Violence escalates as Israeli soldier puts gun to head of Danish national and threatens to pull the trigger. At approximately 9:00AM, 18 internationals accompanied Palestinian farmers to their olive groves to harvest their olives near the village of Al-Hatab, East of Nablus. Five minutes after they arrived, the Israeli army descended upon the group. The farmers, residents of Al-Hatab, had obtained the necessary permits to pick olives. However, the Israeli army said they could not pick olives today and that the internationals had "ten seconds" to leave the area. Eye-witness reports claim that the soldiers were extremely aggressive and attempted to arrest one Palestinian after taking his identity card. When six internationals tried to intervene, the soldiers began beating them with their guns, punching them in the face and kicking them. One international from the United Kingdom was badly cut and bruised. Another activist, from Denmark had been thrown to the ground. An Israeli soldier then put his gun to the Danish mans head and pulled on the trigger as if he were going to shoot. It is increasingly difficult for Palestinian farmers to access their land and harvest their crops due to the construction of the Israeli Annexation Wall, Israeli army control of gates through the wall and the violence of settlers who attack Palestinians attempting to pick olives on Palestinian land that may border the illegal settlements. At the time of this release, the internationals are remaining in the area in the event that the Palestinian farmers are unable to harvest their olives. Read More...
By: UN Women
Date: 09/03/2019
×
My Rights, Our Power: A Joint Campaign Launched in Palestine to Raise Awareness on Womens Fundamental Human Rights
1_March 2019, Ramallah On the occasion of the International Womens Day (8 March), a week-long joint campaign My Rights, Our Power was launched today in Palestine to raise awareness on womens fundamental human rights. The joint effort, with participation from over 30 national and international partners from civil society organizations, media outlets, and international development agencies, targets youth, women, and men in various geographic areas in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza to promote womens human rights in Palestine. The campaign comes at a crucial moment when the anticipated adoption of the Family Protection Bill is at a standstill, raising concerns among national and international stakeholders about the consequences of such delay on safeguarding womens fundamental human rights in Palestine. According to the Palestine report of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), nearly one in five Palestinian men (17 percent) surveyed said they had perpetrated act of physical intimate partner violence against female partners, while 21 per cent of women surveyed reported having experienced such violence. Family violence, usually committed by a family member who has social or economic power over others in the family, causes enormous pain and suffering to all members of the family, especially the women and children, said a spokesperson from civil society, which has vigorously initiated the development of the Family Protection Bill (FPB), and has strongly pushed its adoption since 2004. The violation of womens human rights manifests in various levels and should be also understood from economic, cultural, and social aspects, the spokesperson added, highlighting the lack of opportunities and freedom of choice, as well as limited access to justice and services that women in Palestine still experience. The joint campaign aims to raise awareness of the general public, especially youth, women, and men on womens fundamental rights in line with international standards and embedded in the Family Protection Bill draft endorsed by the previous Cabinet at the end of December 2018. Five key messages, addressing womens right to a life free of violence, right to achieve justice and seek help in case of violation of such life, as well as the right to equal opportunities and right to make ones own choices, will be distributed through various channels such as radio, social media, helpline (121), outreach activities, and on-site events. The closing event of the joint campaign will take place on 8 March in Jerusalem and will celebrate womens achievements using TED-style talks, followed by art performances. My Rights, Our Power joint campaign is part of the global International Womens Day 2019 campaign under the theme of Think equal, build smart, innovate for change. The theme focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure, echoing the theme of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 63) taking place in New York on 11-22 March 2019. The participating organizations of the My Rights, Our Power are (in alphabetical order): 17 Palestinian womens organizations represented by Al-Muntada (coalition), British Consulate-General, Business Women Forum, CARE International, Consulate General of Sweden, Consulate General of Belgium, EUPOL COPPS, EU Representative Office, FAO, General Union of Palestinian Women, Government of Japan, CowaterSogema/GROW Project, International Labour Organization, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Maan TV, MIFTAH, Netherlands Representative Office, Nisaa FM, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association, Representative Office of Canada, Representative Office of Denmark, SAWA, Sawasya II, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Sports for Life, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Representative Office of Norway, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, UN Women, Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, Womens Studies Center. For more information, please contact Eunjin Jeong at UN Women via eunjin.jeong@unwomen.org or 059 2321 308, Majd Beltaji at UNESCO via m.beltaji@unesco.org or 059 4501 506.
