{"id":111561,"date":"2017-08-11T14:20:36","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T14:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=111561"},"modified":"2019-01-03T12:31:00","modified_gmt":"2019-01-03T17:31:00","slug":"11-august-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/11-august-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"NGO Action News &#8211; 11 August 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-background-position:left top;--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:20px;--awb-padding-bottom:20px;--awb-border-sizes-top:0px;--awb-border-sizes-bottom:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-column-no-min-height\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:-60px;\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:34;line-height:1.4;\"><h1 class=\"main-title blue\">Civil Society and the <span class=\"secondline\">Question of Palestine<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last fusion-column-no-min-height\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-alert alert custom alert-custom fusion-alert-center notice fusion-alert-capitalize awb-alert-native-link-color alert-dismissable awb-alert-close-boxed alert-shadow\" style=\"--awb-background-color:#edf2fc;--awb-accent-color:#a0a0a0;--awb-border-size:1px;--awb-border-top-left-radius:0px;--awb-border-top-right-radius:0px;--awb-border-bottom-left-radius:0px;--awb-border-bottom-right-radius:0px;\" role=\"alert\"><div class=\"fusion-alert-content-wrapper\"><span class=\"alert-icon\"><i class=\" fa fa-exclamation-circle\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-alert-content\">This page may contain links to third-party Web sites. The linked sites are not under the control of the United Nations and the United Nations is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. The United Nations provides these links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link or reference does not imply endorsement of the linked site by the United Nations. This newsletter is a project of the Division for Palestinian Rights, and is intended to provide information on NGO activities relevant to the question of Palestine . NGOs interested in contributing information on their activities should communicate it by email.The Division reserves the right to make the final selection with regard to material to be included in this newsletter. It cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information.<\/span><\/div><button style=\"color:#a0a0a0;border-color:#a0a0a0;\" type=\"button\" class=\"close toggle-alert\" data-dismiss=\"alert\" aria-label=\"Close\">&times;<\/button><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><strong>11 August 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Global: Jerusalem<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 Against the background of settlement expansion in East Jerusalem, on 31 July,\u00a0Peace Now\u00a0reported the case of a Palestinian family facing on 9 August eviction from their home in East Jerusalem\u2019s Sheikh Jarrah\u2019s neighbourhood for the benefit of settlers whose family had owned the property before 1948. According to the organization, the settlers regained ownership of the house on the basis of the right of return for Jewish owners of property in East Jerusalem, encapsulated in a law passed by the Knesset in 1970 which created \u201can unequal situation where only Jews may return to private properties lost during the 1948 war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 23 and 27 July,\u00a0The Association for Civil Rights in Israel\u00a0(ACRI) sent letters to the Israeli Police urging to allow full freedom of movements to journalists covering events in Jerusalem following the killing of two Israeli police officers on 14 July. In a previous update, ACRI provided its\u00a02017 East Jerusalem Facts and Figures.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 25 July,\u00a0Amnesty International\u00a0issued a press release entitled \u201cIsraeli forces carry out violent hospital raids in ruthless display of force\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 22 July,\u00a0Gush Shalom\u00a0called for an \u201cemergency demonstration\u201d to voice concern over Israeli policies on Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 20 July, Al Haq and\u00a0Al Quds University\u2019s Community Action Center, a non-profit association that seeks to empower the Palestinian community in East Jerusalem, called on the international community to take action to ensure an end to measures amounting to collective punishment in the city (\u201cInternational community must intervene to end Israel\u2019s targeting of Jerusalem\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 19 July, a Commentary released by the\u00a0International Crisis Group\u00a0(\u201cPalestinian Activism Reawakens in Jerusalem after Holy Esplanade Attack\u201d) analyzed the implications of suppressing Palestinian political activity in East Jerusalem and recommended to include Palestinian leaders in arrangements to manage its holy sites.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In a joint public statement, the\u00a0Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem\u00a0expressed concern about the escalation of violence in Jerusalem, condemned all acts of violence and called for respect for the historic\u00a0status quo\u00a0governing holy sites in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 A new visual on the situation in East Jerusalem (\u201cResidency Revocation: Israel\u2019s Forcible Transfer of Palestinians from Jerusalem\u201d) was presented on 3 July by seven\u00a0Palestinian NGOs in collaboration with Visualizing Palestine, an organization which uses data, technology and design to advance social justice.