PHA-Exchange> Palestinian Intifada - 4th Anniversary

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From: "María Hamlin Zúniga" <maria at iphcglobal.org>

Palestinian Intifada - 4th Anniversary

SUMMARY OF PRESS CONFERENCE
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi Director HDIP
Monday, September 27, 2004 (excerpts)

Dr Mustafa Barghouthi began today's press conference with a summary of
recent trends and statistics. The second Intifada, now entering its 5th
year, has seen the World distracted by events in Iraq enabling Israel to
continue violating Palestinians' Human Rights with complete immunity. The
International media remains more accessible to the Israeli side and thus
allows Israel to push forward their preferred narrative. Furthermore, these
past years have witnessed a significant deterioration in international
support and involvement with the peace process, many becoming disheartened
and reluctant having supported the now dead Oslo Peace Process. However, the
Intifada has also witnessed the emergence of a new democratic opposition
movement, born within the Palestinian Territories, together with a
consolidation in support for pioneering, modern Palestinian leaders.

 What we are looking at now is not a future
Palestinian State, but a series of Bantustans.

Death and Injury

In last  four years  we have seen 4,342 Palestinians and Israelis killed. Of
those 1,008 were Israeli and
3,334 Palestinian. 82% of Palestinians killed were civilians.

Two to three Palestinians are killed by Israeli soldiers, police or settlers
per day. Whilst this number may appear to be low, if this death rate were to
be applied to the UK it would be equivalent to 35 being killed per day, and
in the US this would be 157 per day.

Since the start of the Intifada on the 28th of September 2000, 621
Palestinian children below the age of 17 have been killed by the Israeli
occupation forces. Of this figure 411 were shot with live ammunition and 200
were shot in the head, face or neck. 331 were from the Gaza Strip. 10,000
Palestinian children have been injured. Dr Barghouthi insisted that there is
absolutely no excuse to justify the killing of such a huge number of
children.
424 Palestinians have died in extra judicial executions (assassinations).
186 of those were bystanders or "unintended" victims, killed as they were
near the victim. 39 bystanders were children 26 were women.

Palestinian Prisoners

There are currently 78 Palestinian children in administrative detention.
There are also currently 100 Palestinian women and 377 children in Israeli
prisons.

Health

30% of Palestinian children suffer from chronic malnutrition. The number of
pregnant women unable to receive any medical attention during their
pregnancy is now five times higher than figures before September 2000.

Education

Israeli forces have shelled or broken into 298 Palestinian schools.

Water & the Evolution of Apartheid

Since September 2000, the price of water in the Palestinian Territories has
increased from $2.5 per cubic meter to $7.5 per cubic meter. And only a
shocking 70 litres per person per day is consumed in the West Bank for
domestic, urban AND industrial use. 200 Palestinian communities have no
access to a clean water supply.
Every Israeli citizen consumes five times more water than the Palestinians.

86 Palestinians have already died because of movement restrictions, and this
figure includes 30 children. Had these people been allowed to travel, they
would have probably survived. In addition at least 55 women have been forced
to give birth at checkpoints with 20 losing their children.

Dr Barghouthi concluded the press conference by declaring that
unfortunately, he was almost 100% sure he would be greeting the same
audience at a press conference to mark the fifth anniversary of the
Intifada. As of yet, there has been no reason for the Palestinians to stop
resisting - "either we live as slaves under an occupation or we continue to
struggle for freedom", and the latter he insisted is the path that will be
taken.