This report examines the Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the record of violations of Palestinian human rights by Israel and the Palestinian National Authority during 1998

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy LAW is affiliate to the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Fidiration Internationale des Ligues de Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)

INTRODUCTION

1998 will be significant for its anniversaries. Israel had its fiftieth Jubilee and celebrations marked the creation of the state following the so-called War of Independence. For the Palestinians, and many others, this marked the Nakba - the rather passively described, catastrophe. The Nakba was the counter-weight of the Israeli celebrations, but there were few events in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Just to recall, Israel's War of Independence led to a minority of the population, the vast majority of whom were recent immigrants, to securing for itself the majority of the Palestinian owned land of Palestine. During this war, for example, Israeli forces killed an estimated 13,000 Palestinians. They forcibly evicted 737,166 Palestinians from their homes and land. 418 Palestinian villages were entirely depopulated and destroyed. The Palestinian populations in Acre, Beersheba, Haifa, Jaffa, Lydda, Majdal, Al Ramla, Safad, Tiberius, and West Jerusalem were almost entirely removed. A conservative estimate of almost three-quarters of a million Palestinians were made refugees. These facts were not part of Israel's celebrations.

Also, 1948 was the year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was to be a testimony of our humanity, following a war that encompassed much of the globe. It sought to end the excesses of war (and of peace), particularly the atrocities against communists, the disabled, gays, gypsies, Jews, Slavs and others. In the same period as passing the resolution that was the Universal Declaration, the General Assembly decided to partition Palestine. It resolved to give over 50 percent of the land to the recently immigrated Jewish/Zionist minority, leaving the indigenous Palestinian population (a multi-faith community of Christians, Jews and Muslims) with the minority of their land.

These were extremely poignant considerations in 1998; Israelis and Palestinians saw the fifth anniversary of the Oslo Process, on 13 September, which sought to resolve the conflict of 1948. Throughout 1998, Israel claimed that the Palestinians had failed to meet the obligations of earlier agreements, principally in the area of Israeli security, but also they complained of PNA human rights violations, including arrests and detentions and incitement to violence.

In the Netanyahu Government's view, the "terror infrastructure" should be dismantled - this is rather thinly veiled code for large-scale, arbitrary arrests and detentions, closing down of institutions, banning of political parties and assemblies and the extradition to Israel of suspects. And, in a number of instances, the Palestinian National Authority obliged. These security measures tended to have a wider impact on Palestinian society; Palestinian executive and security authorities consistently acted in breach of law and human rights standards.

The Palestinians, in turn, complained of Israeli violations of the agreements, building of settlements, land confiscation, house demolition, blockades at borders and removal of Palestinian residency rights. These also count as some of the human rights violations by Israel, others include killings, injuries, torture, unfair trial and imprisonment. So, the discussions towards peace occurred in the backdrop of human rights violations against Palestinians and frequently in the name of security.

Towards the end of the year, the Wye Memorandum was signed 23 October 1998. This agreement signalled a rapprochement of sorts between the Israeli Government of Binyamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian Government of Yasser Arafat. Wye followed almost two years of public disagreements between the negotiating parties over the course of the peace process.

LAW was severely critical of the one-sided nature of Israel's security argument. It submitted a statement to the negotiators at the Wye River talks arguing that Palestinians also have a security need - one that was frequently violated by Israeli soldiers and settlers illegally present in the Occupied Territories. The paper contended that the best means of obtaining the security desired was a peace process that conformed to human rights standards.

LAW's arguments had little impact. The striking characteristic of the memorandum is security, and, in fact, Wye is often given the adage - the "peace for security" agreement. Wye marked a departure from earlier agreements in this aspect, in the specificity of the deadlines for withdrawal and obligations, the creation of security superstructure and the involvement of the US central intelligence agency. LAW produced a report examining these issues. The objective was to satisfy Israel's demand for security with the Palestinian demand for land. And the means to achieve the former's satisfaction proved to be, as in the past, measures involving human rights violations.

Israel withdrew from some three percent of land, while the Palestinians undertook measures to clampdown on the "terror infrastructure". But very soon afterwards, the Israeli Government imposed further unilateral conditions on the Palestinians, despite the Knesset's approval of the text, and later suspended the agreement.

There appeared to be little willingness on the part of the Government to meet its obligations and with the collapse of the Government and the forthcoming Israeli elections, PM Netanyahu is even less keen to make concessions. Instead there have been accusations from the Government that the Palestinians have failed to meet their obligations - a position of which the US has not been in agreement and has instead been critical of Israeli violations.

