2009 Annual Report Eng[1]

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.).(-

BTselemTheIsraeliInformationCenterforHumanRightsintheOccupiedTerritories

)6749111)02,)6735599)02,91531,.53132.,8

8HataasiyaSt.(4thFloor),P.O.Box53132,Jerusalem91531,Tel.(02)6735599,Fax(02)6749111

[email protected] http://www.btselem.org

HumanRightsReview

1January2009to30April2010

Draft

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TableofContents

Preface 3

Threeweeks,hundredsofcivilianskilled:OperationCastLead 5

Oneandahalfmillionpeopleimprisoned:ThesiegeontheGazaStrip 9

Thehumantoll:PalestinianandIsraelicivilianskilledsincetheendofOperationCastLead14

Thehumantoll:PalestinianandIsraelicivilianskilledsincetheendofOperationCastLead14

Sometimes,ablow...isanintegralpartofthemission ViolenceagainstPalestiniansbyIsraeli

securityforces19

DiscriminationandLandGrabintheServiceoftheState SettlementsintheWestBankandEast

Jerusalem24

Predictableattackspredictableleniency:FailuretoprotectPalestiniansfromattacksbyIsraeli

civilians28

Annexationintheguiseofsecurity:TheSeparationBarrier32

Amorecomfortableoccupation:RestrictionsonPalestinianmovementintheWestBankandEast

Jerusalem

36

HousedemolitionsandrestrictionsonPalestinianconstruction 40

Withouttrial Administrativedetention44

BTselemthanksthethousandsofindividualsinIsraelandabroadaswellasthefollowingbodies

fortheirgeneroussupport:

ChristianAid(UK)/DevelopmentCooperationIreland,CatholicRelief

Services,NaomiandNehemiaCohenFoundation,DanChurchAid,

Diakonia,EED,EuropeanCommission,FordIsraelFund,ICCO,SecretariatforHumanRightsandGoodGovernanceNDC,NewIsrael

Fund,NorwegianForeignMinistry,OpenSocietyInstitute,Oxfam

Novib,OxfamGB,SigridRausingTrust,Trocaire

Graphicdesign:StephanieandRuthieDesign

Dateofpublication:June2010

ISSN07928114

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Preface

ThispublicationreviewsthestatusofhumanrightsintheOccupiedTerritoriesinthesixteen

monthperiodbetweenJanuary2009andApril2010.

Bothchronologicallyandsubstantively,areviewofhumanrightsduringthisperiodmustbegin

withOperationCastLeadintheGazaStrip.TheextentoftheharmtociviliansinGazaaswellas

insouthernIsrael,andtheseverityoftheallegationsregardingtheconductofIsraelandHamas

dwarfmanyotherhumanrightsconcerns.

Sincetheendoftheoperation,thehumanrightssituationimprovedinseveralimportantspheres.

ThenumberofIsraeliandPalestinianfatalitieswasmuchlowerthaninpreviousyears.Inthe

WestBank,IsraelremovedsomeofitsrestrictionsonPalestinianmovement.Andthenumberof

administrativedetaineesheldbyIsraelcontinuedtodecline.

Inotherspheres,however,theviolationscontinuedasinthepast.AlthoughIsraeldeclareda

freezeonconstructioninthesettlements,theirimpactonPalestinianshumanrightscontinued

andevenincreased.Byitsnature,thesettlemententerprisediscriminatesbetweentwo

populationslivinginthesamegeographicareaandunderthesamesovereignty.Anindividuals

rightsandbenefitsaredeterminedbyhisorhernationality,withPalestinianssuffering

discriminationinawiderangeofspheresfromthecriminaljusticesystemtofreedomof

movementandaccesstowatertotheabilitytobuildahouseinaccordancewithfaircriteria.

IntheGazaStrip,Israelssiegecontinues.Thealmosttotalprohibitionontheimportofraw

materialsandonexportshasledtothecollapseoftheeconomyandtheclosingofmostofthe

factoriesinGaza.Therestrictionsonimportofbuildingmaterialshavepreventedthe

reconstructionofbuildingsthatIsraeldestroyedduringOperationCastLead.Povertyand

deprivation,whichwerewidespreadbeforetheoperation,haveworsenedstillfurther.Absurdly,

Israelsdecisiontopreventimportsandexportshasencouragedthedevelopmentofthetunnels

economybetweentheGazaStripandEgypt,whichiscontrolledbyHamasandincreasesits

power.

DespitethewideninggapbetweentherealityintheWestBankandthatintheGazaStrip,the

impunitywithwhichIsraeliforcesactinbothareasisacommondenominator.Fromthesoldier

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atthecheckpointtothetopechelonsofthemilitaryandgovernment,accountabilityforharming

Palestinianciviliansistheexceptionratherthantherule.

AsIsraelis,wearedeeplycommittedtoensuringthatourowncountryactmorally.Iinvite

everyonewhosharesthesevaluesofficialsandordinarycitizensaliketotakepartinthisvital

enterprise.Thereismuchworktobedoneandtherealityiscomplicated,butinthespiritofPirkeiAvot(theJewishEthicsoftheFathers),wemaynotfinishthetask,butarenotfreetodesistfromit.

JessicaMontell,ExecutiveDirector

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ArmedPalestinianorganizationsbreachedinternationallawbyfiringQassamrocketsatcivilian

populationcentersinsideIsrael;byendangeringresidentsliveswhenfiringatsoldiersfrom

insidecivilianneighborhoods;andbystoringweaponsincivilianbuildings.Inaddition,

Palestinianandinternationalorganizationshavedocumentedatleasteighteencasesinwhich

personssuspectedofcollaborationwithIsraelwereexecutedwithouttrialbyHamassecurity

forcesandarmedmaskedpersonsapparentlyconnectedtoHamas.Thirteenofthevictimswere

prisonersanddetaineeswhoescapedfromthecentralprisoninGazaafterIsraelbombedit

duringtheoperation.

Oneyearon,mostquestionsremainunanswered

ThereportIsraelpublishedattheendofJanuary2010statedthatbythatdatethemilitaryhad

decidedtoinvestigatesome150cases.Themilitaryhascompleteditsinvestigationofmorethan

halfofthesecases.Withtheexceptionofsevencases,whichwereforwardedtotheMilitary

PoliceInvestigationUnitforinvestigation,itwasfoundthatthesoldiershadactedproperly.

ThirtysixMPIUinvestigationswereopenedincasesinwhichtherewasasuspicionthatsoldiers

actedincontraventionofmilitaryorders:nineteenofthesewereforfiringatcivilians,andthe

remainderforusingciviliansashumanshields,harmingdetainees,andlooting.Asfaras

BTselemknows,soldiershavesofarbeenprosecutedforjusttwoincidentsrelatedtoOperation

CastLead.Inonecase,asoldierwasconvictedofstealingacreditcardandwassentencedto

fifteenmonthsimprisonment,halftobeservedinprisonandhalfsuspended;thesoldierwas

alsodemotedfromsergeanttoprivate.Inthesecondcase,twosoldierswereindictedforusinga

nineyearoldchildasahumanshieldandorderinghimtoopenbagstheysuspectedwerebooby

trapped.Inaddition,twoofficerswereprosecutedindisciplinaryproceedingsfordeviatingfrom

ordersregardingtheartilleryfireofexplosiveshells.

Onceagain,thebuckstopswiththeordinarysoldier

TheoperationaldebriefingsandMPIUinvestigationsarenotsufficientanddonotmeetIsraels

obligations.Thepurposeoftheoperationaldebriefingistolearnlessonsfollowingamilitary

action;itisnotintendedasatoolforinvestigatingthetruthinordertoconsidercriminal

prosecution.Moreover,thedebriefingiscarriedoutbymilitaryofficerswhoarenottrainedto

conductinvestigationsandwhoseworkisbasedoninformationgivenbythesoldierswhoare

liabletobecharged.

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TheMPIUinvestigationdoesnotexaminethepolicyimplementedduringtheoperationandthe

responsibilityofdecisionmakersfromthepoliticalechelon.Thus,eveniftheseinvestigations

resultinthefilingofindictmentsagainstsoldiers,theywillonlybefiledagainstlowranking

soldiersoragainstfieldofficers.Thoseresponsibleforformulatingpolicywillnotbeheld

accountablefortheiractions.

Inordertoinvestigatethesuspicionsthatthemilitaryactedillegally,therefore,Israelmust

conductanindependentandeffectiveinvestigationoutsidethemilitary.Aftertheoperation

ended,BTselemandotherhumanrightsorganizationswrotetoIsraelsAttorneyGeneral,

demandingthatheestablishanindependentinvestigativemechanismtoexaminethemilitarys

conductduring

the

operation.

The

Attorney

General

refused

to

do

so.

TheUNHumanRightsCouncilappointedthejuristRichardGoldstonetoheadafactfinding

missiontoexaminetheeventsaroundthehostilitiesthattookplaceinGaza.TheMissionsreport

demandedthatthesidesinvestigatethesuspicionsofwarcrimesduringtheoperationand

prosecutethosefoundresponsible.Israelcondemnedthereport,claimingitwasmisleading,

tendentious,andonesided.BTselemrejectstheseclaims,thoughitcriticizedsomeaspectsofthe

report.BTselembelievesthatthereportdidnotreflecttheseverityoftheviolationscommitted

byHamascombatants,andthattheconclusionsregardingIsraelsoverallobjectivesinthe

operationwerenotsufficientlysupportedbythefactspresented.However,BTselemacceptsthe

reportsmainrecommendation:BothIsraelandHamasmustinvestigatethesuspicionsthatthey

actedinbreachofthelaw.

BTselemreiteratesitsdemandthatIsraelconductanindependentandeffectiveinvestigationof

itsconductduringOperationCastLead.

Casestudy:Soldierskillwomanwavingwhiteflag

On13January2009,BTselemreceivedareportfromaresidentoftheGazaStrip,MunirShafiqa

Najar,whoreportedthatarelativeofhishadbeenshotbysoldiersnearherhouse,andthata

medicalcrewwasunabletoevacuateherbecausetheywerebeingfiredat.DespiteBTselems

callstotheRedCrossandthemilitaryrequestingthattheycoordinatetheevacuationofthe

woundedwoman,sheremainedinthestreetuntil8:00p.m.andbledtodeath.

TestimoniesgiventoBTseleminsubsequentdaysindicatedthat,onthedayoftheincident,the

militarybegantoshellhousesandcalledontheoccupantstoleavetheirhomesintheareaof

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Khuzaa,neartheIsraeliborderinthesouthernGazaStrip.Around8:00a.m.,theforcesordered

womenandchildrentoassembleinthemiddleofthevillage.Afewwomenleftneighboring

housesandbegantowalktothevillagecenter.RuwahiyaaNajar,47,walkedattheheadofthe

group,wavingawhiteflag.InatelephoneconversationthenextdaywithBTselemsresearcher,

anotherwomaninthegroup,YasminaNajar,25,describedtheeventsthatfollowed:

Wemanagedtopassthreehousesinthestreet,andthenIsawanIsraelisoldierabout

fortymetersfromusaimhisweaponatus.Ithoughthewantedustomoveclosertohim.

RuwahiyaandIkeptonwalking.Suddenly,thesoldierfiredatus.IfeltthatIhadbeen

shotintherightleg.Ruwahiyafellontheroadnexttome.Iranandhidbehindagarbage

caninthestreet.Mylegwasbleeding.Shortlyafterthat,Iapproachedahouseonthe

street.Thefiringcontinuedbehindme.Ruwahiyacontinuedtolieintheroad.Herhead

wasbleeding.Thewomenwhohadbeenwalkingbehindusran,scatteringindifferent

directions.Imanagedtogethomeinafewminutes.Someyoungwomenfromthe

neighborhoodbandagedmywound.ThenItriedtosneakbacktothestreettoget

Ruwahiya,butthesoldiersfiredatme,andIreturnedhome.Ruwahiyastayedlyinginthe

street.