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at\u00a0Columbia University, posted an article analyzing developments regarding the historic Muslim Mammilla cemetery in Jerusalem (\u201cThe Case of Mammilla Cemetery: Delegitimization or Desecration?\u201d).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Middle East<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 Defence for Children International\u00a0(DCI) \u2013 Palestine is collecting signatures for a petition entitled \u201cEnd collective punishment of Gaza\u2019s children\u201d,\u00a0\u00a0asking ICC Prosecutor Bensouda to take urgent action to ensure accountability for collective punishment imposed on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, 43% of whom are reported to be under the age of 15.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 Following a decrease during the holy month of Ramadan, the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD) noted that in July demolitions of Palestinian homes had reached previous levels (July 2017 Demolition and Displacement Summary).<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 Hamoked-Center for the Defence of the Individual provided background information on Israeli policies regarding punitive house demolitions since 1967.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 The\u00a0Alternative Information Center\u00a0(AIC) reported on 26 July (\u201cSettlers Invade Hebron\u201d) and 31 July (\u201cThe Invasion of the Abu Rajab Building in Downtown Hebron\u201d) two instances of settlers taking action to occupy Palestinian houses in Hebron.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 28-29 July,\u00a07amleh-The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media\u00a0conducted a train-the-trainers workshop on issues related to digital security, stressing the importance of educating youth about privacy and safety when using the internet.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In a briefing paper published on 27 July (\u201cAn Environmental Approach: The Protection of Natural Resources in the OPT\u201d),\u00a0Al Haq\u00a0argues that besides international human rights and humanitarian law, the application of international environmental law opens further avenues to ensure accountability and the protection of natural resources and the environment in the OPT.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 25 July, the\u00a0Palestinian Center for Human Rights\u00a0(PCHR) in Gaza organized a workshop entitled \u201cConsequences of Former Prisoners\u2019 Salary Suspension on their Economic and Social Rights\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 24 July,\u00a0Physicians for Human Rights\u2013Israel\u00a0called on the Israeli authorities to provide women who suffer from diseases for which no treatment is available in Gaza with immediate access to health services outside the Gaza Strip (\u201cRoutine Denial of Lifesaving Care for Female Cancer Patients\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 Following a tightening of movement restrictions in Hebron in May, on 20 July\u00a0B\u2019Tselem\u00a0provided an overview (\u201cSummer 2017: New movement restrictions heighten isolation of Palestinian neighbourhoods\u201d), concluding that the policies implemented did amount to collective punishment and were causing \u201ca silent, ongoing transfer of Palestinians from the heart of Hebron\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 16 July,\u00a0Addameer\u00a0and other Palestinian NGOs issued a joint report providing statistics with regard to the arrest of Palestinians from the OPT during the month of June as well as information about the treatment of detainees.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 13 July, the\u00a0Gaza Community Mental Health Programme\u00a0reported the visit of a delegation from Doctors of the World-Spain to explore chances for future cooperation between the two NGOs.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 12 July, the\u00a0Women\u2019s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling\u00a0(WCLAC) launched a new publication in Ramallah entitled \u201cPalestinian Model Parliament: Towards Legislation based on Palestinian Identity, Progressive Ideas, and Just Content\u201d. In its July bulletin, WCLAC further drew attention to the election of 25-year-old electrical engineer Yusra Mohammed Badwan as mayor of Azzun, the youngest elected\u00a0female Palestinian mayor\u00a0serving in a West Bank town.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Israeli \u201cOperation Protective Edge\u201d in Gaza, on 7 July,\u00a0Al Mezan Center for Human Rights\u00a0called on the international community to ensure an end to collective punishment and impunity. Furthermore, Al Mezan, Visualizing Palestine and Adalah-The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel released jointly produced\u00a0visuals entitled \u201czero accountability\u201d and \u201cno crime happened here\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On the first July weekend, the\u00a0Geneva Initiative\u00a0organized a seminar with 25 young political activists belonging to the Russian-speaking community in Israel; among the topics discussed was the role of civil society in the Northern Ireland peace process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Europe<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 Medical Aid for Palestinians\u00a0(MAP) opened registration to join a \u201cRide for Palestinian Health and Dignity\u201d from London to Windsor on 3 September.