Canada and the United States of America (USA), followed by the European Union and Japan, have suspended their financial aid to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). This came in the wake of the Palestinian legislative council elections that were held last January, the resulting victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) that secured the movement a parliamentary majority, and the subsequent formation of the Palestinian government by the Hamas parliament bloc. These parties, in an attempt to compensate for their decision to cut aid to the PNA, have decided to continue to provide humanitarian assistance through United Nations (UN) institutions and through non-governmental organizations (NGO's). This paper outlines the position of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) regarding these rapid developments, which will have severe repercussions in the upcoming period on humanitarian and living conditions for Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The paper expresses PCHR's dissatisfaction and disappointment at the double standards displayed by the afore-mentioned members of the international community, as well as their politicization of international law in order to employ it according to narrow interests and certain political considerations. In addition, the paper exposes the underlying dangers of the decision, not only because it constitutes collective punishment of the Palestinian people and contributes to a worsening of their economic and social suffering, but also the dangers for Palestinian civil society and NGO's in the Arab world as a whole. These dangers are due to the following considerations:
Conclusion: The decision to halt financial aid to the PNA is a punishment of Palestinian civilians in the OPT during a time of IOF escalation of crimes and violations against these civilians, including closure, denial of basic humanitarian needs, destruction of property and bombardment. Regrettably, these crimes are perpetrated under the eye of the international community, without serious international action to force Israel to respect its legal obligations and respect International Humanitarian Law regarding the protection of civilians at times of war. PCHR expresses its disappointment at the double standards employed by the countries that have decided to halt aid in general, and the EU in particular. The Centre calls upon these members of the international community to review their unjust decisions, which will have catastrophic effects on the living conditions of Palestinian civilians in the OPT, and will reflect negatively on advocates of democracy and human rights in the region. ----------------------------------------------------------- [1] PCHR was and continues to be at the forefront of human rights organizations that issue these calls to the international community. In this regard, please refer to the memorandum submitted by the Center in September 2003 to the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention, entitled "Three Years of Israeli Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories: The Need for Accountability." [2] There is great effort by civil society institutions to press EU countries to respect their obligations under their Association Agreement with Israel. In this regard, please refer to the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Human Rights, "A Human Rights Review on the EU and Israel – Relating Commitments to Action 2003-2004," Copenhagen, 2004. [3] For more details on these crimes, refer to PCHR reports, including the 2005 Annual Report, available on the Center's web site: http://www.pchrgaza.org
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