Palestinian Council for Justice and Peace
A Periodical - Deals With The Israeli Violations - Issued by The PalestinianCouncil for Justice and Peace
May 2001
"We are the last of colonial powers. There are regimes that kill and oppress its citizens, yet nowhere in this world where one people dominates another by means of massive military power as we Israelis do", Shulamit Aloni.
Silence has become intolerable especially from those supposedly concerned with the issue of peace in Palestine and the Middle East in general. Every day the Palestinian people suffer more bloodshed, destruction and oppression at the hands of Israeli occupation. They stand astounded watching the irresponsible behavior of many members of the international community particularly Europe and the member states of the UN Security Council.
What are they waiting for? They must be aware, by now, of the agenda declared by the fundamentalist Jewish government under Sharon’s leadership calling for establishing Greater Israel in accordance with the teachings of the Torah and its total disregard to international legitimacy or the various agreements signed by successive Israeli governments. Where is the ethical and political responsibility of those states who provided so much to establish the state of Israel, help build its economy and make its army the most formidable and equipped it with conventional and non-conventional weapons.
The smell of war is quite prevailing in the Middle East these days. Yet, they have lost their sense for smelling the stench. In whose interest this war could be? Why these states, that adopt a double-standard policy, are unable to provide international protection for a people tormented for over a century?
The Palestinian people will never raise the white flag and would persevere with the struggle against Israeli occupation. This occupation is the root cause of what had befallen the Palestinian people for the past decades. As the primary source of extremism and violence, the Israeli occupation, is a flagrant violation of individual and collective Palestinian human rights.
When would their conscience compel them to respect their responsibilities and provide international protection for the Palestinian people?
Summary of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people during April 2001, month seven of the Intifada, the Palestinian popular uprising towards national independence.
For the seventh consecutive month, Israeli armed forces continued its barbaric campaign against the Palestinian people. Israeli forces used artillery, helicopters and tanks to shell Palestinian areas and destroyed dozens of homes in Hebron and in Bait Hanoun, Khan Younis and Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Israeli armored bulldozers dredged several posts of the Palestinian security forces. Dozens of Palestinian families were left homeless. The spiral of assassination of political activists continued despite international condemnation. Israeli forces dismembered the Gaza Strip into five “Cantons” severely restricting the movement of Palestinians from one section to another. Despite the barbaric Israeli campaign that aims to pressure the Palestinians into accepting Sharon’s scanty proposals, the Palestinian people had avowed to continue the struggle regardless of Israeli terror.
1.. During April 2001, Israeli occupation forces killed 13 Palestinians. 12 year-old Luai Tamimi, from Dair Nizam near Ramallah, died of a gunshot to the head. An Israeli sniper shot dead Ahmad Mahmoud al-‘Asir, a 15 year-old from Nusairat, in the Gaza Strip. 14 year-old Shawkat ‘Allama, from the village of Bait Ummar near Hebron, received a fatal bullet in the head. 10 and 15 year-old Bara’ al-Shaer from Rafah and Hamza Khader Issa from Gaza received bullets in the head. 16 year-old Rami Gharib, from Bethlehem, died from artillery shrapnel. Israeli soldiers shot dead 11 year-old Muhannad Nizar Muhareb in Gaza.
The total number of Palestinians killed since 28 September 2000 reached 491 persons by the end of April 2001.
2.. Israeli soldiers laid landmines near several Palestinian residential areas especially those close to army lines. 14 year-old Haneya Namili from Rafah lost a leg. Another landmine exploded in the same area and injured Jasem Abu-Meddain and Hani Shahin, 15 and 17 year-old respectively. Jessica ‘Abboud, a 4 year-old from Bethlehem, lost her right eye by a shrapnel of an artillery shell. Amani Mohammad Ghaneya, 2 years old, is under intensive care at Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem. Amani was in her father’s arms when a bullet penetrated the window and struck her tiny head. Ahmad Issa, 20 days old, was hospitalized for tear gas inhalation. Israeli soldiers had fired tear gas canisters into the family home. On 28 April 2001, Israeli soldiers fired heavy machine guns at the vehicle of Imad Qaraqe’i. Imad died instantly while his son suffered heavy injuries.