MarwanAbuRida,anambulancedriverwhohadbeensenttothearea,triedtoreachRuwahiya

aNajar,butsoldiersopenedheavyfireathimafewtimes.At8:00p.m.,aftershewasalready

dead,hemanagedtoreachherandremovethebody.

AfterBTselemwrotetotheAttorneyGeneral,theMPIUopenedaninvestigationintothecase.In

OctoberandNovember2009,BTselemassistedtheMPIUincoordinatingthetakingoftestimony

fromsixeyewitnessesandprovidedtheMPIUwithmedicaldocuments,thecoordinatesofplaces

mentionedintestimonies,andaNajarsdeathcertificate.BTselemsdoesnotknowthepresent

statusoftheinvestigation.

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One and a half million people imprisoned: The siege onthe Gaza Strip

SinceJune2007,whenHamasseizedcontroloftheGazaStrip,Israelhasimposedatight

blockadeonthearea.AccordingtoIsraeliofficials,theobjectiveofthesiegeistobringdownthe

HamasgovernmentandleadtothereleaseofGiladShalit.Thesiegethusconstitutescollective

punishmentofthecivilianpopulation,andassuchitisunlawful.

IsraelstillcontrolstheGazaStrip

AlthoughIsraelwithdrewitsforcesfromtheGazaStripin2005,itcontinuestomaintain

completecontroloftheareasairspaceandterritorialwaters,andofmostofthelandcrossings.

Asaresult,GazaresidentswishingtoleavetheareamustfirstobtainapermitfromIsrael.Since

thesiegebegan,Israelhasonlygrantedpermitsinrarecasesthatitclassifiesashumanitarian.

ThepolicyalsoappliestoresidentswhomerelywishtocrossthroughIsraelinordertoreachthe

WestBank.

DeparturefromtheGazaStripviaRafahCrossing,forwhichEgyptisresponsible,isalsolimited;

Egyptonlyopensthecrossinginexceptionalcases.EvenifEgyptcouldopenthecrossingmore

often,thisdoesnoteliminateIsraelsresponsibilitytowardtheresidentsoftheGazaStrip,

includingpatientswhorequiremedicaltreatmentunavailableinGaza.

Harshrestrictionsonimports

UnderagreementsbetweenIsraelandEgypt,Gazasforeigntrademustbeconductedthrough

Israel.ThequantityofgoodsthatIsraelallowsintotheareaislessthanonequarterofwhat

enteredbeforethesiege,andfarbelowtheamountrequiredforthepopulationsneeds.The

rangeofgoodsthatIsraelallowsislimited:some150productscomparedwith4,000beforethe

siege.IsraelrefusestopublishthelistofproductspermittedintotheGazaStrip,ortherulesused

indeterminingthelist.

Difficultiesinrebuildingdestroyedanddamagedbuildings

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Israelprohibitstheimportingofbuildingmaterials,includingironandcement.Theprohibition

hasremainedinplaceevenafterOperationCastLead,duringwhich3,500houseswere

completelydestroyed,thousandsmoredamaged,andextensiveharmcausedtoinfrastructures.

Israelsprohibitionispreventingthereconstructionofthousandsofbuildingsdestroyedduring

theoperation.

Frequentblackouts,sewageflowingintothesea

ThesiegealsoseverelyimpairsthesupplyofelectricityintheGazaStrip.SinceSeptember2007,

whenIsraeldeclaredtheGazaStripahostileentityfollowingthefiringofQassamrockets,

Israelhasreducedthesupplyofindustrialfuel,whichisneededtooperatethepowerstationin

Gaza.FollowingapetitionfiledbytheNGOsGishaandAdalah,thestateagreedtosupplysome

63percentofthefuelneededtomeettheresidentsneeds.Inpractice,however,itprovidesless

thanthisquantity.AsaresultofIsraelspolicy,98percentofGazaresidentssufferfromplanned

blackoutslastinguptotenhoursaday.Theothertwopercentofthepopulationdonotreceive

anyelectricityatall,inpartduetotheshortageofspareparts,whichmakesitimpossibleto

repairinfrastructure,orduetotheproximityoftheirhomestotheborderwithIsrael.

Thefrequentpowercutsandshortageofsparepartspreventtheproperoperationofwellsand

desalinationplants.Thiscombinedwithexcessivepumpingovertheyearsresultinextremely

poorwaterquality.Attheendof2009,93percentofthewellswerefoundtobepollutedwith

highquantitiesofchlorideandnitrates,farinexcessoftheWorldHealthOrganizations

recommendedlevels.Wastetreatmenthasalsobeenaffected:everyday,some100,000cubic

metersofuntreated,orpartiallyuntreated,wastewaterflowintothesea.

Almostcompleteprohibitiononexports

Priortothesiege,seventytruckswithgoodsintendedforexport,suchasfurniture,clothes,and

agriculturalproduce,lefttheGazaStripdaily.Israelcurrentlyprohibitsalmostallexports.From

thebeginningofthesiegetotheendofApril2010,Israelhasonlyallowedtheexportof

strawberriesandflowersintendedfortheEuropeanmarketinafewisolatedcases.

Seriousharmtoagricultureandfishing

Agriculturehasbeenhithardbythesiegeandthousandsofpersonshavelosttheirsourceof

livelihood.Thisisdue,inpart,totheprohibitionontheentryofbasicitemssuchaspesticides

andsparepartsforirrigationsystems,aswellastheprohibitiononexports.Inaddition,farmers

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inareasneartheIsraeliborderareunabletoreachtheirlandbecauseIsraelhasdeclared

extensivesectionsoflandasecuritystriptowhichaccessisforbiddenorrestricted.Moreover,

Israelhasadoptedopenfireregulationsthatpermittheshootingofanypersonwhoentersthese

areas,evenifthepersondoesnotposeanydanger.Israelhasalsorestrictedtheareainwhich

fishingisallowed;sinceOperationCastLead,fishermenareonlyallowedtofishthreenautical

milesfromthecoast.Thewaterswithinthisrangeyieldameagersupplyoffish,andfishermen

finditdifficulttomakealiving.

Theresulteconomiccollapseandseverepoverty

IsraelspolicyhasledtoeconomiccollapseinGaza.Theprohibitiononbringinginrawmaterials

andonexportshasledtotheclosingof95percentofthefactoriesandworkshops.Tensof

thousandsofpersonshavelosttheirlivelihood,andunemploymentnowexceeds40percent.Asa

result,over70percentofthepopulationdependsonaidfrominternationalorganizationsto

obtainfood.In2007,humanitarianaidamountedto3percentofimports;by2009,thisfigurehad

risento26percent.

Thetunnelseconomy

Asaresultofthesiegepolicy,aneconomyhasdevelopedinrecentyearsbasedontunnels

betweenthesouthernGazaStripandRafah,Egypt.Largequantitiesofgoodshavebeenimported

throughthesetunnels.TheHamasgovernmentsupervisesthefunctioningofthetunnelsand

collectstaxesfromtheoperators.Inadditiontonecessities,Palestiniansalsosmuggleinweapons,

includingrockets.Followingtheexpansionoftunnelactivity,itwasreportedin2008thatvarious

productswereonceagainavailableinthemarkets,andthatpriceshadfallensomewhatdueto

increasedsupply.Nevertheless,tunnelsarenotapropersubstituteforastablelocaleconomy.

HoldingGiladShalitasahostageagravebreach

TheIsraelisoldierGiladShalitwasabductedinJune2006,andhasbeenheldsincetheninan

unknownlocationunderunknownconditions.Hiscaptorshavemadeitclearthatheisbeing

heldasahostageandaredemandingthereleaseofPalestiniansimprisonedinIsrael.Neitherthe

InternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrossnoranyotherinternationalbodyhasbeenabletovisit

him.WiththeexceptionofavideotapeHamaspublishedthisyearshowingShalit,asfaras

BTselemknows,noinformationhasbeenprovidedabouthisphysicalormentalhealth.

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Shalitisahostageduetothecircumstancesinwhichhewasseizedandthemannerinwhichheis

beingheld.Internationalhumanitarianlawabsolutelyforbidsthetakingandholdingofaperson

byforceforthepurposeofpressuringtheadversarytocomplywithcertaindemands,while

threateningtoharmthepersonifthedemandsarenotmet.Thetakingofhostagesisconsidereda

warcrime,forwhichallthoseinvolvedbearpersonalcriminalliability.

TheHamasleadershipinGazabearsanobligationtoreleaseShalitimmediatelyand

unconditionally.Pendinghisrelease,hiscaptorsmusttreathimhumanelyandenable

representativesoftheICRCtovisithim.

Casestudy:unemployedfortwoyearsfollowingplantclosure

UlfatalKafarneh,28,livesinaNasserneighborhood,GazaCity,withherparentsandnine

siblings.Whenshewastwentyyearsold,shebegantoworkasaclerkatthePalestineBuilding

MaterialsPlantinGazaCity.Theplantmadestonetilesusingauniquemethod,anditsproducts

wereingreatdemandbymunicipalities,theMinistryforLocalGovernment,UNoffices,and

privatecustomers.InhertestimonytoBTselem,of4November2009,shedescribedthesixyears

sheworkedattheplant:

Iworkedeverydayfrom8:00a.m.to4:00p.m.Fridaywasmyonlydayoff.Iworked

hardandIwasveryhappywiththejob.Imade1,400shekelsamonth(some$350),

which,forme,wasanicesalary.Itcoveredmypersonalexpensesandenabledmeto

helpmyparentspayforclothesandotherthingsweneeded,andmybrotherswho

wereatuniversity.Icouldalsogoouttoeatwithmysistersandfriends,whichgaveme

achancetobreatheabitandenjoyachangeofatmosphere.

In2007,Israelrestrictedimportofsandandgravelandtheplantclosed.Accordingtoal

Kafarneh,

Atfirst,wethoughtthatwithinamonthortwothecrossingsmightreopenandwed

returntowork,buttimepassedandtheyremainedclosed.Sincethen,mylifehasgone

frombadtoworseAllIcanthinkaboutisgoingbacktoworkorfindinganotherjob

sothatIcanmakealiving.Iveappliedforlotsofjobsininstitutionsandprivate

companies,butnonewereavailable,becausetheclosingofthecrossingshadcaused

manycompaniesandplantstoclose.

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Thingsaregettinghardereveryday.Ifeeluseless,andthinkbacktothetimeIusedto

work.ThenIwashappyandfeltgood.Now,Iworryallthetime.Ireallywanttobea

usefulperson

again,

someone

who

works

hard

to

earn

aliving.

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The human toll: Palestinian and Israeli civilians killed

since Operation Cast LeadThenumberofPalestiniansandIsraeliskilledintheconflictaftertheendofOperationCastLead

andthrough30April2010waslowerthaninpreviousyears.

PalestinianskilledbytheIsraelisecurityforces

From1January2009to40March2010,theIsraelisecurityforceskilledeightythreePalestinians,

twentyofthemminors,notincludingthePalestinianskilledduringOperationCastLead.Some

thirtysevenpercentofthePalestinianskilledwerenottakingpartinhostilities.Mostofthe

fatalities(67percent)wereresidentsoftheGazaStrip.In2008,90percentofthosekilledwere

residentsoftheGazaStrip,whileduringtheearlyyearsofthesecondintifada,thefigurewas

only40percent.

PalestinianskilledbytheIsraelisecurityforces,1January2009to30April2010

(Thefiguresinparenthesesarefor2008)

Gaza WestBank Total

Didnottakepartin

thehostilities

15(18) )158(16 31(176)

Tookpartinthe

hostilities

5(16) 34(234) 39(250)

Unknown 7(8) 6(22) 13(30)

Total 27(42) 56(414) 83(456)

*ThefiguresdonotincludePalestinianskilledintheGazaStripduringOperationCastLead,whichended

on18January2009.