The collapse of the Wye agreement was perhaps inevitable. There was, of course, a lack of intent and this was well represented in the spate of settlement development immediately following Wye. This involved settlers taking over areas, with the support and sometimes participation of Israeli forces and the incitement of the Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon - the man responsible for the Sabra and Shatilla massacres in Lebanon. Minister Sharon had urged settlers to "take over the hills of the West Bank before it is too late". Not only was this statement incitement to an illegal act, it was a breach of the just-signed Wye agreement. Wye prohibited incitement to the violence and unilateral actions, specifically settlement building.

The Netanyahu Government, throughout the year, followed previous administrations in house demolitions, settlement, land confiscation and removal of residency rights, torture, unlawful arrest, detention and imprisonment and unfair trial. These policies were the subject of scrutiny by the UN institutions, including human rights bodies.

In 1998, the Committee for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, the Committee against Torture, the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Commission on Human Rights all criticised Israeli policy. Despite Israel having international obligations (and its claim to be a democratic state, respectful of human rights) the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration did not see any change in Israeli practice. Indeed, perhaps a more entrenched position is discernible.

Israel was condemned by the UN General Assembly. This year, as in previous years, the General Assembly continued to pursue the possibility of taking residual enforcement action against Israel. Such a step had not been taken since the UN General Assembly agreed to action in Korea. The resolution called on member states of the United Nations to cease all support for illegal actions, including settlement activity, including in Jerusalem, and condemned Israel for the acts violating international law. It also called on the High Contracting Parties to convene a conference to ensure Israel's compliance to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as the regulation of this treaty are also be violated by Israel. No significant action has been taken on either front, but the General Assembly will be reconvened and the compliance to Fourth Geneva Convention, which celebrates its fiftieth year, will probably be raised again in 1999.

The Palestinian National Authority also came under significant criticism, primarily human rights organisations and by Israel (see above). 1998 saw large-scale arbitrary arrest and detention, mainly of opposition groups, closure of organisations (mainly social welfare) associated with those groups. Torture was also documented, as were other forms of ill treatment. The state security court - which defies all fair trial rights - was used on occasion, most notably to hand down a sentence of execution to the Abu Sultan brothers, Mohammed and Ra'ed were executed the next day, and Fares had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Additionally, often as a result of Israeli pressure, the Palestinian National Authority restricted the right of peaceful assembly and free expression. For example, demonstrations were banned and broken up and media stations were closed for periods during the crisis that led to the eventual bombing of Iraq by the US and UK.

Institutionally, the Palestinian National Authority pursued, concealed, facilitated and encouraged human rights violations. The Palestinian National Authority has frequently blamed Israel for its actions, but in truth the Palestinian government's principal responsibility is to its people and not to succumb to Israeli pressure. Moreover, Israeli violations do not account for all the abuse and corruption that exists in the Palestinian government.

The instances of security forces action are discussed here and in LAW's other reports. Less often discussed are the civilian police. LAW examined the police in late 1998 (the report is to be published in 1999) and found that abuse "takes the form of violence and intimidation and of unlawful and improper conduct, such as falsifying evidence and intimidation of witnesses." Other abuses reported relate directly to the police as a State instrument of force and have the consequence of reducing police accountability and their public service function.

Sadly the police are just one example of executive abuse. The response by President Arafat to corruption charges was a cabinet re-shuffle that retained those Ministers accused of irregularities. The executive has neutered the judicial and legislative branches of state and the President refuse to institute the Palestinian constitution, the Basic Law, that will ensure separation of powers, human rights and constitutional control on executive power. Unchecked by the organs of state, the executive, the security services, civil service and elected officials have undertaken institutional and individual abuse with impunity.

ISRAEL HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

In 1998, there appeared a marked increase in Israeli authorities' human rights violations against Palestinians.

