PCHR Weekly Report

Israeli Occupation Forces Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Closure on the Gaza Strip

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (25 November – 02 December 2009):

Shooting: During the reporting period, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

On 27 November 2009, Israeli forces fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in the northern Gaza Strip. Four activists were wounded.

On 02 December 2009, Israeli troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip wounded and arrested a Palestinian.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops fired at a Palestinian near a fuel station in the southeast of Hebron, and an Israeli settler then ran him over using his car. Israeli troops and medical crews were present in the area and did not attempt to stop the settlers. Israeli forces claimed that the Palestinian stabbed two female Israeli settlers.

Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders, to protest the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

During the reporting period, Israeli naval troops attacked Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip, and forced them to sail towards the beach.

Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 14 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces arrested 20, including 6 children.

Restrictions on Movement: Israeli forces 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.

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% in the Gaza Strip.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· Israel has imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights for more than two years.

· Israeli forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

Israel has continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

· Israeli forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by Israeli forces every week.

· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by Israeli forces (47 out of 72 roads).

· There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the Israeli forces. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· Israeli forces continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by Israeli forces in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by Israeli forces.

Settlement Activities: Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers living have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 25 November 2009, Israeli forces moved into al-'Aqaba village, northeast of Tubas. They handed out demolition orders for 3 houses. On 26 November 2009, 5 armed Israeli settlers brought a tractor and worked a tract of land in Bab al-Ghars area in the east of Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus. The affected land is located nearly 1,500 meters away from "Gid'ounim" settlement outpost to the east of the village. On the same day, Israeli forces moved into Tayaseer village, east of Tubas. They handed notices to Mahmoud Najeh Jaber and Jaber Najeh Jaber ordering stoppage of construction of their houses. In spite of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims on 25 November 2008, concerning a cease of settlement construction in the West Bank, excluding Jerusalem, for 10 months, on 27 November 2009, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the construction of 28 public buildings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, to be completed by September 2010. On 29 November 2009, Israeli forces dismantled two electricity towers that supply areas located to the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, claiming that the towers were places in a banned zone. On the same day, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered continuing the construction of 29 housing units in "Kidar" settlement, southeast of Jerusalem. Netanyahu's office claimed that "the construction of those units had been approved before the decision to freeze settlement construction" in Israeli settlements in the West Bank for 10 months. On 30 November 2009, at least 50 Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, escorted by Israeli forces, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers who were gathering olive trees that had been uprooted by settlers in al-Rummana area in the south of Bourin village, south of Nablus. Israeli forces forced the farmers away from the area and the settlers attempted to break into a house belonging to 'Atallah 'Abdul Rahman Soufan. On 02 December 2009, the Israeli government approved the construction of 84 structures in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that the Israeli government approved the construction of those structures in spite of its official declaration of a freeze of settlement construction in the West Bank.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (25 November – 02 December 2009)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

· At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into 'Arraba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-'Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned Rebhi Jamal Shanaita, 22, for interrogation.

· Also at approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned two Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

· At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Qallil village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Estia village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Alaa' 'Abdullah 'Olayan, 21.

· At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were near a cemetery in the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip, launching home-made rockets towards Israel. Four activists were wounded, one of whom was in a serious condition.

· In the morning, Israeli gunboats stationed to the west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishermen were forced to sail back to the coast. No casualties or damages were reported.

· At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Naqoura village, northwest of Nablus. They erected a checkpoint on the main road in the village. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces withdrew from the village two hours later and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved nearly 600 meters into the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Until 18:30, they leveled areas of land which they had already razed.

· At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a shop of kitchen tools belonging to Mahmoud Yousef Jawabra, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces moved into the old town of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

· At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Shihab Ahmed al-Titi, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Qad village, northeast of Jenin. They raided and searched facilities of Beit Qad agricultural station. They arrested 'Emad al-Din Jamal Abu al-Haija, 20, from Jenin refugee camp, who works in the station.

· At approximately 09:00, Israeli troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a Palestinian who was near the border. He has not been identified and his destiny is still unknown. Later, Israeli forces informed the Palestinian side that he was wounded in the feet and that he was arrested.

· At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Jaba' village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jihad Ghaleb Hamamra, 30, and arrested him.

· Israeli troops fired at a Palestinian near a fuel station in the southeast of Hebron, and an Israeli settler ran over the wounded Palestinian using his car. Israeli troops and medical crews were present in the area and did not attempt to stop the settlers. Israeli forces claimed that the Palestinian stabbed two female Israeli settlers.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Thursday afternoon, 26 November 2009, Israeli troops positioned near a fuel station at bypass road #60 close to "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, opened fire at a Palestinian. He was seriously wounded. They claimed that he stabbed two female Israeli settlers. Later, the Palestinian was identified as Wssim Ussama Msawda, 21, from Hebron. He was wounded by 6 gunshots throughout the body.