**Inaddition,in2008threePalestinianswerekilledinsideIsrael,whiletakingpartinhostilities.

CurrentPolicy:Themilitaryunitinvestigatesitself

TheJudgeAdvocateGeneralsOfficecontinuestoimplementthepolicyitestablishedatthe

beginningofthesecondintifada:nottoopenanMPIUinvestigationautomaticallywhena

Palestiniancivilianiskilled.Instead,theunitthatwasresponsibleforthedeathconductsan

operationaldebriefing,whosefindingsareforwardedtotheJudgeAdvocateGeneralwhostudies

thesefindings,togetherwithotherinformationhehasobtained,anddecideswhethertoordera

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criminalinvestigation.Thestatejustifiesthispolicyonthegroundsthatanarmedconflictis

takingplaceintheterritories,andaccordinglythedeathofciviliansdoesnotinitselfsuggestthat

abreachoflawhasbeencommitted.

Criticismofthepolicy

BTselemrejectsthisposition.Internationallawestablishesrulesthatapplyalsointimeofarmed

conflictthecircumstancesinwhichitispermittedtoopenfire,whichweaponsmaybeused,

andsoforth.TheJudgeAdvocateGeneralsOffice,whichischargedwithensuringthatthe

militaryactsinaccordancewiththelaw,isrequiredtoconductacriminalinvestigationto

examinewhetherthemilitaryindeedactedinaccordancewiththeserules.

Moreover,theoperationaldebriefingisnotthepropermeanstodeterminewhethertoopena

criminalinvestigation.Firstly,thepurposeofanoperationaldebriefingistoimprovemilitary

operations,andnottodetermineifcriminalresponsibilityexists.Secondly,itiscarriedoutby

militaryofficerswhoarenottrainedtoconductinvestigations.Thirdly,thedebriefingisbased

solelyonstatementsofsoldiersinvolvedintheincidenttheverypersonswhowillbeheld

responsibleifanyofthemarefoundtohaveactedincontraventionoflaw.Forthesereasons,the

debriefinglackscredibility,andrelyingonitregardingPalestiniandeathsconveysamessageto

soldiersthatPalestinianlifeischeap.

Furthermore,therealityintheOccupiedTerritoriesisdifferentnowthanitwasin2000.The

sweepingdeclarationthattheeventsintheOccupiedTerritoriesconstitutedanarmedconflict

wasproblematicthen,andcertainlydoesnotreflectthesituationtoday.Thisisparticularlytrue

inthecaseoftheWestBank,wherethevastmajorityofPalestinianskilledoverthepastyeardied

inthecourseofpoliceactionsarrests,dispersalofdemonstrations,andsoforthandnotin

combatactions.

Theresult:Accountabilityistheexceptionandnottherule

Theresultofthispolicyisthatstepsarealmostnevertakenincasesinwhichthesecurityforces

killPalestinianswhowerenottakingpartinhostilities.Generally,theoperationaldebriefingsdo

notleadtoanMPIUinvestigation:accordingtothefiguresoftheJAGsOffice,from20022008,

operationaldebriefingsresultedinonly162MPIUinvestigations.In2008,BTselemreported

sixtyonecasestotheJAGsOffice,andinonlyfourcaseswasanMPIUinvestigationopened.In

2009,BTselemmadeseventeensuchdemands,notincludingincidentsthatoccurredduring

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OperationCastLead.Aninvestigationwasorderedinjustonecase.Inthefirstfourmonthsof

2010,BTselemforwardedfourcasestotheJAGsOffice.Theofficeorderedaninvestigationin

onlyoneofthesecases.

ThefactthattheJAGsOfficewaitsfortheoperationaldebriefingmeansthateveninthosecases

whereanMPIUinvestigationisopened,suchalongtimehaspassedastoimpairits

effectiveness.Physicalevidencenolongerexists;thoseinvolvedhavehadtimetocoordinatetheir

statements;witnessesmemoryhasfaded.AsfarasBTselemknows,inonlyninecaseshave

soldiersbeenchargedforcausingthedeathofaPalestiniancivilian.Themostrecentsuch

indictmentwasinJuly2003.

Challengingthepolicy

InOctober2003,BTselemandtheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsraelpetitionedtheHighCourt

ofJustice,demandingthatthestatereturntoitspolicypriortothesecondintifada,whenan

MPIUinvestigationwasautomaticallyorderedwheneveraPalestiniancivilianwaskilledinan

incidentnotinvolvinghostileterroristactivity.Thepetitionisstillpending.

Casestudy:Soldiershootsandkillssixteenyearoldyouth;MPIUinvestigationopenedonly

afterHighCourtpetition

AccordingtotestimoniesgiventoBTselem,onthemorningof22April2007,amilitaryjeep

arrivedinthecenterofthevillageofDeirAbuMashal,RamallahDistrict.Thejeepcontinuedon

patrolalongafarmroadontheslopesofaRahatiyaMountain.Severalyouthsagedtwelveto

sixteen,amongthemAbdalKarimZaharan,16,wentontoanearbyridgefromwhichthey

couldseethejeep,whichwasaboutthreehundredmetersaway.Zaharanwasholdingaplastic

sodabottle,whichhefilledwithsmallstonesandshookasanoisemaker.Thejeepstoppedonthe

ridgeoppositetheyouths,andfourarmedsoldiersgotout.Onesoldierkneltdownononeknee

andpreparedtofire.Afewminuteslater,atabout11:00a.m.,anumberofsuccessiveshotswere

heard.Thesoldiersgavenowarningbeforetheshotswerefired.Zaharanwashitandfelltothe

ground.Thesoldiersreturnedtothejeepanddroveaway.Abouttwentyminuteslater,Zaharan

wasputintoavillagersvehicletotakehimformedicaltreatment.Whenitgottotheentranceto

thevillage,soldiersstoppedthevehicle.Afterseveralattemptstogivetheyouthfirstaidand

resuscitatehim,hediedfromhiswounds.

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BTselemrequestedtheChiefMilitaryProsecutortoimmediatelyorderanMPIUinvestigation

intothisincident.InOctober2007,BTselemwasinformedthattheJAGdecidednottoopenan

MPIUinvestigation,thoughtheplatooncommanderinchargeofthepatrolwassubjecttoa

disciplinaryproceeding.

InAugust2008,BTselem,togetherwiththeAssociationforCivilRightsinIsraelandtheyouths

family,petitionedtheHighCourttoorderanMPIUinvestigation.InJune2009,theJAGinformed

BTselemthatithadorderedanMPIUinvestigation.InMarch2010,theChiefMilitaryProsecutor

informedBTselemthattheinvestigationcannotbecompletedbecauseasoldiercentraltothe

eventsisabroadandcannotbequestioned.BTselemdoesnotknowofanymeasuresthe

authoritieshave

taken

to

expedite

this

persons

return,

nor

of

any

other

investigative

steps

taken

inthefile.

Demonstratorkilledbygunfireinbreachoftheopenfireregulations:JAGsOfficewillnot

investigate

OnFriday,17April2009,duringademonstrationagainsttheconstructionoftheSeparation

BarrierinBilin,RamallahDistrict,asoldierfiredanextendedrangeteargasgrenadeatBassem

IbrahimAbuRahma,30,killinghim.ThreevideotapesegmentsprovethatAbuRahmawas

standingontheeasternsideofthebarrier,aboutthirtymetersfromthesoldierswhenhewas

shot;thathewasnotthrowingstones;andthathehadnotdamagedthebarrierorendangered

thesoldierslives.

BTselemwrotetotheJAG,demandinganimmediateMPIUinvestigationandthatthesecurity

forcesbeinstructedatoncethatitisabsolutelyforbiddentofireteargasgrenadesdirectlyata

person.BTselemattachedaselectionofvideofootageprovingthat,contrarytothemilitarys

contentions,firingofthegrenadesdirectlyatpersonshadforsometimebeenacceptedpracticein

the

West

Bank.

InMarch2010,theJAGsOfficeinformedAttorneyMichaelSfard,whorepresentstheAbu

Rahmafamily,thatithaddecidednottoorderanMPIUinvestigationbecausethefindingsofthe

unitsinternaldebriefingfoundnosupportfortheclaimthatthegrenadehaddeliberatelybeen

fireddirectlyatAbuRahma.InMay2010,AttorneySfarddemandedthattheJAGreversehis

decisiontoclosethefile.

IsraeliskilledbyPalestinians

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ThenumberofIsraelicivilianskilledthisyearalsofell.In2008,Palestinianskilledtwentyone

Israelicivilians.From19January2009to30April2010,PalestinianskilledthreeIsraelicivilians.

TwowerekilledintheWestBank:asixteenyearoldminorwasstabbedtodeathintheBatAyin

settlement,andanothercivilianwasshottodeathneartheEinavsettlement.InsideIsrael,

PalestinianschokedataxidrivertodeathnearGanYavne.

Palestiniansalsokilledfourmembersofthesecurityforcesduringthisperiod,comparedtotenin

2008.OnewaskilledinanexplosionnexttotheGazaStripperimeterfence.Onewasstabbedto

deathattheTapuahintersection,intheWestBank.Twootherswerekilledinanexchangeof

gunfirebytheperimeterfencealongtheborderwiththeGazaStrip.

Inaddition,in2009twoIsraeliPoliceofficerswerekilledintheJordanValleybyunknown

assailants.

PalestinianskilledbyPalestinians

Duringthesameperiod,19January2009to30April2010,ninePalestinianswereextrajudicially

executedintheGazaStrip,bymembersofPalestiniansecurityapparatusesorbypersonswho

identifiedthemselvesassuch.Inaddition,twoPalestinianswereexecutedafterbeingconvicted

ofcollaborationwithanenemycountry.Onewasexecutedbyfiringsquadandtheotherby

hanging.

DeathpenaltyintheGazaStrip

On15April2010,theHamasgovernmentexecutedMuhammadIsmailandNasserAbuFreih,

bothintheirthirties,afteramilitarycourtintheGazaStripconvictedthemofcollaborationwith

Israel.ThesewerethefirstofficialexecutionsintheGazaStripsinceHamastookcontrolin2007.

AccordingtoreportsbythemediaandPalestinianhumanrightsorganization,fromJanuary2009

toApril2010,militarycourtsintheGazaStripconvictedsixteenpersonsofcollaborationwith

Israel,treason,andmurder.Anotherdeathsentencewasgivenbyaciviliancourtinthearea.

Duringthesameperiod,PalestinianAuthoritymilitarycourtsintheWestBanksentencedthree

personstodeath,oneonchargesofcollaboratingwithIsrael.

BTselemstronglycondemnscapitalpunishmentintheWestBankandtheGazaStrip.Capital

punishmentviolatesthebasicrightofeverypersontolife,isimmoral,andhasnoplaceonthe

lawbooks,whateverthecircumstances.

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Sometimes, a blow. . . is an integral part of the mission

- Violence against Palestinians by Israeli security forces

Overtheyears,BTselemandotherhumanrightsorganizationshavedocumentedhundredsof

casesinwhichsoldiersandpolicehaveslappedandkickedPalestinians,insultedanddegraded

them,anddelayedthematcheckpointsfornoreason.Onoccasion,moreseriousviolencehas

alsobeenexposed.

Israeliofficialsevaderesponsibilityforthesecasesbycondemningtheseincidentsandclaiming

hattheperpetratorsareafewrottenapplesthatdonotreflectmilitarypolicy.Inpractice,the

systemdoesnotmakeitunequivocallyclearthatanyviolenceagainstPalestiniansisforbidden.

NumerouscomplaintsmadebyBTselemandotherhumanrightsorganizationshavebeen

processedinatokenmanner,ifatall.Theimplicitmessagetosecurityforcesisthatevenifthe

systemdoesnotsupportoraccepttheseacts,offenderswillnotbeheldaccountable.

Nomeasurestakenagainstoffenders

Oneofthemanifestationsoftheapproachdescribedaboveisthefailuretotakestepsagainstthe

soldiersinvolvedinsuchincidents.Fromthebeginningofthesecondintifada,inSeptember2000,

totheendofApril2010,BTselemreported255casesofviolencetotheJudgeAdvocateGenerals

Office,demandinganinvestigationandprosecutionofthoseresponsible.Investigationswere

openedinonly186cases,andonlyeleveninvestigationsledtothefilingofindictments,oneof

whichwassubsequentlycancelled.Duringthesameperiod,BTselemmadeasimilardemandto

theDepartmentfortheInvestigationofPoliceconcerning180casesofviolence.Aninvestigation

wasorderedinonly122ofthecases,andonlytwelveindictmentswereultimatelyfiled.