Assault on the right to life

Thirty-nine Palestinians were killed during 1998 by Israeli soldiers or extremist settlers. The Occupation authorities caused these deaths either by shooting, torture during interrogation, running them over, stabbing, delays at checkpoints, refusing to provide necessary treatment to detainees or denying Israeli ambulances access into Palestinian territories within the boundaries of East Jerusalem. This lead to a 95% increase in the number of Palestinians killed by Israelis, compared to a total of 20 Palestinians killed by Israelis in 1997. Israeli soldiers shot and killed the following 18 Palestinians: Eid Hassan al-Mane'iy, Adnan Abu Zneid, Ghaleb Rjoub, Muhammad Sharawneh, Samer Karamah, Bilal Salaymeh, Zamel Waheedy, Ashraf Sabri, Samir Fayyad, Muhammad Jneid, Ismail Shihadah, Kamleh Shabani Nazer, Amjad Natsheh, Naser Eirakat, Jihad Ayyad, Muhammad Daoud, Kamal Idwan and Muhammad Amro.

Four Palestinians were assassinated: the two Awadallah brothers were hunted down and shot, and two others were killed in a car-bombing believed to have been committed by the Israeli security services or its collaborators. These were Muhy Eddeen Al-Shareef and Zahran Zahran.

Three children died: Qusay Tamimi, Fadwa al-Adam's baby girl and Houryyeh Abu Hmeid. These deaths were all due to closed checkpoints where Israeli soldiers prevented their families from taking them to hospital.

Three detainees died in custody. Two of these were killed by severe torture during interrogation: Nidal Abu Srour and Ahmad Asfour. Yousef Ari'er died due to a lack of timely medical treatment. Another prisoner, Jamal Khmeisy died of cancer just a few days after his release.

Settlers killed six Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. These were Ahmad Mousa, Abdel Majeed Abu Turki, Ameen Fataftah, Iyyad Qarabsah, Muhammed Zalmout and Usama Natsheh. Another two Palestinians were killed inside Israel: Khalil Khsheimat and Khairy Alqam. Muhammad Al-Karaki died when an Israeli ambulance refused to take him to hospital.

Ethnic cleansing - House demolitions

The Israeli Authorities continued their policy of house demolitions despite the many condemnation campaigns organised by local human rights organisations and Israeli peace groups. This policy is a violation of basic universal criteria and principles of human rights. Israeli authorities demolished homes in all areas of the occupied West Bank, or notified the owners of their intention to demolish their house. In the period covered by this report LAW was able to document the demolition of 163 houses, among which figure a number of tents and wooden houses, in the various governorates of the West Bank. The total number of houses which have been demolished by the Israeli authorities from the signing of Oslo until the end of 1998 was 702.

The Israeli government continued with its policy of ethnic cleansing in occupied Arab Jerusalem and the areas surrounding settlements and bypass roads. This came at a time when the Israeli government's intention was to hinder any progress in the peace negotiations with the Palestinian National Authority. It therefore refused to implement the second phase of redeployment of troops from the West Bank. The Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of many Palestinian family homes, on the grounds they were illegal constructions. They ordered the evacuation of hundreds of families from their metal and plaster houses in areas near the settlements surrounding Hebron, in addition to the evacuation of 35 Jahaleen Bedouin families on 16 February 1998 from their dwellings near the Maale Adumim settlement which lies to the east of Arab Jerusalem. Bedouin dwellings were attacked several times to force them to leave the area after the demolition of their tents and barracks. On 12 February 1998, LAW was able to get a precautionary order from the High Court against the evacuation of 430 Bedouins, including 150 children, from the area near Maale Adumim. The Society also managed to acquire a precautionary court order against the evacuation of Bedouin families from the Ramon area. Later, however, the Society withdrew its appeal after the Israeli public prosecution submitted a reply to the court denying any intention to evacuate those families.

A large number of Palestinians came to LAW requesting legal assistance. In 1998, the Society took on 166 cases of threatened house demolition. We filed appeals to the Higher Planning Council in Bet El, all of which were refused. This led the Society to go to the Israeli High Court for precautionary orders against the demolition of Palestinian houses. The Society filed 42 appeals and received 75 precautionary orders from the Israeli High Court, some of which were filed in 1997 but not resolved in that year. The Society was able to ultimately rescue 6 houses from demolition.

Settlements

The Israeli government sought to strengthen its grip over the occupied territories by seizing and establishing settlements on the largest possible areas of the Occupied Territories. It is difficult sometimes to determine the exact land area confiscated by the Israeli occupation authorities - they tend not to give accurate details on land confiscated. However, settlement activities increased significantly as large areas of land in the occupied West Bank were confiscated after the signature of the Wye Plantation Agreement in Washington DC on 23 October 1998.