On Wednesday evening, the Israeli Television Channel 2 broadcasted a video tape recorded by an amateur photographer that showed an Israeli settler from "Kiryat Arba" settlement running down Msawda. The settler, who is the husband of one of the female settlers, ran over Msawda's body several times back and forth, while Israeli troops and medical crews present in the area did not intervene to stop him. Later, the Israeli police claimed that they were investigating the incident, and that the settler was instructed not to leave the settlement during the investigation.

Israeli forces 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.

Israel has continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The illegal Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· Israel has not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Israel has continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· Israel continues to impose additional restrictions on access of international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights for more than two years.

· Israeli forces have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

Date	Details
24 November 2009	1,002 Palestinian pilgrims were allowed to travel to Egypt and 26 persons were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
25 November 2009	8 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 290 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 November 2009	7 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 168 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 November 2009	Two Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
28 November 2009	Closed.
29 November 2009	Closed.
30 November 2009	5 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
01 December 2009	Closed.

Date	Details
24 November 2009	135 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
25 November 2009	316 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 November 2009	Closed.
27 November 2009	Closed.
28 November 2009	Closed.
29 November 2009	Closed.
30 November 2009	Closed.
01 December 2009	95 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing: Israel opened the crossing on Tuesday, 24 November 2009, and allowed 246 tons of cooking gas and 953,000 liters of energy fuel were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, workers at international agencies and a few patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. As mentioned above, Israeli forces have allowed a few number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Date	Patients	Companions	Arabs from Israel	Ambassadors	International Journalists	International Workers	Travelers abroad	Traders
Date	Patients	Companions	Arabs from Israel	Ambassadors	International Journalists	International Workers	Travelers abroad	Traders
25 November	18	18	5	3	1	37	2	6
26 November	16	16	4	5	7	69	3	Nil
27 November	2	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
28 November	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
29 November	18	19	31	2	4	5	3	1
30 November	18	18	40	3	1	3	Nil	Nil
01 December	36	29	35	3	2	4	3	1

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: Israeli forces partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, and allowed the entry of 1,400 tons of wheat and 1,680 tons of fodders. They opened it against on Monday, 30 November 2009, and allowed the entry of 720 tons of wheat and 1,400 tons of fodders, and 160 tons of aggregate for the Palestinian Water Authority.

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Jerusalem: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. Israeli forces have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli forces often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. Israeli forces impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Tuesday noon, 24 November 2009, Israeli troops positioned at Jaba' checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Nablus: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Isareli troops positioned at an iron gate established on the Nablus-Tulkarm road have continued to conduct prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians, especially in the morning. Isareli troops positioned at Shavi Shomron checkpoint on the Nablus-Jenin road, and at Za'tara checkpoint, south of the city, have also continued to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday noon, 25 November 2009, Israeli troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 01 and 02 December 2009, Israeli troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking on civilians wishing to cross the checkpoint.

· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Ramallah. Israeli troops positioned at the Jaba'-Qalandya checkpoint, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, Israeli forces erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 27, 28 and 29 November 2009, Israeli forces reinforced their presence in the center, south and east of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Friday morning, 27 November 2009, Israeli forces erected a checkpoint at Tariq Ben Ziad intersection in the south of Hebron, another one at Jabal Jouhar intersection and a third one on the road leading to Bani Na'im village, southeast of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. In the evening, Israeli forces erected a checkpoint at Qaizoun intersection in the east of Hebron. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On the same day, Israeli forces closed the entrance to Wad al-Ghrous area to the north of "Kiryat Arba" settlement with cement blocks. On Saturday afternoon, Israeli forces closed three dirt roads linking al-Baq'a neighborhood with bypass road #60, east of Hebron. On Sunday morning, 29 November 2009, Israeli forces moved into al-Harayiq and al-Tahreer areas in the southwest of Hebron. They erected a checkpoint and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday evening, 01 December 2009, Israeli troops positioned at the entrance of al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, chased Palestinian civilians into the camp, claiming that stones were thrown at their military vehicles.

· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 01 December 2009, Israeli forces erected a checkpoint at al-Kafriyat intersection, south of Tulkarm, and obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· On 25 November 2009, Israeli troops positioned at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip arrested Ahmed Sameer Msallam 'Asfour, 19, from New 'Abassan village east of Khan Yunis, when he was on his way to Saint Joseph Hospital in East Jerusalem. Later, his family learnt that he was detained in Ashkelon Prison. 'Asfour was wounded by Israeli forces on 09 January 2009 during the Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip. A large portion of his intestines was enucleated, his pancreas broke down, fingers of his left hand were amputated, his right hand broke down due a damage incurred to the nerves, his left eye was damaged, his jaw sustained a fracture, his teeth were broken and he has shrapnel throughout his body. He had received medical treatment in Egypt for 7 months, and returned to the Gaza Strip last July.