Somecasesarenotrevealed

SomecasesofabusivetreatmentarenotrevealedbecausemanyPalestiniansprefertoavoidthe

troublesinherentinfilingacomplaintagainstanIsraelisoldierorpoliceofficer.Manyothers,

primarilyPalestinianswhoenterIsraelillegally,donotfilecomplaintsevenincasesofmore

severeviolence,fearingthatfilingacomplaintwillharmthem.ManyPalestiniansdonotfile

complaintsbecausetheydonottrusttheIsraelilawenforcementsystem,whichtendsnotto

believethemandtoprotectthosewhoharmedthem,ratherthanbringthemtojustice.

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CommanderofKfirBrigade:SweepingendorsementofviolenceagainstPalestinians

Thedoublemessagethatthesystemtransmitstoforcesinthefieldwasclearlyrevealedinthe

trialofLieutenantAdamMalul,anofficerinKfirBrigade,whowasaccusedofabusivetreatment

ofPalestiniandetaineesinthevillageofQaduminSeptember2008.ThetestimonyofKfir

commander,ColonelItaiVirov,andLieutenantColonelShimonHarush,thencommanderof

ShimshonBattalion,paintedaharshpictureoftheuseofdeliberateviolenceagainstPalestinians.

ThetestimoniesofVirovandHarushshowthatforcesundertheircommandhadbeengiven

sweepingpermissiontousephysicalviolenceagainstPalestinianstoobtaininformationfrom

them,andaspartofwhatisreferredtoasquestioning.Col.Virovstestimonyincludedthe

following:

Themissionistotrytoupsettheequilibriumoftheneighborhood,village,orparticular

location,togetinformation...ortocauseahostileentityinsidethevillagetomake

mistakesasaresultorinreactiontoactionsofourforces,andthusdisruptandexpose

itsactivity

Wewilldetain,interrogate,anduseappropriatephysicalpressureonanypersonin

orderreachtheindividualterrorist.Ofallthemeansofpressurethatweuse,thevast

majorityareagainstpersonswhoarenotinvolved:thecheckpoints,combingwhole

neighborhoods,questioningpassersby...Standingthemagainstthewall,pushing,a

blowthatdoesntcauseinjury.Thesearethingsthatcertainlyarecommonlyusedinan

attempttoaccomplishthemission.

Searchingforanaddresscanleadtouseofpressureonaninnocentbystander,search

forweapons,thesenseofathreattoaforce.Thereisadifferencebetweengoingtoa

villagewherethereisntathreatandyoudontsuspectanything,andgoingona

definedmission,whentheuseofaggressiontowardeveryoneoftheresidentsinthe

villageiscertainlycommonplace.

Lt.Col.Harushtestifiedaboutthepermissiontouseforce:

Whenthesepeopleareinterrogated,theymightbeputupagainstthewall,andcuffsor

ablindfoldmightbeputonthem,anditispossibleIrelyonthecommanders

judgmentthatsomebodygaveaslaporblowtotrytoextractinformation...Thereis

noformula,nothingwritten.Youenter,speakwithresidents,andifyoufeelashirt

beinggrabbed,shouting,andthereissomethingsuspicioussometimes,whenyoulive

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21

thefield,itisjustamatterofahunchyoufeelthatthisisaguywhocangive

information, andsometimes,toachievethis,forceisused.

Theseorders,whichimplytheroutineuseofviolenceandharassmentofcivilians,arepatently

unlawful.

InDecember2009,Lt.Malulwasconvictedofassaultwithaggravatingcircumstancesand

conductunbecominganofficer.InMarch2010,themilitarycourtruledthatthesixtyfourdays

Malulspentinmilitaryconfinementandthethirtytwodayshewasunderhousearrestwere

adequatepunishmentforhisactions,andrejectedtheprosecutionsdemandthatMalulbe

sentencedtoprisonanddemoted.TheJAGsOfficeappealedthelenientsentence.

ViolenceagainstPalestiniansseekingtoenterIsraelwithoutapermit

Betweenthebeginningof2009andApril2010,BTselemreceivedseveralreportsofviolenceby

soldiersandpoliceofficersagainstPalestinianswhoenteredortriedtoenterIsraelwithouta

permitinordertoearnaliving.Thisnotanewphenomenon:foryears,BTselemhaswarned

aboutthesecurityforcesuseofillegalabusivetreatmentandhumiliationoftheseworkersasa

meansofdeterrence.In2009,thesecasesoccurredprimarilyaroundJerusalem,Bethlehem,and

thesouthernHebronhills,inareaswheretheSeparationBarrierhasnotbeencompletedand

workersenterIsrael.

Thereportspaintaharshpictureofroutinecrueltyandabuse.AttheendofSeptember2009,

BTselemdocumentedseveralcasesofsoldiersassaultingPalestiniansinaRamadin,inthe

southernHebronhills.Ontheeveningof29September,forexample,acontingentofsoldiers

stoppedagroupoflaborerswhohadtriedtoenterIsraelthroughabreakintheSeparation

Barrier.AccordingtotestimoniesgiventoBTselem,thesoldiersorderedtheworkerstolieonthe

groundandthenassaultedandbeatthedriverwhohadtransportedthem.Thesoldiersthen

begantobeatoneoftheworkers,NaziralHreibat,aresidentofDura.Inhistestimony,al

Hreibatstatedthatanumberofsoldiersbrutallybeathim:...oneofsoldierssteppedhardon

myback,pressingmetotheground.Thathappenedtwoorthreetimes.Twoothersoldiers

kickedmeandhitme.Icontinuedtolieontheground.Iwasingreatpainandwasvomiting,but

thesoldierdidntstopkickingme.HeinsistedthatIremainlyingfacedownwithmymouthon

thegroundThesoldiersawthatmymouthwasclosedandtoldmetoopenitandplaceiton

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22

theground.Ididashesaid,andsoilwentintomymouth.Ivomited.Hreibatscondition

deteriorated,andhewastakentohospitalinHebronbyambulance.

Thenextday,30September,soldiersagainstoppedagroupoflaborerstryingtocrossthrougha

breakinthebarrier.MuhammadEqneibi,55,aresidentofHebron,statedinhistestimonythat

oneofthesoldiersorderedallofustocrawlonourhandsandknees,oneaftertheother.Oneat

atime,hetoldeachofustocrawlfortwentymetersandthentocrawlback.Whilewecrawled,

thesoldierfollowed,kickingandhittinguswithhisriflebutt.Hewaslaughingthewholetime

whiletheothersoldierstoodandaimedhisweaponatusThesoldierorderedustotakeoffour

shoesand,oneaftertheother,towalkonthornsforabouttwelvemetersandtoreturnthesame

way.Thelaborerswereheldforsixhours,duringwhichtimetheywerenotgivenanythingto

drinkandwerenotallowedtorelievethemselves.

InOctober,theJAGsOfficeinformedBTselemthatMPIUinvestigationshadbeenopenedin

bothcases.AsofMay2010,thefirstcasewasstillbeinginvestigated.Thesecondhadconcluded

withnodecisionyetmadeonfurthermeasures.

Casestudy:Soldiersabuseelderlyshepherd

Onthemorningof28January2009,sixsoldiersassaultedSharifAbuHayah,66,fromKhirbet

AbuFalah,whilehewasgrazinghisflockinanisolatedareanorthofRamallah.Accordingtohis

testimony,thesoldierswentovertohim,knockedhimtotheground,andthencuffedhishands

behindhisbackandblindfoldedhim.Foraboutanhour,theytookturnsbeatingandkicking

him.Theydraggedhimalongtheground,causinghimtobeinjuredbyrocksandthorns,and

pushedtwigsintohismouth.

WhenresidentsofanearbyvillagetriedtointerveneandcalledthePalestinianDCOandthe

PalestinianTVagencyPalMedia,thesoldiersstoppedtheirabusivetreatmentofAbuHayahbut

lefthimontheground,handcuffed.Anhourlater,afterPalestinianparamedicsarrivedatthesite

andsoughttoevacuateAbuHayah,anmilitaryofficerarrivedandapparentlyorderedhis

release.AbuHayahwastakentohospitalbyambulance.Hehadbruisesandscrapes,swollen

hands,andacrackedboneinafingeronhisrighthand.Hewasreleasedandtoldtorestfora

week,duringwhichhesufferedpainalloverhisbody.

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23

TheJAGsOfficeinformedBTselemthatanMPIUinvestigationhadbeenopened.Todate,

however,BTselemhasnotbeeninformedoftheinvestigationsresults,norwhetheranyaction

hasbeentakenagainstthesoldiers.

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24

Discrimination and Land Grab in the Service of the State

- Settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

Therearecurrently121IsraelisettlementsintheWestBankthattheMinistryoftheInterior

recognizesascommunities.AnothertwelvesettlementswerebuiltonlandthatIsraelannexedin

1967andincludedintheJerusalemcitylimits.Also,scatteredthroughouttheWestBankare

someonehundredunrecognizedsettlementsknownasoutposts.Inordertobuildthe

settlements,IsraelexpropriatedtensofthousandsofacresofPalestinianland,andforbidthe

Palestinianpublicfromusingit.

Overhalfamillionsettlers

AccordingtotheIsraeliCentralBureauofStatistics,inSeptember2009,thenumberofsettlers

livingintheWestBankhadreached310,200.Itwasestimatedthatattheendof2008almost

194,000personswerelivinginJewishneighborhoodsbuiltonlandannexedtoJerusalem.The

totalsettlerpopulationamountsto6.5percentofIsraelspopulation.Theannualgrowthrateof

thesettlerpopulationintheWestBankis5percent,almostthreetimeshigherthanthefigurefor

Israelasawhole,whichis1.7percent.

Disproportionateinvestmentinsettlements

AccordingtofiguresoftheHousingandConstructionMinistry,in2009therewere509housing

startsinWestBanksettlementsand508intheJewishneighborhoodsinEastJerusalem. These

figuresrepresentonequarterofallgovernmentconstructionthatyear.Inaddition,accordingto

theCentralBureauofStatistics,inthefirsttenmonthsof2009,twohundredprivatelybuilt

apartmentsweresoldintheWestBank.

Inthesameterritory,somearemoreequalthanothers

AllofIsraelsfinancial,legal,andbureaucraticinvestmentshaveturnedthesettlementsinto

civilianenclavesinanareaundermilitarylaw.ThissituationhasenabledIsraeltocreatearegime

ofseparationanddiscriminationintheWestBank.Twodistinctlegalsystemsoperateinthesame

territory,andapersonsrightsdependonhisorhernationality.WhilePalestiniansliveunder

militaryoccupation,thesettlersbenefitfromalltherightsenjoyedbyIsraelicitizenslivinginside

theGreenLine,andinsomecasesevenreceiveadditionalbenefits.

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25

Diverseimpactonhumanrights

TheexistenceofthesettlementsviolatesnotonlythePalestinianspropertyrights,butalsomany

otherrights,includingtherighttohousing,tolivelihood,andtofreedomofmovement.The

drasticchangesIsraelhasmadetothemapoftheWestBankalsopreventanypracticalpossibility

forthePalestinianstorealizetheirrighttoselfdeterminationinanindependent,viable

Palestinianstate.

Lukewarmfreeze

InNovember2009,theIsraeligovernmentdecidedtofreezeconstructioninthesettlementsfor

tenmonths.ThefreezedoesnotapplytoEastJerusalem,to2,500apartmentsalreadyunder

construction,andto455apartmentswhosemarketingwasapprovedbythedefenseminister.Six

monthsafterfreezebegan,thestateinformedtheHighCourtofJusticethatithaddiscovered423

violationsoftheconstructionfreeze,andconfiscatedthirtyninepiecesofconstruction

equipment.ThedeputydefenseministerinformedtheKnessetthat,additionalenforcement

measuresarebeingconsideredbasedontheorderofpriorities,butsofar,fewenforcement

measureshavebeentakenagainstillegalconstruction.Sincethisstatement,severalbuilding

foundationslaidfollowingthefreezehavebeendemolished.AsdescribedbyIsraelsState

ComptrollerandtheSassonreportontheoutposts,andindicatedbyfiguresoftheCivil

Administration,thestatedoesnotgenerallyenforcethelawagainstillegalconstructioninthe

settlements.

