29 March 07

 
   New report: Crossing the Line  


B'Tselem's new report is a unique study on the infringement of the human rights of the tens of thousands of Palestinian workers staying in Israel without a permit.

As the occupying power in the Territories, Israel is legally responsible for the welfare of its residents and must take the actions necessary to create jobs there. So long as Palestinians depend on Israel for their livelihood, and the West Bank does not provide the means for earning a living, Israel must ease its closure policy and allow, following appropriate security checks, more Palestinians to enter the country to work.

 
Detained Palestinian undocumented workers. Photo: Kareem Jubran, B'Tselem.
Detained Palestinian undocumented workers. Photo: Kareem Jubran, B'Tselem.
 
   Israeli soldiers use two Palestinian minors as human shields  


Testimonies taken by B'Tselem reveal that during the army's operation in Nablus in late February, soldiers used two Palestinian children, a fifteen-year-old boy and a eleven-year-old girl, and a twenty-four-year old man as human shields.

The use of human shields constitutes a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and is explicitly and clearly prohibited by Israeli military orders. B'Tselem wrote to the Judge Advocate General and demanded that he immediately order a Military Police investigation into the matter. The JAG subsequently announced that such an investigation had been opened.

 
Jihan D'adush, one of the two children used as human shields
Jihan D'adush, one of the two children used as human shields
Photo: Salma Deba'i, B'Tselem

 

 
   Israel must evacuate new Hebron settlement  


On 19.3.2007, a new settlement was established in a Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron. The Army has redeployed its forces in the city of Hebron to defend the settlement. The new settlement is expected to seriously harm the human rights of the Palestinian residents of the area in which it was established. Due to this harm, and considering the illegality of settlements under international law, Israel is under an obligation to remove the settlement immediately.

The Ministry of Defence hinted at first that the possiblity of evacuating the new settlement is being considered, but as time passes, it is becoming clear that the political echelons have decided to allow the new settlement to remain.

 
The new settlement in Hebron. Photo: Issa 'Amro, B'Tselem
The new settlement in Hebron. Photo: Issa 'Amro, B'Tselem

 

 
   Israel prohibits fishing from Gaza and abuses fisherman  


According to research by B'Tselem, since June 2006, Israel has forbidden all boats, including the movement of fishing boats, off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The prohibition has seriously harmed the fishing sector, which provides a livelihood for many residents of Gaza. Fishermen who violate the prohibition risk being shot at by Israeli Navy craft.

In addition to the use of gunfire, in recent months, Israeli forces have adopted a practice of harassing and humiliating the fishermen.

 
A fisherman in Gaza.
A fisherman in Gaza.

 

 
   Knesset extends racist entry law for another year  


On 22 March 2007 the Knesset extended for fifteen months the validity of the racist statute that prevents family unification of residents of East Jerusalem and citizens of Israel married to Palestinians who are residents of the West Bank or the Gaza Strip.

 

 

I
I
I
I