May 27, 2003

ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: International Rights Groups Decry Increased Harassment of Monitors

(Copenhagen, Geneva, London / New York / Paris 27 May 2003)

Amnesty
International, the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Human Rights (EMNHR), Human
Rights Watch (HRW), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation
against Torture (OMCT) are deeply concerned about the increase of Israeli
restrictions against human rights and humanitarian workers.

On May 21, Israeli
Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom said that “most human rights
offices in the West Bank and Gaza strip provide shelter for Palestinian
terrorists.”

This comment has no basis
in fact and constitutes a further threat to the work of independent human
rights organizations and workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “We
fear that such unsupported allegations are intended to intimidate local and
international human rights defenders, and to prevent them from carrying out
their daily work,” the organizations said.

Palestinian and Israeli
human rights organizations have long suffered crippling restrictions on freedom
of movement. Researchers carry out their work under circumstances of considerable
personal danger, and many have suffered intimidation and harassment by the
Israeli authorities and army while carrying out their work.

“In light of the
Minister’s comments we fear such intimidation and harassment will further
increase. Recently, threats to personal safety and restrictions on the
activities of local and international human rights and humanitarian workers and
peace activists have sharply increased”, said the organizations.

This year alone, the
Israeli army has killed a foreign peace activist, Rachel Corrie and gravely
injured two others, Tom Hurndall and Brian Avery. A foreign journalist, James
Miller, was also shot dead by Israeli soldiers. A military investigation
undertaken into Rachel Corrie’s killing reportedly found no wrongdoing,
although the full findings have not been made public. It is not known whether
the other events have been investigated: certainly, no findings on any of these
killings or injuries have been released, and no judicial action taken.

At the same time, international
human rights workers and peace activists are increasingly being arrested and
threatened with deportation by the Israeli authorities. At least two have been
deported in recent weeks, and several others are facing deportation orders. At
least six foreign humanitarian workers have been refused entry to Israel, and
growing restrictions are imposed on movement and activities of those already
present in the country.

Of particular concern is
the decision of the Israeli authorities on 9 May to condition entry of
foreigners into the Gaza Strip to their signing a “waiver” which
seeks to absolve Israel from responsibility for any death or injury caused by
Israeli soldiers.

Among other things, the
“waiver” states that those entering the Gaza Strip: “accept that
the government of the state of Israel and its organs cannot be held responsible
for death, injury and/or damage/loss of property which may be incurred as a
result of military activity”.

The Gaza Strip was
subsequently closed and remains inaccessible to foreigners, except diplomats
and selected emergency relief workers.

These restrictions on the
movement and activities of local and international human rights and
humanitarian workers, peace activists, journalists and others are intended to
reduce independent scrutiny of the human rights situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.

“Such restrictions on
independent monitoring serious human rights violations can only aggravate the
current atmosphere of impunity.”

The organizations called
on Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and the Israeli authorities to:

– Retract publicly the unfounded allegations made by Minister
Shalom on 21 May 2003;

– Put an end to harassment, intimidation, threats, and
deliberate attacks on human rights defenders;

– Cease arbitrarily arresting human rights defenders and
foreign nationals. Those arrested should be charged with a recognized criminal
offense, based on factual and public evidence;

– Abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Protection
of Human Rights Defenders adopted on December 9, 1998 by the UN General
Assembly and in particular its Article 1, which states that: “Everyone has
the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to
strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental
freedoms at the national and international level;”

– Immediately lift the restrictions on access imposed on the
Gaza Strip and facilitate development work, humanitarian aid and human rights
monitoring by providing full and unrestricted access to all; and

– Conform with international human rights and humanitarian law
in all actions and ensure that all killings and other violations are thoroughly
and independently investigated.