PCHR Weekly Report

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 10/2006 09 - 15 March 2006

IOF’s raid on Jericho Prison, 14 March 2006.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

On Tuesday morning, 14 March 2006, IOF stormed Jericho Prison in the West Bank to apprehend Ahmad Sa'adat, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council; a number of activists of the PFLP who are accused of assassinating the late Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi; and Major General Fu'ad al-Shoubaki who is accused of smuggling weapons. During the operation, IOF bombarded the prison and governorate complex before and after bulldozing the buildings inside. The bombardment included tank shells and missiles fired by helicopter gunships. The operation ended with the detention of the aforementioned as well as scores of political and criminal prisoners, security guards and members of the Palestinian National Security Forces, who use the governorate building as their headquarters. In addition, 2 Palestinians were killed; a prison guard and a prisoner detained on criminal charges. At least 50 Palestinians were also injured.

This operation came shortly before holding to the Israeli elections on 28 March 2006. Palestinians are used as a fuel for the election campaigns of competing rightist parties. This operation was initiated 15 minutes after the sudden withdrawal of American and British monitors charged with guarding Saadat, in accordance with an agreement brokered by the United States. Israeli, American, and British officials attempted to deny any prior coordination among them. However, the Israeli Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, stated to the Israeli daily Haaretz after the operation that Israel knew before hand about the time of the monitors’ withdrawal from Jericho Prison. Further, he stated that the army had been prepared for over a week to storm the prison and kidnap the prisoners. PCHR had previously stressed that no party, whether the IOF, Palestinian National Authority or international community, has the right to formulate an agreement that violates international humanitarian law. This position was stated in reference to the agreement regarding Sa'adat’s detention in Jericho Prison (see PCHR's press release on 4 June 2002). Thus, PCHR raises questions over the international community’s role in enforcing past and future agreements to which Israel is a party.

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (9 – 15 March 2006):

Killing: On Tuesday morning, 14 March 2006, IOF killed two Palestinians during their raid on Jericho Prison. One of the victims was a guard of the prison and the other one was a criminal prisoner. In addition, 50 Palestinians were injured. On Wednesday evening, 15 March 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Kherbat al-Misbah village, west of Ramallah, near the Annexation Wall.

During the reported period, IOF shelled Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip. On 9 March 2006, a man, his wife and their child were injured when an artillery shell hit their flat in Beit Hanoun.

Incursions: IOF conducted 34 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 65 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. IOF also arrested dozens of Palestinians from Jericho Prison. In addition, IOF transformed 9 houses into military sites. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a comprehensive siege on the OPT, in violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians. IOF declared that they would impose a total siege on the OPT from Saturday morning, 11 March, until Wednesday evening, 15 March 2006, for the Jewish Purim. However, they later declared that the closure imposed on the OPT would continue until Sunday morning, 19 March 2006.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, transforming it into a large prison. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world, has been partially reopened. The crossing point was closed on 14 March 2005, shortly before the end of the work day as international observers withdrew from the crossing point. During the reported period, IOF repeatedly closed al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. The crossing has been closed since 14 March 2006. Many goods have disappeared from the local markets in the Gaza Strip. On 12 march 2006, IOF closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. IOF have also continued to close Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, since 14 February 2006.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank as they imposed a total siege on the OPT for the Jewish Purim. During the raid on Jericho Prison on Tuesday, 14 March 2006, IOF closed al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border. The crossing point was reopened on the following day. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including two children. A Palestinian woman gave birth at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, as IOF denied her access to the hospital.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF handed notices to a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Walaja and al-Khader villages and Beit Jala town near Bethlehem, informing them that 210 donums of their agricultural land would be confiscated. According to local sources, these areas of land were confiscated for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall. Contrary to Israeli security claims regarding the purpose of the construction of the Wall, the acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in interviews published on Friday, 10 March 2006, that Israel plans to impose a border on the West Bank. IOF also used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. Four Palestinian civilians were injured, and a number of other civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. During the reported period, Israeli settlers from "Beit 'Ein" settlement to the northwest of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, damaged areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the village. Israeli settlers from "Sousia" settlement to the east of Yatta villag, south of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilians, houses and animal farms in the village. Three Palestinian civilians, including two women, sustained bruises. Israeli settlers living in settlement outposts in the center of Hebron, and "Kiryat Arba" settlement east of the town, attacked Palestinian civilians and their property. Two Palestinian children were injured. During the reported period, IOF started to establish a settler road linking between "Ramat Yishai" settlement outpost in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood and "Abraham Avion" settlement outpost in the old town of Hebron. IOF started also to establish a police station as part of the settlement project known as "E1" plan, which links "Ma'ale Adomim" settlement bloc with East Jerusalem. The plan includes constructing 3500 housing units for settlers by annexing Palestinian lands in east Jerusalem area and separating the Palestinian territories by blocking any geographical contiguity.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (9 – 15 March 2006)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

