Updates

No Accountability

Soldier convicted of negligent homicide of ‘Udai Darawish, a Palestinian entering Israel through gap in Separation Barrier

The media have reported that on 18 March 2013 an Israeli soldier was convicted of negligent homicide in the death of ‘Udai Darawish. On 12 Jan. 2013 the soldier shot Darawish after the latter crossed into Israel from the West Bank through a gap in the Separation Barrier. Darawish was on his way to work in Israel but had no entry permit. The prosecution reportedly intended to charge the soldier with homicide, but the charge was reduced through a plea bargain. The soldier’s sentence is yet to be given. Indictments of soldiers involved in killing Palestinians are extremely rare. B’Tselem knows of only 15 indictments in such cases since the outbreak of the second Intifada.

9 April 2013

Beating and Abuse

Violating orders: Police pepper-spray non-violent civilians

Over the past three years, B’Tselem has documented 18 incidents in which demonstrators and photographers reported the use of pepper-spray in contravention of official police orders, with police pepper-spraying unarmed, non-violent civilians. Five of these incidents were captured on video. In the latest incident, a B’Tselem’s camera project volunteer was filming a demonstration in the village of a-Nabi Saleh when he was pepper-sprayed in the face by a Border policeman.

4 April 2013

Agriculture

Lift the restrictions on the Gaza fishing range

On 21 March 2013 the IDF spokesperson announced that the Israeli military will once again reduce the permitted fishing range in the Gaza Strip from six nautical miles to three (approximately 5.5km), in response to missile fire by armed Palestinian groups towards the south of Israel on Thursday morning. The reduction constitutes collective punishment and severely damages the livelihood of Gaza fishermen .B'Tselem calls on the military to rescind its latest decision and the restrictions imposed on fishermen in the Gaza Strip in the past years, and to permit fishing in the 20 miles range, as was set under the Oslo Agreements.

24 March 2013

Detainees & Prisoners

Hebron: Minors under age of criminal responsibility unlawfully detained in Hebron

On the morning of 20 March 2013, the Israeli military detained nearly 30 Palestinian minors on their way to school in Hebron, many of whom were under the age of criminal responsibility (12). Later that day, B’Tselem wrote to the Legal Advisor in Judea and Samaria, the Legal Advisor of the Israel Police and to the spokesperson for the Judea and Samaria Division regarding this issue. The officials confirmed that, further to a stone-throwing incident earlier that morning, the military apprehended 27 minors, including at least 14 under the age of 12. Later, the military released 20 of the minors to the custody of the Palestinian Authority. The other seven minors were questioned by the police. B’Tselem stressed the following: minors should not be questioned without their parents’ knowledge and the presence of an adult representative on their behalf; the police is duty-bound to inform parents immediately upon the detention of their children; it is unlawful to detain or transport minors under the age of 12.

21 March 2013

Beating and Abuse

B'Tselem urges ban on military's use of dogs in residential West Bank

In January 2013, B'Tselem documented two extremely worrying cases of Israeli military dogs assaulting Palestinian civilians, one in the city of Jenin and the other in the village of Tamun. In both cases, dogs attacked civilians in or near their homes. The dogs were in the company of military forces that entered residential areas. In one case, an 88-year-old woman from Jenin was assaulted inside her home and had to undergo several operations for her injuries. B'Tselem reported these cases to OC Judea and Samaria Division and demanded that the use of dogs in residential areas of the West Bank be prohibited.

13 March 2013

Area C

Taking over Palestinian land in the West Bank by declaring it "state land"

Israeli Hebrew daily Haaretz reports that today Israel's High Court of Justice will hear the petition filed by Palestinians from Bethlehem and the village of Nahleh. The petition is against Israel's decision to declare as "state land" about 1,000 dunams (100 hectares) southwest of Bethlehem in order to build a new neighborhood in the settlement of Efrat. The takeover of this land would block any possibility of development in Bethlehem or the villages south of the city, which are home to tens of thousands and are already surrounded by settlements. To learn more about what declaration of state land means and how Israel uses it to take over Palestinian land, click here.

13 March 2013

Demonstrations

B’Tselem to MAG: Order investigation into several cases in which soldiers’ fire severely injured Palestinians in West Bank

Following the death of Muhammad ‘Asfur this morning from injuries sustained two weeks ago, Israeli human rights group B’Tselem wrote to Military Advocate General Major-General Danny Efroni, repeating its demand that cases of severe injury to Palestinians by soldiers’ fire be immediately investigated. Two days ago, B’Tselem sent the MAG a list of five incidents in which Palestinians were injured recently by soldiers, including the case of ‘Asfur, who was shot in the head with a rubber-coated metal bullet.