In the period covered by this report, the Israeli government confiscated large areas of Palestinian land to implement its settlement plans. It submitted detailed plans for 14 projects to expand already-existing settlements. Of these, 8 had already been completed, at the expense of 8,460 dunums of Palestinian land. This means that settlers confiscated land far in excess of what was originally stated. Expansions led to the establishment of 9,000 new housing units. In the same period, a total of 11 new settlement sites were established, 5 of which are in the area surrounding Nablus, 3 near Ramallah, one near Jenin, one near Hebron and the last near Bethlehem.

The Israeli government approved the establishment of three new industrial zones. These are:

' Bar On in the Kfar Qadumim settlement. A total area of 1,145 dunums was confiscated from the nearby Palestinian villages of Kufr Qaddoum and Qouseen. ' The Sheema industrial zone necessitated the confiscation of a total of 1,733 dunums of land from Samu'. ' Tel Maryam required a total of 607 dunums of land from Jaba'.

The Israeli government also approved the construction of two petrol stations: one which is attached to the Kiryat Arba' settlement and will be built on 66 dunums of land to the east of Hebron city, and the second which is attached to the Kuhav Yacov settlement and necessitates a total of 67 dunums of land from the village of Mikhmas. Later, plans for another petrol station were also approved, as was the construction of another bridge near the Allenby Bridge on a total of 114 dunums of land belonging to the Jericho municipality and Nu'aymeh. The government has also approved the construction of a commercial centre at the Horon intersection on a total of 627 dunums of land belonging to the Beit Seera village of Ramallah, as well as starting the construction of a new quarry named "Rod Nick" on 1,719 dunums to the south of the Zahiryah village. The government also announced its approval of 29 bypass roads to cut through Palestinian land all over the Occupied Territories.

Following the signing of the Wye Plantation agreement on 23 October 1998, the Israeli authorities began the implementation of large-scale plans to construct bypass roads on West Bank land. These are intended to link the Israeli settlements of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and therefore create 'facts on the ground' in anticipation of the final status negotiations. The Israeli government implemented 18 road-construction projects, using its capacity to seize land 'for military purposes'. The area of land seized for these roads was 7,879 dunums, and the total area of land confiscated to build bypass roads reached 18,000 dunums. It was observed that the percentage of settlers in the West Bank and Gaza has risen to 12.4%, a total of 169,339 settlers, of whom 163,173 live in the West Bank and 6,166 live in the Gaza Strip. The number of settlers in Jerusalem and its outskirts has risen to 180,000.

During 1998, settlers and Israeli soldiers uprooted and burnt around 16,780 trees, most of which were olive trees. 3,200 trees were uprooted and burnt by settlers and 13,580 trees by the Israeli army. These were distributed as follows: 70 olive trees in Jaloud in the Nablus area, 900 trees in the Deir Balout village, 430 trees from the Deir Hatab village, 500 trees from the villages of Jaloud and Qariout, 300 trees from Kufr Allabad, 200 trees from Hares and Kifl Hares villages, 400 trees from Deir Istya, 1,000 trees from Yabad, 300 trees from Jalboun, 2,500 trees from Yatta, 4,000 trees from Wadi Ameera in the Bethlehem area, 580 trees from Bqeia and Soureef, 400 trees from Aseera Ashmalyah, 50 trees from Matla, 4,000 trees from Azoun and Kufr Laqef, 200 trees from Nazlet Zeid, 600 trees from Qarawet Bani Zeid and 350 vine trees in Hebron.

The occupation authorities burnt land by using toxic pesticides to kill plants and trees on Palestinian land. For example, on 20 January 1998, the Israeli authorities sprayed toxic pesticides on agricultural fields in the south of Soureef, which led to the burning of 40 trees. On 31 October 1998, settlers burnt more than 2,000 dunums of olive trees in Azoun, Kufr Laqef in the Qalqilya area, Kufr Addeek in the Salfit area, Huwara and Ainabous in the Nablus area and 50 trees in Matleh. On 29 March 1998, settlers destroyed thousand of dunums of cultivated land in Tubas by spraying chemical pesticides and setting fire to the rest of the land. Many Palestinian areas were subjected to digging and ploughing by Israeli authorities and settlers. Israeli machines dug up land in Beit Ameen, Aourta, Kufr Allabd Aseeral Shamalyah, Aghwar, Shofeh, Khan Younis, Beit Omr, Halhoul, Jaloud, Qariout, Duma , Talfit, Annab, Ajoul, Izbet Attabeeb, Samou', Yatta, Qarawa Bani Hassan, Salfit and Iskaka. Besides being a blatant violation of international laws and human rights criteria and principles, these actions inflicted severe damage on Palestinian lands and properties which represent the main source of income for hundreds of Palestinian families.