In another escalation in violence, IOF stormed Jericho Prison on Tuesday morning, 14 March 2006, in order to arrest or assassinate Ahmed Sa'adat, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and a number of other prisoners. During this operation, IOF killed two Palestinians and injured at least 50 others. According to several sources, the US and British forces which guard Sa'adat left the prison 15 minutes before this attack.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:10, IOF, reinforced by at least 80 vehicles, including two bulldozers and two helicopters, moved into Jericho. They took position near the Palestinian governmental compound (Muqata'a) and Jericho Prison. They called through megaphones on all those who were inside the prison to surrender. Later, they specified their demand that Ahmed Sa'adat, Secretary General of the PFLP; Fu'ad al-Shoubaki, a member of Fatah, who is accused of smuggling weapons; and Majdi al-Reemawi, who is accused of assassinating the late Israeli Tourism Minister, Rehavam Ze'evi, must all surrender. A number of the prison guards and some militants confronted IOF. Two Palestinians were killed:

According Palestinian medical sources, at least 50 Palestinians were wounded by the IOF gunfire. At approximately 11:30, IOF started to demolish external walls of the prison and parts of the Muqata'a, where the prison lies.

At approximately 15:30, IOF started to fire missiles at the prison, while bulldozers continued to demolish its walls. At approximately 18:00, IOF intensified the bombardment of the prison. They also fired gas canisters inside its rooms. IOF then broke into the prison and arrested all prisoners and guards who were still inside.

At approximately 19:00, the IOF GOC Central Command Yair Naveh stated that IOF arrested Sa'dat and five of his colleagues, in addition to 15 members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement, and the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, who had been detained in the prison by Palestinian security services.

During this operation, in which IOF demonstrated complete disregard for the lives of Palestinian political and criminal prisoners, at least 170 criminal prisoners and members of the Palestinian National Security Forces surrendered to IOF. Live scenes of humiliation of the prisoners and guards were shown on the al-Jazeera Satellite Channel. They were forced by IOF to take off their upper clothes and stand under the sun.

It is worth noting that Sa'adat was arrested by Palestinian security services on 15 January 2002. He was detained in the Palestinian presidential compound in Ramallah, together with 5 other Palestinians, who are wanted by Israel. No charges were presented against him. On 1 May 2002, Sa'adat and the other five detainees were transferred to Jericho Prison in accordance with an agreement in this regard, in which the US administration played a major role. Contrary to the case concerning 4 of the other detainees, who were convicted by a Palestinian military court of assassinating the late Israeli Tourism Minister, Rehavam Ze'evi, in Jerusalem in October 2001, no charges have been presented against Sa'adat, nor has he been brought to trial.

On 3 June 2003, the Palestinian High Court of Justice ordered the immediate release of Sa'adat, in response to a petition submitted by PCHR challenging the legality of Sa'adat's detention and demanding his immediate release.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Tayseer Salama Abu Juhaisha, 32, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They surrounded dozens of houses in Artah suburb, southwest of the town, and forced their residents to get out and gather in public areas. They raided and searched these houses. IOF also raided and searched a house belonging to Faisal al-Zaqla. In Tulkarm refugee camp, IOF raided and searched dozens of houses. During this incursion, IOF arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children and 3 brothers:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Baqa al-Sharqiya village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Mohammed Ghandour, 18, and arrested him.

