MIFTAH
Friday, 29 March. 2024
 
Your Key to Palestine
The Palestinian Initiatives for The Promotoion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
 
 
 

Ramallah – The orientation meetings recently organized by MIFTAH in several West Bank districts between grassroots institutions in the Resolution 1325 Coalition and international organizations allowed for a broad action platform between these organizations including with the High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR ). The meetings helped to convey the reality of violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied Palestinian territories in addition to the responsibility on international organizations that monitor and document these violations.

Coordination between grassroots coalitions and international organizations

MIFTAH, in cooperation and coordination with OHCHR director in the southern districts (Bethlehem and Hebron) Hamed Qawasmi, conducted a survey of all international parties working in solidarity with Palestinians on the ground and whose agenda revolves around providing protection and documenting human rights violations by the Israeli occupation. The goal was to find clear mechanisms of coordination between these coalitions and international organizations so as to shed light on the situation of Palestinian women and girls in the Jordan Valley and regions close to the separation wall, in addition to refugee women and those who suffer from settler attacks.

Grassroots coalitions

The meetings allowed MIFTAH field coordinators in the various districts (Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Jericho and the Jordan Valley) to learn about the grassroots coalitions and their initiatives to put UN Resolution 1325 into action. On their part, member organizations in the coalitions shed light on Israeli violations practiced in these areas.

Oja

Sixty-two people attended the Oja meeting from various coalition organizations including cooperatives, charity organizations and youth clubs. Heads and members of local councils and OHCHR director Hamed Qawasmi were also present along with a number of international supporters, government institutions, unions and the Red Crescent Society.

Qawasmi: the exclusivity of the Jordan Valley

Hamed, who came with a delegation from the World Council of Churches, pointed out that the Jordan Valley had an exclusiveness of its own. He said international institutions lacked sufficient information on this area, partially because there was no dependable Palestinian documentation of the violations. The only reliable documentation, Hamed explained, was from the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, stressing on the need for local organizations to gather information on these violations and also on residents’ basic needs.

Hamed continued that he had taken the institutions, namely the Council of Churches to the meetings in the Bethlehem, Tulkram and Hebron areas so they could learn more about the situation of Palestinians in these districts. He said such initiatives and meetings were part of the reason why Sweden and the European Parliament recognized the right of the Palestinians to a state. “Hence, in the future, the High Commissioner’s office will adopt a clear mechanism based on the outcomes of these meeting and the documented violations. We will follow up on them and deliver them to the relevant parties, especially citizens’ individual complaints.”

Audience presentations

The meeting was chaired by MIFTAH coordinator Najat Abu Rmeileh, who briefed the audience on the coalition’s work. When the floor was opened to the audience, most spoke about the bitter reality in which Jordan Valley residents live including ongoing Israeli army raids on their homes, usually in the middle of the night, in a bid to push them out and take over their land. They spoke of Israel’s confiscation of their water sources and repeated settler attacks, the destruction of the agricultural infrastructure, home demolitions and lack of health services and clinics in some villages and of Israeli authorities preventing residents from digging wells deeper than eight meters.

Women working in settlements

The audience then veered to the subject of women working in Israeli settlements, saying there were no projects or initiatives available to better their situation, including those provided by the World Food Program and the World Health Organization in Jericho and the Jordan Valley.

The speakers spoke about the need for an ambulance. Since there are no permanent clinics or ambulances in the area, they are forced to call the Red Crescent ambulance, especially in places like Jiftlik and Fasayel. Patients are flown by Israeli helicopter and handed to the PRC helicopter for a fee levied by the PA of NIS80,000. The best solution, they said, would be to develop the clinics already in the area.

An international presence is welcomed

The speakers said the idea of an international presence in the Jordan Valley and at military checkpoints was welcomed so they could see firsthand how the people suffer at the checkpoints and the daily violations they endure. They even invited the international supporters to come to their homes and see what they are forced to endure because of Israel’s measures and the sore lack of appropriate infrastructure.

International interest

Presentations by local organizations were of interest to OHCHR director Qawasmi and to the World Council of Churches, both of whom wanted to know more about the Jordan Valley’s structural plans, which is considered a priority. They wanted to hear about the Israeli army drills aimed at putting pressure on the residents to leave their land; about the lack of health facilities and the need to revive the role of the media to better convey the Jordan Valley issues, including the need for women to be able to market their own products.

Ahmad Abu Joudeh: An absence of services

Ahmad Abu Joudeh, a member in the Jiftlik Council and head of its social committee, said the meeting’s message must reach ministers and officials. “We need actions, not words,” he maintained. He said because of the marginalization and disregard of the Jordan Valley, it had become a ‘huge waste basket”. “There are not even any basic public services,” he said. “Why don’t they build us a factory so our women could work there instead of in the settlements?”

Meetings in other districts

Similar meetings were held in the Jenin and Tulkarm district. The areas were chosen because of their proximity to flashpoints with Israelis and because of the many violations carried out in these areas, especially against women.

In this district, 35 people between the ages of 18 and 65, participated in the meeting. Discussions revolved around three points: the importance of the role of international solidarity organizations in documenting Israeli violations in these districts; the need to train cadres in monitoring and documenting violations; and the need for an office in the northern West Bank similar to the High Commissioner’s Office for Human Rights in the south.

The orientation was beneficial for all in learning about each other’s work and about the importance of a role for international organizations. The internationals also were able to listen to the problems of the districts and the violations they endure, understanding the need to document and monitor all of these violations in order to have a larger impact on international support.

Two recommendations were made in the meeting: raising social awareness on the importance and role of the coalition organizations, and the need to shed light on Israeli violations in their regions.

Khirbet Um Khayr: army and settler attacks

Nineteen participants visited Khirbet Um Khayr including coalition organizations, a youth group called “Palestine is bigger than us all” and international solidarity organizations from Finland, Germany, Scotland, Canada and Norway: Operation Dove, World Council of Churches, Christian Peace, OCHA, UNRWA and HCHR. There they met head of the village, Abu Hamzeh Hathaleen and several villagers including Sheikh Suleiman Hathaleen who briefed the group on settler attacks on the village, the demolitions of homes and Bedouin tents and attacks on their sheep and crops.

MIFTAH coordinator in Hebron, Maysoun Qawasmi said the participants learned about the coalition’s work and the importance of documenting violations and attacks. International organizations working in this area mainly focus on protecting children and women moving from one place to another because of the repeated settler and army attacks on them. They also write reports and send it to their home countries.

All of the participants agreed that the work of the coalitions is sending a key message, which is to end the occupation. Means of documentation is also key in addition to sending this information to the High Commissioner’s Office for Human Rights.

These orientation meetings are part of MIFTAH’s “Institutionalizing Security Council Resolution 1325 to achieve peace and security for Palestinian women”, funded by OXFAM.

 
 
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