PHA-Exchange> Palestine: No Witnesses

[Aviva]

.No Witnesses
10th April 2002

.
The curfew imposed on the West Bank not only means the Israeli soldiers have
complete control of the streets – it also effectively means that there are
no witnesses to what is occurring. The complete prevention of movement of
ambulances and medical teams not only unnecessarily endangers the lives of
the Palestinian sick and wounded,  it also leaves the Israeli soldiers
operating with impunity.

The Israeli military has also declared these invaded areas ‘closed military
zones’ meaning that they are not open to journalists or foreigners. A
Reporters Without Borders fact-finding missing to the area last summer noted
“more than 30 journalists had been wounded by gunfire, mostly by the Israeli
army, over the previous 10 months.”

In another attempt to remove witnesses during this most recent assault on
Palestinians, is the restriction of foreigners coming in to Israel, and
their arrest and deportation from Palestinian areas. Since the April 3
approximately 152 foreigners have been refused permission to Israel,
including a Greek team of doctors, Italian members of Parliament, and
British, Belgium and French peace campaigners. Furthermore, Israeli soldiers
opened fire on foreign nationals involved in a peaceful demonstration in
Bethlehem – seven of them needed hospital treatment. Additionally a number
of individuals were arrested in their hotels in Ramallah or Jerusalem and
deported.

The GIPP calls for international observers to be immediately deployed to
Palestine to protect the civilians – to protect Palestinians, to witness the
continuing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people and to help the
implementation of humanitarian assistance. For more information please see
“GIPP” on http://www.pngo.net.

For more information contact The Palestine Monitor
+972 (0)2 5834021 or +972 (0)2 5833510
www.palestinemonitor.org