1 aug 2015
Israel Legalizes Torture against Palestinian Prisoners;
On Thursday, 30 July 2015, the Israeli Knesset passed in the second and third readings an amendment to the so-called "Law to Prevent Harm of Hunger Strike" allowing force-feeding of prisoners.
This step came in challenge of all international warnings to Israel to prevent passing the law which legalizes torture.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the international community to go beyond condemnation and denunciation and immediately act to stop the application of this law.
The Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Gilad Erdan, from the Likud Party, presented the bill that allows force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strikes to the Israeli Knesset.
The amendment, rejected by the Israeli Medical Association, was supported by 46 members of the Israeli Knesset and rejected by 40 others.
Commenting on the approval of the amendment, Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, stated: "Hunger strike is the last resort for a Palestinian prisoner. When all other means fail, a prisoner resorts to struggle using of his body cells and empty stomach in protest against inhuman detention conditions and to claim his legitimate rights as enshrined in international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. This has become impossible after this latest amendment".
Sourani added: "Approval of this amendment reflects the state of moral retrogression of Israel, which perpetrates violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law in cold blood with consent of state official bodies and the Knesset".
The UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and health urged the Israeli government not to endorse this amendment.
The Un Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment said: "It is not acceptable to force-feed or use threats of force-feeding or other physical or psychological coercion against individuals who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike to protest against their detention without charge and conditions of detention and treatment… Feeding induced by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints are tantamount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment".
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health rejected any law involving force-feeding considering that "prisoners’ rights to control their health, body, and be free from interference such as non-consensual medical treatment are fundamental elements of the right to health that must be respected and protected".
PCHR stresses that endorsement of this amendment reflects Israel's insistence to challenge international law and will. Therefore:
1. PCHR emphasizes that this amendment is aimed to curb Palestinian prisoners' attempts and deprive them of the only available means to expose Israeli violations and the policy of administrative detention against Palestinian prisoners.
2. PCHR stresses that Israel has serious precedents in the field of force-feeding as a number of Palestinian prisoners died in the past during this process.
3. PCHR points out that the international silence towards Israeli violations of international law has encouraged Israel to disregard international law and community.
4. PCHR holds Israel and the whole international community, especially State Parties to the Convention against Torture, fully responsible for the risks and extreme suffering which Palestinian prisoners will face following the endorsement of this inhuman amendment.
Ringing the alarm bell against Israel's challenge to international law and will by endorsing this amendment, PCHR believes that approval of this violation will give a green line for more serious violations against Palestinian civilians. Therefore:
1. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressurize Israel to annul this amendment and comply with international law, especially the Convention against Torture and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. PCHR calls upon all international human rights organizations to act to stop the application of this amendment.
3. PCHR calls upon the Israeli Medical Association to continue its efforts to annul this amendment, which is flagrantly contrary to basic professional standards of the medical profession that exists to serve humanity.
On Thursday, 30 July 2015, the Israeli Knesset passed in the second and third readings an amendment to the so-called "Law to Prevent Harm of Hunger Strike" allowing force-feeding of prisoners.
This step came in challenge of all international warnings to Israel to prevent passing the law which legalizes torture.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the international community to go beyond condemnation and denunciation and immediately act to stop the application of this law.
The Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Gilad Erdan, from the Likud Party, presented the bill that allows force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strikes to the Israeli Knesset.
The amendment, rejected by the Israeli Medical Association, was supported by 46 members of the Israeli Knesset and rejected by 40 others.
Commenting on the approval of the amendment, Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, stated: "Hunger strike is the last resort for a Palestinian prisoner. When all other means fail, a prisoner resorts to struggle using of his body cells and empty stomach in protest against inhuman detention conditions and to claim his legitimate rights as enshrined in international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law. This has become impossible after this latest amendment".
Sourani added: "Approval of this amendment reflects the state of moral retrogression of Israel, which perpetrates violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law in cold blood with consent of state official bodies and the Knesset".
The UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and health urged the Israeli government not to endorse this amendment.
