Monday, October 24, 2011

Join Welcome to Palestine 2012

Join Welcome to Palestine 2012, which begins on Sunday April 15th with flights from many international airports to Occupied Palestine, by necessity via Tel Aviv Airport in Israel.

1. Join us on April 15th flying into Palestine via Tel Aviv

2. Add your name and that of your organisation, trade union, campaign group, church, etc., to list of signatories endorsing the attached appeal. Forward the Call to other human rights supporters.

3. Go to www.welcometopalestine.info or email me for more information.

Mick Napier
UK Coordinator, Welcome to Palestine 2012

contact@welcometopalestine.info
http://www.welcometopalestine.info
00 44 (0)131 620 0052 / 00 44 (0)795 800 2591
Skype: michaelnapier

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English/French/Spanish/Italian/German/Greek/Turkish/Polish/Arabic/Dutch/Portuguese/Bulgarian/Norwegian/Malay

ENGLISH: Welcome to Palestine Initiative 2012
"We, the undersigned, endorse the call from the Welcome to Palestine 2012 initiative for supporters of Palestinian human and national rights around the world to openly visit Palestine during Easter 2012.

There is no way into Palestine other than through Israeli control points. Israel has turned Palestine into a giant prison, but prisoners have a right to receive visitors.

Welcome to Palestine 2012 will again challenge Israel's policy of isolating the West Bank while the settler paramilitaries and army commit brutal crimes against a virtually defenceless Palestinian civilian population.

We call on governments to support the right of Palestinians to receive visitors and the right of their own citizens to visit Palestine openly.

The participants in Welcome to Palestine 2012 ask to be allowed to pass through Tel Aviv airport without hindrance and to proceed to the West Bank to take part in a project there for children to benefit from the right to education."

Signed:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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FRENCH : Bienvenue en Palestine 2012
« Nous, signataires de la présente, adhérons à l’appel de "Bienvenue en Palestine 2012", visant à permettre aux défenseurs des droits de l’homme et des droits nationaux du peuple palestinien de se rendre librement en Palestine en avril 2012.

Il n’y a pas d’autre moyen, pour entrer en Palestine, que de passer par des postes de contrôle israéliens. Israël a fait de la Palestine une prison géante, mais depuis quand des prisonniers ne pourraient-ils mêmes pas recevoir de visites ?

"Bienvenue en Palestine 2012 va de nouveau contester la politique israélienne d’isolement de la Cisjordanie, à l’heure où les colons paramilitaires et l’armée commettent des crimes contre une population civile palestinienne sans défense.

Nous appelons les gouvernements à soutenir le droit des Palestiniens à recevoir des visiteurs, et le droit pour leurs ressortissants respectifs de visiter librement la Palestine.

Les participants à la mission Bienvenue en Palestine 2012 demandent à pouvoir transiter par l'aéroport de Tel Aviv sans encombre afin de pouvoir se rendre directement en Cisjordanie où ils sont attendus pour prendre part à un projet consacré au droit à l’éducation pour les enfants palestiniens.»


Signataires :
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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SPANISH: Bienvenidos a Palestina 2012
"Nosotros, los abajo firmantes, apoyamos el llamamiento "Bienvenidos a Palestina 2012", iniciativa dirigida a los partidarios en todo el mundo tanto de los derechos individuales de las ciudadanas y los ciudadanos de Palestina, como de los derechos nacionales del pueblo palestino a los que invitamos a visitar colectivamente Palestina durante la Semana Santa (Pascua) de 2012.


No hay ninguna posibilidad de entrar en Palestina que no sea a través de los puestos de control de los militares israelíes. Israel ha convertido Palestina en una gigantesca prisión, y nos gustaría recordar que hasta los presos tienen derecho a recibir visitas.

“Bienvenidos a Palestina 2012” volverá a desafiar la política de Israel de aislar a Cisjordania, mientras que los colonos paramilitares y el ejército cometen crímenes en contra de una población civil indefensa.

Llamamos a (nuestros) gobiernos a que apoyen el derecho
de los palestinos a recibir a sus invitados de todo el mundo y el derecho de sus propios ciudadanos a visitar Palestina sin restricciones.