· At approximately 20:40, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalya, fired a number of artillery shells at the north of Beit Lahia. One of the shells hit a 4-storey apartment building in al-Nada housing project. Three Palestinian civilians, including an infant, were injured as the shell hit their flat on the second floor of the building. In his testimony to PCHR, the flat's owner, Ayman Mohammed Hassan Younis, 35, said that he, his wife, 24-year-old Muna Ibrahim Younism and their children: Khaled, 7 months; Ruqaya, 5; and Leila, 3, were watching television. They were hearing sounds of shelling. Suddenly, he saw a shell passing over their heads after it had penetrated the window. The shell hit a nearby room and the bathroom, causing severe damage. He took his wife and children out of the room, and then out of the flat. They were evacuated to the hospital. The owner was injured by shrapnel to the right thigh; his wife was injured by shrapnel to the face and the neck; and their child, Khaled, was injured by shrapnel to the face.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 brothers:

· At approximately 22:55, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp after they had informed the Palestinian side of their intention to wage a wide scale offensive. They patrolled in the streets. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF raided a house belonging to Zain Fazzaa' al-Ja'bari, 50, in al-Masharqa quarter, nearly 100 meters away from the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron. They searched the house and violently beat the 11 residents, who are mostly disabled. Two civilians sustained bruises: Samar Zain al-Ja'bari, 15; and 'Aziz Hussein al-Ja'bari, 35. The latter in a neighbor who came to the house when he heard the children screaming. IOF arrested him accusing him of attempting to attack Israeli soldiers. He was released 3 hours later on bail.

· Also at approximately 09:00, IOF raided two houses belonging to Tariq Rasmi Jaber and Ussama Abu Sharekh in Jaber quarter to the east of the Ibrahimi Mosque. Jaber told PCHR that IOF held his family in one room and handcuffed him. They arrested him for a short time.

· At approximately 11:30, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to 'Abdullah D'ib Jaber in Wadi al-Husain Street in the southeast of Hebron. IOF also forced a number of traders in the area to close their shops.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF raided and searched two houses belonging to Jawad No'man Abu Snaina and Yasser Mahmoud al-Jamal in Abu Snaina quarter in the south of Hebron.

· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and forced dozens of traders to close their shops. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at these civilians. Five civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets or suffered from tear gas inhalation. An IOF jeep also chased Yusri al-Jamal, a journalist of Reuters, and attempted to run him down. He sustained bruises to the foot. In addition, IOF arrested Yousef Ahmed al-Halaiqa, 35.

· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They opened fire at shops and houses. Live bullets hit a car belonging to Mohammed 'Abdul Rahim Qubbaj, when he was traveling with his family back to the village from Nablus. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nidal Mohammed Abu al-Qassem. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed 4 of them into military sites. The four houses belong to: Tarrad and Yasser 'Othman Abu 'Arram; Rajeh Mohammed E'mar; and Rebhi Mohammed al-Najjar.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khader Lutfi Da'amsa, 22, and his brother Firas, 35.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 14:10, an IOF undercover unit moved into Jenin using a civilian car that has a Palestinian registration plate. Soon, 10 IOF vehicles moved into the town to support the undercover unit. IOF raided a number of houses in al-Jabriyat neighborhood in the southwest of the town and transformed them into military sites. IOF besieged a house belonging to Samer 'Adnan Abu al-Haija, 23. They ordered its residents through megaphones to get out. When the residents got out, IOF broke into the house opening fire indiscriminately. During this incursion, IOF arrested two allegedly wanted Palestinians:

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Suleiman 'Aashour Salah. They took the owner's son, 30-year-old Masyad, dozens of meters away from the house and violently beat him. He sustained bruises and injuries throughout the body.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Masyoun neighborhood in Ramallah. They raided and searched a house where a number of college students live and arrested 5 of them:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nidal 'Abdul Mo'to Motawe', 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mufeed Mahmoud Ekhlil, 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud 'Eissa al-Deirani, and arrested hi stwon sons: Ahmed, 19; and Ma'ath, 20.

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses. A few hours later, they imposed a curfew on the village.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nahalin village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed two of them into military sites.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm through its southern entrance. They patrolled into the town.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF patrolling near the Annexation Wall in Kherbat al-Misbah village, west of Ramallah, opened fire at Khaled Sa'id Khaled al-Hubal, 19, when he was walking near the Wall. He was killed by several live bullets to the upper part of the body. IOF claimed that he threw a Molotov cocktail at them.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Although IOF have been redeployed around the Gaza Strip, they have maintained the occupation of the Gaza Strip through controlling all outlets and crossings.

· Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. Working hours at the crossing have been limited to 8 hours a day. It is noted that, contrary to media reports, the commercial crossing in Rafah has not been opened. The commercial crossing still requires some technical preparations parallel to those being conducted at the Kerem Shalom crossing to the southeast of Rafah, which is designated for imports under joint Israeli-Palestinian control. For more information on the border crossings agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, please refer to previous PCHR's reports. On 14 March 2006, the crossing point was closed one hour and half before the end of the work day as international observers withdrew from the crossing point in light of the incidents in Jericho.

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: This is the only crossing point for Gaza Strip workers, medical cases, traders and ordinary citizens into Israel and to the West Bank. On 12 March 2006, IOF closed the crossing for the Jewish Purim. The crossing was expected to be reopened on 15 March 2006, but its closure was extended. Hundreds of Palestinian workers have been prevented from reaching their work places inside Israel, and dozens of patients have been deprived of receiving medical care in hospitals in the West Bank and Israel.

· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: Since the evacuation of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, IOF have repeatedly closed the crossing under security pretexts. On 14 March 2006, IOF closed the crossing. In the past two months, IOF have closed the crossing for 35 separate days. Before this closure, IOF had allowed the importation and exportation of basic foodstuffs only. The Palestinian Minister of National Economy stated that the reserve if basic foodstuffs, especially milk and medicines, started to run out. The construction sector in the Gaza Strip has been also paralyzed due to the lack of construction raw materials exported through the crossing. The movement at the crossing during the reported period was as follows:

o 9 March 2006: The crossing was opened to bring goods that had been blocked at the Israeli side into the Gaza Strip.

· Sofa crossing: IOF also control Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, which is designated for the transportation of construction raw materials. They close the crossing from time to time for no apparent reason. IOF have continued to close the crossing since 14 February 2006.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military, who use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. On a number of occasions the Israeli military has opened fire against the civilian fishermen in order to enforce the 9 nautical mile limit imposed on them. The Oslo Accords make provision for Gaza’s sea to be fished to 20 nautical miles.

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

· Jerusalem: As soon as IOF imposed a total closure on the OPT from Saturday, 11 March 2006, until Wednesday evening, 15 March 2006, for the Jewish Purim, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in occupied Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the city conducted slow and prolonged searches of Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF also reinforced their presence at checkpoints. On Sunday morning, 12 March 2006, IOF closed the Container checkpoint at the eastern entrance to al-Sawahra village, southeast of Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians coming form Hebron and Bethlehem were prohibited from entering the city. IOF also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the northwest of Jerusalem. In addition, they closed the entrance of 'Anata village, east of Jerusalem.

· Ramallah: During the reported period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned near "Halmish" settlement, northwest of Ramalah, reestablished their presence at the entrance of the nearby Nabi Saleh village. IOF repeatedly closed an iron gate established in the area and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the villages of Nabi Saleh, Beit Reema, Deir Ghassana, Kufor al-Dik and Brouqin. On Tuesday, 14 March 2006, a Palestinian woman gave birth at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, due to the restrictions imposed by IOF on the movement of Palestinian civilians through the checkpoint. According to eyewitnesses, Ne'ma Mubarak Salah al-Din, 27, from Hazma village northeast of Jerusalem, left home in the morning towards a hospital in Ramallah, as she was in labor. However, IOF positioned at Qalandya checkpoint obstructed her passage and prevented an ambulance from attending her. She gave birth at the checkpoint.

· Hebron: IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 10 March 2006, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were not able to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque and the old town due to the restrictions on movement imposed by IOF. In the same context, IOF positioned in the center and south of Hebron prevented calls for prayers for no apparent reason. As IOF imposed a total closure on the OPT, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 11 March 2006, IOF closed the main roads linking Hebron with Bethlehem. They erected more checkpoints on these roads and obstructed the passage of civilians. Many civilians were forced to travel on alternative rough roads. At noon, IOF positioned at an electronic checking facility at the entrance of Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron, held at least 40 Palestinian civilians, and forced residents of the neighborhood to resort to alternative roads to go back homes. According to residents of the neighborhood, IOF often impose severe restrictions on their movement.

On Thursday morning, 9 March 2006, IOF positioned at a checkpoint to the east of al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron, arrested Yasser Mohammed 'Awad, 25, and his brother 'Ali, 23.