The Un Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment said: "It is not acceptable to force-feed or use threats of force-feeding or other physical or psychological coercion against individuals who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike to protest against their detention without charge and conditions of detention and treatment… Feeding induced by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints are tantamount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment".
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health rejected any law involving force-feeding considering that "prisoners’ rights to control their health, body, and be free from interference such as non-consensual medical treatment are fundamental elements of the right to health that must be respected and protected".
PCHR stresses that endorsement of this amendment reflects Israel's insistence to challenge international law and will. Therefore:
1. PCHR emphasizes that this amendment is aimed to curb Palestinian prisoners' attempts and deprive them of the only available means to expose Israeli violations and the policy of administrative detention against Palestinian prisoners.
2. PCHR stresses that Israel has serious precedents in the field of force-feeding as a number of Palestinian prisoners died in the past during this process.
3. PCHR points out that the international silence towards Israeli violations of international law has encouraged Israel to disregard international law and community.
4. PCHR holds Israel and the whole international community, especially State Parties to the Convention against Torture, fully responsible for the risks and extreme suffering which Palestinian prisoners will face following the endorsement of this inhuman amendment.
Ringing the alarm bell against Israel's challenge to international law and will by endorsing this amendment, PCHR believes that approval of this violation will give a green line for more serious violations against Palestinian civilians. Therefore:
1. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressurize Israel to annul this amendment and comply with international law, especially the Convention against Torture and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2. PCHR calls upon all international human rights organizations to act to stop the application of this amendment.
3. PCHR calls upon the Israeli Medical Association to continue its efforts to annul this amendment, which is flagrantly contrary to basic professional standards of the medical profession that exists to serve humanity.
31 july 2015
Al-Mizan Center for Human Rights stated in statement issued Thursday that Israel’s force-feed law mainly aims at breaking the will of Palestinian prisoners in face of its brutal measures and practices.
It is clear that force-feed law proves Israel as a racist state, the center said.
The center called for uniting all national and international efforts to deter Israel that “considers itself a state above UN resolutions and laws.”
Earlier Thursday, the Israeli Knesset passed Force-feed law by a majority of 46 votes to 40.
The law, which seeks to prevent imprisoned Palestinian prisoners from launching hunger strikes, was initially approved in June 2014 at the height of a mass hunger strike of Palestinian detainees.
It is clear that force-feed law proves Israel as a racist state, the center said.
The center called for uniting all national and international efforts to deter Israel that “considers itself a state above UN resolutions and laws.”
Earlier Thursday, the Israeli Knesset passed Force-feed law by a majority of 46 votes to 40.
The law, which seeks to prevent imprisoned Palestinian prisoners from launching hunger strikes, was initially approved in June 2014 at the height of a mass hunger strike of Palestinian detainees.
30 july 2015
The Israeli Knesset plenum approved second and third readings of a bill to force feed Palestinian detainees who embark upon hunger strikes, with 46 MKs voting in favor of the bill and 40 opposing.
The bill was re-introduced by Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan last month.
“I will promote the bill and not let [prisoners] harm the security of the state or succumb to any threats,” Erdan told Channel 2 news. “Just as I expect a prison guard who sees a prisoner trying to hurt himself to prevent it — we must also prevent a risk of death by hunger-striking.”
The most virulent opposition to the bill came from Joint List lawmakers. MK Dov Khenin called the law “brutal and dangerous.”
“They don’t want to protect the lives of prisoners,” he argued. “In the State of Israel no prisoner has ever died from a hunger strike; five prisoners, however, have died that were force-fed. This is a killer law and it allows for things to be done to prisoners that are forbidden according to international norms.”
Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi called for doctors to refuse to allow force feeding. Under the measure a doctor must sign off on the force feeding before it can go ahead.
“A hunger strike is a nonviolent tool for a person to use in order to achieve a political or legal objective with his body,” he said. “The system wants to anesthetize the prisoners in order to feed them. This is an abuse of the weakness a man has while he is in prison.”