Plansforexpandingthesettlemententerprise

In2009,beforethefreezewasdeclared,thedefenseministerapprovedadvancementofanew

settlement,Sensena,inthesouthernHebronhills.TheauthoritiesclassifySensenaasa

neighborhoodoftheEshkolotsettlement,butitsresidentsconsideritanindependent

community.TheneighborhoodliesthreekilometersawayfromEshkolot.EtzionBlocRegional

CouncilisplanningtoexpandtheGevaotsettlementtoincludethousandsofapartments.Gevaot

isformallypartoftheAlonShvutsettlement,despitethephysicaldistancebetweenthem.The

buildingplansforthesetwosettlementshavenotyetbeenfinallyapprovedbytheplanning

committeesandthedefenseminister.

Notasingleoutposthasbeenevacuated

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26

SomesettlementsarereferredtoasoutpostsbecausetheyareillegalunderIsraelilaw,even

thoughmuchoftheirconstructionwasfinancedbythegovernment.

In2009,Israeldidnotevacuateasingleunauthorizedoutpostthathadbeenestablishedinthe

WestBankafter2001,despiteitspromisetodosointheframeworkoftheRoadMap.TheCivil

Administrationhasdonenomorethantodemolishafewtemporarystructuresinunpopulated

outposts.

PetitionstotheHighCourtofJusticehavealsoprovedineffective.InresponsetoaPeaceNow

petitiondemandingthatthestateevacuatetheMigronoutpost,whichwasestablishedwithout

permitseightyearsagoonprivatelyownedPalestinianland,thestateannouncedthatitintended

tobuildanewneighborhoodintheAdamsettlementfortheresidentsoftheoutpost.On25April

2010,thestateinformedtheHighCourtthatitwasconsideringapprovingtheDerekhHaavot

outpost,whichwasbuiltin2001nexttotheElazarsettlementintheEtzionBloc.Accordingto

residentsofalKhader,theoutpostliesonvillagerscultivatedfarmland.InMay2010,the

presidentoftheSupremeCourtissuedanorderrequiringthestatetoshowcausewithinninety

dayswhyitdoesnotevacuatetheAmonaoutpost,whichwasestablishedin1995onprivately

ownedPalestinianland,alltheconstructiontherebeingillegal.

EastJerusalem

Inrecentyears,theJerusalemMunicipalityhasacceleratedtheprocessingofseveralplans,some

waitingforapprovalforoveradecade,forbuildingsettlementsintheheartofPalestinian

neighborhoods.TheseplansincludesixtyapartmentsunderconstructionintheMaaleZetim

settlementinRasalAmud;approvaltoturntheShepherdHotelinSheikhJarrahintoabuilding

withthirtyoneapartments;andpreliminaryapproval,whichhasnotyetbeendiscussedbythe

planningcommittee,toaddtwentyfourapartmentstoBeitOrotYeshiva,inaTurneighborhood.

Settler

associations

in

East

Jerusalem

have

submitted

additional

plans

to

build

a

settlement

in

the

formerbuildingoftheJudeaandSamariaPoliceHeadquartersinRasalAmud,intheWadi

HilwacompoundinSilwan,andintheShimonHaTzadikcompoundinSheikhJarrah.These

plans,whichcallfortheconstructionof414apartments,havenotyetbeenbroughtbeforethe

planningcommitteesfordiscussion.ThetwoplansthathavebeenheardintheDistrictPlanning

Committeeandwereapprovedfordepositingarefortheconstructionof975apartmentsinthe

Giloneighborhoodandfor1,600apartmentsintheRamatShlomoneighborhood.

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Thesettlementsareillegal

Underinternationalhumanitarianlaw,occupationisatemporarysituation.Accordingly,itis

forbiddentocreatefactsonthegroundintheoccupiedterritory.Theoccupyingstateholdsthe

territoryonlyasatrustee,andisrequiredtoensurethewellbeingofthelocalpopulationandto

refrainfromexploitingthenaturalresourcesforitsownpopulation.Also,theoccupyingstateis

forbiddentotransferitscitizenstotheoccupiedterritoryortoencouragethemtomovethere.

Dismantlingthesettlementsandsettlersrights

Sincethesettlementsareillegalunderinternationallaw,andgiventheseverehumanrights

violationstheyentail,BTselemdemandsthatthegovernmentofIsraeldismantleallthe

settlementsandreturnthesettlerstoIsraeliterritory.Temporaryandlimitedfreezeactionsare

insufficient.Removingthesettlementsmustbecarriedoutinamannerthatrespectsthesettlers

humanrights,includingthepaymentofcompensation.BTselememphasizesthatthestateis

obligatedtoprepareanorderlyplantoabsorbtheresidentsofthesettlementsandproperly

integratetheminsideIsrael.

Casestudy:EvacuationofBedouinfamiliestoexpandMaaleAdumim

AdjacenttotheJudeaandSamariaPoliceHeadquartersareagroupofwoodenandtinstructures

belongingtomembersoftheSawahrehBedouintribe.UnderOutlinePlan420/4forbuildingin

theareaknownasE1,tothenorthofMaaleAdumim,thisareaisintendedforconstructionof

housingforsettlers.Theplanhasnotyetbeenapproved.HilwaAhmadAliZari,wholives

there,describedherconcernstoBTselem:

Myfathergrewuphereearlylastcentury,andIwasbornhereinatentin1937.Myfive

brothersstilllivehere,intheplacewheretheywereborn.Thereareabout150ofus

now.Weusedtomakealivingfromfarming,mostlyraisingsheepandgoats.Since

MaaleAdumimwasbuilt,wevehadmuchlessgrazingland.Therefore,weareforced

tobuyfodder,andsincethisisexpensive,wehavehadnochoicebuttoreduce

considerablythenumberofsheepandgoatsweraise.Mostofmyrelativesnowwork

cleaninghomesinMaaleAdumimandhaveleftfarming.

Whatworriesusmostnowisthatthesettlersintendtobuildanewneighborhoodinthe

areawherewelive.Wehavenootherplace.Iamespeciallyconcernedaboutthefuture

ofmychildrenandgrandchildren: ifthesettlersbuildanewneighborhoodofMaale

Adumimhere,myfamilywillbeexpelledfromtheplaceithaslivedforover100years.

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Predictable attacks predictable leniency: Failure to

protect Palestinians from attacks by Israeli civilians

Oneoftheprincipalfunctionsofanygovernmentistoenforcethelawandprotectthelife,limb,

andpropertyofthoseunderitsjurisdiction.TheStateofIsraelisobligatedtodothisnotonly

withrespecttoIsraelicitizensinIsraelandinthesettlementsbutalsowithrespectto

PalestiniansintheWestBank.Inmanycases,however,theauthoritiesfailtotakeactionagainst

IsraeliswhoinjurePalestiniansanddamagePalestinianproperty.

LenientpolicetreatmentofIsraeliswhoharmPalestinians

SincethebeginningofthesecondintifadainSeptember2000,BTselemhassubmitted220

complaintstotheIsraelPolice,demandinginvestigationofcasesinwhichIsraelisharmed

Palestiniansordamagedtheirproperty.Thecomplaintsdealwithsuchactionsasthedestruction

ofproperty,forcingpeopleofftheirland,threats,theftofcrops,torchingoffields,physical

assault,andshootings.AsfarasBTselemknows,inthirtythreecasesitwasdecidednottoopen

aninvestigation.In124cases,aninvestigationwasopened.Inthesecases,nineindictmentswere

filed,thirtythreewereclosedwithoutanymeasuresbeingtakenagainstanybodyinvolvedinthe

incident,andnodecisionhasbeenmaderegardingtheothers.Sevencasesarestillbeing

processed,andinfiftysixcases,BTselemreceivednoresponsetoitscomplaint.

SecurityforcesfailintheirdutytoprotectPalestinians

Insomecases,securityforceswerepresentduringtheincidentyetdidnothingtostopthe

violence;sometimes,theyeventookpartinit.Sincethebeginningofthesecondintifada,

BTselemhassentfortycomplaintsinvolvingcasesinwhichitwassuspectedthatsecurityforces

failedtoactproperly.BTselemwasinformedthatinvestigationshavebeenopenedinonlyfive

cases.Inthirteencases,itwasdecidednottoopenaninvestigation,andintwelveBTselem

receivednoresponse.Intencases,BTselemonlyreceivedacknowledgmentthatitsletterhad

beenreceived.

Pricetag

Accordingtostatementsbysettlers,someoftheharmtoPalestinianswasinresponsetothe

distributionoforderstodemolishstructuresthatwereconstructedunlawfullyinthesettlements,

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totheactualdemolitionofstructures,ortoofficialstatementsindicatingtheintentionto

demolishstructures.ThecallstouseviolenceagainstPalestiniansincreasedfollowingthe

governmentsdecisioninNovember2009tofreezeconstructioninthesettlements.Thesesettlers

refertotheviolenceasapricetagandsayitisintendedtodetertheauthoritiesfrom

implementingdecisionsofthemilitaryandthepoliticalechelontheybelieveharmthesettlement

enterprise.

AlthoughitisgenerallypossibletoanticipateeventsofthiskindandtoprotectPalestinians,in

mostcasesdocumentedbyBTselemitappearsthatthesecurityforcesdidnotmakeadvance

preparations.Inquiteafewcases,thesecurityforcesdidnotintervenetopreventtheviolence

whileit

was

going

on,

and

after

it

ended

did

not

question

those

involved

and

bring

them

to

justice.

Historyofleniency

SincethesettlementsbeganintheOccupiedTerritories,theauthoritieshaveadoptedan

undeclaredpolicyofleniencytowardIsraeliswhoharmPalestiniansanddamagePalestinian

property.Variousstatecommissionsandcommitteeshavenotedthistendency,amongthemthe

committeeheadedbyDeputyAttorneyGeneralYehuditKarpin1981,andtheShamgar

Commission,whichwasappointedfollowingthemassacrebyBaruchGoldsteinintheCaveof

thePatriarchson25February1994.Numerousreportsandpublicationsissuedbyhumanrights

organizationsinIsraelhavereachedthesameconclusion.

OverlookingsettlerviolenceandshowingindifferencetowardtheresidentsoftheOccupied

TerritoriesreflectashamefulcontemptforPalestinianlifeandproperty.Byactinginthisway,

IsraelviolatesitsobligationastheoccupyingpowerintheWestBanktomaintainlawandorder

inthearea.ThisresponsibilityincludesensuringthesafetyandwellbeingofPalestiniansagainst

violence

by

Israelis.

To

accomplish

this,

the

state

must

make

proper

preparations

and

bring

offenderstojustice.

Howoffendersevadepunishment

ShootingsettlerfromHebronwillnotbeprosecuted

On4December2008,ZeevBraude,aresidentoftheKiryatArbasettlement,shotandwounded

threePalestiniansinHebron.Thesameday,settlersriotedinHebron,injuringPalestiniansand

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damagingPalestinianpropertyfollowingtheevacuationofanewsettlementinthecity.Witha

rifleinhand,BraudewenttothewadiseparatingKiryatArbaandHebronandshotthree

membersoftheMitriyahfamily,wholivethere.Theincidentwasfilmedbyaresidentofthecity

whovolunteersinBTselemsvideocameraproject.ThetapewasprovidedtothePolicethesame

day.Braudeturnedhimselfintwodayslaterandwasreleased.

Theinvestigativematerialalsoincludedevidenceonwhichthedefenseministersigneda

certificateofprivilege,andwhichwasnotprovidedtothedefense.Braudesattorneyappliedto

theSupremeCourttoremovetheprivilegeandtoobtainthematerial.Inhisopinion,Justice

Rubinsteinagreedthatdisclosureofthematerialmightindeedharmstatesecurity,butfound

thatthedefendantsrighttoafairtrialprevailedoverthepublicsecurityinterestinthiscase.

