B'Tselem's 2004 activities: Summary and highlights

In 2004, B’Tselem released six new publications addressing the Separation Barrier, family unification, punitive house demolitions, restrictions on movement, and security force violence. These publications were produced in both Hebrew and English and distributed to more than 10,000 individuals and organizations including government and military officials, academics, diplomats, NGO’s, journalists, and interested individuals.

B’Tselem continued to be the primary information source on human rights in the Occupied Territories. B’Tselem regularly updated local policymakers and the diplomatic community on human rights developments in the Occupied Territories, and gave presentations to visiting foreign policymakers and delegations from around the world. B’Tselem’s trilingual website and email newspaper continued to provide easily accessible information and updates. The site now receives more than 1,500 visitors per day, and the email newspaper has more than 8,500 subscribers. B’Tselem worked extensively with the media; issuing press releases, accompanying journalists into the field, and giving interviews, which resulted in hundreds of B’Tselem appearances in the local and foreign press on subjects such as the Separation Barrier, checkpoints, military accountability, and house demolitions in Rafah.

During the IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, B’Tselem played a crucial role in providing real-time information on the situation, particularly regarding the extent of house demolitions, and the high percentage of civilian casualties. Following an outcry from within Israel and abroad, plans for even more widespread demolitions were cancelled.

B’Tselem continued to serve as a primary resource regarding all aspects of the Separation Barrier for the public, policymakers and the media. In addition to publishing two reports on the topic, B’Tselem regularly produced updated maps, statistics and analysis, which were made available in printed format and on the organization’s website, and remain in constant demand. B’Tselem escorted journalists, documentary filmmakers, diplomats, Jewish communal leaders, and other groups to see the Barrier and meet those affected by it. Information from B’Tselem also served as the basis of legal petitions submitted by other human rights organizations. The precedent-setting ruling of Israel’s High Court in June 2004 was clearly the fruit of the efforts of B’Tselem and all the other organizations that documented the facts, pursued legal advocacy and generated public attention to the disastrous implications of the Separation Barrier. The ruling resulted in a freeze on construction while Israel reevaluates the entire route of the barrier. The updated route of the Barrier has not yet been officially presented or approved, but media reports indicate that there will be a number of substantial improvements.

B’Tselem’s checkpoint monitoring team continued to travel to checkpoints around the West Bank on a regular basis, and escorted Members of Knesset, former security officials, and journalists. These tours, as well as group study tours organized by B’Tselem, enable participants to form a firsthand impression of the siege and speak out on this issue. The tours frequently generated additional media attention.

B’Tselem continued its major campaign on Israel’s siege policy, which began in 2003, to raise awareness among the Israeli public and policymakers about the devastating effects of the checkpoints and roadblocks inside the West Bank. As part of the campaign, B’Tselem conducted extensive work with the media, placed internet banners on major Israeli news websites, and distributed a pocket-guide to soldiers staffing checkpoints. B’Tselem also released a music video entitled "Eyes Wide Open” featuring well-known Israeli artists and footage taken at roadblocks and checkpoints within the West Bank. Over 36,000 people viewed the video on B’Tselem’s website. B’Tselem’s campaign generated hundreds of responses from Israelis across the political spectrum. The campaign also drew widespread media attention and resulted in several positive initiatives by policymakers, including the establishment of a Knesset "Checkpoint Watch" group, and an IDF committee to investigate the functioning of checkpoints.

To coincide with the release of a report on Israel’s policy of punitive house demolitions, B’Tselem produced a short video focusing particularly on children as victims of Israel’s demolition policy. Over 30,000 people viewed the video on B’Tselem’s website, and thousands more saw it aired in movie theaters across Israel. The Knesset Law Committee convened a special session on the basis of the report, to which B’Tselem was invited to testify. IDF Chief of Staff, Moshe Ya’alon, announced the establishment of a special committee to evaluate the military’s policy on house demolitions.

B’Tselem continued to aggressively pursue accountability for members of the security forces who commit human rights violations. This was a central message of B’Tselem’s public education activities in 2004, including advertisements in the newspapers, extensive work with the press and several appearances before the Knesset Law Committee. B’Tselem’s work on this topic succeeded in generating substantial media attention and fostering public debate on military accountability and the morality of the IDF. B’Tselem also continued advocacy regarding individual cases, sending dozens of cases to the investigation units asking that they open investigations into wrongdoing by soldiers or police officers. B’Tselem was instrumental in obtaining the first conviction in five years of a Border Police officer for abusing Palestinians and of a soldier on the charge of manslaughter.