In 1998, LAW took on 83 cases of land confiscation, 23 of which were attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian lands, 8 cases against the construction of bypass roads, 16 complaints about deals regarding land owned by 100 Palestinians, 9 complaints about the expansion of settlement borders, 19 complaints about land-confiscation orders, 4 cases related to the environment and 4 cases against tree uprooting.

Jerusalem

Israeli measures against occupied Arab Jerusalem continued in order to empty it of its original inhabitants and enhance the forced annexation of the city. The Israeli government and its various agencies continued to create pretexts and use all illegal means to expropriate Palestinian land and property in the city. This is made obvious by the increase in the number of Jerusalem IDs that are withdrawn and by the exclusion of Jerusalemite prisoners from any political compromise or agreement about the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. It is also made obvious in the prohibition of construction by Palestinians and the threats of house demolition. Added to this is the violation of the basic political, social and economic rights of Jerusalemites, such as their freedom of movement, their right to worship and their right to property and shelter. In 1998, the number of Palestinian structures demolished by Israelis in Jerusalem reached 43, including 39 residential dwellings, six barracks, a marble factory, a water reservoir and a pedestrian bridge. The authorities seized 6 real estates. There is an unfair taxation system on Palestinians in Jerusalem known as "Arnona" which does not correspond with the income of those people.

As part of its official policy to judaise the eastern side of Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality began digging a long tunnel linking West Jerusalem with one of the biggest settlements, Ma'ale Adumim, which is located to the south of Arab East Jerusalem. The tunnel follows a track under the Hebrew University and the Augusta Victoria hospital and links up with bypass road # 70 through another tunnel underneath the town of Ezaria. 20 million dollars have been allocated for the completion of this project. Israeli authorities have already confiscated more than a thousand acres of land from nearby villages such as Ezaria, Asawahra, Atour, Abu Deis and Sour Baher, for the purpose of constructing the above road.

Hebron

Israeli occupation forces sustained their violations against the 140,000 Palestinian residents of the city of Hebron. Israeli forces imposed several strict curfews on Hebron, and the occupation forces, along with armed Israeli settlers, have been terrorising Hebronites. Residents have been forced to travel long distances, sometimes across unsafe mountain tracks, to enter the western or eastern suburbs of the city. Israeli occupation forces, in cooperation with extremist settlers, have been terrorising residents and violating human rights without the least consideration of their basic needs, such as their right to medical treatment, water, food and education. Israeli authorities control 35% of the area of Hebron according to the Hebron Protocol which divided the city into two zones known as the HI& H2 zones. About 450 settlers live in the zone controlled by the Israelis.

In their policy of collective punishment, Israeli authorities imposed 5 were blockades, 5 curfews on the southern side of the city over 51 days, and 8 closures on parts of the city. The first blockade was imposed on 30 September and lasted until 13 October 1998. This resulted in the loss of 28 million dollars, the closure of 28 schools (depriving 12,000 students from attending classes), and the interruption of classes at the University. Hospitals in the city suffered from a lack of medicaments and water, and are working with only 50% of their usual workforce. Israeli authorities have prevented the free movement of ambulances and required them to obtain special permits for the transfer of emergency cases. Pregnant women have often been forced to travel by foot across the mountains to reach hospitals to deliver their babies.

During 1998, ten Palestinian were shot dead in Hebron, 414 injured and 243 detained. LAW also documented 448 assaults by soldiers and settlers, of which 13 attacks were directed at schools and 6 at places of worship. 21 homes were demolished.

Detainees

1998 ended with 2,200 Palestinian detainees, of which 97 are administrative detainees, still incarcerated in 12 Israeli prisons. 130 of these are from 8 other Arab countries (Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Sudan and Algeria). Despite the bilateral agreements that stipulated the release of these prisoners, Israel continues to hold them in its custody. Israeli authorities prefer to keep these prisoners to use as a trump card in political negotiations. In fact, Israel actively seeks to increase its stock of prisoners. For this purpose, it has doubled its security personnel at checkpoints and used makeshift checkpoints that are abruptly erected at several junctions and the main entrances to the West Bank and Gaza. In one case, 39 Palestinians were arrested at the Rafah border checkpoint. Israel has established a new prison in the south of Gaza, which is used as a temporary detention centre before the transfer of prisoners to jails inside Israel.