3.. Israeli forces used American-made helicopter gun-ships to assassinate Mohammad Abdel-Al, a 28 year-old Palestinian from Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. Helicopters fired anti-tank rockets at Abdel-Al’s vehicle killing him and wounding 4 passers by. In Jenin, Israeli agents planted an explosive device in a public telephone booth. Agents detonated the device by remote control when Iyad Hardan, a 30 year-old Palestinian activist, entered the booth and killed him instantly.
4.. Israeli occupation authorities consider each and every Palestinian a political activist that must be annihilated.
5.. On 26 April 2001, Israeli occupation forces killed 4 Palestinians by detonating an explosive device hidden in a cement block. The four who are members of Palestinian security forces attempted to defuse the device. Israeli soldiers in a nearby post detonated the device by remote control.
6.. Israeli troops, stationed near the Bait Hanoun Crossing in the Gaza Strip, fired heavy machine guns at a convoy of vehicles carrying Palestinian officials. Brigadier-General Abdel-Razzaq Majaideh (Head of Palestinian Security Forces), Brigadier-General Amin Hindi (Head of Intelligence) and Colonel Mohammad Dahlan (Head of Preventative Security in Gaza) were on their way back from a security meeting with Israeli counterparts held at the residence of the American ambassador to Israel in Tel Aviv. The Israeli action was a blatant attempt to assassinate the Palestinian officials.
7.. Palestinian Preventative Security uncovered a plot to assassinate a Fateh cadre in the city of Ramallah. Israeli agents delivered, through collaborators, a booby-trapped car to the cadre. An Israeli helicopter detonated the bomb by remote control when Palestinian officials drove the car to a secluded area in order to attempt defusing the bomb.
8.. Furthermore, Israeli troops fired heavy machine guns at Abdel-Hadi Natshe, a Palestinian activist, in the city of Hebron. Mr. Natshe was injured while his bodyguard died in the attempt.
9.. Israeli troops, using artillery, heavy machine guns and helicopter gun-ships shelled dozens of areas throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories. About 16 Palestinians were killed and 646 were injured. Four journalists were injured as they covered the Israeli drive into the Khan Younis Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. Three of the journalists work for Reuters while the fourth, Laila ‘Odeh, works for Abu-Dhabi News Agency. Ms. ‘Odeh received a bullet in the leg as she tried to cover Israeli troops destroying Palestinian homes in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
10.. A 70 year-old Israeli woman and four European peace activists were injured by Israeli fire. The five were part of a peaceful demonstration, held by European and Israeli peace activists at the entrance to Salfit, a besieged Palestinian town, in Northern West Bank. The demonstrators protested the Israeli brutal siege of Palestinian urban centers. Member of European Parliament Louisa Morgantini commented: “Occupation is violence and these soldiers are occupiers”.
11.. Israeli occupation forces confiscated 232 dunums of Palestinian land including 70 near the village of Dair Estia, 150 dunums near Habla in the Qalqilia District and 12 in the village of Jalameh near Jenin. The confiscated sites would be used for a by-pass road for settlers, a sewage pipe for Israeli settlements in the area and to set-up a new army post.
12.. Settlers in Kfar Daroum, an illegal Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, added more housing units to the settlement.
13.. On 4 April 2001, Israeli defense minister authorized plans to construct additional housing units in Dugheit, an illegal Israeli settlement, in northern Gaza Strip.
14.. On 5 April 2001, Israeli settlers began the construction of a new settlement near Bethlehem naming it “Tiqwa’a”.
15.. On 6 April 2001, the Israeli government called for tenders to construct 496 housing units in Ma’ale Adumim (East of occupied Jerusalem) and 212 units in Alfe Menashe (Near Qalqilia), two illegal Israeli settlements, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
16.. Israeli Daily Ha’aretz reported on 12 April 2001 that Israeli settlers began construction of 7-10 housing units on an archeological site in the city of Hebron.