Los participantes en la campaña “Bienvenido a Palestina 2012” piden que se les permita aterrizar en el aeropuerto de Tel Aviv sin obstáculos para poder dirigirse a Cisjordania con la intención de participar en un proyecto colectivo dirigido a que los niños y las niñas de Palestina disfruten del derecho a la educación.

Firmado:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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ITALIAN: Benvenuti in Palestina
"Noi, firmatari della presente lettera, aderiamo all’appello di “Bienvenu en Palestine 2012” per permettere agli attivisti per i diritti umani e per i diritti nazionali del popolo palestinese di entrare liberamente in Palestina nell’aprile 2012.

Attualmente, l’unica possibilità per entrare in Palestina è quella di passare attraverso i posti di controllo israeliani, in questo modo Israele ha fatto della Palestina una gigantesca prigione, impedendo addirittura agli stessi prigionieri di ricevere visite.

“Bienvenu en Palestine 2012” contesta la politica israeliana d’isolamento della Cisgiordania, nello stesso momento in cui i coloni paramilitari e l’esercito israeliano commettono crimini contro la popolazione palestinese indifesa.

Noi ci appelliamo ai nostri governi affinché sostengano il diritto dei palestinesi a ricevere liberamente i loro visitatori, e il diritto per questi ultimi di visitare liberamente la Palestina.

I partecipanti alla missione
“Bienvenu en Palestine 2012” chiedono che venga rispettato il loro diritto di transitare per l’aeroporto di Tel Aviv senza impedimenti, al fine di potersi recare direttamente in Cisgiordania dove sono attesi per la realizzazione di un progetto educativo dedicato ai bambini palestinesi."

Firmatari:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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GERMAN: Initiative „Willkommen in Palästina 2012“
„Wir, die Unterzeichneten, unterstützen den Aufruf der Initiative „Willkommen in Palästina 2012“ an alle Personen weltweit, die für die Menschenrechte und das nationale Recht der Palästinenser eintreten, zu einem offenen Besuch Palästinas über Ostern 2012.

Um nach Palästina einzureisen, führt kein Weg an den israelischen Kontrollpunkten vorbei. Israel hat aus Palästina ein gigantisches Gefängnis gemacht. Doch haben Gefangene das Recht, Besucher zu empfangen.

„Willkommen in Palästina“ wird erneut die israelische Politik herausfordern, welche das Westjordanland isoliert, während Paramilitärs der Siedler und die israelische Armee brutale Verbrechen gegen die praktisch wehrlose palästinensische Zivilbevölkerung begehen.

Wir rufen Regierungen dazu auf, das Recht der Palästinenser auf das Empfangen von Besuchern zu unterstützen sowie das Recht ihrer eigenen Bürger, Palästina offen zu besuchen.

Die Teilnehmenden an der Initiative „Willkommen in Palästina 2012“ verlangen die Erlaubnis, den Flughafen in Tel Aviv ohne Behinderung passieren und in das Westjordanland weiterreisen zu dürfen, um dort an einem Projekt für Kinder zur Nutzung ihres Rechts auf Bildung teilzunehmen.“

Die Unterzeichneten:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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GREEK: Πρωτοβουλία Καλώς ήλθατε στην Παλαιστίνη 2012
"Εμείς, οι υπογράφοντες, υποστηρίζουμε και υπογράφουμε το κάλεσμα της πρωτοβουλίας Καλώς ήρθατε στην Παλαιστίνη 2012 το οποίο καλεί τους υποστηρικτές των ανθρωπίνων και εθνικών δικαιωμάτων των Παλαιστινίων σε όλο τον κόσμο να επισκεφθούν την Παλαιστίνη κατά τη διάρκεια του Πάσχα του 2012.
Δεν υπάρχει άλλος δρόμος για να περάσεις στην Παλαιστίνη, παρά μόνο διαμέσου των ισραηλινών σημείων ελέγχου. Το Ισραήλ έχει μετατρέψει την Παλαιστίνη σε μια τεράστια φυλακή, αλλά και οι κρατούμενοι έχουν το δικαίωμα να δέχονται επισκέπτες.

