Written statement * submitted by the Arab NGO Network for Development, non-governmental organization on the roster
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*This written statement is issued, unedited, in the language(s) received from the submitting non-governmental organization(s).
Human rights violations of Israel in Occupied Palestinian Territories and towards Palestinian Arab Citizens*
As the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) and the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) , we welcome the commitment shown by the international community to take the Universal Periodic Review of Israel, on 29 October 2013, as another occasion to call Israeli government to give an immediate halt to occupation in Palestine.
Given that 2014 is the UN International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian people and marks 10 years since the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s apartheid wall and colonial settlements are illegal and that countries around the world are legally obliged to hold Israel accountable and not to support Israeli violations of international law1, we reiterate our call to international community to pressure on the Government of Israel to end the longest occupation in history. This should include as well dismantling of settlements, demolition of the apartheid separation wall, and surely the fully lifting of the imposed siege on the Gaza strip.
While many of the interventions during the review session highlighted severe human rights violations that Palestinians face, we would like to note that development in Palestine won't succeed nor last without full enjoyment of the right to self-determination and the ability of the people of controlling resources and border crossings, including land and water. Indeed, systematic Israeli policies towards expropriation of Palestinian resources, deinstitutionalization of Palestinian economy and imposition of closure, results in severe socio-economic deprivation for Palestinians, hinders Palestinian development, creates increasing dependency on international aid and causes isolation and impoverishment.2 This becomes the root cause of the violation of Palestinians right to adequate standard of living, whereby current figures show that approximately 70% of the Palestinian population continues to work to alleviate this alarming trend.
In line with several recommendations made with regard to giving an immediate halt to illegal settlements, we stress that continuing expansion of Israeli settlements, together with confiscation of properties not only constitute a breach of international law but also violates economic, political, social and cultural rights of Palestinians. By the end of 2012 around 650,000 Israelis had settled in the occupied Palestinian territory.3 We reiterate that the obligations of Israel with respect to the right to adequate housing of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory include ensuring access to basic shelter and housing, and refraining from interfering with the enjoyment of these rights. Moreover, in the past ten years, 471 Palestinian houses and other structures have been demolished in Jerusalem affecting 1,634 Palestinians.4
With an unemployment rate currently standing above 21% in OPT, the Israeli policies violation of the right to work is evident; including restrictions on movement, work permits and unequal and discriminative policies undertaken by Israel. The latter derives from continuous selective approach to employment opportunities implemented within Israel to the interest of Jewish population while discriminating the Palestinian Arabs and despite the Equal Opportunities in Employment Law (1988) (amended in 2010).5 The discriminative Israeli policies continue as well on wage gaps, whereas approximately 12% of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel are paid below the minimum wage.6
During the review, the Delegation stated that Israel was working to improve the movement of people and goods and that there were only a few checkpoints in place, which were normally open. Yet, continuous cases of death en route to hospital signal the limitations on movement of patients and health staff.7 Moreover, restrictions on importation of medical supplies, equipment and spare parts still continue and evidently limit the access of Palestinians to health services, as well as of the professional development of staff.8 In this regard, we acknowledge the WHO statement that “the only way to remove restrictions on access to healthcare is to remove the occupation itself”.9
Last but not least, despite Israel’s claim that “Israel place no legal restrictions on the right of organizations to engage in activities for the promotion and observance of human rights”, Israeli authorities continue to practice arbitrary arrests and detention, raids, deportations, travel bans, visa denials and media attacks and restrict Palestinians human rights activism.
In light of these, we urge the Council members to reiterate their recommendations to Israeli government to:
Finally, we call upon the Israeli government to accept all recommendations received during the review and to translate them into comprehensive, concrete and effective action.
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*The Palestinian NGO Network NGO(s) without consultative status, also share the views expressed in this statement.
Notes
2 PNGO Submission for the CESCR 19th session, http://www.cesr.org/downloads/CESCR%20Israeli%20Violations.pdf
FFM/FFMSettlements.pdf
5 The Inequality Report, The Palestinian Arab Minority in Israel by Adalah notes that only 2.4% of all industrial zones in Israel are located in Arab towns and villages. http://www.adalah.org/upfiles/2011/Adalah_The_Inequality_Report_March_2011.pdf
6 E/C.12/ISR/CO/3, CESCR Concluding Observations, 2011
9 Stated by WHO Head of Office for the OPT, Tony Laurance, http://www.map-uk.org/regions/opt/news/view/-/id/1116/
Document Type: Statement
Document Sources: Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), General Assembly, Human Rights Council
Subject: Access and movement, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Economic issues, Fence, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Land, Legal issues, NGOs/Civil Society, Occupation, Self-determination, Separation barrier, Settlements, Wall
Publication Date: 17/02/2014