Updates

Hebron City Center

Camera Distribution Project

A year ago, B'Tselem launched its Camera Distribution Project, a video advocacy project focusing on the Occupied Territories. We give out video cameras to Palestinians who live in high-conflict areas, so that they can document violations of their human rights and seek redress. Sample footage is now available on the website.

9 April 2008

House demolition

Israel demolishes houses near Separation Barrier

The Civil Administration delivered orders to demolish two houses in Far'un that were built several years before the Separation Barrier. In 2007, Israel demolished seven houses in the village, which has been harmed by the barrier in any event.

6 April 2008

House demolition

Suspicion of extra-judicial execution in Bethlehem

Authorities must investigate the killing of four Palestinians defined by Israel as "wanted persons", on 12 March 2008. B'Tselem's investigation raises the suspicion that security forces executed the four in flagrant violation of a High Court ruling, which prohibits intentionally killing Palestinians taking part in hostilities when they can be arrested.

27 March 2008

Beating and Abuse

Two policemen arrested for abusing Palestinian detainee

On 11 March 2008, the Department for Investigation of Police arrested two policemen from the Ma'ale Adumim police station. The two are suspected of severely abusing a Palestinian from al-'Eizariya, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. The arrest followed a complaint made by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.

23 March 2008

Hebron City Center

Hebron: Settlement marks a year since its establishment

Since the new settlement was established in the A-Ras neighborhood, attacks on Palestinian residents and violation of their rights have increased. Families have had to put up protective fences to prevent settlers from invading and attacking their homes.

19 March 2008

House demolition

Israel must not demolish family home of terror attack perpetrator

B'Tselem wrote to the Attorney General demanding that he prevent the planned demolition. The declared objective of this policy is to harm innocent persons - relatives of suspected perpetrators of attacks, who are not themselves accused of any crime.

14 March 2008

Restrictions on Movement

Video - Route 443: West Bank road for Israelis only

Route 443 serves Israeli commuters traveling between the two largest cities in Israel - Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The road runs through the West Bank, but Palestinians are strictly prohibited from using it.

9 March 2008

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

8 Israeli civilians including 4 minors killed by Palestinians in Jerusalem

B'Tselem severely condemns the Palestinian terror attack that took place in a yeshiva (religious school) in Jerusalem, in which 8 Israeli civilians, including 4 minors were killed and many other persons were injured. Attacks aimed at civilians are immoral, inhuman, and illegal.

7 March 2008

Restrictions on Movement

High Court to discuss prohibition on Palestinian use of Route 443

Route 443 is the main traffic artery south of Ramallah District. Since 2002, the army has prohibited Palestinians from using the road, using security arguments. Now the road, which links Jerusalem and the Tel-Aviv area, serves only Israelis.

3 March 2008

The Gaza Strip

At least half of those killed in Gaza did not take part in the fighting

According to B'Tselem figures, from 27 February to the afternoon of 3 March, 106 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip. Contrary to the Chief of Staff's contention that ninety percent were armed, at least fifty-four of the dead (twenty-five of them minors) did not take part in the hostilities. In addition, at least forty-six minors were wounded.

3 March 2008

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

149 people killed since 1 Jan. 2008

B'Tselem expressed its grave concern following the renewed fighting in Gaza. During the first 2 months of 2008, Israeli security forces killed 146 Palestinians. At least 42 did not participate in the fighting when killed, and 11 were minors. Palestinians killed 2 Israeli civilians, and one member of the Israeli security forces.

28 February 2008

Education

Israeli missile strikes schoolyard in Gaza, killing a teacher

On 7 February 2008, soldiers fired a missile that landed in the yard of an agricultural school in Beit Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip. In his testimony to B'Tselem, one of the school's students described how the missile, which struck at the beginning of classes, killed a teacher and wounded him and two of his cousins.

28 February 2008

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

B'Tselem condemns rocket fire at Israel

On 27 Feb. 2008 Palestinian organizations fired dozens of rockets at the western Negev and the southern coastal plain of Israel. The rocket fire killed a student at Sapir College, and wounded others. According to media reports, at least one rocket landed near Barzilai Hospital, in Ashkelon.

27 February 2008

Beating and Abuse

Police officers receive suspended sentence and fine for assault at checkpoint

On 14 February 2008, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court sentenced two Border Police officers to a four months' suspended prison term and payment of NIS 20,000 compensation for assault causing actual bodily harm and for making threats. On February 2005, while serving at the Container checkpoint, in the Bethlehem area, the two men assaulted taxi driver 'Imad Shalaldah.

26 February 2008

Medical treatment

Heart patient dies after not being allowed to cross checkpoint

On 14 February 2008, Fawaziyeh a-Dark suffered a heart attack. Soldiers at a flying checkpoint prevented the passage of the ambulance summoned for her. When her husband tried to take her by taxi, soldiers at another checkpoint blocked their passage. He was forced to take her home, by which time she died.

26 February 2008

House demolition

Nu'man, East Jerusalem - a village under isolation

In 1967 Israel annexed the village of Nu'man to its territory without recognizing the residents. Today Israel imposes harsh restrcitions preventing them from living a normal life.

22 February 2008

Medical treatment

Israel has cut off the northern West Bank

Since February 5, Israel has imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the northern West Bank (Jenin, Nablus and Tulkarm districts) and prevents all Palestinian men between the ages of 16-35 from leaving this area without special permits, which are rarely granted.

18 February 2008

Economic & Social Rights

Video: Night vigils at Tarqumya checkpoint

In late 2007, Israel closed two crossings that Palestinians used to enter Israel from the southern West Bank. Since then, thousands of Palestinians working in Israel have had to spend half the night in long lines at the three crossings that remain open.

11 February 2008

Open-Fire Policy

Palestinian struck in head with "rubber" bullet dies

On 4 Jan. 08, Border Police fired rubber-coated metal bullets at Ahmad Abu Hantash, a father of two. Hantash died on 23 Jan. B'Tselem's investigation indicates that the police officers' lives were not in danger. B'Tselem demands a thorough investigation of the incident.

4 February 2008

Beating and Abuse

Testimony: Police assault Palestinian youths in Jerusalem

On 17 January 2008, three Palestinian high-school students from Beit Iksa went to the nearby Ramot neighborhood looking for work. According to the testimony of two of them, police appeared, assaulted them, and then arrested them and took them to the police station.

29 January 2008

Beating and Abuse

B'Tselem researcher in Hebron released from custody

The restrictions placed on Issa Amro, B'Tselem's fieldworker in Hebron, were cancelled yesterday [23 January]. On Saturday, soldiers assaulted and arrested Amro while he was filming settlers' disturbances in the Wadi Hasin neighborhood, in the eastern part of Hebron.

25 January 2008