Η Πρωτοβούλια Καλώς ήλθατε στην Παλαιστίνη 2012 θα προκαλέσει και θα αμφισβητήσει και πάλι την πολιτική του Ισραήλ. Μία πολιτική απομόνωσης της Δυτικής Όχθης, που παράλληλα επιτρέπει στις παραστρατιωτικές οργανώσεις των εποίκων και στις οργανώσεις του στρατού να πράτουν βίαια εγκλήματα εναντίον ενός ουσιαστικά ανυπεράσπιστου και άμαχου πληθυσμού.

Καλούμε τις κυβερνήσεις να υποστηρίξουν το δικαίωμα των Παλαιστινίων να δέχονται επισκέπτες και το δικαίωμα των πολιτών τους να επισκεφθούν ελεύθερα την Παλαιστίνη.

Οι συμμετέχοντες στο Καλώς ήρθατε στην Παλαιστίνη 2012 έχουν ζητήσει να τους επιτραπεί να περάσουν μέσα από το αεροδρόμιο του Τελ Αβίβ χωρίς εμπόδια ώστε να προχωρήσουν στην Δυτική Όχθη για να λάβουν μέρος σε ένα έργο το οποίο θα ωφελήσει τα παιδιά διαμέσου του δικαιώματος στην εκπαίδευση.

ΥΠΟΓΡΑΦΟΝΤΕΣ:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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TURKISH: Filistin’e Hoşgeldiniz 2012 Girişimi
"Biz, aşağıda imzası bulunanlar, Filistin'e Hoşgeldiniz 2012 girişiminin, dünya çapında Filistin'in insan ve ulusal hakları savunucularının 2012 Paskalyası süresince zorluk çıkarılmadan Filistin'i ziyaret edebilmesi çağrısını onaylamaktayız.

İsrail kontrol noktaları dışında Filistin'e herhangi bir giriş yolu yoktur. İsrail, Filistin'i dev bir cezaevi haline dönüşmüştür ama mahkumlar ziyaretçi kabul etme hakkına sahiptir.

Filistin’e Hoşgeldiniz 2012, hemen hemen savunmasız Filistin halkınakarşı, yerleşik milisler ve ordu acımasız suçlar işlerken, İsrail'in Batı Şeria'yı tecrit politikasına bir kez daha meydan okuyacak.
Biz Filistinlilerin ziyaretçi kabul etme ve kendi vatandaşlarının Filistin'i rahatca ziyaret etme haklarının desteklenmesi için hükümetlere çağrıda bulunuyoruz.

Filistin’e Hoşgeldiniz 2012 katılımcılari, Tel Aviv havaalanından engelle karşılaşmadan ve Batı Şeria'ya geçmek, ve orada çocuklarin eğitim hakkından yararlanmalari için bir projede yer almak üzere geçmek için izin verilmesini istiyorlar."

İmzacilar:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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POLISH: Zapraszamy do Palestyny ​​Inicjatywa 2012
"My, niżej podpisani, popieramy wezwanie "Zapraszamy do Palestyny ​​2012" inicjatywy zwolenników Palestyńczyków i praw narodowych na całym świecie, na otwartą wizytę w Palestynie w czasie Wielkanocy 2012 roku.

Nie ma innego sposobu na dotarcie do Palestyny inaczej niż przez izraelskie punkty kontroli. Izrael zmienił Palestyę ​​w gigantyczne więzienie, aczkolwiek więźniowie mają prawo do przyjmowania gości.

Iniciatywa "Witamy w Palestynie 2012 roku" ponownie kwestionuje politykę Izraela odnośnie izolowania Zachodniego Brzegu, podczas gdy paramilitarni osadnicy i armia popełniają brutalne przestępstwa przeciwko praktycznie bezbronnej palestyńskiej ludności cywilnej.

Wzywamy rządy do wspierania prawa Palestyńczyków do przyjmowania gości jak i prawa swoich obywateli do odwiedzenia Palestyny bez przeszkód.