<br \/>\n\u00b7 On 26 July, the UK-based\u00a0Palestine Return Center\u00a0(PRC) reported a campaign by UN Watch pressuring Western University in Canada to cut funding for Prof. Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 26 July, the\u00a0European Council on Foreign Relations\u00a0(ECFR) published a policy brief by Omar Dajani and Hugh Lovatt entitled \u201cRethinking Oslo: How Europe can promote peace in Israel-Palestine\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In a statement released on 6 July, the\u00a0Norwegian Refugee Council\u00a0(NRC) estimated that three years after the 2014 war in Gaza, a little over one third of the 11,000 houses destroyed during the war had been rebuilt and 35,000 people remained displaced, living in tents.<\/p>\n<p><strong>North America<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 On 24 July,\u00a0Jewish Voice for Peace\u00a0(JVP) reported that five leaders of an interfaith delegation to Israel\/Palestine were denied permission to board their plane in the U.S., apparently based on Israeli legislation banning supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement\u00a0from entering the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In a letter dated 17 July, the\u00a0American Civil Liberties Union\u00a0(ACLU) urged members of the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose and refrain from co-sponsoring the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. Imposing civil and criminal punishment on individuals solely for their political beliefs, the bill was inconsistent with U.S. constitutional rights, ACLU argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 \u00a0On 12 July, McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers in New York hosted an event featuring filmmaker and writer Omar Robert Hamilton in conversation with authors Molly Crabapple and Remi Kanazi on a new anthology entitled \u201cThis is not Border: Reportage and Reflection from the\u00a0Palestine Festival of Literature\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 2 July,\u00a0Al Shabaka\u00a0\u2013The Palestinian Policy Network published a commentary by Yara Hawari entitled \u201cDon\u2019t Historicize the Balfour Declaration: The Past is still the Palestinians\u2019 Present\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In a letter dated 28 June, over 30 Members of the\u00a0U.S. Congress\u00a0requested U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson \u201cto urgently pursue all diplomatic tools\u201d at his disposal to encourage the Israeli authorities concerned to reconsider the charges against Issa Amro, founder of the Hebron-based non-violent direct action group Youth against Settlements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Africa<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 In a statement published on 21 July,\u00a0South Africa\u2019s Department of International Relations and Cooperation called for the release of Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member and civil society leader\u00a0Khalida Jarrar\u00a0who was arrested on 2 July and subsequently issued with a six-month administrative detention order.<\/p>\n<p><strong>United Nations<\/strong><br \/>\n\u00b7 On 20-21 July, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, with support by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), convened the\u00a0International Conference on the Question of Jerusalem\u00a0in Baku, Azerbaijan. The theme of the Conference was \u201cJerusalem and the international community: providing political and economic support\u201d. The\u00a0\u00a0Conference provided up-to-date information on the situation in the City, especially in light of the ongoing deteriorating situation following the incidents around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and presented ideas and proposals about how the international community, especially OIC Member States, can provide concrete support to the Palestinian population in Jerusalem, with a focus on education and training for fostering resilience, especially among youth, and on economic recovery and development, in particular in the tourism sector.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 At its 41st\u00a0session, held in Krakow from 2-12 July,\u00a0UNESCO\u2019s World Heritage Committee inscribed Hebron\/Al Khalil Old Town on the World Heritage List and added it to the List of World Heritage in Danger.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 On 12 July,\u00a0UNDP\u00a0launched a report on challenges to economic recovery and long-term development in Gaza entitled \u201cGaza Economy \u2013 Nearing Total Collapse\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7 In an open letter dated 4 July, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders asked\u00a0UN Secretary-General Guterres\u00a0for protection to ensure that human rights organizations working on issues related to Palestine are able to carry out their activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":169,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1239,1512],"tags":[],"country":[],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-111561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-ngo-action-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111561\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111561"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=111561"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=111561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}