The Israeli Medical Association called the law "damaging and unnecessary," stressing on Thursday its doctors would "continue to act according to medical ethics, which prohibit doctors from participating in torturing prisoners."
It said force feeding was "tantamount to torture."
Physicians for Human Rights Israel said the "shameful" law revealed the "anti-democratic face" of the Israeli parliament, saying they would continue to oppose the law and its implementation, and "support anyone who will refuse to obey the law."
Spokeswomen for both organizations said they were considering filing petitions at the high court against the law.
Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer said the law was a way to provide "legal cover" to Israel's torture of prisoners, saying it would allow it "to kill more Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike" on top of the five who have died due to force feeding in Israeli prisons in the past.
“Whoever backs such a bill has lost his humanity and gave himself in to the devil,” MK Basel Ghattas said.
The bill was re-introduced by Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan last month.
“I will promote the bill and not let [prisoners] harm the security of the state or succumb to any threats,” Erdan told Channel 2 news. “Just as I expect a prison guard who sees a prisoner trying to hurt himself to prevent it — we must also prevent a risk of death by hunger-striking.”
The most virulent opposition to the bill came from Joint List lawmakers. MK Dov Khenin called the law “brutal and dangerous.”
“They don’t want to protect the lives of prisoners,” he argued. “In the State of Israel no prisoner has ever died from a hunger strike; five prisoners, however, have died that were force-fed. This is a killer law and it allows for things to be done to prisoners that are forbidden according to international norms.”
Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi called for doctors to refuse to allow force feeding. Under the measure a doctor must sign off on the force feeding before it can go ahead.
“A hunger strike is a nonviolent tool for a person to use in order to achieve a political or legal objective with his body,” he said. “The system wants to anesthetize the prisoners in order to feed them. This is an abuse of the weakness a man has while he is in prison.”
The Israeli Medical Association called the law "damaging and unnecessary," stressing on Thursday its doctors would "continue to act according to medical ethics, which prohibit doctors from participating in torturing prisoners."
It said force feeding was "tantamount to torture."
Physicians for Human Rights Israel said the "shameful" law revealed the "anti-democratic face" of the Israeli parliament, saying they would continue to oppose the law and its implementation, and "support anyone who will refuse to obey the law."
Spokeswomen for both organizations said they were considering filing petitions at the high court against the law.
Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer said the law was a way to provide "legal cover" to Israel's torture of prisoners, saying it would allow it "to kill more Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike" on top of the five who have died due to force feeding in Israeli prisons in the past.
“Whoever backs such a bill has lost his humanity and gave himself in to the devil,” MK Basel Ghattas said.
Dr. Hanna Ashrawi, head of the culture affairs unit at the PLO
Dr. Hanna Ashrawi, head of the culture affairs unit at the PLO, condemned the recent Israeli parliament – keenest law that allows Israeli troops to force feed Palestinian political detainees on hunger strike.
In statement sent to press, Ashrawi described the new law as politically supported torture and against international law.
From his part, Issa Qaraqee, head of the political detainees committee of the Palestinian Authority, deemed the new law as unethical torture.
He noted that at least 3 political detainee held by Israel have died by the method of force feeding back during the 1980 hunger strikes.
The Israeli Medical Association announced that the new law is not necessary and damaging meanwhile Physicians for Human Rights in Israel called the new law shameful.
The force-feeding law was passed in the Israeli keenest with 46 votes to 40. Palestinian political detainee held by the Israeli army use hunger strike to protest the administrative detention policy Israel uses and the ill-treatment by their captives.
The Israeli army uses administrative detention to hold Palestinians for longer time without charges to trial.
Dr. Hanna Ashrawi, head of the culture affairs unit at the PLO, condemned the recent Israeli parliament – keenest law that allows Israeli troops to force feed Palestinian political detainees on hunger strike.
In statement sent to press, Ashrawi described the new law as politically supported torture and against international law.
From his part, Issa Qaraqee, head of the political detainees committee of the Palestinian Authority, deemed the new law as unethical torture.