Uczestnicy "Witamy w Palestynie 2012" proszą o możliwość przejścia na lotnisku w Tel Awiwie bez przeszkód oraz o możliwość udania się na Zachodni Brzegu w celu wzięcia udziału w projekcie wspierającym prawo do edukacji dla dzieci.

Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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ARABIC : نؤيد "نحن الموقعون أدناه " مبادرة مرحبا بكم في فلسطين 2012 " التي تدعو تمكين ناشطي حقوق الإنسان والحقوق الوطنية للشعب الفلسطيني من التنقل بحرية في فلسطين في نيسان 2012
ليس هنالك طريقة أخرى لدخول فلسطين إلا من خلال نقاط التفتيش الاسرائيلية التي حولت فلسطين إلا سجن كبير و لكن لكل أسير حق استقبال الزوار

لهذا فإن قافلة مرحبا بكم في فلسطين ستتحدى سياسات اسرائيل التي تهدف لعزل الضفة الغربية في ظل استمرار المستوطنين و الجيش ارتكاب جرائمهم البشعة في حق المواطنين الفلسطينين العزل

اننا ندعو الحكومات دعم حق الفلسطينيين في استقبال الزوار و حق مواطنيهم زيارة فلسطين بحرية
المشاركين في قافلة مرحبا بكم في فلسطين ٢٠١٢ يطالبون بالسماح لهم بالعبور من خلال مطار تل ابيب دون عرقلة حركتهم الى الضفة الغربية من اجل المشاركة في مشروع ضمان حقوق الاطفال الفلسطينيين في التعليم
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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NEERLANDAIS :
« Wij, ondertekenaars, steunen de oproep van "Welcome to Palestine 2012" opdat de verdedigers van de mensenrechten en de nationale rechten van het palestijnse volk Palestina vrij zouden kunnen bezoeken in april 2012.

Er is geen andere weg om Palestina binnen te geraken dan langs israëlische controleposten. Israël maakt van Palestine een gigantische gevangenis, maar de gevangenen hebben geen recht om bezoek te ontvangen.
"Welcome to Palestine 2012 » wil opnieuw protesteren tegen de israëlische politiek van isolering van de Westbank en dat terwijl paramilitaire settlers en het leger misdaden plegen tegen de weerloze burgerbevolking.
Wij roepen de regeringen op om het recht van de palestijnen om bezoekers te ontvangen te ondersteunen, alsook het recht van hun eigen burgers om Palestina vrij te kunnen bezoeken.
De deelnemers aan de missie « Welcome to Palestin2012 » vragen om vrije doorgang te krijgen op de vlieghaven van Tel Aviv, zonder hindernissen, zodat zij rechtstreeks naar de Westbank kunnen gaan, waar ze verwacht worden om deel te nemen aan een project voor het recht op onderwijs van de palestijnse kinderen.

Ondertekenaars :
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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PORTUGUESE: Iniciativa Bem-vindo à Palestina 2012
"Nós, os signatários, transmitimos o apelo da iniciativa Bem-vindo à Palestina 2012 aos apoiantes dos direitos humanos e nacionais dos palestinianos, espalhados em todo o mundo, para visitar a Palestina durante a Páscoa de 2012.
Não há outra forma de entrar na Palestina que não seja através dos postos de controlo israelitas. Israel transformou a Palestina numa enorme prisão, porém, os presos têm o direito de receber visitantes.
Bem-vindo à Palestina 2012 desafiará, novamente, a política de Israel de isolamento da Cisjordânia, enquanto os paramilitares e o exército cometem crimes brutais contra a indefesa população civil palestiniana.
Apelamos aos governos que apoiem o direito dos palestinianos de receber visitantes e o direito dos seus próprios cidadãos em visitar abertamente a Palestina.
Os participantes no Bem-vindo à Palestina 2012 solicitam que seja permitida a sua passagem pelo aeroporto de Tel Aviv sem obstáculos, e que possam prosseguir até à Cisjordânia para participarem num projecto sobre crianças e o benefício do direito à educação.”
Assinado
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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BULGARIAN: Добре дошли в Палестина 2012
"Ние, долуподписаните, потвърждаваме откриването на инициативата Добре дошли в Палестина 2012 за привържениците от цял свят на Палестинския народ и човешките права, за открито влизане в Палестина по време на Великден 2012.

