PRESS RELEASE

This morning, Wednesday, March 24, 2004, Judge Rivka Feldman of the Magistrates Court in Jerusalem rejected the claim of “defense of justice” at the trial of the three defendants: Rabbi Arik Ascherman – Executive Director of “Rabbis for Human Rights”, Shai Eliezer and Omer Ori, accused of opposing home demolitions.

Rabbi Arik Ascherman responded to the Judge’s decision saying: “We are very disappointed with the decision handed down at this, the beginning of the month of Nissan in which we celebrate the exodus from Egyptian injustice. It saddens us to find out that we have a court of law, but not a court of justice at a time we should especially be sensitive to the situation of the stranger who lives among us: “because strangers you were in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19: 33-32).

Rabbi Ascherman said that more than 30 “administrative” home demolitions have taken place in Jerusalem since the beginning of the calendar year. The Or committee has already criticized the policy of home demolitions and has stated that the Israeli government limits the possibility of Arab citizens (and even more so of Palestinians) to build legally. There needs to be legal implementation of this finding, in order to immediately stop this injustice immediately which affects so many lives. It appears that the judge did not take into account the full meaning of the concept of civil disobedience. We intend to continue our struggle to persuade the court to acknowledge the real injustice of the policy of home demolitions. The whole world is watching this trial and we do not intend to lose”.

Present at the court this morning were Sufian Maswadeh, whose home the defendants were trying to protect when arrested, Jacob Picheny, a representative of Rabbis for Human Rights supporters in North America, rabbis and activists. As at the first cession, an overflow crowd was forced to wait outside the courtroom.

For more details:
Rabbi Arik Ascherman 050-607034, 02-563-7731
Shai Eliezer 02-671-7570
Omer Ori 03-6291421
Adv. Leah Tzemel 052-601602, 02-627-3373

Documents submitted to the court include:

1) Court Decision/Minutes
2) Expert testimony of planning expert Nati Maron on behalf of “Bimkom” and “ACRI”
3) Excerpts from the Or Commission Findings (English)
4) Expert testimony of planning expert Ayala Ronnel
5) Reports by B’Tselem (English), Ir Shalem, Urban Planner Sara Kaminiker(English)
6) Reports of Jerusalem Comptroller
7) Insider testimony of former Jerusalem Arab affairs advisor Amir Cheshin (English and Hebrew)
8) Testimonies of owners of the two demolished homes
9) Testimony of anonymous owner of demolished homes regarding offers to save his home in return for bribe or agreement to be an informer.
10) Testimony of Isawiyah Local Council Head Darwish Darwish
11) Rabbinic Opinion signed by RHR members
12) Rabbinic Support Letter signed by over 400 Diaspora Rabbis. (English)
13) Amicus Curiae Brief of the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and JCHR (Jerusalem Centre for Human Rights (English) and additional documents co written with the International Council of Jurists (English)
14) Affadavit of former Jerusalem City Council member Meir Margalit
15) Affadavit of the coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions Professor Jeff Halper

Rabbis For Human Rights
42 Aza St. Jerusalem, 92384, Israel
Tel: 972-2-563-7731
Fax: 972-2-566-2815
Mobile: 972-50607034
info@rhr.israel.net
Website: www.rhr.israel.net

The extra-judicial killing of Sheikh Yassin on Monday has been overshadowing the week since, at least in the press. The importance and the ramifications of that assassination more than justifies the scrutiny and debate it has triggered, and it is a good sign that it has not been dismissed as quickly as Israeli officials might have liked.

The typical quest for sensational news by the press should not however succeed in overlooking other important, though less sensational, news, such as the trial of the Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights, Rabbi Arik Ascherman.

Rabbi Ascherman, who is on trial in Jerusalem for trying to prevent the demolition of two Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, appeared together with two other codefendants for their second session this Wednesday.

The protest, which the rabbi calls an act of civil disobedience over an `unjust and immoral Israeli policy,' could result in a three year jail sentence.

