Building pressure Oct 25, 2009
Even the Director of the human rights group B'Tselem, which gathered many testimonies of alleged abuses in Gaza, has described it as "disagreeable" and criticised the "weak, hesitant way that the report mentions Hamas's strategy of using civilians [in combat]". But there is recognition that the report is not going to go away. (BBC News -- Africa)
The Israeli Brand, Craig Smith, Adbusters Oct 17, 2009
This comes after close to a dozen reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B'tselem (the Israeli information center for human rights in the Occupied Territories). During the assault 1300-1400 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians according to Israeli, Palestinian and international human rights groups, and the Goldstone Commission. (Harper's Magazine)
Israelis flatten Palestinian home Oct 13, 2009
The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem , says the authorities have demolished about 420 Palestinian-owned houses in East Jerusalem since 2004 saying they were built without permits. Israel occupied the territory in the 1967 war and annexed it soon afterwards in a move that has not been recognised internationally. (BBC News -- Africa)
Israel's captured youths: Gilad Shalit and a Palestinian girl with braces Oct 3, 2009
With 7,430 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel on security-related charges, according the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, Mr. Qraqe's position involves arguing for prisoners' rights and releases, as well as helping the families of those in jail. Qraqe says this week's deal appears to be a test of readiness for a more substantial exchange that would involve a much larger number of prisoners in exchange for Shalit. (Christian Science Monitor)
Palestinian Women Prisoners Return To New Worlds Oct 2, 2009
As of late summer, Israel held 7,430 Palestinian prisoners on security-related charges, from involvement in deadly attacks to throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, according to government figures provided to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. Fifty-three of the prisoners are women, according to Palestinian activists, including the 20 slated for early release Friday. (CBS News -- World)
Israel sees bias in Gaza war crimes charges Sep 17, 2009
Earlier this month, B'tselem, a leading Israeli human rights group, published a detailed report which put the total number of Palestinians killed during the three-week campaign at 1,387, of whom 773 were noncombatants, indicating that more than half of those killed were civilians not involved in the fighting. Those figures mirror tallies provided by other human rights groups, but differ substantially from the Israeli army's figures. (Christian Science Monitor)
Israel in firing line over blitz on Gaza Sep 12, 2009
According to a report published this week by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, Israeli military strikes resulted in the deaths of 1387 Palestinians ... The extent of civilian fatalities does not, in itself, prove that Israeli violated the laws of war,'' said B'Tselem spokeswoman Sarit Michaeli this week. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
UN report to take both Israel and Hamas to task Sep 12, 2009
A report published this week by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said Israeli military strikes resulted in the deaths of 1387 Palestinians. Of these, 773 were considered civilians, and a further 330 were classified as active fighters belonging to Hamas or other militant groups operating in Gaza. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Study: Civilians Majority of Gaza War Dead Sep 10, 2009
The Israeli rights group B'Tselem on Wednesday published figures it said were compiled in months of research, including visits to families of victims ... B'Tselem wrote that "the extremely heavy civilian casualties and the massive damage to civilian property require serious introspection on the part of Israeli society." ... The military said Wednesday that it believes B'Tselem's findings are based on flawed research, including reliance on what it said are exaggerated death tolls by Palestinian... (Time.com)
Palestinian-Israelitrade looks up Sep 10, 2009
" Under the Paris Protocol of 1994, a part of the Oslo agreement, Israel controls a customs union comprising Gaza and the West Bank. It collects a duty on imports into the West Bank and Gaza, and additionally collects a value added tax (VAT) on goods and services from Israel destined for the Palestinian territories. The Israelis have often withheld these taxes as a political tool, as when Hamas won the 2006 legislative elections. "The Protocol perpetuates Palestinian economic dependence on the... (Asia Times Online)
Gaza death toll 'was much higher' Sep 9, 2009
B'Tselem said detailed research showed that out of 1,400 Palestinian deaths, 773 were civilians - many of them children ... B'Tselem said the findings had been compiled during months of research, including visits to the families of those killed ... According to B'Tselem, 1,387 Palestinians were killed. (BBC News -- Africa)
Settler attack investigation ends Aug 22, 2009
The attack was filmed by a relative, who had been given a camera by the human rights group B'Tselem as part of its Shooting Back project. B'Tselem had handed video cameras to Palestinians in troubled areas so that they could document abuses against them. (BBC News -- Africa)
Palestinians denied housing as Israeli settlements expand at will Jul 18, 2009
Sarit Mitchell, of B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, said the idea of "natural growth" has always been a figleaf to cover large-scale expansion of settlements. Last year, Israel's overall population grew by 1. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Letter: Human rights organizations take the side of Palestine Jul 7, 2009
All major human rights organization (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B'tselem) conclude that Israel practices a system of apartheid and denies basic human rights to the Palestinian people. People today are getting tired of hearing talking points and are ready for the truth. (Daily Collegian, PA)
Israel's top court sides with Palestinian against military: Is that 'activism'? Jul 2, 2009
The Israeli rights group B'Tselem had videotaped the soldier shooting a rubber-coated bullet at Ashraf Abu Rahmeh's foot during a protest against Israel's separation barrier a year ago ... (Watch the on B'Tselem's website. (Christian Science Monitor)
One Gaza fisherman's tale of tribulation Jul 1, 2009