He noted that at least 3 political detainee held by Israel have died by the method of force feeding back during the 1980 hunger strikes.
The Israeli Medical Association announced that the new law is not necessary and damaging meanwhile Physicians for Human Rights in Israel called the new law shameful.
The force-feeding law was passed in the Israeli keenest with 46 votes to 40. Palestinian political detainee held by the Israeli army use hunger strike to protest the administrative detention policy Israel uses and the ill-treatment by their captives.
The Israeli army uses administrative detention to hold Palestinians for longer time without charges to trial.
Shortly after Knesset approves law allowing force-feeding of hunger strikers, Israeli Medical Association declares it will challenge it in Supreme Court; Interior Minister Erdan says law is a necessity.
Israel's parliament passed a contentious law on Thursday that would permit the force-feeding of inmates on hunger strike, eliciting harsh criticism over the practice.
The law allows a judge to sanction the force-feeding or administration of medical treatment if there is a threat to the inmate's life, even if the prisoner refuses. It passed with a 46-40 vote in favor – a slender margin in the 120-seat Knesset. The remaining lawmakers were absent from the early morning vote.
While the law applies to all prisoners held in Israeli jails, Palestinian prisoners have used hunger strikes as a tool to draw attention to their detention without trial or charges. Scores of Palestinian inmates have held rounds of hunger strikes over recent years and, with many prisoners hospitalized, their failing health has caused tensions to flare among Palestinians.
Israel fears that a hunger striking prisoner's death could trigger unrest. Israel in the past has acceded to hunger-striking prisoners' demands and at times has released prisoners.
"The law creates the right balance between the state's interest to protect the prisoner's life and his rights and sovereignty over his body," said David Amsalem, a lawmaker with the ruling Likud party who backed the law. He added that the decision whether to force-feed would be made by the state prosecutor, after hearing the inmate's position and a doctor's ruling.
Critics say force-feeding is unethical and amounts to torture. The Israeli Medical Association, which has urged physicians not to cooperate, plans to challenge the law in the Supreme Court.
"Israeli doctors ... will continue to act according to medical ethical norms that completely prohibit doctors from participating in torture and force-feeding amounts to torture," said Leonid Eidelman, the head of the association.
Another group, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, said the law is political, meant to prevent violence sparked by hunger striking prisoners rather than protect the prisoner's dignity and well-being.
Qadura Fares, chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, called the law "ugly" and said it violated the prisoners' right to conduct a hunger strike.
Interior Minister Gilad Erdan said the law was a necessity. "Terrorism is wearing a new face in the last few years," he said.
"Alongside attempts to boycott and delegitimize Israel, hunger strikes by imprisoned terrorists have become a tool used to pressure and threaten Israel and make it release prisoners. The new law allows us to prevent a risk to prisoners' lives and prevent them from applying pressure on the state."
According to Erdan, "the bill was formulated in the context of lengthy hunger strikes by prisoners and security detainees in 2012, which involved complex challenges both medically and in terms of security. The new law will create the required balance between Israel's right to protect its citizens from the phenomenon of hunger-striking prisoners, and its duty to act humanely towards anyone under its protection and to defend the human rights of every human being."
Israel's parliament passed a contentious law on Thursday that would permit the force-feeding of inmates on hunger strike, eliciting harsh criticism over the practice.
The law allows a judge to sanction the force-feeding or administration of medical treatment if there is a threat to the inmate's life, even if the prisoner refuses. It passed with a 46-40 vote in favor – a slender margin in the 120-seat Knesset. The remaining lawmakers were absent from the early morning vote.
While the law applies to all prisoners held in Israeli jails, Palestinian prisoners have used hunger strikes as a tool to draw attention to their detention without trial or charges. Scores of Palestinian inmates have held rounds of hunger strikes over recent years and, with many prisoners hospitalized, their failing health has caused tensions to flare among Palestinians.
Israel fears that a hunger striking prisoner's death could trigger unrest. Israel in the past has acceded to hunger-striking prisoners' demands and at times has released prisoners.