By: Dr. Riyad Mansour
Date: 08/11/2017
×
Statement of Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 27 October 2017
Mr. President, We thank France for organizing this important meeting and extend our appreciation to the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary General, the Executive Director of UN Women, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and the Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie for their efforts and important briefings. The issue before us is of relevance not only for half the planet, but to all, given the role and contribution of women in the fields of peace and security and the untapped potential that could be unleashed by mainstreaming their participation. Since the adoption by consensus of resolution 1325 by this Council, a lot has happened, and yet we are still far from the goal of full and equal participation, including in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and from ensuring the protection and empowerment of women. Gender equality and non-discrimination remain prerequisites for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of this organization and all of our lofty, collective commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The State of Palestine welcomes the Secretary Generals report and his commitment to implementing the women and peace and security agenda, including by placing gender at the centre of his prevention platform and surge in diplomacy. We appreciate all efforts by the UN in this regard, including by UN Women, OHCHR and UNDP, notably in the field of human rights, capacity building, employment and rule of law. We urge UN bodies, notably those operating in Palestine, including the Special Representative, to intensify their engagement and collaboration with women organizations. Mr. President, I wish to highlight some of Palestines own important efforts in this regard. The Palestinian womens movement is one of the oldest and strongest in the region and beyond, with institutional and representative structures established as early as the 19th century. Within the PLO, the General Union of Palestinian Women was among the first unions to be established. A coordination of women frameworks within PLO political parties and other organizations has also been established as the Womens Affairs Technical Committee in the aftermath of the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference. There have been many achievements thereafter. Among them: In 2012, Palestine inaugurated a High-Level National Committee for the implementation of resolution 1325, led by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with relevant Ministries and NGOs. In 2016, the State of Palestine was among the 68 countries and areas that adopted a National Action Plan on women, peace and security. This Action Plan (2017-2019), adopted by both the Government and civil society organizations, identifies three primary objectives: 1. ensuring protection for women and girls both domestically and in the face of the Israeli occupation; 2. ensuring accountability through national and international mechanisms, with a particular focus on crimes and violations committed by the occupation; and 3. furthering womens political participation in decision making at the national and international level. The State of Palestine also joined core IHL and human rights instruments, including CEDAW, without reservations. Womens participation and empowerment are also important and cross-cutting objectives in the context of the National Policy Agenda (2017-2022). We are, however, conscious that, despite all these efforts, much more work remains to be done. Only in 2009 was a women elected to the highest executive body of the PLO. Quotas are still decisive in allowing womens election to Parliament and local councils. And while women organizations were among the strongest advocates of national reconciliation, they have been unfairly absent from reconciliation talks. The relevant legislative framework applicable in Palestine is also outdated and must be revised to ensure consistency with Palestines international commitments and obligations and avail women the protection and rights they are entitled to and the opportunities they deserve. Mr. President, The Palestinian womens movement since its establishment over a century ago pursued the struggle on two fronts the struggle for the independence of Palestine and the struggle for womens rights and empowerment a dual struggle the movement continues to pursue to this day. The Israeli occupation remains the main source of the violations of our womens rights and their vulnerability and violence against their person. We have repeatedly called for protection of the Palestinian people, especially women and children. We have also called for accountability, a key element of resolution 1325, the first resolution to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, as the only way to put an end to violations and crimes. While Palestine stands ready to do its part to advance women rights and the role of women in the fields of peace and security, it is clear that the enjoyment of these rights in our country necessitates ending the Israeli occupation. We will thus continue to work for an end of the occupation and true progress on the path to independence, justice and peace, with the equal and full involvement of women, leading to an independent State of Palestine ensuring human rights for all its citizens without discrimination.
