PALESTINIAN
NGOs PROTEST VIOLATIONS OF PALESTINIANS’ RIGHT TO SECURITY AND INSIST
THAT NO LASTING PEACE WILL BE REACHED UNTIL SETTLEMENTS ARE COMPLETELY
DISMANTLED.
In
light of the recent escalation of violence and killing in the
Palestinian Occupied Territories and Autonomous Areas (including
Jerusalem), the Palestinian Network of
Non-Governmental Organizations (PNGO) wishes to express its grave
concern and sorrow over
recent events which have left the Palestinian population feeling
terrorized, helpless and insecure.
Responsibility for these developments lies upon the state of
Israel, which has acted in violation of its duty to conform to
international standards of conduct in regard to Palestinian civilians.
Over
the past two weeks, over 106 people have been killed and around 4000
injured, almost all of whom Palestinian and, many, children.
The perpetrators of these murderous acts have been mostly Israeli
occupation soldiers and armed Israeli civilians.
The
fact that Israeli troops have used excessive force in contravention of
international law has been recognized and condemned by the international
community in UN Security Council Resolution 1322, adopted on 7 October
2000. However, of equal or
even greater concern to us is the rise of violence being carried out
against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settler civilians in the
Occupied Territories?
Israeli
civillian violence
Since
the night of 7 October 2000, gangs of settlers have been attacking
Palestinian towns, villages, automobiles, schools, homes and shops,
often under the cover of darkness, throwing rocks, shooting live
ammunition and setting firebombs. Particularly
disturbing was the case of Isam Hamad Judeh, 36, from the village of Um
Safa, who was found dead on 9 October near Pisgot settlement. Evidance
suggests that he was tortured to death.
Heartbreaking
was the case of Sara Abdul Haq, an 18-month old baby girl from Nablus
who was shot dead by a settler while sitting on her mother’s lap.
The perpetrator of this crime was shooting at Palestinian cars
passing through Za’atara
junction near the settlements of Elon Moreh
and Ariel. Other
members of the victim’s family were also injured in the attack.
In
almost all cases of settler attacks, Israeli security forces have done
little to nothing to protect Palestinian victims.
Indeed, in many cases, police and soldiers have sided with
rioting settlers, turning their gunfire on unarmed Palestinians trying
to defend their homes and property.
A
history of illegal activity
As
of last year, Israel was maintaining 158 settlements in the West Bank,
at least 16 in East Jerusalem and 19 in Gaza, with a total settler
population of approximately 364,000.
The impact of settlements has been disastrous for Palestinians,
fracturing the territorial integrity of their lands, altering the
demographic makeup, exploiting scarce water resources and generally
frustrating hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state.
The
construction and expansion of Jewish colonies on occupied territory in
the West Bank and Gaza strip have been illegal, under international
humanitarian law, from their inception.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states unequivocally:
“The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own
civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
Moreover,
the international community has repeatedly denounced Israeli settlement
policy. Twice in 1979, 1980
and again in 1994 the UN Security Council expressed concern over illegal
Israeli construction in the Occupied Territories as an obstacle to
peace.
A
threat to Palestinian security
Violent
attacks by vigilante settlers against Palestinians are not new.
But the recent escalation of conflict has also seen a rise in
Israeli civilian violence. As
a result, the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
currently finds itself under siege, facing serious violations of their
right to security.
While
Israel has retained all functions of authority over the Palestinian
Territories at its own insistence, its continuing violation of its duty
to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians under occupation cannot be
justified by any plausible reason of military necessity.
Both the UN Security Council as well as independent,
international observers concur that during the events of these days,
Israel has failed to conform to international standards of acceptable
conduct.
Israel
claims that a primary reason for establishing settlements has been to
ensure “security” but the exact opposite has been effected.
By constructing and populating Jewish colonies with armed, often
fanatical residents, and by failing to ensure the security of
Palestinian civilians, Israel has nourished a climate ripe for conflict
and the perpetration of crimes against Palestinians.
In
light of the above, PNGO demand:
That
Israel comply with articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention obliging it
to ensure the security and protection of the Palestinian civilian
population;
That
High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions fulfil their
OBLIGATION to ensure compliance with the treaty by using all reasonable
means to force Israel to guarantee the security of Palestinian
civilians;
That
in the absence of adequate measures taken by Israel or by High
Contracting Parties, the UN Security Council take direct action to
ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians;
That
Israel apprehend and prosecute its civilians who carry out acts of
terror and violence against Palestinian civilians.
PNGO-Network
18
October 2000
Jerusalem, Palestine
