Human rights center: Increase in Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians

Thursday October 11, 2007 12:36 by Maisa Abu Ghazalah - IMEMC News

In its monthly report released on Tuesday, the al Quds center for legal assistance and human rights, Musa'dah, declared that Israeli forces continue to violate the human rights of Palestinians. And contrary to the claims of the Israeli official media, there have been no noticeable improvements to the living situation of Palestinians.

The center said it had followed up fifty case-files over the past two months. It also opened 25 new cases, including ones relating to house demolitions, travel restrictions, prison visits, detentions prior to expulsions from the country, land confiscations and reunification of Palestinian families.

Salfit district Lawyers from the al Quds center say that the Salfit district, in the north of the West Bank, was the area subject to the most applications for demolition warrants issued by the Israeli authorities.

These are issued regardless of the economic, social and psychological damage caused by the destruction of homes and the reduction in the amount of the industrial and agricultural land available. Musa'dah says that warrants had been granted in the villages of Yasuf, Bruqeen, Kafer al Deek, Qarauet Bani Hassan in the Salfit district. It also involved the villages of Tqu', Beit U'r el Tahta and Kharbatha bani Hareth in the district of Ramallah.

The center explained that its lawyer had followed up these cases and managed to obtain orders from the Israeli high court to prevent demolitions until further notice.

The report says that Israel had recently demolished homes where official construction permits had been granted, as happened in the village of Dir Balut in the north of the West Bank Here, eight homes built near where the municipality borders on to the area classified as" B " under the Oslo agreements, were subject to demolition warrants, even though the municipal council has the authority to issue building permits.

Cases and responses Of the fifty cases opened and followed up over the past month, the center received 35 positive responses, including 17 relating to family visits to prisoners, 9 allowing travel, and 8 orders to prevent house demolitions in the villages of al Sawyah, Beit U'r and Qarauet Bani Hassan. In addition, one case successfully opposed a deportation to Jordan.

The Al Quds center called on the Israeli military to remove or transfer the checkpoint near Beit Eba because of the difficulties it causes to the development plans of the municipal council. Soldiers at the checkpoint prevent local farmers from reaching their land and workers from reaching the town's industrial zone.

This call came after the center had received a copy of an appeal from Beit Iba village council which was then forwarded it to international and local human rights organizations asking them mount pressure to have the checkpoint removed.

As part of the center's policy to involve village councils in confronting Israeli policies and taking advantage of their minor role in implementing residential and industrial construction policy, Musa'dah confirmed that it used the experience gained in other villages in al Sawiyah, near Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank Dozens of homes of Al Sawieyah are threatened with demolition but the center has helped in obtaining several orders from the Israeli high court putting a stop to demolitions. It is also following up a number of cases where owners have received notices warning them of demolition some time in the future.

The center added that last September, the Israeli High Court held a session to discuss a preliminary petition, filed by the center and a number of Israeli human rights groups, which sought the re-opening of the application process for the reunification of Palestinian families from the West Bank.

In the session, the court confirmed that it expects a positive change regarding this issue and gave the Attorney-General an ultimatum giving him 60 days to inform it of any legal changes. Musa'dah has also looked at the new procedures for applying for permits to enter Israel.

It says they are complicated and that it is studying the possibility of submitting a petition to the High Court, challenging the legality of the procedures. It rejects the claim that the new system was introduced to make it easier for applicants.

It has sent a letter to the Judicial Councilor who replied that all applications will be dealt with before the new instructions are applied in the middle of June.

The center is active in holding workshops on legal awareness and building volunteer networks.

The most recent one was held in mid-September in the village of Marada in Salfit district and was attended by volunteers working with social and municipal organizations.

Translated by Manar Jibrin - IMEMC News

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