Thenextday,theStateAttorneysOfficeannounceditintendedtocanceltheindictmentagainst

Braude,sincethepricetothepublicinexposingthematerialprevailsoverthepublicinterestin

prosecutinghim.Cancellationoftheindictmentmeansthataviolentanddangerousperson,who

wasdocumentedcommittinganoffense,willavoidpunishmentandcontinuetoendangerthe

livesofothers.Ifthestatepreferrednottoexposetheevidence,itshouldhavefoundotherways

tobringBraudetojustice.Cancellationoftheindictmentinthesecircumstancewasnota

legitimateoption.

InvestigationfiledclosedinthecaseofsettlerswhobeatPalestinianswithclubsinthe

southernHebronhills

InJune2008,fourmaskedsettlersassaultedthreePalestinianfarmersfromtheNawajahfamily

inthesouthernHebronhills.VolunteersinBTselemsvideocameraprojectdocumentedthe

settlersbeatingthethreefarmerswithclubs.Ayearlater,inJune2009,thepoliceannouncedthat

theinvestigationhadbeenclosedongroundsofoffenderunknown.InSeptember2009,

BTselemappealedtheclosingofthefile,requestingtheStateAttorneysOfficetoreopenthe

investigationandconductitinawaythatwouldleadtothefilingofindictmentsagainstthe

assailants.Fivemonthslater,inMarch2010,theStateAttorneysOfficeinformedBTselemthatits

appealwasbeingprocessed.

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Casestudy:DozensofsettlersassaultPalestinianswithstonesnexttoKedumim,injuring

three

YihyaSideh,45,whoismarriedandhasfivechildren,livesinJit,QalqiliyaDistrict.Heworksin

constructionforanIsraelicontractorfromJaffa.Earlyinthemorningof1June2009,the

contractor,ImadAref,collectedafewresidentsfromJitwhoworkforhimandheadedtoIsrael.

AccordingtothetestimoniesofSidehandanotherlaborer,aboutfivehundredmetersfromthe

entrancetotheKedumimsettlement,stoneshitpassengersinthevehicle.Inhistestimonyto

BTselemthatsameday,whichhegaveatRafidiyahHospitalinNablus,Sidehdescribedthe

incident:

Thestonesflewintothevehicle.Thewindowsshatteredandpiecesofglassshowered

us.Imadtriedtogetawayfromthestonethrowingsettlers,buthecouldntbecause

thereweredozensofthem.Aftergoingafewmeters,thevehiclestopped,andwegot

out.Thesettlersmovedbackabit.ThenwesawanIsraelimilitaryjeepparkedonthe

leftsideoftheroad,abouttwentymetersfromus.Whenthesoldierssawusgetout,

foursoldiersgotoutofthejeepandaimedtheirweaponsatus.Imadandsomeofthe

laborersshouted,inHebrew,thatwehadinjuredpersons,andaskedforfirstaid.The

soldiersdidntcare.Theycontinuedtoshoutatus:Getawayfromhere.Whenthe

settlerssawthesoldiersforceustoleave,theycontinuedtothrowstonesatusand

shoutedatus,inArabicandHebrew,DeathtoArabs.Wehadtogetbackintothe

vehicle.

ArefrushedthewoundedtothemedicalcenterinalFunduq,whereaRedCrescentambulance

tookthemtohospitalinNablus.Sidehswoundsandthewoundsofanotherlaborerwere

stitched,andathirdlaborer,whohadsufferedafracturedskullandbleedinginthebrain,

underwentsurgeryandremainedhospitalized.

BTselemcomplainedtothemilitaryandthepolice,demandinganinvestigationintotheincident.

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Annexation in the guise of security: The Separation

BarrierIn2002,followingaseriesofattacksinsideIsrael,thegovernmentdecidedtobuildtheSeparation

Barrier.Sofar,58percentoftheplannedroutehasbeencompleted,infringingtherightsof

hundredsofthousandsofPalestiniansintheprocess.Thestatehastherightandobligationto

protectitscitizensfromattacks,butifitdecidestobuildabarrierbetweenIsraelandtheWest

Bank,thebarriermustrunalongtheGreenLineorinsideIsrael.Israelisnotallowedtousethe

barriersroutetoexpandtheareaofsettlementsoritssovereignterritory,whileseverely

violatingtherightsofPalestinians.IsraelmustdismantleallpartsoftheBarrierthatwerebuilt

insidetheWestBank.

TheBarriersrouteannexessettlements

Theroutewasbasedonextraneousconsiderationsthatarecompletelyunrelatedtothesecurityof

Israelicivilians.Oneofthemajorconsiderationsinsettingtheroutewasthedesiretoannexparts

oftheWestBanktoIsrael.Theplannedroute,85percentofwhichrunsinsidetheWestBank,

surroundslargesettlements,suchasMaaleAdumimandAriel.Uponcompletion,9.5percentof

theWestBank,containingsixtysettlements,willliewestoftheBarrier.NotonlydoestheBarrier

surroundsettlementsinatleasttwelveplaces,itwasbuilthundreds,eventhousands,ofmeters

fromtheexistingsettlement,inaccordancewiththesettlementsexpansionplans.

SharpdropinpaceofBarrierconstruction

In2009,workontheSeparationBarrierslowedappreciably.AccordingtothefiguresoftheUN

OfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs(OCHA),onlyfourkilometerswereaddedin

2009.Oftheplanned709kilometers,413kilometershavebeencompleted(58percent).Another

seventy

kilometers

are

under

construction

and

twenty

two

kilometers

are

in

planning.

All

the

sectionsonwhichconstructionhasnotyetbegunarelocatedatasignificantdistancefromthe

GreenLine.

InJune2009,thestateinformedtheHighCourtofJustice,intheframeworkofapetitionfiledby

theSawahrehandAbuDislocalcouncils,thatithaddecidedtofreezeconstructionoftheBarrier

aroundthesettlementMaaleAdumimduetobudgetconstraints.Theconstructionofthe

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BarrierinthisareaisliabletocreateapartitionintheheartoftheWestBank,impedingtravel

fromonesectiontotheother.

EffectonPalestinianshumanrights

TheBarrierseverelyharmsthelivesofPalestiniansonthewesternsideoftheBarrierandofone

quarteroftheresidentsofEastJerusalem,thosewholiveeastoftheBarrier.Accesstobasic

services,suchaseducationandhealth,isrestricted,asisaccesstosourcesoflivelihoodand

religioussites.TheBarrieralsomakesitverydifficulttomaintainfamilyandsocialties.

Everywhichwaybutloosefamiliestrappedintheseamzone

Israelspolicy

of

including

as

many

settlements

and

as

much

unsettled

land

as

possible

on

the

westernsideoftheBarrierhascreatedanimpossiblesituationataseveralpointsalongitsroute.

Somevillages,alongsidewhichsettlementswerebuiltorwhichhavefarmlandclosetotheGreen

Line,areimprisonedbetweentheBarrierandtheGreenLine,inanareaIsraelcallstheseam

zone.SomevillagesaresurroundedbytheBarrieronallsides,seriouslyharmingtheresidents

abilitytomovetoandfromtheirvillageforwhateverpurpose(school,job,necessaryservices,

andsoforth).TheyaredisconnectedfromtheWestBankandarenotallowedtoenterIsrael.Asa

resultoftheserestrictions,onefifthoftheresidentsofDhaheralMaleh,intheBartaaenclave

westoftheBarrier,abandonedtheirhomesinearly2010.ResidentsofArabaRamadinalJanubi,

avillagesituatedsoutheastofQalqiliya,areimprisonedinanenclavethatattachesthesettlement

AlfeMenashetoIsrael.Inthepastyear,theCivilAdministrationagainpressuredresidentsofthe

villagetoleavetheirhomesandmovetotheeasternsideoftheBarrier,despitethestates

commitmenttotheHighCourtofJusticethatitwouldensurereasonablelivingconditionsforthe

villagersinsidetheenclave.

Farmersseparatedfromtheirsourceoflivelihood

ThousandsmorePalestinianslivetotheeastoftheBarrier,butareseparatedfromtheirfarmland

andwatersources,whichlietoitswest.IsraelhasbuiltagriculturalgatesintheBarrier,but

theyareinfrequentlyopened,orareopenedseasonallyonlyforpersonswhomanagetoobtaina

permitfromtheCivilAdministration.Obtainingthepermitisadifficultprocessandmany

requestsaredenied.

AccordingtofiguresthestateprovidedtotheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsrael,thenumberof

permanentpermitsthatwereissuedtofarmerslivingeastoftheBarriertoworktheirlandonthe

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westernsidedroppedby83percentfrom2006to2009(from10,037toonly1,640).Duringthis

period,IsraelexpandedtheenclosedareawestoftheBarrierby30percent,to119,500dunams

(fourdunamsequalsoneacre).

ChangeintheBarriersroute

Inearly2010,thestatebeganimplementingtheHighCourtsjudgmentofSeptember2007

requiringittoaltertheBarriersroutearoundthevillageofBilin.Thenewroutewillreturn

sevenhundreddunamsoffarmlandtothevillage,but1,500dunamsoffarmlandstillremainon

thewesternsideoftheBarrier.

Atthesametime,IsraelalsoalteredtheBarriersrouteinthevicinityoftheAlfeMenashe

settlement,inaccordancewiththeHighCourtsjudgmentofSeptember2005.Thenewroute

removedthePalestinianvillagesofWadiRashaandRasaTirafromtheenclavesurroundingthe

settlement.However,thevillageofArabaRamadinalJanubiremainsinsidetheenclave.

InDecember2009,theHighCourtruledthattheamendedroutearoundthevillageofAzzun

Atmaislegal.IsraelopenedagateenablingaccesstotheWestBank,replacingtheprevious

routeoftheBarrierthatsurroundedthevillageonallsides.

EastJerusalem:Anyroutewillviolatehumanrights

EastJerusalemisanintegralpartoftheWestBank.AlthoughIsraelannexedpartofthisarea,the

municipalbordersetforJerusalemwasmeaninglessformanyyears.Newstreetswerebuilton

bothsides,withschools,healthservices,andotherinstitutionsservingallresidentsofthearea.

TheconstructionoftheSeparationBarrieralongthemunicipalitysborderruinedthefabricoflife

thathaddevelopedandseverelyviolatedthehumanrightsofresidentsoftheneighborhoods

surroundingthecity.Thus,EastJerusalemresidentswholivetotheeastoftheBarrier,aswellas

otherPalestiniansholdingpermitstoenterEastJerusalem,arepermittedtoenterthecityviajust

threeofthesixteencheckpointslocatedalongtheBarrier.Theymayonlyenteronfoot.Theentry

permitsarevoidedwheneverthereisageneralclosure,whichisgenerallydeclaredonholidays

andfollowingsecuritywarnings.

Accordingly,andinlightofthecomplexrealityintheJerusalemarea,anyroutethatischosenfor

theBarrierwillinevitablyviolatetheresidentsrights.

Casestudy:Elderlyfarmerpreventedfromworkinghislandforsixyears

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TheoliveorchardsofEliasMariyyeh,80,afarmerfromBethlehem,lietotheeastoftheBarrier.

SincetheBarrierwasbuilt,hisfamilyhashadtroubleworkingtheirlandandgaininga

livelihoodfromtheoliveharvest.Atfirst,theCivilAdministrationrejectedoutrightrequestsfor

permitstocrosstheBarrier.Subsequently,apermitwasissuedonlytoMariyyeh,whowas

unabletodotheworkalone.Thisyear,hewasnotgivenapermit.InhistestimonytoBTselem,

of7January2009,hesaid:

Threedaysago,weheardfromtheBethlehemMunicipalitythattheIsraeliofficialsin

Etzionhavenotissuedpermits.Thereisanewcondition:farmerswithlandonthe

othersideofthefencehavetoprovidedocumentsshowingtheyowntheland.Thisisa

newprocedure.Ofcourse,thistakestime,andtheoliveharvesthasalreadybegun.

