IMEU : Documents & Reports

Extra-judicial executions as Israeli government policy (The Palestine Centre for Human Rights)

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:44:48 PST

Israel's policy of extra-judicially executing Palestinians allegedly involved in armed resistance against the Israeli occupation of Palestine has been meticulously documented by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The continuing silence of the international community has actively encouraged Israel to act as though it is above the law and to continue committing gross human rights violations against the Palestinian people, including hundreds of extra-judicial executions.

Holding health to ransom (Physicians for Human Rights - Israel)

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:50:19 PST

In addition to the pressure to collaborate, in recent months cases have been revealed in which the summoning of Gaza patients, ostensibly to receive exit permits or undergo GSS questioning, merely served as bait for the GSS. Upon their arrival at Erez Crossing, these patients were arrested and taken to Israeli detention centers. In other words, by exploiting patients' complete dependence upon Israel for medical treatment, the GSS deceives patients by summoning them for a security questioning.

Torturing each other: the widespread practices of arbitrary detention and torture in the Palestinian territory (Al-Haq)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:18:54 PST

A year on from Hamas' seizure of control of the Gaza Strip and the declaration by Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, of a state of emergency throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Al-Haq is publishing this report that documents and analyses acts of detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment against civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since June 2007.

Prolonged crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory: socio-economic developments in 2007 (UNRWA)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:21 PST

The Palestinian economy continued to perform badly in 2007. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2007 - estimated at about USD 4.1 billion - was virtually unchanged from 2006, itself a year of severe economic regression. There was a rebound in the public sector after mid-2007 due to the end of the fiscal crisis that began in 2006 with the Government of Israel (GOI) and donor boycott of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and public employee strike.

Vulnerability analysis and mapping (VAM) food security and market monitoring report (UN WFP)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:40:39 PST

The truce between Israel and Hamas brokered by Egypt on 19 June is still holding despite attempts to break the ceasefire by militants groups resulting into the temporary closure of the crossings for both humanitarian and commercial imports. Likewise, there is increased animosity between Palestinians and settlers in the West Bank, leading to stricter closure regime and reduced mobility for people and goods.

The humanitarian impact of the barrier (UN OCHA and UNRWA)

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:00:31 PST

The barrier compounds the fragmentation of the West Bank by creating non-contiguous enclaves of Palestinian communities and territory, which are isolated from each other and from the remainder of the West Bank. Movement and access for Palestinians is controlled by permits and gates, or channeled through 'Fabric of Life' routes -- secondary roads, tunnels and underpasses created or upgraded by the Israelis to restore transportation contiguity between disconnected Palestinian localities.

Joint rapid food security survery in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (The World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UNRWA)

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:28 PST

Three United Nations agencies have warned of a decline in Palestinian living standards as a new report shows that high food prices and falling incomes are forcing Palestinian families to manage with less and lower quality food. The main driver of Palestinian food insecurity is of a political nature, as key elements in vulnerability are rooted in the military and administrative measures imposed by the Israeli occupation.

The situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories (International Labour Organization)

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:51:00 PST

This report, which follows an ILO delegation visit to the Middle East, depicts a much degraded employment and labour situation. The plight of the Palestinian people has not improved in any fundamental way. Indeed, in a number of respects it has deteriorated alarmingly. With the near total closure of the Gaza Strip following the break up of the national unity government and the continuing impediments to the movement of persons and goods in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, economic and political life is highly fragmented.

"Lack of permit" demolitions and resultant displacement in Area C (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA))

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:40:00 PST

To date, more than 3,000 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank have pending demolition orders, which can be immediately executed without prior warning. At least ten small communities throughout the West Bank at risk of being almost entirely displaced due to the large number of pending demolitions orders. During the first quarter of 2008, Israeli authorities demolished 124 structures due to a lack of permits. In 2007, 208 Palestinian-owned structures have been demolished under the same circumstances.

Delivering security to the Palestinian people (The Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and Shams Center for Human Rights and Democratic Participation)

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:31:00 PST

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and Shams Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Participation on 12 March 2008 organised the first Forum 'Delivering Security to the People - Challenges to Palestinian Security Sector Governance' in Ramallah. The Forum is a new project by DCAF and Shams to enhance the Palestinian dialogue on security sector reform and to support a sustainable reform process based on the security needs of the Palestinian citizens.