WILPF Middle East Committee STATEMENT ON PALESTINE, 2010

If we compare conditions in Palestine today with those that existed a year ago, we find that conditions have continued to decline, with a few exceptions, and the Palestinians as a whole—East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza—are in worse condition today in terms of human rights than they were a year ago. The problem, of course, is Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestine. The solution is to end the occupation and to end the siege of Gaza.

EAST JERUSALEM

The Israeli government has served notices of eviction or of house demolition on 88 families in Silwan, on 55 families in Ras Al Amoud, and on 104 familes in Sheik Jarrah.

The Israeli High Court upheld the eviction of 54 people from their two houses in Sheik Jarrah, even though the families had been living there since they were forced out of their original homes in l948, and two families in the Old City of Jerusalem were forced to demolish their own houses.

The government of Israel also authorized the building of 104 new homes in Ras Al Amoud, 666 new homes in Har Homa settlement in East Jeru1salem, and 600 in Pisgat Zeev, and homes for 1500 new residens in Maale Adumim. Because of Palestinian protests about perceived threats to the Haram Al Sharif due to the opening of the Hurva Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, Palestinian access to the Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount for a time was restricted to men over 55 and women and to no Palestinians from the West Bank. Similar restrictions occurred when Palestinians in Silwan protested strongly the right wing march through their village led by the fanatic, anti-Arab Baruch Martzel.

In other words, the seizure of land and displacement of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem have increased not decreased in the past year and the intentional incitement by Marzel of strong protests or riots has occurred for the first time.

The immediate introduction of U.N. peacekeeping forces into East Jerusalem would alleviate some of the problems.

THE WEST BANK

• The situation in the West Bank has also declined, although there are some improvements, for example, in freedom of movement since Israel has removed some roadblocks and checkpoints, and in land reclamation, since the IDF after several years finally obeyed the High Court of Israel and moved the separation wall from some land belonging to the village of Bil’in.
• Israel has previously authorized the building of 3000 new homes in the West Bank and has just authorized the building of 112 new homes for settlers in Betar Illit and 1600 in Ramat Shlomo, although the government, under pressure from the US, has agreed not to begin to build for four months.
• The leaders of the Palestinian Authority supported non-violent weekly protests in Beit Umar, Bil’in, Nil’in and elsewhere in the West Bank have been arrested in the middle of the night and imprisoned without charges.
• Members of Hamas, Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade (Fatah), Islamic Jihad and PFLP have been seized and imprisoned by the IDF and also by the Palestinian Authority Police funded by the US and directed by retired US Gen. Keith Dayton.
• Hamas members especially have been targeted by the Palestinian Police, at least several each week being arrested, and Hamas affiliated government employees—doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, teachers, etc.—have been systematically fired from their jobs because the U.S. unjustly calls Hamas “terrorist” and thus requires the Palestinian Authority Police to arrest or otherwise persecute Hamas affiliates.
• Israel demolishes homes in the West Bank built without an Israeli permit, even in areas under Palestinian civil control.
• There are still severe restrictions on travel and on access to the holy places in Jerusalem
• Israel has just issued a law designating as “infiltrator,” i.e., someone who can be imprisoned or deported, anyone living in the West Bank without a valid Israeli permit. Many Palestinians from refugee camps in Jordan or Syria or Lebanon or Palestinians from Gaza, who have married spouses in the West Bank and who reside there now with their children, can be deported under this new law, as can international spouses or NGO workers such as CPT (Christian Peacemaker Team) or the Ecumenical Observers, who seek to secure Palestinians from settler or IDF violence.
• Perhaps the most reprehensible new phenomenon, however, is the greatly increased settler violence against the Palestinians, as, for example, the attacks on two mosques within the past several months, one of which was burned down, and the attacks on Palestinian villages and orchards. The settlers define this violence as the “price tag” that the Palestinians will pay when the Israeli government, under pressure from the US, freezes even temporarily the building in the settlements.
• In other words, many peaceful Palestinians in the West Bank are less secure in their own homes than they were a year ago. The immediate introduction of U.N. peacekeeping forces into the West Bank would alleviate many of the problems.

Gaza

• The situation in Gaza is far more disastrous for the Palestinians than their situations in East Jerusalem or the West Bank. Since 2007 Gaza has been under a siege which has prevented most goods from entering or leaving Gaza and has thereby destroyed its economy. And Gaza a year and three months ago was devastated by Operation Cast Lead, which destroyed 4000 housing units, 211 factories, 24 mosques, 159 schools, 34 health institutions, and damaged 50 United Nations buildings. Moreover, at least 1387 people were killed: 1054 civilians, including 109 women and 320 children. (B’Tselem’s figures)

• Because of the war and the siege, Gaza has suffered health epidemics, including greatly increased birth defects and leukemia.