Nowthefarmersareafraidtheylllosetheharvestbeforethepermitsarrive.Ive

alreadylostthisseason.ThisisthesixthseasonthatIhaventbeenabletogettomy

landfortheoliveharvest.IamafraidthatIwilldiewithoutsayinggoodbyetomyland,

withwhichIhavehadabondsincethedayIwasborn.

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A more comfortable occupation: Restrictions on

Palestinian movement in the West Bank and East

Jerusalem

In2009,IsraelremovedsomerestrictionsonPalestinianmovementintheWestBankthatithad

imposedatthebeginningofthesecondintifada.Withsomeprincipalcheckpointsnowopento

movementofvehiclesandpedestrians,itisnowmucheasiertotravelonthemainroadsbetween

themajorPalestiniantowns.Despitethesignificantincreaseinabilitytomoveaboutwithinthe

WestBank,movementisstillnotfree.

ThemovementrestrictionscurrentlyremainingintheWestBankareaimedatdirectingallthe

Palestinianstoasmallnumberofprincipalcheckpoints,thusenablingcontrolofmovementin

theWestBank.TheobjectiveofmostoftherestrictionsistokeepPalestiniantrafficawayfrom

thesettlements,frommajorroadsthatthesettlersuse,orfromareaswhereIsraelwantsto

strengthenitscontrolandexcludePalestinians.Thus,thevastmajorityoftherestrictionsareon

roadsleadingtoAreaC,inareaswestoftheSeparationBarrier,intheJordanValley,andinthe

settlementinHebron.

TheserestrictionsonmovementreflectanattitudethatviewsthebasicrightofPalestiniansto

freedomofmovementasaprivilegethatIsraelmaygrantordenyasitwishes.Theyseverely

infringethePalestiniansrighttofreedomofmovementandconsequentlytootherbasicrights,

suchastherighttoadequatemedicaltreatment,toeducation,andtowork,andmakeitdifficult

tomaintaineconomic,family,andsocialties.

Currentsituation

InearlyFebruary2010,therewerefortyfourstaffedcheckpointsinsidetheWestBank,compared

tosixtyfourin2008.EighteenoftheseareinHebron.AccordingtoOCHAsfigures,inOctober

2009,therewere488physicalroadblocksdirtpiles,obstructions,gates,andsectionsofroad

closedtoPalestinianscomparedtoanaverageof537inthefirstninemonthsof2008.BTselems

researchindicatesthataboutfiftyoftheseobstructionssignificantlyhamperPalestinian

movementandcauseasignificantincreaseintraveltimesandcosts.

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AlongtheSeparationBarrier,therearethirtyninecheckpointsandobstructions,nineteenof

whicharethelastinspectionpointpriortoenteringIsrael.Thesecheckpointslieafewkilometers

eastoftheGreenLineandlimitaccessofPalestinianstothelandtothewest,whichispartofthe

WestBank.

ContainerCheckpointpartitionbetweenthenorthernandsouthernsectionsoftheWest

Bank

TheContainercheckpoint,locatedontheroadlinkingthenorthandsouthoftheWestBank,is

themaincheckpointintheWestBank.ItchannelsmovementthatoncepassedviaJerusalemon

thewaynorthorsouth.Crossingthecheckpointoftenentailsprolonged,arbitrarydelays,

primarilyonSundaysandThursdays.Amongthoseaffectedbythedelaysareillpersonsontheir

waytoreceivemedicaltreatmentandtruckscarryingfreshproduce.

HebroncontinuationofrestrictionsonPalestiniansonly

InsideHebron,aroundtheareaH2*inwhichthesettlementsarelocated,thereremaineighteen

staffedcheckpoints,whichcauseconstantdelayofPalestinianmovementtoandfromthisarea.

ManyPalestiniansinthecitycomplainaboutharassmentandinsultsatthecheckpoints.These

restrictionshaveled,inrecentyears,tomanyPalestinianfamiliesleavingH2,theclosingof

markets,anappreciabledeclineineconomicactivity,andadecreaseinthenumberofstudentsin

educationalinstitutions.

*TheHebronAgreement,of1997,dividedthecityintotwoparts:H1,whichwasplacedundercomplete

Palestiniancontrol,andH2,inwhichtheJewishsettlementsinthecityarelocated,underIsraelicontrol.

TheroadreferredtoasZionRoute,whichwasusedbysettlersenteringthecitycenterfrom

KiryatArbaandbyPalestinianresidentsofHebron,wasclosedtoPalestinianvehiclesattheend

of2000.Inearly2009,themilitarysaiditintendedtocanceltheprohibition,andinAugust2009

announcedtheopeningoftherouteforPalestiniantravel.Inpractice,themilitaryhasestablished

verystringentcriteriathatenableonlyasmallnumberofPalestinianstousethisroad.

ShuhadaStreet,oneofthemainroadsinthecity,wasclosedtoPalestinianpedestriansand

vehiclesattheendof2000.InDecember2006,themilitaryadmittedithadbeenclosedby

mistake,andthatanorderhadbeengiventoallowPalestinianstouseitsubjecttoasecurity

check.However,afewdayslater,themilitaryclosedtheroadagain.InOctober2007,thejudge

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advocategeneralinformedtheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsraelthatthemilitarysposition

wasthattheroadshouldremainclosedtoPalestinians.

Endoftheseparateroads?

InDecember2009,theHighCourtofJusticeruled,inapetitionfiledbyresidentsofPalestinian

villagesalongsideRoute443andbytheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsrael,thatthemilitary

doesnothavetheauthoritytoinstituteasweepingprohibitiononPalestinianmovementonthe

road.TheprohibitionresultedintheroadbeingusedonlybyIsraelisandformovementbetween

thecentralpartofthecountryandJerusalem,eventhoughIsraelisnotallowedtoactinthe

OccupiedTerritoriessolelyforthebenefitofitsownpopulation.TheHighCourtgavethe

militaryfivemonthstomakealternatearrangementsontheroad.Thearrangementsultimately

proposedbythemilitaryenableonlyminimaltravelofPalestiniansontheroad,anddonot

provideaccessfromtheroadtotheurbancentersofRamallahandBirNabala.Inaddition,the

roadthatwasbuiltbetweenthevillagesofBeitUralFauqaandBitunya,intendedasasubstitute

fortravelonRoute443,collapsedandwasclosed.Asaresult,residentshavetotravelalonga

longruralandwindingroadinordertoreachRamallah.

Previously,inOctober2009,followingapetitionfiledbytheAssociationforCivilRightsinIsrael,

theHighCourtorderedthemilitarytoallowPalestinianstotravelonamajorroadintheBeit

Awwaarea,southofHebron.In2001,themilitaryhadclosedtheroadtothe45,000Palestinians

livinginthearea,contendingtheclosingwasnecessarytosafeguardthelivesof150settlers

livingintwoillegaloutposts,NegohotandMizpeLachish.

SeparatingtheJordanValleyfromtherestoftheWestBank

TheJordanValleyremainsalmostcompletelyclosedtoPalestinianswhoarenotregistered

residentsofthearea.OtherresidentsoftheWestBankmayenteronlyonfootorbypublic

transport.ThestrictrestrictionsonmovementintheareapreventfarmerswithlandintheValley,

butwhodonotlivethere,fromreachingtheirland.

ResidentsofotherareasoftheWestBankareunabletoentertheValleytobuythefarmersfresh

produceasinthepast,sothefarmersareobligedtoarrangetransportation.Themilitaryhasalso

closedsomeofthedirtroadsusedbyresidentsoftheValleytoreachotherpartsoftheWest

Bank.Asaresult,everytimetheyleavetheValley,theyfacealongtrip,whichseriouslyimpairs

theiraccesstoeducationandhealthservicesoutsidetheValley.Themilitaryputupdozensof

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concretepillarsnearalmosteveryareawhereBedouinlive,declaringafiringzoneandthereby

prohibitingtheBedouinfromlivinginareaswheretheygaintheirsustenance.

Casestudy:IsraelhampersthelifeofBedouinintheJordanValley

IsraelssevererestrictionsonPalestinianmovementintheJordanValleyhavecreatedsubstantial

problemsforresidentsofalHadidiya,asmallBedouincommunityinthenorthernJordanValley.

TheRoiandBekaotsettlementswereestablishedinthe1970stotheeastofalHadidiya,andin

partonthecommunitysfarmland.Sincethen,IsraelhaspressuredtheBedouinresidentsto

abandontheirland.In2009,inadditiontothegeneralprohibitionsonmovementinthearea,the

militaryerectedadirtpileblockingthepathlinkingalHadidiyaandtheAllonRoad,whichruns

throughfieldscultivatedbysettlersfromRoi.ToreachtheAllonRoad,residentsofalHadidiya

havetocrossthroughthesettlement,andwhenthesettlementsgateisclosed,theyhavetotravel

alongamuchlongerpath,whichrunsbetweentheRoiandBekaotsettlements.Inaddition,the

militarylimitstheresidentsaccesstoTamunandTubas,onwhichtheyrelyforservices.Agate

alongthepaththattakesthemtoTamuninfifteenminutesisonlyopenedtwiceaweekforafew

hours.Atothertimes,residentscanreachTubasandTamunviatheHamracheckpoint,atripthat

takesonehour.Theymustalsousethisroadwhentheyrequireemergencymedicaltreatment:

themilitarydoesnotpermitPalestinianambulancestocrosstheHamracheckpointtoreach

PalestiniancommunitiesintheValley,eveninemergencycases.Theambulanceshavetowaitat

thecheckpointforthepersonrequiringmedicalcaretoarrive.

TherearenoschoolsinAlHadidiya,andthechildrenhavetogettoschoolsinTamunby

travellingalongrouteviatheHamracheckpoint.Mostofthechildrenspendtheweekdaynights

withrelativesinTamuntoenablethemtomaintainaregularstudyschedule.Also,itishardfor

theresidentsoftheBedouincommunitytomarkettheirproduceelsewhereintheWestBank

becausemerchantsfromoutsidetheValleyhavetroublegettingtoalHadidiyaandnearby

communities.

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House demolitions and restrictions on Palestinianconstruction

AccordingtoBTselemsfigures,fromthebeginningof2009totheendofApril2010,theCivil

AdministrationdemolishedfortyfourresidentialstructuresbuiltwithoutapermitinAreaC,*

leaving317Palestinianshomeless.OverhalfthedemolitionstookplaceinBedouincommunities

intheJordanValley.Inthesecondhalfof2009,theCivilAdministrationissuedhundredsofstop

workordersinAreaC,includingordersstoppingconstructiononthePalestinianinternational

stadiumbeingbuiltinalBirah.

Background

Since1967,IsraelspolicyhasbeentolimitasmuchaspossibleconstructioninPalestinian

communitiesintheWestBank.IsraelhasnotpreparedoutlineplansforPalestiniancommunities,

allocatedlandforPalestinianbuildinganddevelopment,orallowednewconstructionthere.

Instead,theauthoritieshavereliedonBritishMandateoutlineplans,whichclassifymostWest

Banklandasagricultural,onwhichbuildingisforbidden.Inaddition,theplanningauthorities

arerunbyIsraelisandhavenoPalestinianrepresentatives.ThispolicynowappliestoAreaC,

whichconstitutes60percentoftheWestBankandcontainsmostofthelandreservesfor

developmentofPalestiniantownsandvillages.

Lawbreakersagainsttheirwill

Thisplanningregimecreatesagravehousingshortagesinceitoffersnoplanningchannelfor

Palestiniancommunities,whoseresidentsareleftwithnooptionotherthanbuildingwithouta

permit.ThelandreservesinAreasAandB,inwhichmostofthepopulationoftheWestBank

live,isverylimited.Israelsplanningpolicyisespeciallyflagrantgiventhegreatplanningefforts

madetoenablebuildingandexpansionofsettlementsanddevelopmentoftheirindustrialand

employmentareas.