17.. Israeli occupation forces began paving a new by-pass road linking Bet El, an illegal Israeli settlement near Ramallah, with occupied Jerusalem. The new road passes through properties belong to the villages of ‘Ain Yabroud and Beitin in the Ramallah District. The road construction devastated hundreds of dunums of fertile land.
18.. In a move to strengthen occupation presence in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces constructed a new by-pass linking Kessovim with Gush Qatif, a block of illegal Israeli settlements in the Strip. Israeli forces confiscated hundreds of dunums for the project. Land is very scarce in the Gaza Strip.
19.. Israeli bulldozers uprooted 1300 mature fruit and olive trees in addition to grapevines in Bethlehem, Dair Estia, Rafah and Salem.
20.. Taking advantage of military operations in the Gaza Strip, Israeli bulldozers dredged 1559 dunums of fertile land and uprooted hundreds of trees. The move dealt a severe blow to the fragile agricultural economy in Gaza. Farmers, who depend largely on local vegetable market, suffered great losses.
“Israel is the only state in the world, after the collapse of the Apartheid regime in South Africa, that systematically demolishes Palestinian homes. Under the guise of military orders, Israel deprives many Palestinians of their right to housing. This policy aims only to strengthen the grip of occupation on the Territories”. Jeff Hair, Coordinator of the Israeli Committee to Combat House Demolition, al-Quds Daily 16 April 2001.
21.. During April 2001, Israeli forces destroyed 109 houses in addition to 12 posts of the Palestinian security agencies in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
22.. In a surprise attack on 11 April 2001 Israeli troops destroyed 23 houses in Khan Younis Refugee Camp. According to agreements signed with the PLO this area is under PNA control. Another twenty houses were partially destroyed. Over 600 persons became homeless. On 15 April 2001, Israeli forces conducted a similar attack, using helicopter gun-ships and tanks, on the Rafah area in the Gaza Strip. 16 houses and 12 stores were totally destroyed. On 16 April, Israeli artillery, helicopters and naval vessels shelled the town of Bait Hanoun in northern Gaza and destroyed six posts of the Palestinian national security and 10 houses. Israeli forces also destroyed 20 houses in Hebron displacing its inhabitants.
Palestinian sources affirmed Israeli forces used ammunition containing phosphoric elements against Palestinian positions.
23.. Israeli bombardment burned 15 houses in Bethlehem and Hebron. Israeli troops occupied 8 homes in Gaza and took its inhabitants, 97 persons in total, as hostages. On 22 April, Israeli soldiers usurped the house of Salem Abu-Howley in Rafah and turned into a military post.
The Palestinian Ministry for Public Works affirmed Israeli occupation forces had destroyed about 25% of the major roads and highways in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israeli occupation authorities restricted the closure imposed on the Occupied Pal
estinian Territories even further hampering movement between cities, towns and villages. A distance that normally took half an hour before the siege it now takes over two hours. Nowadays, Palestinians cross on foot the rough mountainous terrain in the West Bank in order to avoid Israeli troops and settlers. Soldiers manning roadblocks on major highways or even dirt roads would detain travelers for hours. Israeli army dug deep trenches across many of the West Bank and Gaza roads. Movement of Palestinian inhabitants in the city center of Hebron is severely restricted. The area has been under curfew since the beginning of the uprising on 28 September 2000. The 500 Jewish settlers in Hebron are free to roam about most often totting their weapons recklessly at Palestinian civilians.
24.. Thousands of laborers lost their source of income as Israeli authorities denied them the right to travel. Ratio of poverty rose sharply in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Commerce came to a near halt. Even the sick and wounded in the countryside were unable to travel to the city for necessary medical care.
25.. Israeli troops stormed into refugee camps, towns and villages mostly during night hours. Soldiers setup surprise roadblocks throughout the territories. A total of 97 Palestinians were arrested including 8 journalists and 8 fishermen. Israeli police arrested another 300 Palestinians for entering Israel without permit.
26.. Mohammad Daghamin, a 27 year-old political prisoner with a heart problem, died at Mageddo Military Detention Compound because of medical negligence. The Compound’s administration denied him medical care.