"The law creates the right balance between the state's interest to protect the prisoner's life and his rights and sovereignty over his body," said David Amsalem, a lawmaker with the ruling Likud party who backed the law. He added that the decision whether to force-feed would be made by the state prosecutor, after hearing the inmate's position and a doctor's ruling.
Critics say force-feeding is unethical and amounts to torture. The Israeli Medical Association, which has urged physicians not to cooperate, plans to challenge the law in the Supreme Court.
"Israeli doctors ... will continue to act according to medical ethical norms that completely prohibit doctors from participating in torture and force-feeding amounts to torture," said Leonid Eidelman, the head of the association.
Another group, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, said the law is political, meant to prevent violence sparked by hunger striking prisoners rather than protect the prisoner's dignity and well-being.
Qadura Fares, chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, called the law "ugly" and said it violated the prisoners' right to conduct a hunger strike.
Interior Minister Gilad Erdan said the law was a necessity. "Terrorism is wearing a new face in the last few years," he said.
"Alongside attempts to boycott and delegitimize Israel, hunger strikes by imprisoned terrorists have become a tool used to pressure and threaten Israel and make it release prisoners. The new law allows us to prevent a risk to prisoners' lives and prevent them from applying pressure on the state."
According to Erdan, "the bill was formulated in the context of lengthy hunger strikes by prisoners and security detainees in 2012, which involved complex challenges both medically and in terms of security. The new law will create the required balance between Israel's right to protect its citizens from the phenomenon of hunger-striking prisoners, and its duty to act humanely towards anyone under its protection and to defend the human rights of every human being."
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked in Beit El
After demolition of houses in West Bank settlement of Beit El, Shaked suggests replacing the High Court in land dispute cases, arguing that court judges land conflicts without any evidence or hearing testimonies.
Following the demolition of the houses in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked called to transfer hearings on land disputes in the West Bank to another tribunal other than the High Court of Justice.
Shaked told Yedioth Ahronoth that "the root of the problem is the fact that all the rulings regarding land disputes in the West Bank are handed down by the High Court and not regular courts. Wednesday, MK Moti Yogev (Bayit Yehudi), said that "a Caterpillar D- 9's bulldozer blade should be raised against the High Court".
"The whole system is distorted," Shaked said after the demolition of the houses at Beit El, and before the evacuation of settlers barricaded in the former West Bank settlement of Sa-Nur, completed at 7am Thursday. According to Shaked, two lawyers are using the Hight Court to implement a far-left agenda. Shaked was referring to Michael Sfard and Shlomi Zecharia, lawyers for Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian territories.
Shaked said that some High Court rulings are reasonable and others go too far, but she failed to provide examples for each type of ruling. She also claimed that the High Court judges all land conflicts without any evidence and without hearing testimonies: "This is the procedure, which is absurd.
This should be handled by an appropriate tribunal, which hears testimonies and reviews the presentation of evidence. We will in fact try to establish such a tribunal. Already during the previous government we started setting up a tribunal for settling land disputes. This will be our task now as well."
According to Shaked's proposal, it's possible that the High Court will intervene in land disputes, but only after the testimony and evidence have already been reviewed by the appropriate tribunal. "Just like land disputes in Ra'anana are dealt with by an ordinary court, the same will be done in Judea and Samaria."
This was actually one of the recommendations of the report by Edmond Levy (which urged the government to legalize most settlements), a report that the right embraced, but is considered among legal experts on Israeli and international law as a problematic report which largely contradicts international law.
If Shaked tries to implement this section, she will find herself confronted by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who opposes the implementation of the report, and most likely the justices of the High Court.
After demolition of houses in West Bank settlement of Beit El, Shaked suggests replacing the High Court in land dispute cases, arguing that court judges land conflicts without any evidence or hearing testimonies.
Following the demolition of the houses in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked called to transfer hearings on land disputes in the West Bank to another tribunal other than the High Court of Justice.