"At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, I traveled with my son Ahmed, 19, to Beit Hanoun crossing after we had been informed that there was an Israeli approval to allow us to pass through the crossing to receive medical treatment in Saint Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem. When we arrived at the Israeli side of the crossing, they separated us from other people, and were thoroughly checked. They ordered us to take our clothes off. I did and then take off my son's clothes, because he is disabled. ]Israeli[ intelligence officers asked him if he was carrying a weapon. I answered: 'What weapons are you talking about while he is naked?' I then put my son's clothes on. They ordered me to follow arrows leading to certain directions, while my son stayed with them. Soon after, I started to ask about my son, and a soldier said to me: 'Wait!' I was worried for him because he was suffering from diabetes, and I was concerned that he might faint while being checked. The soldier then ordered me to get my money out (US$ 2,500 and 1,500 NIS). After three hours of waiting, a soldier ordered me to travel back to Gaza and told me that my son was detained. I shouted and debated with them. When they wanted to take my son's medicines, I lost my money. They forced me out of the crossing towards Gaza. On the following day, I received a phone call from Medecins Sans Frontieres, in which I was informed that my son was detained in Ashkelon Prison."

· At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 30 November 2009, Israeli troops positioned at a military checkpoint at Housan intersection, west of Bethlehem, arrested Mohammed Mansour Hamamra, 28, and confiscated his car.

· At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 01 December 2009, Israeli troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, southwest of Tubas, arrested Muntasser Taleb Srouji, 16, from Nablus.

· Also on Tuesday, Israeli troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, southwest of Tubas, arrested Wassim Ma'rouf, 19, from Tulkarm.

· On Thursday noon, 26 November 2009, Israeli troops deployed in the old town of Hebron stopped and violently beat Mansour Nayef al-Najjar, 20. He fainted and sustained cuts and injuries throughout the body.

· On Wednesday, 02 December 2009, Israeli troops violently beat Ahmed Jaber Ghanem, 74, from Deir al-Ghossoun village north of Tulkarm, when he was farming his land near the Annexation Wall. He sustained cuts in the face and bruises in the chest and the abdomen. It is worth noting that Israeli forces had confiscated 80 out of 83 donums of agricultural land belonging to Ghanem for the purpose of the construction of the wall.

Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 27 November 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and following altercations, threw stones at Israeli troops positioned in the area. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

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

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· At approximately 08:30 on Wednesday, 25 November 2009, Israeli forces moved into al-'Aqaba village, northeast of Tubas. They handed demolition orders for 3 houses belonging to 'Abdul Nasser Sbaih, Hisham Husni Sbaih and Ahmed Jameel Sbaih.

· At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 26 November 2009, 5 armed Israeli settlers brought a tractor and listed a tract of land in Bab al-Ghars area in the east of Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus. The affected land is located nearly 1,500 meters away from "Gid'ounim" settlement outpost to the east of the village. The settlers listed the 70-donum area of land, which belongs to Tariq and Thabet Bushnaq, as a prelude to seize it and annex it to the aforementioned settlement outpost.

· Also on Wednesday morning, Israeli forces moved into Tayaseer village, east of Tubas. They handed notices to Mahmoud Najeh Jaber and Jaber Najeh Jaber ordering stoppage of construction of their houses.

· In spite of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims on Wednesday, 25 November 2008, concerning a cease of settlement construction in the West Bank, excluding Jerusalem, for 10 months, on Friday, 27 November 2009, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the construction of 28 public buildings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, to be completed by September 2010.

· On Sunday morning, 29 November 2009, Israeli forces dismantled two electricity towers that supply some areas located to the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, claiming that the towers were places in a banned zone.

· Also on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered continuing the construction of 29 housing units in "Kidar" settlement, southeast of Jerusalem. Netanyahu's office claimed that "the construction of those units had been approved before the decision to freeze settlement construction" in Israeli settlements in the West Bank for 10 months.

· At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 30 November 2009, at least 50 Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, escorted by Israeli forces, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers who were gathering olive trees that had been uprooted by settlers in al-Rummana area in the south of Bourin village, south of Nablus. IOF forced the farmers away from the area and the settlers attempted to break into a house belonging to 'Atallah 'Abdul Rahman Soufan.

"At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 30 November 2009, I went to my land in al-Rummana area in the south of Bourin village. While I was working on my land and gathering wood of olive trees that had been uprooted by settlers 3 weeks earlier, and when it was 11:00, I was surprised by at least 50 settlers, escorted by the Israeli military and settlement security officers, heading towards me and a number of other farmers. The settlers threw stones towards us. We gathered and threw stones towards us, but the Israeli military intervened and fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at us and we were dispersed. Soon after, the settlers attempted to break into the house of 'Atallah 'Abdul Rahman Soufan. A number of young men intervened and threw stones towards the settlers. The Israeli military chased the young men and took the settlers back to the settlement."

· On Wednesday, 02 December 2009, the Israeli government approved the construction of 84 structures in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that the Israeli government approved the construction of those structures in spite of its official declaration of a freeze of settlement construction in the West Bank.

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

[1] One donum is equal to 1,000 square meters.

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights LTD (non-profit) http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 47/2009 25 Nov.- 02 Dec 2009

Israeli settlers take over a house belonging to Rifqa al-Kurd in Sheikh Jarrah area in Jerusalem on 01 December 2009