7 March 2013

No Accountability

B’Tselem appeals closing case on wounding of demonstrator in Bil’in

On 3 March 2013, B’Tselem filed an appeal against the decision of the MAG Corps’ not to indict in the case of Eran Cohen, an Israel civilian injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet during a demonstration in Bil’in on 14 March 2008. Cohen was shot by an Israeli officer despite having done nothing to endanger the soldiers, as can be seen in two separate videos of the incident that were conveyed to the police. The MAG Corps refused to disclose to B’Tselem its reasoning for closing the case.

7 March 2013

Hebron City Center

Video: 19 years after massacre at Tomb of the Patriarchs, Israel continues to entrench separation policy in Hebron

Since 1994, when settler Baruch Goldstein massacred Moslem worshipers in the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the Israeli military has employed a "policy of separation" in Hebron. This is implemented primarily through severe restrictions on Palestinian movement in downtown Hebron, where most Israeli settlement outposts are located. Lately the military has further entrenched this policy by building a fence dividing a central street in half and only allowing Jews to use the paved side of the street while Palestinians must use a rough, unpaved passage.

5 March 2013

No Accountability

Bassem Abu Rahmeh’s mother asks High Court of Justice to end procrastination in investigation of her son’s death

The mother of a resident of the village of Bil’in who was killed by a tear-gas grenade fired at him by a soldier has petitioned the High Court of Justice. The petition demands that the Military Advocate General, Major-General Danny Efroni, be ordered to reach a decision in the case and prosecute the soldier who fired the grenade and all those bearing command responsibility for the killing of her son. In the petition, which was filed jointly with Bil’in Village Council, B’Tselem and Yesh Din, Subhiya Abu Rahmeh demands an urgent hearing in view of the fact that almost four years have passed since her son was killed. The incident was documented in the film Five Broken Cameras, which was a candidate for the 2013 Academy Awards.

4 March 2013

Area C

Firing Zone 918 - Their home is no firing zone!

What if someone were to barge into your home, declare it a military training zone and evict you? That's the case for some 1000 Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills. The Israeli military called their home "Firing Zone 918" and has been trying to expel them for years. Their appeal is currently in court.

27 February 2013

Detainees & Prisoners

Investigation of Palestinian detainee's death in custody must include full circumstances

Following the announcement that an investigation was opened into the circumstances surrounding the death of Arafat Jaradat, a Palestinian resident of Sa'ir, who was detained at Megido Prison, B'Tselem stated that the investigation must relate to the full circumstances of the event, and not only to the conduct of those directly responsible for his wellbeing at the time.

24 February 2013

Minors

B’Tselem inquiry: No justification for shooting and killing Samir ‘Awad, 16. Budrus, 15 Jan 2013

On 15 January 2013, Samir ‘Awad, 16, was killed by live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers near the Separation Barrier at Budrus. A B’Tselem inquiry reveals that the soldiers were not in danger at any time. Nevertheless, and in total contravention of open-fire regulations, they shot ‘Awad three times. The Military Advocate General (MAG) Corps announced that same day that it ordered an investigation to be opened. B’Tselem conveyed to the Military Police Investigations Unit all the information it collected on the incident, and is awaiting the conclusion of the investigation.

21 February 2013

Beating and Abuse

Israeli soldiers allegedly assault principal and teachers, Tuqu’, 10 December 2012

In Nov. 2012, students from Tuqu’ demonstrated against Operation Pillar of Defense and threw stones at vehicles on the nearby road. An Israeli military force then arrived on the scene, and without any justification, one of the soldiers fired live ammunition at the students, hitting one in the abdomen. B’Tselem has learned from testimonies it gathered that, three weeks later, soldiers came to the school. They assaulted the principal and two teachers, warning them that if the boys threw stones again, they would be held accountable. B’Tselem wrote to OC Judea and Samaria Division demanding that he investigate the allegations and ensure that such incidents do not recur.

18 February 2013

No Accountability

Following B’Tselem complaint, policeman convicted of grievous bodily harm to a Palestinian

On 13 February 2013, an Israeli mounted policeman was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to Fadi Darab’i, resident of Dura, Hebron District. The policeman was indicted in 2008 following a complaint filed by B’Tselem on Darab’i’s behalf. The complaint stated that policemen had assaulted Darab’i in April 2008, seriously injuring one of his testicles.

