Yousef Munayyer: Does Israel Meet The Quartet Conditions?

Like many of his predecessors, Secretary of State John Kerry is currently working tirelessly in an effort to restart a peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. In recent weeks and months, he has traveled frequently to the region, meeting regularly with leaders. However, also like his predecessors, he too will fail to achieve anything without drastically breaking with the failed approaches of the past.

To have any chance at success, Washington must end its pro-Israel favoritism in return for an evenhanded approach. A succinct and profound example of Washington’s extreme bias is its hypocritical policy toward negotiations. For years, the United States has opposed allowing the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to engage in negotiations before it adheres to three principles outlined by the “Quartet”.

Full Article 
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/10/does-israel-meet-the-quartet-conditions.html 

Gisha: 2013 Gaza Snapshot

Between June 2007 and June 2010, Israel banned a variety of goods from entering the Gaza Strip, including chocolate, toys, children’s notebooks and even mango. In June 2010, Israel changed its policy and has since prevented only the entry of goods defined as “dual use”, meaning that they can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The list of banned goods is based on the Wassenaar Arrangement, but it includes additional items such as construction materials that are not part of the agreement.

In November 2012, Israel approved the entry of certain types of construction materials – plaster, whitewash, cinder blocks and the like. After Operation Pillar of Defense, the security establishment began allowing 20 truckloads of gravel to enter the Strip per day destined for the private sector; an amount which meets just a tiny fraction of demand.

Full Report 
http://www.gazagateway.org/2013/06/gaza-2013-snapshot/ 

OHCHR: Analytical Update on the Access Restricted Areas in the Gaza Strip

The Israeli authorities impose a “buffer zone” or access restricted areas (ARA) on the Gaza Strip, prohibiting Palestinians in Gaza from accessing large parts of land and sea. The restrictions undermine the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Gazans. Through the manner in which they are enforced, which includes live fire, the lives and well-being of those who live in and enter the area are put at risk. Prior to November 2012, the Israeli authorities had made statements that Gazans were prohibited from accessing closer than 300 metres from the fence on land. In practice, the “no go zone’’ on land was at times enforced a few hundred metres beyond this, with a “high risk zone” extending sometimes up to 1,500 metres.

Full Report - 10 pages http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/_assets/files/field_protection_clusters/Occupied_Palestinian/files/oPt_PC_Analytical_Update_Access_Land_in_ARA_05.2013_EN2013.pdf 

B'Tselem: Acting the Landlord - Israel's Policy in Area C, the West Bank

Some 60 percent of West Bank lands have been classified as “Area C” and are under full and exclusive Israeli control. Area C is home to an estimated 180,000 Palestinians and includes the major residential and development land reserves for the entire West Bank. Israel prohibits Palestinian construction and development on some 70 percent of Area C territory, arguing various rationales, such as being “state lands” or “firing zones.” Israel’s planning and construction policy virtually ignores the needs of the local population: it refuses to recognize most of the villages in the area or draw up plans for them, prevents the expansion and development of Palestinian communities, demolishes homes and does not allow the communities to hook up to infrastructure. Thousands of inhabitants live under the constant threat of expulsion for living in alleged firing zones or “illegal” communities. In addition, Israel has taken over most of the water sources in Area C and has restricted Palestinian access to them.

Press Release 
http://www.btselem.org/publications/201306_area_c 
 
Full Report - 111 pages 
http://www.btselem.org/download/201306_area_c_report_eng.pdf 

United Nations: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967

Once again it is necessary to highlight the failure of the Government of Israel to cooperate in the implementation of this mandate even to the extent of allowing the Special Rapporteur to enter occupied Palestine. Such entry is required to gain first-hand information about alleged human rights and international humanitarian violations by the Occupying Power, and appropriate cooperation by Member States in such official undertakings is prescribed in Articles 104 and 105(2) of the United Nations Charter. It is further specified in the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, especially relevant is Article VI, Section 22, “Experts on Missions for the United Nations.” To enable mandate holders to carry out their assignments in accordance with best practices, it would be important for the Human Rights Council to insist that Member States live up to these obligations.