В Палестина не може да се влиза по друг начин, освен през израелските контролни пунктове. Израел е превърнал Палестина в огромен затвор, но дори затворниците имат право на посещение.

Добре дошли в Палестина 2012 отново ще предизвика промяна в политиката на изолация на Западния Бряг, докато полувоенните заселници и армията извършват брутални престъпления срещу практически беззащитното Палестинко цивилно население.
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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NORWEGIAN: Velkommen til det Palestinske Initiativet 2012
”Vi støtter oppfordringen fra Velkommen til Palestina 2012 Initiativet, om at forkjempere fra hele verden for palestinske menneskerettigheter fritt kan besøke Palestina i påsken 2012.
For å komme til Palestina må en krysse israelske kontrollpunkter. Israel har gjort Palestina om til et gigantisk fengsel, men selv fanger har rett til å motta besøk.
Velkommen til Palestina 2012 Initiavitet vil fortsette å motarbeide israelsk politikk som vil isolere Vestbredden, mens bevæpnede bosettere og det israelske militæret fortsetter å utføre brutale overgrep mot den praktisk talt forsvarsløse palestinske befolkningen.
Vi oppfordrer regjeringer til å støtte retten til at palestinere kan motta besøkende og retten til at deres egne statsborgere fritt kan besøke Palestina.
Deltakerne i Velkommen til Palestina 2012 Initiavitet ber om tillatelse til å reise via Tel Aviv flyplass og videre til Vestbredden uten å bli hindret, for å delta i et prosjekt for barns rettigheter til utdanning.
Signert:
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

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MALAY: Inisiatif Selamat Datang ke Palestine 2012
“Kami, yang telah menandatangani surat ini, menyokong panggilan daripada Inisiatif Selamat Datang ke Palestine 2012 kepada penyokong hak asasi manusia dan hak negara Palestine di seluruh dunia, untuk melawat Palestine semasa tempoh Easter 2012.

Tiada jalan lain untuk masuki negara Palestine selain daripada stesen kawalan Israel. Israel telah mengubah Palestine menjadi penjara besar, tetapi banduan masih ada hak untuk menerima pelawat.
Insiatif Selamat Datang ke Palestine 2012 akan mancabar dasar Israel yang mengasingkan West Bank, dan di dalam masa yang sama, tentera Israel melakukan jenayah kejam ke atas penduduk awam yang tidak memiliki sebarang pertahanan.

Kami memanggil ke atas kerajaan-kerajaan untuk menyokong hak warga Palestine untuk menerima pelawat dan hak warganegara Palestine untuk melawat Palestine tanpa batasan.


Peserta-peserta Inisiatif Selamat Datang ke Palestine 2012 meminta agar diberi kebenaran untuk memasuki Palestine melalui Lapangan Terbang Tel Aviv tanpa halangan dan untuk meneruskan perjalanan ke West Bank, di mana peserta-peserta akan mengambil bahagian di dalam projek untuk kanak-kanak mendapat menfaat daripada hak mereka untuk mendapat pendidikan.”


Tandatangan
Sam Bahour
Tony Benn
Noam Chomsky
Jonathan Cook
Stephane Hessel
Ronnie Kasrils
Nurit Peled
John Pilger
Nawal Al Sadaawi
Vauro Senesi
Desmond Tutu

Friday, October 21, 2011

UN rights expert: Palestinian children subject to arrests, violence by Israel

UN human rights rapporteur for the Palestinian territories Richard Falk calls on Israel to adopt international guidelines for protection of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation.

By DPA

A United Nations human rights expert urged on Thursday the international community to step up efforts to protect Palestinians children living in the West Bank, whom he claimed are subject to violence and arrest at the hands of Israeli authorities.