· Bethlehem: IOF have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians since Saturday morning, 11 March 2006. According to eyewitnesses, on Saturday morning, IOF erected more checkpoints on various roads leading to the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, they erected more checkpoints on the roads leading to the city. On Saturday and Sunday, 11 and 12 March 2006, IOF positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They did not allow residents of Tulkarm and Jenin to cross the checkpoint. On Monday morning, 13 March 2006, IOF positioned at a checkpoint on al-Bathan road at the northeastern entrance of Nablus prevented Palestinian civilian vehicles from crossing the checkpoint and forced Palestinian civilian to cross the checkpoint on foot. On Wednesday noon, 15 March 2006, IOF erected 4 checkpoints to the south and southwest of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and obstructed their passage.

On Thursday evening, 9 March 2006, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Mohammed 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Najjar, 20, from Qalqilya.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians since Thursday, 9 March 2006. On that day, IOF closed the Tunnel checkpoint, south of the town. They allowed only residents of Tulkarm to enter the town, but following humiliating checking. IOF also closed Ennab gate, east of Tulkarm. They chased Palestinian civilians who resorted to alternative roads. At the same time, IOF closed Tulkarm – Deir al-Ghosoun road. They erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Deir al-Ghosoun village. On Friday, 10 March 2006, IOF reinforced their presence on the roads leading to the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also erected a checkpoint at al-Jaroushiya intersection, north of the town, and prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from crossing it. On Saturday, 12 March 2006, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the town imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also erected a checkpoint at Bala'a intersection. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, including medical ones. IOF also closed the Tunnel checkpoint, south of the town and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 14 March 2006, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the town obstructed the passage of Palestinian civilians. They checked these civilians using trained dogs. IOF also erected a checkpoint at Bala'a intersection, east of the town. They prohibited the movement to and from the town. On Wednesday, 15 March 2006, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the town continued to obstruct the passage of Palestinian civilians. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians.

On Tuesday morning, 13 March 2006, IOF positioned at Jibara checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, arrested Mohammed Jamal Jeetawi, 19, from 'Anata village east of Tulkarm.

· Jenin: On Saturday morning, 11 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint between the villages of 'Arraba and Fahma, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 12 March 2006, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in the northern Jordan Valley. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 11 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to 'Anza village, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Saleh 'Awad 'Obaid, 33, from 'Anza village.

On Monday morning, 13 March 2006, IOF positioned at Tayaseer checkpoint, southeast of Jenin, arrested Yahia Hamdan Daraghma, 33, from Tubas village.

· Al-Karama International Crossing Point: On Saturday morning, 11 March 2006, IOF prevented Dr. Mahmoud al-Ramahi, Secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council, from traveling to Jordan to participate on a conference on the role of parliament members in democratic government, which was expected to be organized from 12 to 17 March 2006.

· On Friday, 10 March 2006, IOF handed notices to a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Walaja and al-Khader villages and Beit Jala town near Bethlehem, informing them that 210 donums of their agricultural land would be confiscated. According to local sources, these areas of land were confiscated for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall.

· At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 10 March 2006, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. Four demonstrators sustained bruises:

· On Tuesday morning, 14 March 2006, IOF started to level areas of land opposite to the entrance of Dahiat al-Barid area, north of occupied Jerusalem, for the purpose of the construction of new sections of the Wall in the area.

· Contrary to Israeli security claims regarding the purpose of the construction of the Wall, the acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in interviews published on Friday, 10 March 2006, that Israel plans to impose a border on the West Bank. He further said that by 2010, "no Israeli settlers will be on the eastern side of the Wall." This statement is the first by an Israeli senior official admitting that the final goal of the Wall being constructed by Israel to prevent suicide bombings is to draw the final borders of Israel. Olmert asserted to the Israeli daily Maariv that Jerusalem would remain united, major settlement blocs in the West Bank would continue to exist and expand, and in the end, Israel would be completely separate from the majority of Palestinians.

4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israeli settlers (living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law) have continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:

· On Saturday evening, 11 March 2006, a number of Israeli settlers from "Beit 'Ein" settlement to the northwest of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, damaged areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the village. Mohammed 'Abdul al-Hamid al-Salibi told PCHR that a number of settlers traveling in two civilian vehicles arrived at the area at 15:00. They uprooted dozens of grape trees and demolished some fences in areas of agricultural land belong to his family and other civilia