By: Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325
Date: 20/10/2016
×
Seeking Justice: Statement by the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325 on the visit of the delegation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutors Office on 9-10 October 2016 to Palestine
On the occasion of the ICC Prosecutors Office to Palestine, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, which consists of twelve different Palestinian womens organisations, is urging the Prosecutors Office to take concrete actions towards investigating war crimes committed against Palestinians. The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom remains deeply concerned with the complete impunity of Israeli war crimes and firmly supports the Coalitions call for a just accountability mechanism for Palestinian victims. WILPF also calls on the international community to recognise and fully support Palestinian womens organisations substantial role in paving the paths to justice, accountability and peace. Read the statement of the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325 below. We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325,welcome the visit of the delegation of the ICC Prosecutors Office as a step in the right direction. But we are deeply disappointed that the purpose of this visit was restricted to preliminary examination, while Palestinian victims of Israeli war crimes, including women, continue to suffer and urgently await justice and an end to Israel impunity. We do not understand the decision to exclude the Gaza Strip from this visit, when Gaza has been the site of the most war crimes and where women have been most systematically impacted by Israeli collective punishment policies; a prolonged imposed siege and a severe humanitarian deterioration resulting from Israeli military aggressions . We are further disappointed that women who have been systematically impacted, and their womens organisations, have been excluded from the delegations agenda. We call upon all future delegations of the ICC Prosecutors Office to include on their agenda meetings with womens organisations and women who have experienced direct and indirect impacts of Israeli crimes. We, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, have seen in UNSCR 1325, 2242, and other UN Resolutions a commitment to hold the Israeli perpetrators accountable for their war crimes. We look to the ICC as the most important mechanism to end impunity for all war crimes committed, finally bringing justice for the Palestinian people. Yet, we are very concerned that the preliminary examinations will be an endless process. Therefore, we urge, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor of the ICC, to conclude the preliminary examination and move to investigations into Israeli war crimes, bringing justice to Palestinians. We have paid the price of non-accountability and impunity of Israeli war crimes for too long. Delaying justice is justice denied. Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325: The General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), the Womens Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), MIFTAH, Filastinyat, Women Media and Development (TAM), Women Stu Dies Center, Womens Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WACLAC), the National, YWCA of Palestine, Center for Womens Legal Research and Consulting (CWLRC), the Culture and Free thought Association(CWLRC) and Womens Affairs Center (GWAC). Occupied Palestine October 11, 2016
By the Same Author
Date: 20/10/2004
×
Internationals Beaten in Village of Al-Hatab while Palestinians Attempting to Harvest Olives
Violence escalates as Israeli soldier puts gun to head of Danish national and threatens to pull the trigger. At approximately 9:00AM, 18 internationals accompanied Palestinian farmers to their olive groves to harvest their olives near the village of Al-Hatab, East of Nablus. Five minutes after they arrived, the Israeli army descended upon the group. The farmers, residents of Al-Hatab, had obtained the necessary permits to pick olives. However, the Israeli army said they could not pick olives today and that the internationals had "ten seconds" to leave the area. Eye-witness reports claim that the soldiers were extremely aggressive and attempted to arrest one Palestinian after taking his identity card. When six internationals tried to intervene, the soldiers began beating them with their guns, punching them in the face and kicking them. One international from the United Kingdom was badly cut and bruised. Another activist, from Denmark had been thrown to the ground. An Israeli soldier then put his gun to the Danish mans head and pulled on the trigger as if he were going to shoot. It is increasingly difficult for Palestinian farmers to access their land and harvest their crops due to the construction of the Israeli Annexation Wall, Israeli army control of gates through the wall and the violence of settlers who attack Palestinians attempting to pick olives on Palestinian land that may border the illegal settlements. At the time of this release, the internationals are remaining in the area in the event that the Palestinian farmers are unable to harvest their olives. Date: 17/08/2004