18 February 2013

No Accountability

B’Tselem welcomes Turkel Commission recommendations, test will be in implementation

Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem welcomes the recommendations of the Turkel Commission concerning investigations of violations of the laws of armed conflict and calls for full and prompt implementation. Implementation of the commission’s recommendations will lead to a substantive change in the Israeli military’s investigatory apparatus. In its recommendations, the commission adopted several fundamental principles presented to it by representatives of B’Tselem, other human rights organizations and senior jurists.

6 February 2013

Area C

Israeli High Court hears two petitions regarding Khirbet Susiya village

Today (31.1) at 11:30am, the High Court will hear two petitions regarding the future of Khirbet Susiya in the South Hebron Hills, West Bank: A petition by the Regavim organization to demolish most of the village's homes and a petition by Susiya farmers to enable access to their little remaining farmland. Background on Susiya here. For Information on the petitions today from Rabbis for Human Rights click here.

31 January 2013

Minors

Five Palestinian civilians fatally shot by Israeli military in January 2013

In January 2013, Israeli soldiers fatally shot four Palestinians in the West Bank and at least one in the Gaza Strip. According to B’Tselem’s preliminary inquiries into the five cases in which the Israeli military has accepted responsibility for the firing, the people killed were unarmed and posed no danger to the soldiers.B’Tselem is monitoring the MPIU investigations and would emphasize that, in addition to investigating the circumstances of each incident, the investigators must also examine the written and oral directives conveyed to the soldiers involved.

30 January 2013

Demonstrations

New report: Crowd control weapons

A new B’Tselem report reveals the full inventory of crowd control weapons used by Israeli security forces in the West Bank. These weapons are meant to be non-lethal, enabling authorities to enforce the law without endangering human life. In fact, however, some of these weapons are dangerous and may be lethal if used improperly. Crowd control weapons have killed and injured demonstrators and people throwing stones.

28 January 2013

Settler Violence = State Violence

Settler charged in 2007 shooting of 13-year-old boy

On 30 Dec. 2012, the Office of the Jerusalem District Attorney filed an indictment against a resident of the Nokdim settlement, charging him with the aggravated assault of 13-year-old Haitham Abu Mfareh. The incident occurred in 2007, when Palestinian children were throwing stones at Israeli vehicles travelling on Route 356. One of the cars stopped, the driver got out, chased the children and fired at them, injuring Abu Mfraeh in his head. It is extremely rare for a police investigation of settler-perpetrated violence against a Palestinian to lead to an indictment.

23 January 2013

Area C

ACRI files new petition against expulsion of 1,000 Palestinians from Area C

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed a new petition this morning (January 16, 2013) at the High Court of Justice against the State’s plans to expel some 1,000 Palestinians living in eight rural villages in Firing Zone 918 in the South Hebron Hills. Following the petition, the High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction prohibiting the forceful eviction of the residents, pending a final decision.

16 January 2013

Demonstrations

Video: Soldier fires at stone-throwing teens who posed no threat, injuring one: Tuqu’, Nov. 2012

A B’Tselem investigation indicates that on Monday, 19 November 2012, students from the Tuqu’ boys’ high school were protesting the Pillar of Defense campaign in the Gaza Strip. The school is located near Route 356, which links Bethlehem and Hebron, and some of the students were throwing stones at the road. Consequently, an Israeli military force arrived on the scene. In a video filmed by a Ma’an News Agency photographer, one of the soldiers is seen firing live ammunition at the students, even though none of the soldiers was in danger. A bullet hit one student in the abdomen. B’Tselem contacted the Military Advocate General Corps, demanding an investigation of the incident.

6 January 2013

The Gaza Strip

My own private Gaza

Gaza. Qassam rockets, Hamas, Gilad Shalit, besieged, Cast Lead – all of that is what goes through our minds when we think of Gaza. But what about the people who live there? How do the people who live in Deir al-Balah, or in the refugee camps, feel about the economic situation in Gaza? About security? The political situation? What does an average morning in the Gaza Strip look like? Khaled ‘Azayzeh, a B’Tselem field researcher in the Gaza Strip, shows us his personal Gaza. Episode one, originally published by the Israeli news portal Mako.

25 December 2012

Detainees & Prisoners

Israeli military shortens maximum detention period for Palestinian minors in occupied territories

Following a petition to the High Court of Justice contesting the inflated and discriminatory periods of detention applicable to Palestinian minors in the West Bank, the military has amended the relevant military legislation. The change, slated to take effect in April 2013, requires that minors under the age of 14 be brought before a judge within 24 hours of detention and minors aged 14-18 within 48 hours. Currently, military law in the West Bank does not distinguish between minors and adults with respect to duration of detention. The change is welcome news, although the maximum periods of detention are still too long - twice what is permissible inside Israel.

23 December 2012