Shaked told Yedioth Ahronoth that "the root of the problem is the fact that all the rulings regarding land disputes in the West Bank are handed down by the High Court and not regular courts. Wednesday, MK Moti Yogev (Bayit Yehudi), said that "a Caterpillar D- 9's bulldozer blade should be raised against the High Court".
"The whole system is distorted," Shaked said after the demolition of the houses at Beit El, and before the evacuation of settlers barricaded in the former West Bank settlement of Sa-Nur, completed at 7am Thursday. According to Shaked, two lawyers are using the Hight Court to implement a far-left agenda. Shaked was referring to Michael Sfard and Shlomi Zecharia, lawyers for Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian territories.
Shaked said that some High Court rulings are reasonable and others go too far, but she failed to provide examples for each type of ruling. She also claimed that the High Court judges all land conflicts without any evidence and without hearing testimonies: "This is the procedure, which is absurd.
This should be handled by an appropriate tribunal, which hears testimonies and reviews the presentation of evidence. We will in fact try to establish such a tribunal. Already during the previous government we started setting up a tribunal for settling land disputes. This will be our task now as well."
According to Shaked's proposal, it's possible that the High Court will intervene in land disputes, but only after the testimony and evidence have already been reviewed by the appropriate tribunal. "Just like land disputes in Ra'anana are dealt with by an ordinary court, the same will be done in Judea and Samaria."
This was actually one of the recommendations of the report by Edmond Levy (which urged the government to legalize most settlements), a report that the right embraced, but is considered among legal experts on Israeli and international law as a problematic report which largely contradicts international law.
If Shaked tries to implement this section, she will find herself confronted by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who opposes the implementation of the report, and most likely the justices of the High Court.
29 july 2015
The alledged arsonists in court
Shin Bet says two young men are followers of 'extremist ideology' that believes 'only someone who fights Christianity can call himself a Jew'.
Two Israeli men, described by authorities as Jewish extremists, were charged on Wednesday with torching part of a church at the site where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
The June 18 arson attack followed more than 40 suspected hate crimes committed against churches, mosques and monasteries in Israel and then West Bank and East Jerusalem since 2009, with only a handful of indictments handed down.
In a statement, the Shin Bet identified the two suspects, aged 19 and 20 and wearing kippahs in court, as followers of an "extremist ideology" that believes that "only someone who fights Christianity can call himself a Jew".
No pleas were entered during the court hearing in Nazareth. The limestone Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, was constructed in the 1980s and is overseen by the Benedictine Order.
It was built on the site of 4th and 5th century churches that commemorated what Christian faithful revere as Jesus's miraculous feeding of 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The fire damaged the church's roof, and a verse from a Hebrew prayer denouncing the worship of "false gods" was spraypainted in red on a wall.
Father Matthias Karl, a German monk from the church, said a souvenir shop, an office for pilgrims and a meeting room were badly damaged, and Bibles and prayer books were destroyed in the fire.
"It's totally destroyed. The fire was very active," he said.
A monk and a church volunteer were hospitalized from smoke inhalation, but the prayer area of the church was unaffected by the fire, he said.
Shin Bet says two young men are followers of 'extremist ideology' that believes 'only someone who fights Christianity can call himself a Jew'.
Two Israeli men, described by authorities as Jewish extremists, were charged on Wednesday with torching part of a church at the site where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
The June 18 arson attack followed more than 40 suspected hate crimes committed against churches, mosques and monasteries in Israel and then West Bank and East Jerusalem since 2009, with only a handful of indictments handed down.
In a statement, the Shin Bet identified the two suspects, aged 19 and 20 and wearing kippahs in court, as followers of an "extremist ideology" that believes that "only someone who fights Christianity can call himself a Jew".
No pleas were entered during the court hearing in Nazareth. The limestone Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, was constructed in the 1980s and is overseen by the Benedictine Order.
It was built on the site of 4th and 5th century churches that commemorated what Christian faithful revere as Jesus's miraculous feeding of 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The fire damaged the church's roof, and a verse from a Hebrew prayer denouncing the worship of "false gods" was spraypainted in red on a wall.