×
Freedom March Builds as it Near Jerusalem
The Freedom March Against the Wall, that began July 30 in Jenin, has traveled for 16 days and visited approximately 60 villages and towns. On several days the March has been joined by over 1000 Palestinians, Internationals and Israelis and numerous organizations and political parties. They have met with families and farmers along the path of the Wall, under the constant watch of the Israeli Army. On several occasions the marchers have been met by military force as the Israeli Army has attempted to block their path and arrest them. Palestinians, internationals and Israelis are marching along the path of the Apartheid Wall, through cities, towns and villages arriving in Jerusalem, August 19. The purpose of the Freedom March is to highlight the devastation and suffering Palestinians and their communities are enduring as a result of the construction of the Wall. The March will arrive in Biddu Sunday, where there has been strong resistance to the Wall. The March will be joined by hundreds more as they approach Ramallah and Jerusalem. On August 18 and 19 the Freedom March will travel from Beitunia, through Qalandia, Al-Ram and will attempt to culminate in Jerusalem. Wednesday August 18, the Freedom March will walk to Ramallah where they will visit with the prisoners solidarity tent to show their support for the political prisoners who will be on hunger strike as of Sunday August 15 to demand basic rights and an end to abuse in the prisons. The Freedom March will then visit President Arafat, in order to share the stories they have heard from the communities about the hardships resulting from the Wall and the impact on the lives of Palestinians throughout the West Bank. The march will continue on to Qalandia where Israelis will be joining them from the other side to march together to Al-Ram. From there they will attempt to reach Jerusalem. Gush Shalom will be joining the March August 18 at Qalandia checkpoint. Date: 16/08/2004
×
Campaign for the Rights of Political Prisoners Needs Your Support!
The Committee for the Families of Political Prisoners and Detainees in the West Bank, representing 7,500 political prisoners currently in Israeli prisons, is seeking the support of the international community in its campaign against the gross violations of their rights that the prisoners are enduring and against the appalling conditions under which they are being detained. Political prisoners in Israeli prisons will be commencing a hunger strike on Sunday, August 15, 2004 to protest their conditions. They complain that the conditions they experience are reminiscent of the former Abu Ghoraib facility in Iraq which gained worldwide notoriety recently for its treatment of detainees. The families of the Palestinian political prisoners plead with you, the members of the international community, to join in solidarity with our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who are being held in Israeli prisons by organizing demonstrations, marches, holding silent vigils or activities to publicize the plight of the political prisoners and to bring pressure on the government of Israel to cease these violations of law and to treat Palestinian prisoners as human beings entitled to basic human rights. Israeli Public Security Minister, Tzachi Hanegbi, told reporters at a press conference in Jerusalem on August 13th that the prisoners "can strike for a day, a month, even starve to death, we will not respond to their demands". Some of the conditions that the prisoners are protesting include:
- Arbitrary and indiscriminate beating of prisoners in their cells, in prison courtyards and during transportation to and from prisons.
The treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israel violates both international and Israeli laws, as well as rules governing the administration of Israeli prisons. The Committee for the Families is planning a series of activities in the West Bank to coincide with the start of the hunger strike on August 15th. Scheduled Activities:
1. A press conference at noon in Ramallah will kick off the campaign Sunday, August 15.
September 4, 2004: International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners We ask you also to register your protests by letter, fax, email, or telephone to the officials listed below. Ask them to stop the harsh treatment of Palestinian political prisoners and to accede the demands of the striking prisoners so that the conditions under which they are imprisoned are consistent with international norms of human rights and basic decency. In addition, please register your protest with your own political representatives and governments ministers. Please send a copy of your protest message to alhureih@yahoo.com Messages of support from organizations would also be appreciated by the prisoners and their families. Please send them to the same address with some details of the organization. For more information visit our temporary website at www.palsolidarity.org/prisoners or telephone (972) 2 277 4602 or (972) 547-358-579 or email: info@palsolidarity.org With much appreciation for your valued support, Mahmoud Ziadi, General Secretariat, Families of Palestinian Political Prisoners PO Box 2151, Ramallah, Palestine. Israeli Government Contacts: Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon Office of the Prime Minister 3 Kaplan Str., P.O. Box 187 Jerusalem, 91919 Israel Fax: 972-2-670-5475 e-mail: pm_eng@pmo.gov.il Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz 37 Kaplan Str. Tel Aviv, 61909, Israel Fax: 972-3-696-2757 or 691-7915 e-mail: san@mod.gov.il or pnoit@mod.gov.il Minister of Justice, Yosef Lapid 29 Salah al-Din Str. Jerusalem, 91010, Israel Fax: 972-2-628-5492 e-mail: san@justice.gov.il Minister of Interior, Tzahi Haneghi Kiryat Hamenshala, P.O. Box 18182 Jerusalem, 91181 Israel Tel. 972-2-530-9999 Fax: 972-2-584-7872 e-mail: sar@mops.gov.il Addresses of Israeli embassies worldwide can be found at www.embassyworld.com/embassy/isreal1.htm or go to the Government of Israel website at www.info.gov.il/FirstGov/ Date: 13/08/2004
×
Israeli Soldier on Rampage; Children and Unborn Die
Israeli soldiers drove into Balata camp this morning and proceeded to shoot a 15 year old boy, Nasser, in his stomach. Two hours later they blew the arm off another boy, Abdul Salem. International volunteers are trying to prevent the soldiers from shooting more children but the soldiers are continuing to rampage and shoot live rounds. Almost every day for the last three weeks soldiers have come into the camp, parked their jeeps to provoke the children, and then used excessive force against them. Two days ago in Nablus, a soldier leaned out of an occupied house and shot Salim Alkusa (16) in the stomach, he died two hours later. The soldiers first pointed his gun at a medical crew. Internationals yelled out,"don't shoot," he changed direction aimed his M16 at a group of teenagers on the other side of the road and shot Salim. Later in Balata, whilst internationals were standing with a group of children, a soldier opened the side door of his jeep and shot Sami Abu Mustafa in the back of his head. Internationals and medical volunteers ran to pick him up- there was a hole in his skull, he was bleeding profusely and his eyes were rolling back. In the last three weeks in Balata alone, soldiers have shot and killed three teenagers, one while he was drinking tea with his friends in the cemetery next to the grave of his relative. There is no reason for the soldiers to be in the camp: often they do not appear to be doing any kind of military operation; they do not arrest anyone; they just seem intent on terrorizing the residents. The last boy killed was shot from a house which soldiers had occupied up on a hill. The family whose home it is told us that just after the soldier shot the boy, he turned to them and said: "We just shot an Arab boy, now you will hear his screams". Latest update: Israeli soldiers occupied the home of the Walweel family last night. The family had already lost their son six months ago when he was shot by an Israeli soldier. The mother was six months pregnant and the terror she experienced when the soldiers entered the home resulted in the death of her unborn child. ISM activists accompanied the male members of the household to the cemetery to bury the baby. Names of those shot since 17th July.
Husam Abu Zaitoun 17 years old - shot dead whilst he was drinking tea with his friends in the cemetery next to the grave of his relatives.
All of these people were unarmed and soldiers could see clearly who they were shooting. For more information contact: Kole: 972-59-737-118 or 972-658-64-284 Media Office: 972-2-277-4602 or 972-547-358-579 Contact us
Rimawi Bldg, 3rd floor
14 Emil Touma Street, Al Massayef, Ramallah Postalcode P6058131
Mailing address:
P.O.Box 69647 Jerusalem Subscribe to MIFTAH's mailing list
|