A seminar about Palestinian female political prisoners held in Nablus affirmed approximately 10,000 Palestinian females had gone through the Israeli prison system since 1967. The Prisoners’ Club and the Women Affairs Committee organized the seminar.
27.. Israeli troops arrested a six-member team of Palestine Television on 25 April 2001. The team was on the way to Nablus.
28.. On 4 April 2001, Israeli occupation authorities prohibited the Palestinian Awqaf (Religious Affairs) Ministry from holding the annual Festival of Prophet Moses. Palestinians have held the annual festival near Jericho since 1187 A.D.
29.. On 7 April 2001, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon instructed Israeli security agencies to take necessary measures that would allow Jews to enter al-Aqsa Mosque. The provocative instructions constitute a deliberate attempt to fuel the already raging religious sentiments in the region. If successful, such move would trigger a regional religious war. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest shrine for Moslems after Mecca and Medina. Heading Sharon’s remarks, dozens of Jewish extremists tried to break into the holy site but were turned back by Moslem worshipers.
30.. On 8 April 2001, Israeli troops fired anti-tank rockets into the cemetery of al-Bireh, near Ramallah. The rockets destroyed several tombs and caused extensive damage to others.
31.. On 8 April 2001, Israeli armed settlers stormed into al-Aqbat Mosque in Hebron. The settlers vandalized the premises and tore copies of the Holy Quran.
32.. On 8 April 2001, Israeli forces turned the occupied city of Jerusalem into one huge army post on the eve of Easter. Palestinian Christians were unable to participate in Easter rituals because of Israeli restrictions.
33.. On 19 April 2001, Jewish extremists inaugurated a new museum near al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The museum displays a replica of the Temple that Jewish fundamentalists plan to build over the ruins of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Moroccan King Mohammad the 6th condemned Israeli attacks on religious and holy sites in Jerusalem. The monarch called upon the international community to intervene and put an end to Israeli intransigence.
34.. On 21 April 2001, Israeli police and soldiers stormed into al-Aqsa Mosque after Friday prayers and assaulted Moslem worshipers. Soldiers used excessive force including tear gas canisters.
35.. On 24 April 2001, Israeli army ordered al-Haram al-Ibrahimi in Hebron closed to Moslem worshipers.
36.. On 16 April 2001, Israeli bulldozers began paving a new road through the cemetery of al-Birweh in northern Israel. Human remains were seen all over the site. Al-Birweh is one of 465 Palestinian villages destroyed by Israel after 1948. The village is the birthplace of Palestinian illustrious poet Mahmoud Darwish.
37.. Israeli punitive measures severely restricted the movement of students and teachers throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the beginning of the uprising on 28 September 2000.
38.. On 1 April 2001, Israeli soldiers fired their machine guns into Rahma Elementary School at al-Ta’amrah village near Bethlehem. Students had to be treated for shock and intensive fear. On 9 April, Israeli forces shelled Bithunia, west of Ramallah. Shells landed at a kindergarten where 45 children, under the age of 6, were trapped. Also, the town’s secondary school was hit by machine gun fire. The shelling caused panic among the students.
39.. On 12 April, Israeli troops raided the Horticulture College at al-‘Aroub Refugee Camp north of Hebron and arrested several of its staff.
40.. On 14 April, Israeli occupation forces handed teachers at Jalameh Secondary School orders to report to Israeli intelligence in the area.
41.. On 19 April, Israeli troops shelled the elementary school at ‘Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem causing extensive material damage. In the Nablus District, Israeli forces stormed into Hawwara Secondary School firing live ammunition and tear gas canisters into classrooms. On 24 April, Israeli authorities ordered the school closed for 21 days. On 21 April, Israeli soldiers fired heavy machine guns at Tayasir School in the Nablus District causing extensive material damage.
42.. On 5 April 2001, Nisreen Salah from al-Khader, a town near Bethlehem, had a miscarriage after Israeli soldier threw tear gas canisters into her home.
43.. On 9 April 2001, Israeli forces prohibited a German medical delegation from entering Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The delegation’s attempts to explain they were on a humanitarian mission to offer aid to Palestinian children were unsuccessful. Head of the delegation, Professor Victoria Fils commented: “We were asked to stop and turn back. We tried to explain the purpose of our visit was to offer humanitarian assistance to Palestinian children. The soldiers, waving their weapons in our face, ordered us to shut up and go back. As we got into the car they fired at us and we panicked”.