In Israel's prisons, there are currently 200 Palestinian detainees over the age of 45 and 100 who are under 18. An estimated 200 detainees have been in these prisons for longer than ten years, 10 of whom have served more than twenty years. Khalil Arai' has so far served 25 years. There are about 60 detainees being held in confinement, of whom 16 are in solitary confinement. There area also 225 prisoners who for several months have been deprived of visits from close family members.

By the end of 1998, there were 8 female detainees; Mha al-Ik, Aheda Jumhour, Suhah Murra, Abeer Asinawi, Nisreen Ya'coub, Rasmiah Ghneimat, Suna Abu Libde and Su'ad Ghaza. These Palestinian political detainees have been forced to mix with female Israeli criminal prisoners. They have expressed their suspicions about the quality of the food presented to them. They have also requested better medical treatment. One of the detainees, Suha Murra, suffers from severe backaches and has repeatedly asked for an X-ray but to no avail. On 16 August 1998, Aheda Jumhour was transferred from the Maskobia Detention Centre to solitary confinement in another prison. Suna Arai' was disallowed family visits. She has seen her close relatives only three times since being detained 17 months ago.

In 1998, three Palestinian detainees, Nidal Abu Srour, Yousef al-Ir'ear, and Ahmad Asfour died in prison. A fourth prisoner, Jamal Al Khmeisi died only a few days after his release. The death of Palestinian prisoners in detention demonstrates the extent of medical negligence. There are approximately 350 detainees currently suffering from different diseases who are in urgent need of intensive medical care. 70 prisoners are in need of surgery.

Torture

On Sunday 11 January in an exceptional hearing with a panel of nine judges, the Israeli High Court again postponed its decision to ban the use of torture in Israeli prisons.

The Court heard the cases of Abdil Rahman Ismail Ghanimat, who has been held and interrogated since 13 November 1997. Lawyers stated that hooding, shackling in painful positions on a very small slanted stool, sleep deprivation and constant blaring music for periods of up to five days constituted torture, forbidden by international law. These methods are used to extract confessions. In December, the Israeli intelligence services admitted to routinely using these methods during interrogation, saying that they were used for administrative purposes. Hooding and blaring music, for example, prevent detainees from speaking to each other.

The nine-judge panel, in a 5-4 vote, refused to give a temporary injunction against the use of torture during the ongoing interrogation of Ghanimat and Qur'an, and decided to rule later on the general use of torture. Chief Justice Barak voted in the dissent to issue a temporary injunction against the use of torture.

LAW believes that the court's ruling is a critical landmark case on the use of torture in Israeli prisons. LAW has called upon the international community to react immediately at this crucial junction, condemn the use of torture, urge the Israeli government to desist from this practice and cause the Israeli High Court to forbid its use at any point and for any reason in the future.

Deterrent and Collective punishment

Israeli authorities continue to use exemplary punishment against Palestinians, especially at checkpoints. Punishment has become habitual for Israeli soldiers. LAW believes that Israeli soldiers and settlers follow a premeditated policy of humiliating and punishing Palestinian residents. LAW has documented many incidents in which people have been treated to intolerable humiliation.

In its policy of collective punishment against Palestinians, Israeli authorities imposed two super blockades this year, the first on 11 September 1998 and the second on 2 October 1998. They also imposed 13 partial closure on parts of the West Bank, especially on roads linking West Bank cities to each other. During super blockades, the 50,000 Palestinian laborers employed in Israel are unable to go to work.

Violation of the right of freedom of expression and opinion

Many Palestinian journalists have been prevented from carrying out their work while others have been prevented from moving freely. In many cases, their equipment has been confiscated or broken. Some have been shot. Israeli authorities have contravened most of the articles related to the right of freedom of expression and opinion that have been reaffirmed by international agreements and covenants.

LAW has documented 8 incidents in which Palestinian reporters were subjected to assault by Israeli forces. At least 18 reporters have been injured. The attacks took place over a period of four months. In two separate incidents in March 1998, 12 reporters were injured in the city of Hebron. In four separate incidents in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Hebron on 14 May 1998, one Israeli reporter and three Palestinian reporters were injured. Another Palestinian reporter, Hussam Abu Allan, was also injured. In December, two more Palestinian reporters were shot and injured.

To Part Two - Palestinian Violations