Full Report http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.nsf/5C9CAF890E561FED85257AD400545E5B/E4965C3A265268F885257B800065DD55 

Ali Abunimah: Yes, Gaza is still under siege

We stood on the wooden planks of a large, circular platform, big enough to park two cars.

The operator pressed the button and a warning horn sounded. A few seconds later the platform began to descend down the deep cement-lined shaft, guided by well-engineered steel rails, cables and motors on two sides.

In less than a minute we were at the bottom of the shaft, some 30 meters below, the bright sky a mere circle high above.

The air was cool and clammy and got cooler still as we walked off the platform into the tunnel mouth which was wide enough for one car.

Full Article 
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/yes-gaza-still-under-siege

OCHA: Monthly Humanitarian Monitor - April 2013

The growing levels of tension and violence recorded during April across the West Bank highlighted ongoing concerns related to the protection of civilians, particularly children.

By the end of April, the monthly average of Palestinian civilians injured by Israeli military forces in the West Bank, since the beginning of 2013, had reached a level twice as high as the 2012 monthly average (523 vs. 252). While nearly half the injuries this year were caused by inhalation of tear-gas, the monthly average of civilians injured by rubber-coated metal bullets and live ammunition more than tripled compared to last year (213 vs. 68). Additionally, since the start of the year, nine Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli forces, including two youths this month, compared to three in the equivalent period in 2012.

Full Report - 22 pages http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2013_05_24_english.pdf

Amnesty International 2013 Annual Report: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Israeli authorities held more than 4,500 Palestinian prisoners, including 178 administrative detainees at the end of the year, after a temporary decrease in numbers following Palestinian and international protests. Torture and other ill-treatment of detainees during arrest and interrogation was reported. Israel’s military blockade of the Gaza Strip continued to severely affect Gaza’s 1.6 million residents.

 The Israeli military continued to use excessive force against protesters in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT); in addition to 100 civilians killed during the November conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least 35 civilians in the OPT during the year. 

Full Report
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-2013   

Gisha Position Paper on Gaza Closure: Creeping Punishment

A new position paper by Gisha looks at what might be a new policy of closing Kerem Shalom Crossing and further restricting travel through Erez Crossing following rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. The position paper details the number of days during which movement through the crossings was restricted since rocket fire resumed in February. It examines the effects of the closures on both residents of Gaza and farmers in Israel, and reviews what has been said about the new policy in the security establishment. The paper also asks whether the closures constitute collective punishment in breach of international law.

Position Paper - 5 pages
http://www.gisha.org/UserFiles/File/publications/Creeping-Punishment/Creeping-Punishment-may2013-eng.pdf

PCHR: State of the Gaza Strip’s Border Crossings (1 April 2013 to 30 April 2013)

This report documents the impact of the ongoing Israel-imposed siege on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, which affects their economic and social conditions. The report addresses the state of commercial border crossings and the border crossings designated for the movement of people. It refutes Israel’s claims that it has eased the closure on the Gaza Strip, which it has imposed consecutively for almost six years now.

Full Report - 10 pages
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/2013/closure_report-4.pdf

Gisha: Real Data on the Gaza Closure - May 2013
http://www.gisha.org/UserFiles/File/publications/Info_Gaza_Eng.pdf

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights refutes findings of Israeli committee concerning killing of Mohammed al-Durrah

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) refutes the findings of the recently-published report from the Israeli Government Review Committee, titled ‘The France 2 Al-Durrah Report, its Consequences and Implications’, released on 19 May 2013.

The report examines the incident involving the killing of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammed al-Durrah, which occurred on 30 September 2000 at the Netzarim junction in the Gaza Strip. The Government Review Committee was set up in September 2012 upon the instruction of the Israeli prime minister, twelve years after the incident took place. The committee claims to have extensively reviewed material related to the incident.