*TheinterimagreementbetweenIsraelandthePLOdividestheWestBankintothreesections:AreaA,

underthecontrolofthePalestinianAuthority;AreaB,underPAcontrolincivilaffairsandIsraelimilitary

control;andAreaC,whichcovers60percentoftheWestBankandcutsupAreasAandB,undercomplete

Israelicontrol.

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EastJerusalem

InitsplanningpolicyinEastJerusalem,theJerusalemMunicipalityalsoseverelyviolatesthe

Palestiniansrighttohousing.Onethirdofthe70,000dunamsannexedtothecityin1967were

expropriatedfromPalestinianownersinordertobuildtwelvesettlementsinwhich,attheendof

2008,almost194,000Jewslived,basedonfiguresoftheCentralBureauofStatistics.Atthesame

time,IsraeligovernmentsandtheJerusalemMunicipalityhaveinvestedgreateffortsinlimiting

newPalestinianconstruction.Theydidthis,inpart,bynotdrawingupoutlineplansforthe

Palestinianneighborhoods;byclassifyingbroadexpansesoflandasgreenspaces,onwhich

buildingisabsolutelyforbidden;bysettingverylowbuildingpercentagescomparedtothe

percentagesin

the

settlements

in

the

city;

and

by

imposing

conditions

for

beginning

the

planning

processthatgreatlyincreasedthecost.Lackinganyrealpossibilitytobuildlawfully,many

residentsbuiltwithoutapermit.Israelspolicyalsoresultsinamuchhigherdensityofhousing

inPalestinianneighborhoods(twentyfoursquaremetersperperson)thaninJewishareas

(elevensquaremetersperperson).

In2009,theJerusalemMunicipalitydemolishedfortyeightbuildingsinEastJerusalem,inwhich

247Palestinianslived,comparedwitheightyninebuildingsin2008,inwhich404Palestinians

lived.In2010,untiltheendofApril,theMunicipalitydidnotdemolishanyhousesinEast

Jerusalem.

SanctioningsettlementinSilwanwhilerestrictingPalestinianconstruction

InDecember2009,theJerusalemMunicipalitydeclaredanewplanningpolicyintheSilwan

neighborhood,inadvanceofitsimplementationinotherneighborhoods.Accordingtoofficials,

thepolicyisintendedtoenablePalestinianstoobtainbuildingpermitsandtoapproveexisting

constructionintheneighborhood.DemolitionordershavebeenissuedagainstPalestinianhouses

built

without

a

building

permit

and

an

order

has

been

issued

to

seal

Beit

Yehonatan,

which

belongstotheAteretCohanimsettlersassociation.

However,theproposedplansetsconditionsthatPalestinianscannotmeettogainapprovalof

existinghousing,suchasstringentparkingstandards,constructionofaccesswaysforthe

buildings,andtheinstallationandmaintenanceofsewageinfrastructureallatthehomeowners

expense.Atthesametime,theMunicipalityandgovernmentandmunicipalcorporationsaidin

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expandingthecompoundoftheEladsettlersassociationandbuildsroadsandparkinglotsfor

settlersinSilwan.

ItappearsthatthemainobjectiveoftheMunicipalityspolicyistoapproveBeitYehonatan,

withoutsimultaneouslyimprovingthelivingconditionsofPalestiniansintheneighborhood,

eventhoughthecourthasorderedBeitYehonatansealedandtheattorneygeneralandthestate

attorneyhaveorderedthemayortoexecutethecourtsjudgment.TheMunicipalityhas

announcedthatifitcarriesoutthecourtsorder,itwouldbeforcedsimultaneouslytoexecute

dozensoforderstodemolishPalestinianhousesinSilwanthat,likeBeitYehonatan,werebuilt

withoutapermit.Settingthiscondition,akindofpricetagimposedonthePalestinian

residentsof

the

city,

is

not

aproper

way

to

meet

the

citys

duty

to

enforce

the

law

on

settler

associationsinEastJerusalem.

IsraelsdutytoallowconstructionforPalestinians

IsraelmustprovideasuitableresponsetotheplanningneedsofPalestiniansintheWestBank,

includingEastJerusalem,andenablethemtobuildaccordingtotheirneeds.Ensuringminimal

livingconditions,andprincipallytherighttohousing,isanobligationoftheoccupyingpower.

IsraelspolicycontradictsthisobligationandturnsPalestiniansintolawbreakersagainsttheir

will.

Casestudy:Familyhomedemolishedaftertheirlandisdeclaredgreenspace

Sincemarryingin1982,NimerAliHassanNimer,aresidentofJerusalem,haslivedwithhiswife

andsevenchildreninathreeapartmentbuilding,alongwithhisfivebrothersandtheirfamilies.

ThefamilyownsaplotoflandinUmLison,eastofZurBaher,inanareathatisclassifiedas

greenspaceinthemunicipalplans.In1993,duetothesevereovercrowdinginthebuilding,the

familyandownersofotherlandinthearearequestedanengineertotrytorezonetheland,a

processthattakesmanyyears.InhistestimonytoBTselem,of1November2009,Nimerstated:

By2000,theovercrowdinginthehousewasintolerable.IdecidedtobuildonthelandI

own,assumingitwouldbepossibletoobtainabuildingpermit.Ibuiltabuildingwith

fourapartments,eachwithanareaof170squaremeters,formeandmysons,whowere

abouttobecomeindependent.Itwasthefirsttimewefeltweweregoingtobe

independentandfreeoftheovercrowdinganddiscomfort.Thiswastrueespeciallyfor

myonlydaughter,Amal,whowastenyearsoldatthetime.Shesufferedmorethanher

brothersfromthesituationwelivedin,andthethoughtofhavingherownroommade

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herhappyandstimulatedhertodowellinherstudies.Afewdaysbeforeleavingthe

house,weweresurprisedtofindanadministrativedemolitionorderonthedoorofthe

house.

Thefamilymovedintotheirnewhome.Theyretainedvariousattorneystotrytocancelthe

demolitionorder.Thelegalproceedings,whichlastedeightyears,costthefamilyoverNIS

200,000incityfinesandattorneysfees,alltonoavail.On27October2009,regularpoliceand

BorderPoliceremovedthefamilyandasmallportionoftheirfurniture,andmunicipal

bulldozersdemolishedthehouse,withitscontentsinside.

Thiswashowmyfamilywastornapart.MysonsMuhammad,Mahmud,16,and

Ahmad,6,

and

my

daughter

Amal,

18,

lived

in

my

apartment.

In

the

other

apartment,

mysonAlilivedwithhiswifeandsixmontholdsonNimer.Inthethirdapartment,

mysonMurad,25,livedwithhiswifeandtwoinfantchildren,Maryam,2,andAdam,

eightmonths.Inthefourthapartment,mysonAuniandhiswifelived.Theymarried

on23October2009andonlymanagedtoliveforthreedaysinthehousethatthey

dreamedabouttheirwholelife.

Afterthehousewasdemolished,wewenttoliveintents.Whathurtsthemostisthat,

fornineyears,wewerefleecedbytheMunicipality,thelawyers,andtheengineers,

and,attheendofitall,wefoundourselveshomelessanddeepindebt.

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Without trial - Administrative detention

Overthepasttwoyears,therehasbeenasteadydropinthenumberofadministrativedetainees.

On30April2010,thenumberstoodat222.Ofthe237detaineesheldattheendofMarch2009,55

percenthadbeeninadministrativedetentionforsixmonthstooneyear,and35percentforoneto

twoyears.Twentyfivehadbeenheldfromtwotofouryearswithoutinterruption,andone

detaineehadbeenheldinadministrativedetentionforoverfourandahalfyears.

Dontknowwhy,dontknowwhen

Administrativedetentionisdetentionwithouttrial,thedeclaredaimbeingtopreventtheperson

fromdoinganactthatisliabletoendangerpublicsafety.Unlikeacriminalproceeding,

administrativedetaineesarenottoldthereasonfortheirdetentionanddonotknowtheevidence

againstthem,sotheyareunabletorefuteit.Moreover,theydonotknowwhentheywillgofree,

sincetheycanbeheldforanunlimitedperiodoftime.Administrativedetentionviolatestheright

tolibertyandtherighttodueprocess,inthatthedetentioniscarriedoutwithoutjudicial

decision,withoutanindictmentbeingfiled,andwithouttrial.

Overtheyears,IsraelhasheldthousandsofPalestiniansinadministrativedetentionforperiods

rangingfromseveralmonthstoafewyears.ThestatehasalsoheldseveralIsraelis,including

settlers,forshortperiodsofafewmonths.Duringthesecondintifada,thenumberofPalestinians

heldinadministrativedetentionatanygivenmomentexceededonethousand.

Internationallawpermitsadministrativedetentiononlyinexceptionalcases

Underinternationallaw,itispermissibletoadministrativelydetainapersononlyinexceptional

cases,whenthepersonposesadangerandotherlessharmfulmeansarenotavailabletoprevent

thedanger.Adetaineehastherighttoappealthedetention.Israelsuseofadministrative

detentionbreachestheserulesandseverelyviolatesthedetaineesrights.Israelspolicywith

respecttoadministrativedetentionmakesamockeryoftheprotectionsprovidedbyIsraeliand

internationallaw,whichareintendedtoensuretherighttolibertyanddueprocess,therightto

beheard,andthepresumptionofinnocence.

Israelexploitsadministrativedetentionforotherpurposes

Fromtimetotime,Israelhasusedadministrativedetentionasaneasyandcheapalternativetoa

criminalproceeding.Administrativedetentionislegalonlywhenusedtopreventafuturedanger

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posedbytheperson.Israel,however,hasuseditwhenitisunabletocollectsufficientadmissible

evidencetoprovechargesinacriminalproceeding,orwhenitdoesnotwanttoexposethe

evidenceithasgathered.

Judicialreviewoftheadministrativedetentionproceedinggivesnomorethantheappearanceof

afairjudicialprocess.Inthevastmajorityofcases,thejudgesdeclareevidenceprivilegedand

acceptthewrittenIsraelSecurityAgencyreportssubmittedtothem,withoutthepresenceofthe

detaineeorhiscounsel.Thus,detaineesareunabletorefutetheclaimsagainstthemortopresent

alternativeevidence.Asaresult,thecourtapprovesthevastmajorityofadministrativedetention

orders.FromAugust2008toJuly2009,militarycourtjudgesnullified5percentoftheorders

broughtbefore

them

and

approved

95

percent.

Regarding

the

appeals

against

these

decisions:

in

2009,theMilitaryAppealsCourtaccepted47percentofthe182appealsfiledbythemilitary

prosecutorandonly15percentofthe1,124appealsthatwerefiledbydetainees.

Releaseorprosecute

ThenumberofPalestiniansheldinadministrativedetentionhasindeeddropped,butover200

peoplecontinuetobeheldformonthsandevenyearswithoutknowingwhentheywillbe

released,andwithoutanyopportunitytodefendthemselves.Therecentdeclineinthenumberof

Palestiniansinadministrativedetentioncanbeattributedtovariouscauses,includingthedropin

violenceinthearea.However,thefallinnumbersdoesnotreflectachangeinpolicy:the

statutorybasisforadministrativedetentionremainsthesame.Israelmustreleaseallthe

administrativedetaineesorprosecutetheminaccordancewithdueprocess.

Casestudy:Detainedonthebasisofoldinformationandreleasedaftereightmonthswithout

beingcharged

MuhammadKharaz,43,fromNablus,marriedwithfivechildren,whoownsandoperatesa

grocerystoreforaliving,wasdetainedinNovember2008.Afterbeinginterrogatedforamonth,

hewasheldinadministrativedetentionforsixmonths.Accordingtohistestimony,theISA

interrogatortoldhimduringhisinterrogationthatfourpersonswhowereinterrogatedin1997

hadprovidedinformationaboutoffenseshepurportedlycommitted.InApril2009,themilitary

commanderextendedhisadministrativedetentionforanothersixmonths.

InMay2009,ahearingonthedetentionwasheldatthemilitarycourtinKtzeot.Themilitary

prosecutorstatedthatnonewinformationhadbeenobtainedinthefile,butrequestedthejudge

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tostudytheprivilegedmaterialan