Rabbi Ascherman reported that at the scene of one demolition, “the families were hysterical. The grandmother was wailing while the father of the family was clutching at his heart and others were begging us to do something. It was simply heartbreaking… we watched helplessly as the pneumatic drills tore into the home. To officer after officer I read off chapter and verse from the various international conventions which Israel is a party to. Commanders ordered their people not to listen or take the paper.” The two demolitions that took place left two large extended families homeless within a matter of minutes.

The 100 or so members of Rabbis for Human Rights try to promote human rights from a Jewish religious perspective. They are chiefly engaged in non-violent protest against home demolitions and the rebuilding of demolished homes, the provision of humanitarian aid to besieged Palestinian villagers, and the mobilization of rabbis and supporters in Israel and around the world to petition Israeli officials regarding human rights abuses.

The rabbis also help bring human rights issues to the Israeli Supreme Court. This time, however, their zealous efforts to defend people’s basic right to a home has made them the subject of Israeli court proceedings.

The presiding judge rejected the defendants’ defense that protesting home demolitions is legitimate given that the policy of home demolition is an unjust and discriminatory policy, which prevents Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem, who cannot attain permits, from building homes legally.

While the rabbis’ actions might be technically illegal according to the narrow interpretations of Israeli law, the effective Israeli policy is certainly illegal according to international law, not to mention unjust.

The Israeli Or Commission clearly concluded that it is not possible to understand the policy of so called “illegal” building and demolitions outside the context of the discriminatory land policies directed against both Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.

It should be noted that the homes that were demolished were not demolished for any security reasons, as none of the people in these homes engaged in activities defined as illegal by Israel.

B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, reports that since 1987, literally thousands of homes have been built for Jews in these same areas, many receiving permits retroactively. Since 1987, 2,500 Palestinian homes in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem have been demolished for administrative reasons leaving more than 16,000 Palestinians homeless.

Since 1987, the Israeli authorities have "administratively" demolished at least 2,500 Palestinian homes in the West Bank (including east Jerusalem), and hundreds of other structures.

However, none of these points seem to have made an impression on the judge and the next hearing scheduled on September 14th, 2004, will unlikely see a turn in the judiciary’ s common evasion of examining the core of the matter.

As Israeli courts seem unwilling to tackle the core issue, the burden falls even stronger on the Israeli society to examine the human and moral implications of such a home demolition policy. The quiescence to this and other similar policies will inevitably lead to the destruction of the society behind them.

Rabbis for Human Rights
http://www.rhr.israel.net

Rabbis for Human Rights – North America
http://www.rhr-na.org

1_March 2019, Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (8 March), a week-long joint campaign “My Rights, Our Power” was launched today in Palestine to raise awareness on women’s 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 women’s 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 women’s 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 women’s 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 women’s 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 women’s 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 one’s 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 women’s achievements using TED-style talks, followed by art performances.

“My Rights, Our Power” joint campaign is part of the global International Women’s 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 women’s 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, Ma’an 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, Women’s 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.

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 General’s 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 Palestine’s own important efforts in this regard. The Palestinian women’s 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 “Women’s 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 women’s 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. Women’s 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 women’s 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 Palestine’s international commitments and obligations and avail women the protection and rights they are entitled to and the opportunities they deserve.

Mr. President,

The Palestinian women’s 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 women’s 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 women’s 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.

On the occasion of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to Palestine, the Palestinian Women Coalition of UNSCR 1325, which consists of twelve different Palestinian women’s organisations, is urging the Prosecutor’s Office to take concrete actions towards investigating war crimes committed against Palestinians. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom remains deeply concerned with the complete impunity of Israeli war crimes and firmly supports the Coalition’s call for a just accountability mechanism for Palestinian victims. WILPF also calls on the international community to recognise and fully support Palestinian women’s 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 Prosecutor’s 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 women’s organisations, have been excluded from the delegation’s agenda.

We call upon all future delegations of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office to include on their agenda meetings with women’s 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 Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), MIFTAH, Filastinyat, Women Media and Development (TAM), Women Stu Dies Center, Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling (WACLAC), the National, YWCA of Palestine, Center for Women’s Legal Research and Consulting (CWLRC), the Culture and Free thought Association(CWLRC) and Women’s Affairs Center (GWAC).

Occupied Palestine

October 11, 2016