Full Statement
http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9524:pchr-refutes-findings-of-israeli-committee-concerning-killing-of-mohammed-al-durrah&catid=145:in-focus

Al Mezan: Israeli Denial of Mohammed Al-Dorra Killing in 2000 Delusional; New Attempt to Exempt Forces from Responsibility for Violations of International Law
http://www.mezan.org/en/details.php?id=17053&ddname=crimes&id2=9&id_dept=9&p=center

Mondoweiss: Reporters Without Borders on the Israeli al-Dura investigation ‘the nature and substance of this report are questionable and give the impression of a smear operation’ http://mondoweiss.net/2013/05/investigation-questionable-impression.html

Adam Rose: The Truth of Muhammad Al-Dura - A Response to James Fallows (2003)
http://www.supportsanity.org/Articles/The%20Truth%20of%20Mohammed%20al-Dura%20Article.htm

B’Tselem: Harm to civilians significantly higher in second half of Operation Pillar of Defense

After several months of field research and crosschecking data, human rights organization B’Tselem published a report today (Thursday, 9 May 2013) reviewing harm to civilians in Operation Pillar of Defense. The report provides statistics on the numbers of Palestinians and Israelis killed over the course of the operation, which lasted from 14 to 21 November 2012. The report challenges the common perception in the Israeli public and media that the operation was “surgical” and caused practically no fatalities among uninvolved Palestinian civilians. Furthermore, the report finds that there was a significant difference between the first and the final days of the operation: of the uninvolved Palestinian fatalities, 80% were killed in the last four days of the operation.

Press Release
http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20130509_pillar_of_defense_report

Full Report - 30 pages
http://www.btselem.org/download/201305_pillar_of_defense_operation_eng.pdf

OCHA: Monthly Humanitarian Monitor - March 2013

The civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) continues to pay the price of ongoing conflict and violence, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

In response to the firing of rockets towards Israel by Palestinian armed groups, the Israeli authorities imposed a series of restrictions on the movement of people and goods to, from and within the Gaza Strip. These included the closure for a number of days of Kerem Shalom, the only functioning crossing point for goods between Israel and the Gaza Strip; further restrictions on the movement of people across the Erez Crossing; and halving the sea area accessible to fishermen, from six to three nautical miles from the coast. These restrictions have resulted in temporary shortages of some important goods and generally undermined the rights and livelihoods of the most vulnerable.

Full Report - 24 pages http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2013_04_29_english.pdf

2 PCHR Reports: Penalizing the Victim & An Illusion of Justice

The Israeli legislature and judiciary, through legislative amendments and recent decisions, have imposed various legal and procedural obstacles for the achievement of justice for victims. Significantly, these decisions result in a situation whereby victims are financially penalised for having pursued their legitimate right to access to justice by filing civil cases before the courts. This leads to the denial of individual victims’ legitimate right to an effective remedy, as well as the loss of considerable sums of money. As will be outlined in this report, such practices violate Israel’s obligations under customary international law. The State of Israel’s unwillingness to compensate Palestinian victims and make reparations for losses resulting from its military operations in the Gaza Strip is reflected in the treatment and outcomes of civil cases filed before Israeli courts to seek compensation on behalf of the victims.

Full Report - 30 pages
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/2013/Penalising%20the%20Victim-report.pdf

This report is an update of previous reports by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), which discuss the issues hindering the delivery of justice to Palestinian victims of violations of international law. It supports the conclusions of previous reports and provides an update with respect to the status of cases filed by PCHR, as of 25 March 2013. Specifically, this report concludes that the Israeli authorities are unwilling to conduct effective domestic investigations into cases which accuse Israeli forces of violating international law and, moreover, that such investigations cannot be conducted within the Israeli national system. The report will outline the issues which obstruct the investigation and prosecution of violations of international law in the Israeli military court system. For this purpose, the report will highlight the outcomes of cases arising from the 2008-2009 Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, ‘Operation Cast Lead’, during which 1,167 Palestinian civilians were killed, including 318 children and 111 women.