44.. Israeli soldiers fired upon an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society injuring it team. The ambulance was totally burned.
45.. On 1 April 2001, Israeli occupation authorities banned imports of dairy products to the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces, at the outskirts of Nablus, prohibited a Japanese delegation of unionists from entering the city. The delegation was supposed to meet counterparts in the Palestinian Federation of Labor Unions.
46.. On 3 April 2001, dozens of armed Israeli settlers stormed into the village of Kafr-Eddik near Salfit and vandalized Palestinian homes. Also, reckless settlers using high-powered explosives destroyed a bakery and five stores in the city of Hebron.
47.. On 5 April 2001, a Jewish extremist organization declared its responsibility for an attack on Palestinian civilians near Hebron. The organization, named “Safety on the Roads” announced intentions to carry further attacks.
48.. On 14 April 2001, Israeli settlers, using batons and rifle butts, assaulted Ahmad Abu-Suhwail, a 26 year-old Palestinian from Khan Younis, while he was tending his farm.
49.. On 23 April 2001, settlers from Yitzhar, an illegal Israeli settlement near Nablus, stole 400 heads of sheep from farmers in Madama a nearby village. Other settlers attacked Palestinian farmers from Bait Fourik, a village in Nablus District, and prohibited them, at gunpoint, from tending their farms.
50.. On 24 April 2001, Israeli soldiers forced two Palestinian men and one woman to sit on the turret of a tank as they stormed into the village of Nahalin near Bethlehem. The 4th Geneva Convention prohibits the use of civilians as “Human Shields” by occupation forces.
51.. On 24 April 2001, Israeli soldiers assaulted 35 year-old Mohammad al-Jeyawi near Hebron. He was transferred to hospital suffering fractures and internal bleeding.
52.. On 25 April 2001, settlers from Psagot, an illegal Israeli settlement near Ramallah, fired machine guns at a group of Palestinian children playing soccer. Ussama Tabanja, 14 year-old from al-Bireh, was rushed to hospital for gun wounds.
53.. On 25 April 2001, settlers from Pisgat Ze’ev, an illegal Israeli settlement north of occupied Jerusalem, assaulted 48 year-old Mohammad Ibrahim Ghanem and pulled one of his eyes out.
54.. On 25 April 2001, members of the Israeli Border Guard burned down a bus. The vehicle belongs to the ‘Arqoub Bus Company in Bethlehem. Art and Cultural Activities Continue Despite Siege
55.. The Occupied Palestinian Territories witnessed a series of artistic and cultural activities during last April. The city of Khan Younis in Gaza Strip held the 8th Annual Reading Week. The Ramallah Public Library and the Tamer Institute organized another reading week that included seminars and workshops on children books. An-Najah University in Nablus held a photo exhibition titled “Memories of Palestine”. The exhibition included old maps of Palestine showing exact coordinates of 465 Palestinian villages destroyed by Israelis after 1948.
56.. Commemorating Land day (30 March) an exhibition of folkloric art and photos depicting Palestinian social life, the uprising and the viciousness of occupation was held in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. The Palestine Polytechnic in Gaza organized another photo exhibition titled “Return to the Land”. Displays illustrated the history of Palestinian struggle over the past decades.
57.. Commemorating the international Day of the Child, thousands of students participated in peaceful demonstrations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Students wore black cloth bands over their arms to protest crimes by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian children. They also carried banners calling upon the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian population. Additionally, athletic and social clubs organized tournaments and cultural activities to commemorate the Day.
58.. On 2 April 2001, Israeli Tourism Minister Rahba’am Ze’evi demanded shelling of President Arafat’s residence. Israeli Labor Minister Shlomo Bin Eizri seconded Ze’evi’s demand and called for “Painful” strikes against the Palestinian people. Apparently, Prime Minister Sharon did heed his ministers’ calls.
