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Press Release No. 00/58
8 October 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AL-HAQ CALLS FOR THE URGENT PROVISION OF PROTECTION FOR PALESTINIANS IN THE
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AND WEST BANK FROM ISRAELI SETTLERS’ RANDOM VIOLENCE
 Al-HAQ is deeply concerned
over the seriously deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories and West Bank resulting from Israeli settlers’ illegal,
violent and unrestricted behavior. Al- Haq’s concern is
multiplied by the failure of the Israeli Occupational Forces to take any
effective measures to put an end to settler practices.
Settlers are not hesitating to use lethal force; they have opened fire
and caused injury by live ammunition to at least four persons resulting
in the death of Fahed Mustafa Baker of Biddea village in the Nablus
District. Fahed Mustafa Baker, 21, a student at Al-Najah
University was shot in the head as a result of settler violence. After
being shot, Israeli settlers would not allow an ambulance to enter the
area to treat Fahed Baker and four other wounded Palestinians.
Similar settler attacks occurred last night in al-Jeeb village located
in the Ramallah District. Settlers from Givat Zeev, located near al-Jeeb
village burned down stores and cars. Some of this activity occurred on
Nablus Road leading from Ramallah to Jerusalem. Most of the
attacks by settlers throughout the region occurred in the evening and
late night. In Jerusalem, settlers attacked the neighborhoods of Waldi
Al-Jozz and Mussrara and Street #1. These unlawful activities are
organized, pre-planned, and directed by the settler movement, which have
been outspoken about its intent to continue its escalation of violent
and hostile activity, including murder. . Destruction and
vandalism by settlers of Palestinian property in all areas of the West
Bank and Occupied Territories are taking place in an almost unrestricted
fashion. This includes the burning and vandalism of homes, the
burning and smashing of cars, and the burning and uprooting of dozens of
trees and other personal property.
Based on the above, al-Haq warns of more serious dangers to come if such
practices as described above continue, and if the Israeli authorities
continue to fail in taking serious measure to put a stop to these
practices. Al-Haq calls the attention of the international
community to the increasing lawlessness of the situation endured by
Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Palestinians are living
in a constant state of terror, as a result of the failure of the
Occupying Power to provide necessary protection in accordance with its
legal commitments under international law.
In light of ongoing settler violence, and the continuing failure of the
Occupying Israeli Forces to ensure the safety and security of
Palestinians in the Occupied territories, al-Haq calls on the
international community, and in particular, on the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to provide and/or guarantee
immediate protection to these Palestinians. Serious and urgent
pressure must be brought to hear upon the Israeli authorities to take
effective steps to assure the safety of Palestinians.
Israeli settlers always armed and more than willing to use those arms
freely roam the Occupied territories. Israeli army instructions on
the use of lethal force by settlers, if they exist, are inadequate, and
do not constitute any real attempt to hold back settler excesses.
Furthermore, sentences passed on settlers convicted of improper use of
firearms are ridiculously light, and do not constitute an effective
deterrent to the illegal use of lethal force. Many settlers,
convicted and sentenced of murder in the past, have been pardoned and
are now living in settlements.
According to international law, the Israeli Occupying Forces are
responsible for the maintenance of security and public order in the
areas under their jurisdiction. In practice, however,
‘security’ for Israelis, including that of illegal settlers, has
been a prime concern, while security for Palestinians is nearly
non-existent.
Local and international human rights organizations, the UN, and
governments have often appealed to Israel to act in accordance with its
obligations under international law, particularly under humanitarian law
protecting the lives and well being of the civilians under its
occupation, notably, the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Many UN
Security Council resolutions have gone unheeded by Israel, and the
international community has not taken any effective measures to
implement those resolutions.
Al-Haq believes that measures to prevent further confrontation and
bloodshed must take the above factors into consideration. Unless
fundamental solutions are found to the endemic problems that inevitably
result in human rights violations and tragedies.
Severe restrictions must be placed on activities and behavior of Israeli
settlers in the Occupied Palestinian territories, including removal of
weapons. Immediate and effective measures to contain settler
violence must be taken. Moreover, measures must be immediately
instituted designed to reduce contact and friction between Palestinians
and settlers, pending the removal of illegal settlements from the West
Bank and Occupied Territories in conformity with international law.
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