Full Report - 20 pages
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/2013/An%20illusion%20of%20Justice.pdf
　
Joint statement by Palestinian & Israeli orgs regarding civil compensation in Israeli courts
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/2013/2013-04-25%20Malaga%20Statement.pdf

PCHR: Israel’s Decisions to Close al-Dalu & al-Shawwa Cases Makes Mockery of Victims’ Rights & International Law

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) unreservedly condemns the decisions made by the Military Prosecutor of Operational Affairs to close the cases of the al-Dalu and al-Shawwa families without initiating prosecutions.

On 11 April 2013, PCHR received two responses from the Military Prosecutor of Operational Affairs stating that neither allegations of criminal violations nor violations of the law of war by a military body were found in the cases of al-Dalu and al-Shawwa.

The attack on the al-Dalu family took place on 18 November 2012, when an Israeli warplane bombed a civilian house belonging to the al-Dalu family, in al-Nasser neighborhood. 12 civilians were killed in the attack, including five children, five women and two young men, from the al-Dalu and al-Muzannar families. Six others in the neighboring houses were wounded.

In the attack on the al-Shawwa family that happened on 20 November 2012, an Israeli warplane targeted an apartment belonging to the family of Basel Mortada Sa'id al-Shawwa, on Baghdad street in al-Shuja'iya neighborhood, in eastern Gaza City. The attack resulted in the killing of four civilians, the woundeing of six passers-by who were in front of the apartment, and the complete destruction of the targeted apartment.

Full Statement
http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9414:israels-decisions-to-close-al-dalu-and-al-shawwa-cases-makes-mockery-of-victims-rights-and-international-law&catid=145:in-focus

PHR-Israel: The Palestinian Prisoners Hunger Strikes of 2012 - Political, Moral, Medical and Ethical Challenges

Ahead of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day (April 17th) - and in light of the prolonged hunger strike currently waged by Palestinian Prisoner Samer ‘Issawi, as well as recent reports detailing the deaths of several Palestinian security prisoners - PHR-Israel releases an extensive report exposing a long list of medical ethics and human rights violations carried out by the IPS, specifically by prison medical practitioners, that endangered the lives of prisoners and detainees on hunger strike. According to PHR-Israel, the violations are a direct result of situating prison medical services under the auspices of the IPS, which operate largely out of security considerations.

The struggle of Palestinian prisoners made headlines last year when five administrative detainees waged prolonged hunger strikes in protest of their detention. Ahead of last year’s Palestinian Prisoners’ Day just one year ago, 1,600 additional Palestinians launched a mass hunger strike as a show of support and solidarity with those already on prolonged strike, and in protest of the conditions of their incarceration. The hunger strikes made the Israeli and international publics conscious and aware of the arbitrary policies that the State of Israel and the IPS pursue and implement vis-à-vis Palestinian prisoners.

Press Release
http://phr.org.il/default.asp?PageID=116&ItemID=1732

Full Report - 49 pages
http://www.scribd.com/doc/135298869/The-Palestinian-Prisoners-Hunger-Strikes-of-2012-Political-Moral-Medical-and-Ethical-Challenges-Encountered-While-Treating-Palestinian-Prisoners-on

Addameer: Administrative Detention factsheet
http://stopadcampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/General-Fact-Sheet-English.pdf

Israeli Journalist Amira Hass Sparks Furor at Home for Defending Palestinian Right to Resist

Link to Video
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/4/10/israeli_journalist_amira_hass_sparks_furor

Part II



Link to Video
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2013/4/10/israeli_journalist_amira_hass_on_palestinian_resistance_peace_talks_and_us_foreign_policy_pt_2

Amira Hass: The inner syntax of Palestinian stone-throwing
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-inner-syntax-of-palestinian-stone-throwing.premium-1.513131

Al Haq Report: Water For One People Only - Discriminatory Access and ‘Water-Apartheid’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Al-Haq is pleased to announce the publication of its study “Water For One People Only: Discriminatory Access and ‘Water-Apartheid’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” which finds that Israel’s policies and practices in relation to water in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) amount to a system of ‘water-apartheid.’ The threshold for apartheid is met because the inhuman acts, committed against Palestinians through the denial of access to water in the OPT, are carried out systematically in the context of an institutionalised regime with the intent of establishing and maintaining Jewish-Israeli domination over Palestinians as a group.