59.. Former Director of Rabin’s Office Eitan Haber said: “Sharon has nothing new at his disposal that Israel had not tried against the Palestinians. Practically speaking Sharon does not have any military or political plans”.
60.. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon affirmed: “Israeli settlers in the [West Bank] are a symbol of heroism. They not only defend themselves but they defend us. Those living in Hebron are safeguarding the city of our forefathers for us all. Hebron was a Jewish settlement and would stay as such forever”. Ha’aretz 2 April 2001.
61.. “The silence of the Israeli government regarding violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Arabs and blowing up their property in Hebron makes this government an accomplice to the settlers and thus it is fully responsible for such actions”. Yossi Sarid, Ma’ariv 3 April 2001.
62.. “Minorities in Israel never enjoyed full civil rights because successive Israeli governments administered the state as a state for Jews only in total disregard of the minorities”. LIKUD member and former minister of defense Moshe Arens, Ha’aretz 3 April 2001.
63.. “The current Intifada turned settlers into soldiers serving in the West Bank and Gaza. This gives more weight to international condemnation regarding the settlements and to the Palestinian demand calling for a halt to the construction of settlements”. Danny Rubenstein, Ha’aretz 9 April 2001.
64.. “Let God annihilate the Arabs and vanish them off the face of earth. We must hit these cursed criminals with rockets”. Leader of SHAS Rabbi ‘Uvadia Yousif, 11 April 2001.
65.. Commenting on the Rabbi’s racist statements, Dr. ‘Attallah Hanna, Spokesperson for Orthodox Church said: “These are racist, inhuman and unethical statements. We are deeply troubled by many countries that trumpet respect for human rights yet it ignores Israeli atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, displacement and murder, against the Palestinians”.
66.. Arab diplomats condemned the racist remarks by ‘Uvadia Yousif. Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa called it “Racist and a plain call to murder Arabs”. The Islamic Organization for Education, Culture and Science interpreted the statements as “An obvious signal for more violence and aggression against the Palestinian people and the Arab and Moslem nations”.
67.. “I came out of the meeting with President Yasser Arafat totally convinced that he is genuinely interested to go back to the negotiation table. Mr. Arafat, no doubt, is a true partner. He is the recognized leader of the Palestinian people that we must negotiate with. There is utmost urgency to implement the signed agreements”. Yossi Beilin, al-Ittihad 12 April 2001.
68.. On 17 April 2001, Secretary of the Israel-Palestine Dialogue Committee Latif Douri called for bringing down Sharon’s government. He called upon the international public opinion to provide international protection for the Palestinian people and to express solidarity with them in their struggle for freedom and independence”.
69.. “The mighty army had failed to put off the flame of the Intifada despite the use of artillery, helicopters, tanks, demolition of homes and uprooting trees. The Palestinian people are steadfast and continue their struggle for the seventh consecutive month”. Uri Avneri, Ha’aretz 17 April 2001.
70.. “The Palestinian offer to turn the internationally recognized 1967 Green Line to neighborly borders between two states (Israel and Palestine) is a generous offer that Israel should accept in order to ensure a secure future for herself in the region”. Amira Hess, Ha’aretz 18 April 2001.
71.. “Sharon no longer needs cunning to hide unyielding Israel policies that seek to usurp more Palestinian land. Israeli reservists should refuse to serve in this dirty war Israel is fighting against the Palestinians”. Tania Reinhart, Yedi’ot Ahronot 18 April 2001.
72.. “Sharon’s repeated statements reveal exactly what he thinks of. He forces the Palestinians to reject his offers. The price is the continuation of the conflict. Sharon offers the Palestinians only 42% of the West Bank and Gaza, rejects any settlement on Jerusalem, refuses to withdraw from the Jordan Valley and declines to evacuate even the remote settlements”. Ze’ev Schiff, Ha’aretz 18 April 2001.
73.. “In its drive into Gaza, Sharon’s government is following the steps of the Milosovich government. Sharon can go to the International Criminal Court (For war crimes) at the Hague by himself”. Akiva Aldar quoting Israeli Transport Minister Efraim Sneh, Ha’aretz 24 April 2001.