In a statement to the UN General Assembly, Richard Falk, a former New York University professor, cited particular cases in which Palestinian children in the West Bank were arrested or subjected to violence.

The UN human rights rapporteur for the Palestinian territories called on Israel to adopt international guidelines for the protection of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation.

"Prolonged occupation deforms the development of children through pervasive deprivations affecting health, education and overall security," Falk said in his statement.

He said the number of Palestinian children arrested and prosecuted by Israeli authorities has risen since 2007; however, he did not give a number to support this claim. He said some of those children, who were arrested for allegedly throwing stones at the settlers, were subject to interrogation and abuse.

Falk said 178 Palestinians suffered injuries as a result of violence from Israeli settlers so far in 2011, compared to 176 cases in 2010. The violence involved stone throwing, assaults and shooting by settlers.

"There are almost daily accounts of settler vandalism against Palestinian agricultural land and villages," he said. Falk added that several incidents were videotaped by individuals working for B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization

source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/un-rights-expert-palestinian-children-subject-to-arrests-violence-by-israel-1.391147


Thursday, October 13, 2011

PCHR: Closure of Gaza Must Be Lifted as Shalit’s Pretext Diminished

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) welcomes the prisoner swap deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), under which over a thousand Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by the Palestinian resistance for more than five year. PCHR appreciates the role of mediation played by Egypt and related efforts exerted to achieve the deal. PCHR wishes that the coming period will also witness further Egyptian contribution to the implementation of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement that was signed last May between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo.

According to Israeli and Palestinian statements on the deal made in the media, 1,027 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Under this deal, all of the 27 female prisoners as well as 300 children will be released from Israeli prisons. The deal includes two phases; the first one will be completed within a week, during which Shalit will be released in exchange for the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners, including 279 prisoners serving life sentences and 27 female prisoners. The second phase will be completed within two months, during which 550 Palestinian prisoners will be released, but the IOF determines the conditions under which they will be released. Under the deal, 203 Palestinian prisoners will be deported; 40 of whom will be exiled overseas and 163 expelled to the Gaza Strip. PCHR expresses reservations on deporting the Palestinian prisoners and is concerned over this decision, as it is considered forced migration in violation of international law.

With the completion of this swap deal, over 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including approximately 400 people from the Gaza Strip, will remain detained under cruel and degrading conditions. In the past five years, their detention conditions have deteriorated in an unprecedented manner following the capture of Shalit by the Palestinian resistance in June 2006. Such cruel conditions include denial of family visits for Gazan prisoners; prevention of hundreds of families from visiting their imprisoned sons in the West Bank; naked body searches; night raids; solitary confinement; and medical negligence. Two weeks ago, hundreds of prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike protesting against additional punitive measures that had been taken against them by the Israeli prisons administration. The prisons administration responded to the hunger strike by imposing even more punitive measures, including the transfer of a large number of them to other prisons; confiscating salt which maintains the salt balance in the prisoners' bodies, due to which these prisoners’ health conditions have seriously deteriorated; confiscating electrical appliances; and attacks on the prisoners' rooms and firing tear gas inside them.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued deterioration of prisoners' conditions inside the Israeli prisons. PCHR calls upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to release more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, who have been detained in the Israeli prisons so far, to treat them humanely in conformity with the international law, particularly article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners 1955, and to refrain from the punitive measures they have imposed on prisoners for more than five years now.

On the other hand, PCHR reminds that the Israeli closure imposed on the Gaza Strip in June 2006 was a direct result of the attack carried out by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza on 25 June 2006, in which Shalit was captured. Later, IOF tightened the closure in an unprecedented manner, including closing all border crossings designated for the movement of persons and commercial purposes. Those collective punitive measures have a destructive impact on all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip.

Thus, with the ending of Shalit's case and the end of the pretext used by the IOF to maintain the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls for immediately lifting of the closure and an end to all collective punitive measures imposed on the civilian population. Additionally, PCHR calls upon the international community to intervene in order to end the suffering of the Palestinian civilians and lift the closure of the Gaza Strip