While the Oslo Accords intended for greater access to the water resources in the OPT, Palestinians have less and less access to their natural resources today. Indeed, Palestinians have seen their access to water reduced from 118 million cubic meter (mcm) per year as promised by Oslo II to 98 mcm per year in 2010 – a decrease of almost 20 per cent.

Press Release
http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/topics/housing-land-and-natural-resources/695

Full Report - 53 pages
http://www.alhaq.org/publications/Water-For-One-People-Only.pdf

Letter from Gaza Based Human Rights Organizations to the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process

Four human rights organisations based in the Gaza Strip, along with the Palestinian NGO Network, have issued a letter to Mr Robert H. Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, expressing concern at a number of recent statements he has made.

Al Dameer Association for Human Rights, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and the Palestinian NGO Network issued the letter on 6 April 2013.

The organisations are deeply concerned by Mr Serry’s failure to condemn Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, as well as the harsh punitive measures taken by the Israeli authorities against the people of the Gaza Strip.

"Since November 2012, Israel has violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement dozens of times, firing at farmers on their land, fishermen at sea, and peaceful demonstrators near the border. These unwarranted attacks on civilians represent serious violations of international law and should be condemned. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, since the ceasefire came into effect, five Palestinians have been killed and 110 injured in the ‘buffer zone’ by Israeli forces."

Full Statement
http://www.mezan.org/upload/16727.pdf

Al Mezan: Quarterly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Gaza Strip

On Wednesday 3 April 2013, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights issued its quarter report on the Israeli violations of international humanitarian law against the population of the Gaza Strip during the first four months of 2013.  The report showed that two persons were killed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), 30 persons were injured, and 5 of whom were children.  In addition, the IOF arrested 45 Palestinians.  The report highlighted that the IOF carried out 13 limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.  It also showed that the IOF escalated attacks against fishermen; it carried out 38 attacks against them.

Press Release
http://www.mezan.org/en/details.php?id=16719&ddname=reports&id2=6&id_dept=14&p=center

Full Report (in Arabic only) - 18 pages
http://www.mezan.org/upload/16714.pdf

Dispelling the Myth of Israel's Ceasefire in Gaza

http://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/201322114141595734_8.jpg

Al Haq: Unequal Access to Water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

In the West Bank, some 313,000 Palestinians across 113 communities are not connected to a water network and are considered at high risk of water scarcity. Approximately 50,000 Palestinians in 151 communities live on less than 20 litres per capita daily, which is the minimum amount recommended by the World Health Organisation for “short-term survival” in emergency and disaster situations. In stark contrast, the more than 500,000 Israeli settlers residing in settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, consume approximately six times more water than the Palestinian population of almost 2.6 million. In the Gaza Strip, more than 1.6 million Palestinians have only one source of water available (the Coastal Aquifer), 90-95 per cent of which is unfit for human consumption.

Press Release
http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/targets/united-nations/684-unequal-access-to-water-in-the-opt-al-haqs-ten-day-focus-on-palestinian-water-rights

Water Factsheet #1: Geography and Hydrology of Water Resources in the OPT - 5 pages http://www.alhaq.org/images/stories/PDF/2012/Al%20Haq%20-factsheet%20_no_1_Geography%20and%20Hydrology_66.2013.pdf

Water Factsheet #2: Unequal Access to Water in the OPT - 5 pages
http://www.alhaq.org/images/stories/PDF/2012/factsheet_no_2_Israel's-Exercise-of-Sovereign-Rights-over-Water-Resources.pdf