74.. “Yasser Arafat ranks first among those who sought peace over the past decade. No one can deny this truth. Arafat appears, compared to other regional leaders, a true peacemaker. He courageously believed in peace, worked pragmatically towards achieving it, and is ready to pay the price for the sake of peace”. Ibrahim Nafi’e, al-Ahram 19 April 2001.
75.. “The Israeli occupation must end and sovereignty over Jerusalem must be Palestinian. The Palestinians have every right to establish an independent state on the entire occupied territories”. Archbishop Michael Sabbah.
76.. “The decades-long tragedy of the Palestinian people continues because of American condoned Israeli policies”. Dr. Hanna Attallah, Spokesperson of the Orthodox Church, al-Quds 21 April 2001.
77.. “No one can blame the Palestinians. The current confrontations are normal reaction to a series of Israeli provocations. Colonization [of Palestinian land] contravenes international law and the basis of the peace process. Egypt strongly condemns these activities”. Amr Moussa, Egyptian Foreign Minister.
78.. On 1 April 2001, Belgian NGOs held a series of activities, attended by several members of the Belgian Parliament, in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Participants condemned Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine.
79.. On 1 April 2001, the Special Representative of the European Union Mr. Michael Muratinus affirmed the Union concerns over Sharon’s policies in the aftermath of a massacre when Israeli forces killed six Palestinian demonstrators in Nablus. He said: “We are gravely concerned over the death of Palestinians. This situation must not continue”.
80.. A press release by European and Mediterranean NGOs to the European Union urged the Union to “Take a prompt decision to send a force to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to serve as a buffer between Palestinian civilians and Israeli occupation forces. The deployment of the force could be a step towards Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories”.
81.. On 1 April 2001, Danish Foreign Minister called for immediate cessation to Israeli policies of expanding settlements and of collective punishment against the Palestinian people.
82.. “The international community cannot stand silent watching children being killed by Israeli troops”. Pierre Sanieh, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.
83.. On 7 April 2001, the United Nations Human Rights Committee asserted the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and to an independent state as an essential prerequisite for a permanent peace in the Middle East.
84.. On 8 April 2001, the Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed: “Russia opposes the construction of new Jewish settlements in the Palestinian Territories and calls upon Israel to abandon such projects. This unilateral action contravenes international law and adds fuel to the raging fire of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
85.. On 24 April 2001, American ex-president Bill Clinton stated: “Arafat definitely wants peace with Israel”.
86.. On 25 April 2001, American ex-president Jimmy Carter affirmed: “I hope the Bush administration would take a more balanced position regarding peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians”.
87.. On 24 April 2001, Dr. Nancy Murray, Member of an American delegation on a visit to the Palestinian Territories stated: “The American media only trumpets the Israeli viewpoint and does not reflect the actual situation on the ground. The entire Palestinian people are suffering from Israeli aggression and excessive violence. Yet, American media does not care to show it”.
88.. On 21 April 2001, American Congressman John Dingle expressed discomfort over the American administration persistence to hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for the current confrontations. Yet, he refused to publicly denounce Israel for its damaging actions to the peace process.
89.. “There is no military solution to the Middle East conflict. Negotiations must be resumed on the basis of land for peace principle”. French President Jacque Chirac, al-Quds 25 April 2001.
90.. “There is no alternative to peace in the Middle East”. Spanish Foreign Minister, al-Quds 25 April 2001.
The Palestinian people raise rightful questions about the European role in the Middle East. A Spokesperson for the European Presidency acknowledged incapability to influence the course of actions in the Middle East. Was Europe incapable when its fighter jets bombed Yugoslavia and its troops went into Kossovo to protect civilians? Did Europe stand silent when it came to East Timor? Europe forced Indonesia to withdraw and provided international protection for the inhabitants of East Timor. The European incapacity means US hegemony over the world.
Peopel Under Occupation, May 2001
A Periodical - Deals With The Israeli Violations
Issued by The Palestinian
Council for Justice and Peace
P.O.Box 874-Ramallah/19545-Jerusalem Tel:972-2-2986601/ Fax:972-2-2980426
E-Mail :pcjp@palnet.com