric of relations between Israel's Jews and Arabs. He told them to vote according to their interests, and not to cast a blank ballot.
Court Nixes Petitions Against Pre-election Negotiations
Ha'aretz- In a 6-to-1 ruling, the High Court rejected five petitions Thursday demanding that the government be barred from conducting negotiations with the Palestinians in the run-up to the elections.
The petitioners had argued that the government did not have a mandate to conduct negotiations because it did not have a majority in the Knesset.
In his ruling, Chief Justice Aharon Barak wrote that there was no legal basis for accepting the petitions, but added that a prime minister who had resigned had to act with the required restraint.
Rabbi Ofadia Youssif Repeats Racist Comments Against Arabs
AFP reported that Rabbi Ofadia Youssif, Shas extreme right party spiritual leader, repeated his racists attacks against the Arabs, saying They are worse than snakes, in a speech to party activists covered by Israeli official television yesterday. He said during a gathering in support of opposition leader Ariel Sharon, hen I described them as snakes, everyone was surprised, but since the Intifada we have seen that the Arabs are worse than snakes, they are poisonous snakes.
United Nations
UNRWA: Israeli Closure Placed 85% of the Palestinians Under the Poverty Line
UNRWA General Commissioner, Peter Hansin, said yesterday that the Israeli closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip brought poverty to more Palestinian refugees. He told Reuters that the natural number of cases in need for humanitarian aid used to be 5.8% but at the moment it is required by 85% of the inhabitants.
Israeli Forces Attacked UNRWA s General Commissioner in Gaza Strip
Israeli forces yesterday stopped Peter Hansin s convoy at al-Matahin checkpoint near Khan Younis, and placed them under weapon threat. Israeli soldiers also attacked a number of Palestinian journalists accompanying Hansin during his tour around refugee camps.
Reports
167 Dunums Confiscated in Jerusalem's Old City
Wafa- Architect Adnan al-Husseini, General Director of Islamic property in Jerusalem said that 31,000 Palestinians live in Jerusalem s Old City, while the number of settlers does not exceed 3000. He said that the Israeli authorities since 1967 confiscated 168 dunums of 871 dunums, as well as education centers and other building for various purposes.
Uprooting Palestinian Trees And Leveling Agricultural Land
The Fourth Report on Israeli Land Sweeping and Demolition of Palestinian Buildings and Facilities in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Introduction:
This is the fourth specialized report by PCHR on the razing of land and demolishing of houses and civilian facilities by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip. These reports began with the outbreak of clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces on September 29, 2000. This report covers the period of December 19, 2000 January 15, 2001, continuing our past two reports, which covered the period of September 29 December 18, 2000.
During the period of September 29 January 15, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces razed 6291.5 donums of land in the Gaza Strip, about 4776.5 donums (76%) of which were agricultural lands, and about 1515 donums (24%) were wooded and sandy areas. During the period of December 19, 2000 January 15, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces razed 1835.5 donums of land, about 1240.5 donums (67.6%) of which were agricultural lands and 595 donums (32.4%) were wooded lands. These figures do not include houses and civilian and agricultural facilities established on these properties, which were also razed and demolished. Bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces also demolished 88 Palestinian houses on razed areas during the period of September 29, 2000 January 15, 2001, making their residents homeless.
What the Israeli occupation forces are doing in the occupied Palestinian territories against Palestinian land and property is an implementation of the policies of Israeli governments aimed at creating new facts on the ground that are irreversible. The uprooting of thousands of fruitful trees and the destruction of greenhouses, which are the bases of the Palestinian agricultural sector, will cause financial losses for several years in the future, if we assume that Palestinian civilians will be able to replant their land in the future. But, there is real danger these lands may never be regained by Palestinian farmers. Illegal Israeli settlements may well annex parts of these razed areas or they may be used for military posts, bypass roads, or security space for the Israeli occupation forces. These actions are blatant violations of individual and collective economic and social rights.
The actions of the Israeli occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories are blatant violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949). Article 53 of the Convention states: 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 co-operative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations. Article 147 of the Convention prohibits: extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity.
Land razing and property destruction carried out largely by the Israeli occupation forces, are part of a range of collective penalties and measures of intimidation and terrorism against civilians. All of this is prohibited by Article 33 of the Convention, which states: 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.
The razing has included about 6300 donums of agricultural and wooded land since the outbreak of clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces. During the same period, the Israeli occupation forces demolished 88 houses, destroyed civilian and agricultural facilities and uprooted thousands of fruit-bearing trees. It is expected that these forces will systematically continue these actions as they control 42% of the area of the Gaza Strip out of a total of 365 square kilometers. This will lead to further deterioration of the economic and social rights of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces aim at creating new facts on the ground as they have continued to reinforce their presence and to establish new military posts in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR condemns these illegal actions carried out by the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR reiterates its call for the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties (HCPs) to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to take practical deterrent measures against the Israeli military occupation authorities. PCHR also calls on these HCPs to activate Article 1 of the Convention, to ensure its respect, and to put an end to frequent attacks on civilian residents property.
PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately provide international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories as a basic step to stopping Israeli aggression against Palestinian lives and properties.
Report details the razing and demolition carried out by the Israeli occupation forces during the period of December 19, 2000 January 15, 2001 are published on the organisation's website.
Solidarity
* The leaders of Iran and Syria urged more regional support for the Palestinian uprising.
* A European Parliament delegation on a solidarity visit to Hebron
* Exhibition in Beirut documenting events of the Intifada artistically
* A number of injured Palestinians to receive medication in Iran
* Jordan sent another truck of aid for the Palestinian people in the occupied territories
END