Water Factsheet #3: Israel's Policies to Maintain Water Hegemony in the OPT - 5 pages
http://www.alhaq.org/images/stories/PDF/2012/Factsheet_no_3_Israels-Policies-to-Maintain-Hegemony.pdf

Water Factsheet #4: International Law and Water in the OPT - 6 pages
http://www.alhaq.org/images/stories/PDF/2012/factsheet_no_4_Legal_Analaysis.pdf

OCHA: Monthly Humanitarian Monitor - February 2013

Displacement has grave physical, social, economic and emotional impact on people. The main displacement triggers in the occupied Palestinian territory in recent years have included the breakup of hostilities, restrictive planning, settler activities and natural disasters. Developments and activities during February highlighted the situation of families recently displaced, or at risk of imminent displacement, as well as the role of humanitarian assistance in alleviating the resulting hardship.

In the Gaza Strip, over 2,400 people, whose homes were destroyed or damaged beyond repair during the November 2012 escalation in hostilities, are still displaced in rented accommodation or with host families. While reconstruction works are underway for about a third of the 382 affected homes, none has been completed. During the month, UN agencies, as well as the local authorities and a few NGOs, finalized the distribution of cash assistance to all the displaced families, aimed at covering rental expenses and the purchase of essential furniture and home items.

Full Report - 21 pages http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2013_03_25_english.pdf

B'Tselem: Lift the restrictions on the Gaza fishing range

This past Thursday (21 March 2013) the IDF spokesperson announced that the Israeli military will once again reduce the permitted fishing range in the Gaza Strip from six nautical miles to three (approximately 5.5km). This is in response to missile fire by armed Palestinian groups towards the south of Israel on Thursday morning. In doing so, the military reinstated the harsh restrictions imposed on Gaza's fishermen prior to Operation Pillar of Defense. Earlier, the military announced it will close the Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel in response to the shooting.

This past Thursday (21.03.2013) the IDF spokesperson announced that the Israeli military will once again reduce the permitted fishing range in the Gaza Strip from six nautical miles to three (approximately 5.5km).

Full Press Release
http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20130324_restrictions_on_fishing_should_be_lifted

Craig Corrie: Ten years on I want answers for my daughter Rachel Corrie

On March 16, 2003, my daughter Rachel Corrie was crushed to death under a bulldozer driven by an Israel Defense Forces soldier. The bulldozer was manufactured in the United States by Caterpillar, Inc. and paid for by U.S. foreign military financing aid. My tax dollars paid for the machine used to kill my daughter.

In a telephone conversation the next day, Israeli Prime Minister Sharon promised President Bush a “thorough, credible, and transparent” investigation into Rachel’s killing with a report to the U.S. Government. In response, April 24, 2003, our family received a printed PowerPoint presentation circulating in Congress purporting to explain the death of our daughter.

Full Article
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/288443-ten-years-on-i-want-answers-for-my-daughter-rachel-corrie

Andy Beale: Honouring Rachel Corrie, 10 years on
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/03/2013316131725108877.html

Phan Nguyen: Some thoughts on the 10-year anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie
http://mondoweiss.net/2013/03/thoughts-anniversary-rachel.html

Tom Wright & Therese Saliba: The Corries’ 10-Year Quest for Justice
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/03/15/the-corries-ten-year-quest-for-justice/

IMEU Fact Sheet: The killing of Rachel Corrie - Ten Years Later
http://imeu.net/news/article0023730.shtml

Mondoweiss: On the tenth anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s death her parents urge supporters to take action
http://mondoweiss.net/2013/03/anniversary-supporters-israelpalestine.html

World Bank: Palestinian Economy is Losing Long-Term Competitiveness

The World Bank’s latest Economic Monitoring Report stresses that while the donor community’s efforts are directed towards short-term relief for Palestinian fiscal stress, it is important to recognize that the prolonged system of closures and restrictions is causing lasting damage to the competitiveness of the Palestinian economy.

