NGO Action News - 21 April 2017 - Question of Palestine

This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations affiliated with the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.

NGO ACTION NEWS
21 April 2017

Global

In a press release issued on 13 April (“Israel must end ‘unlawful and cruel’ policies towards Palestinian prisoners”), Amnesty International reported a mass hunger strike beginning on 17 April by Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, calling inter alia for lifting restrictions on family visits and improved access to medical care.

Middle East

On 21 April, Peace Now Settlement Watch reported the establishment of a new outpost East of Ramallah, the first to be set up since the Israeli government declared a new policy towards settlements construction, the group claimed.

On 20 April, B’Tselem analysed data regarding the use of firearms by Israeli security forces, stating that 101 Palestinians including 31 minors had been killed in 2016. According to the organization, investigations hint to an “open-fire policy permitting shooting to kill in instances defined as ‘incidents of assault’ and a trigger-happy approach to demonstration or stone-throwing.”

On 20 April, Badil called on the United Nations Security Council to put the question of Palestine at the centre of its quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East.

To mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day on 17 April, the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) called for international protection for Palestinian prisoners.

On 17 April, Defence for Children International (DCI) – Palestine expressed concern that in 2016 increasing numbers of Palestinian minors had been held by Israeli authorities in solitary confinement for longer periods, for interrogation purposes.

Europe

On 15 April, the Palestinians in Europe Conference, convened in Rotterdam issued a Concluding Statement.

North America

On 23 April, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and Playwrights Canada Press are celebrating the recent publication of “Double Exposure: Plays of the Jewish and Palestinian Diaspora” with a panel discussion followed by a book signing at Book Culture in New York. The panel will feature the book’s editors Samah Sabawi and Stephen Orlow, contributor Ismail Khalidi and writer Leila Buck as moderator.

On 23 April, Promoting Enduring Peace (PEP) is hosting its Gandhi Peace Award ceremony at Yale University, honouring this year Ralph Nader and Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

On 24 April, Omar Barghouti will share at Columbia University a panel with Rebeca Vilkomerson, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace, and History Professor Premilla Nadasen to discuss “The Road to Peace: The BDS Movement for Palestinian Rights and the Struggle against Apartheid”.

A new collection of essays (“On Antisemitism: Solidarity and the Struggle for Justice”) with a preface by Judith Butler and edited by Jewish Voice for Peace, has been launched.

United Nations

On 21 April, an OCHA warned that the shutdown of Gaza’s power plant was jeopardizing the delivery of basic services.

On 20 April, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov delivered a briefing to the United Nations Security Council at its quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

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NGO Action News – 21 April 2017