Israeli rights group B'Tselem released a report about the continual shooting at, abuse of, and humiliation of Palestinian fishermen and challenged the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) over the issue. The IDF responded that their actions were in the name of security only. (Christian Science Monitor)
Does Israel Mistreat Palestinian Child Prisoners? Jun 30, 2009
Most onerous, says Sarit Michaeli of the Israeli human-rights group B'Tselem, is that inside the territories, the Israeli military deems any Palestinian who is 16 years and older as an adult, while inside Israel, the U.S. and most other countries, adulthood is reached at age 18. The report states that "the ill-treatment and torture" of Palestinian child prisoners "appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized, suggesting complicity at all levels of the political and military chain... (Time.com)
Israel marks Gilad Shalit capture Jun 26, 2009
The Israeli rights group B'tselem said Sgt Shalit was legally a hostage, and hostage taking was a violation of international humanitarian law. Frustration. (BBC News -- Africa)
Israel, U.S. on collision course over settlement Jun 3, 2009
"If eventually Israel and the Palestinians abide by some agreement, then that is clearly a separate issue, but at the moment Israel is not permitted to expand any settlement by international law," said Sarit Michaeli, spokeswoman for B'Tselem, an Israeli rights group monitoring the occupied territories. "Bringing it all down into this discussion about natural growth and allowing kindergartens to be built in settlements is getting bogged down in minor details and forgetting the larger picture,"... (Xinhuanet, China)
Israelis jailed for Hebron death Apr 29, 2009
Although the sentence reportedly sets a precedent in Israel, the Israeli human rights group B'tselem said the gravity of the offense ought to have merited an even harsher punishment. "As a rule, the authorities refrain from enforcing the law on soldiers and police officers who commit crimes of violence against Palestinians," the organisation said in a written statement. (BBC News -- Africa)
Israeli army admits 'isolated' mistakes in Gaza Apr 28, 2009
"The doctrine of using extreme armed force was a doctrine set from above," says Sarit Michaeli, the spokeswoman of the human rights watchdog B'tselem. She adds that the military inquiry "is not the correct forum to conduct this investigation" into accountability. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
'Quiet transfer' Apr 28, 2009
Israeli NGO's, such as B'Tselem, warn that close to 2,000 could face the same fate over the next months. If current demolition orders are carried out, this would be the largest loss of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem since Israel captured the territory just over 40 years ago. (BBC News -- Africa)
Israel in a defensive posture on Gaza Apr 12, 2009
The B'Tselem group said it should look not only at individual soldiers' conduct, but also at certain army practices, such as the artillery fire and the use of white phosphorous shells that caused horrific burns. Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company. (Boston Globe)
Army's Ethics Chief: Israel Fought Fair In Gaza Apr 10, 2009
The B'Tselem group said it should look not only at individual soldiers' conduct, but also at certain army practices, such as the artillery fire and the use of white phosphorous shells that caused horrific burns. An initial review raises "grave suspicion" that Israel violated international law, the group said. (CBS News -- World)
Police kill Palestinian motorist Apr 8, 2009
Human-rights groups such as the Israeli group B'tselem have described the demolition of houses as "a clear case of collective punishment which violates the principle that a person is not to be punished for the acts of another". In 2005 an Israeli military commission concluded the policy of destroying a Palestinian attacker's home was ineffective as a deterrent and might encourage further attacks. (BBC News -- Africa)
Parents want Israeli cops to probe son's injury Mar 25, 2009
In the past year, four Palestinians were killed in Naalin by Israeli troops quelling weekly stone-throwing protests against the barrier, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. The couple's lawyer, Michael Sfard, said he asked Israel's police to investigate. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Parents of wounded American activist visit him in Israel Mar 24, 2009
In the past year, four Palestinians were killed in Naalin by Israeli troops quelling weekly stone-throwing protests against the barrier, according to Israeli human rights group B'tselem. The couple's lawyer, Michael Sfard, said he asked Israel's police to launch an investigation. (Boston Globe)
Palestinian militants' advantage in Gaza? Mar 20, 2009
A small army of architects and urban planners working with the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, are poised to make a bee-line to the half-standing buildings that remain in the strip ... How close they are to solving it may become clearer once the architects and urban planners working with B'Tselem are allowed to reenter Gaza. (Christian Science Monitor)
Gaza conflict: Who is a civilian? Feb 24, 2009
But the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, which has raised the issue in a letter to Israels attorney general, says it appears those killed were being trained in first aid, human rights and maintaining public order. The IDF says it has intelligence that members of the police force often "moonlight" with rocket squads, but has given no details about the specific sites or individuals targeted. (BBC News -- Africa)
UN steps in to charge Israel with war crimes Feb 10, 2009
While Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, as well as Israel's most prominent human rights organization, B'Tselem have raised questions about the ethical and moral guidelines of Israel's warfare, the Israeli lobby is working hard to counter efforts to protect the civil rights of Gazans. A Monday report by Press TV revealed that Egypt had refused to allow members of an investigation committee set up by the ICC into the Gaza Strip, arguing that at present only displaced Palestinians could... (PRESS TV)
Outcry Against Gaza "War Crimes" Grows Feb 8, 2009
"The suspected war crimes make for a very long list," said Jessica Montell, head of the Israeli group B'Tselem ... Groups - which include B'Tselem, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch - emphasize that investigations will take months and concede few venues exist for any trials. (CBS News -- World)