The report analyzes the state of the Palestinian economy and the PA’s fiscal position. The Bank’s analysis of the prospects for an economically viable Palestinian State in the near future remains largely unchanged: Palestinian institutions have the required capacity to exercise state functions, but Israeli-imposed economic restrictions continue to constrain sustainable economic growth.

This situation is unlikely to change as long as political progress remains absent. This latest report, however, offers new analysis by exploring the long-term damage to the competitiveness of the Palestinian economy wrought by the worsening fiscal situation and the absence of political progress.

Press Release
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/03/11/palestinian-economy-losing-long-term-competitiveness

Full Report - 30 pages
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWESTBANKGAZA/Resources/AHLCMarchfinal.pdf

World Health Organization: Barriers to health access in the occupied Palestinian territory, 2011 and 2012

The WHO oPt released a report which details the difficulties that thousands of Palestinian patients encounter in obtaining Israeli permits to access specialized health care in East Jerusalem, Jordan and Israel. Restrictions also affect access into Jerusalem for ambulances and health personnel from the West Bank to the East Jerusalem hospitals. The study used available data from Palestinian Authority ministries and from non-profit health providers to quantify and describe how Israeli movement restrictions in the West Bank and Gaza reduce access to health services for Palestinian patients and health providers, especially to East Jerusalem where the main Palestinian referral centers are located.

The WHO researchers also used interviews with patients, families, and health personnel and found that permits are difficult to obtain, limit the mode and place of entry of patients and are not always honored at designated checkpoints.

Full Report
http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/right-health-barriers-health-access-occupied-palestinian

UNICEF: Children in Israeli Military Detention - Observations and Recommendations

UNICEF today outlined practical measures that could be adopted to improve the treatment of Palestinian children who are in contact with the Israeli military detention system.

In a briefing paper titled Children in Israeli military detention: observations and recommendations, the children’s agency recommends measures so that Palestinian children in Israeli military custody are treated in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards.

Based on an analysis of the legal framework and testimonies from children on the violations of their rights in detention, the paper says there appears to be a pattern of ill-treatment during the arrest, transfer and interrogation of child detainees.

It includes a series of recommendations to improve protection for children in conformity with international standards such as the prohibition of blindfolding and solitary confinement of children.

Press Release
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_68093.html

Full Report http://www.unicef.org/oPt/UNICEF_oPt_Children_in_Israeli_Military_Detention_Observations_and_Recommendations_-_6_March_2013.pdf

OCHA: Monthly Humanitarian Monitor - January 2013

Events during January highlighted a number of on this issue longstanding concerns relating to the protection of the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), which have a negative impact not just on the physical security of people, but also on their sources of livelihood.  In six separate incidents during the month, Israeli forces shot and killed six unarmed civilians with live ammunition, including two minors and one woman.  The fact that none of the victims appeared to have posed any threat that would justify a recourse to lethal force raises serious concerns about possible violations of the right to life.  The Israeli army has opened military police investigations into only four of the six cases, raising additional concerns about a lack of accountability.  Two of this month’s civilian fatalities and 13 of the civilian injuries occurred in areas in the vicinity of Gaza’s perimeter fence, alongside almost daily incidents of ‘warning fire’ by Israeli forces.

Full Report - 25 pages http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2013_02_28_english.pdf

Human Rights Watch: Israeli Attacks Killed Civilians, Destroyed Homes in Gaza Without Lawful Justification

At least 18 Israeli airstrikes during the fighting in Gaza in November 2012 were in apparent violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today after a detailed investigation into the attacks. These airstrikes killed at least 43 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children.

Human Rights Watch field investigations found 14 strikes by aerial drones or other aircraft for which there was no indication of a legitimate military target at the site at the time of the attack. In four other cases, attacks may have targeted Palestinian fighters, but appeared to use indiscriminate means or caused disproportionate harm to civilians. Human Rights Watch did not attempt to investigate all Israeli airstrikes during the eight days of fighting called “Operation Pillar of Defense,” from November 14 to 21.

Full Report
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/12/israel-gaza-airstrikes-violated-laws-war