Father Matthias Karl, a German monk from the church, said a souvenir shop, an office for pilgrims and a meeting room were badly damaged, and Bibles and prayer books were destroyed in the fire.
"It's totally destroyed. The fire was very active," he said.
A monk and a church volunteer were hospitalized from smoke inhalation, but the prayer area of the church was unaffected by the fire, he said.
28 july 2015
Two United Nations human rights experts today reiterated their call on the Israeli authorities to stop the process of legalizing force-feeding and medical treatment of prisoners and detainees on hunger strike against their will.
The call comes after the current Knesset decided to continue the legislative process of a Bill to amend the Prisons Act (preventing damages due to hunger strikes) initiated by the previous legislature.
The independent experts warned that the Bill is expected to primarily affect Palestinians held by Israel, including those in administrative detention.
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, underlined that “feeding induced by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints of individuals, who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike to protest against their detention, are, even if intended for their benefit, tantamount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
As stressed in past expert findings, the conscious decision of the person and his or her informed and voluntary refusal of medical measures are crucial to fulfil, respect and protect human rights.
“Under no circumstance will force-feeding of prisoners and detainees on hunger strike comply with human rights standards,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Pûras, said. “Informed consent is an integral part in the realization of the right to health.”
The international experts have engaged with the Israeli authorities on different occasions regarding the issue of force-feeding of hunger-striking prisoners and detainees. “The way to end the hunger strikes is not to force feed hunger-strikers but to address the underlying human rights violations against which they are protesting, namely, the practice of administrative detention”, they said.
“We reiterate our call on the Government of Israel to refrain from force-feeding and other coercive measures and look for alternative solutions to extreme situations resulting from hunger strikes, including good faith dialogue,” they said. “We stand ready to provide the necessary guidance and assistance to the authorities on these matters.”
The independent experts call has been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Makarim Wibisono.
The call comes after the current Knesset decided to continue the legislative process of a Bill to amend the Prisons Act (preventing damages due to hunger strikes) initiated by the previous legislature.
The independent experts warned that the Bill is expected to primarily affect Palestinians held by Israel, including those in administrative detention.
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, underlined that “feeding induced by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints of individuals, who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike to protest against their detention, are, even if intended for their benefit, tantamount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
As stressed in past expert findings, the conscious decision of the person and his or her informed and voluntary refusal of medical measures are crucial to fulfil, respect and protect human rights.
“Under no circumstance will force-feeding of prisoners and detainees on hunger strike comply with human rights standards,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dainius Pûras, said. “Informed consent is an integral part in the realization of the right to health.”
The international experts have engaged with the Israeli authorities on different occasions regarding the issue of force-feeding of hunger-striking prisoners and detainees. “The way to end the hunger strikes is not to force feed hunger-strikers but to address the underlying human rights violations against which they are protesting, namely, the practice of administrative detention”, they said.
“We reiterate our call on the Government of Israel to refrain from force-feeding and other coercive measures and look for alternative solutions to extreme situations resulting from hunger strikes, including good faith dialogue,” they said. “We stand ready to provide the necessary guidance and assistance to the authorities on these matters.”
The independent experts call has been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Makarim Wibisono.
Officials join families in defiantly repopulating Sa-Nur, a settlement abandoned in the disengagement, as youths battle security forces for control of Beit El near Ramallah.
Violence erupted in the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah late Wednesday night when a group of approximately 200 young adults took control of the so-called Draynoff buildings, two housing structures which the High Court ordered be torn down Sunday night.
Security forces arrested 50 of the activists according to Honenu, an organization that offers legal help to Israelis. The rest of those protesting in Beit El were removed using riot control measures. The activists claimed that security forces used tear gas was inside the buildings in an attempt to remove those present.
The area was designated as a closed military zone and Israeli Border Police occupied the Draynoff buildings in order to prevent the return of the violent protesters.
Meanwhile, some 250 people, including dozens of families that were removed from the Sa-Nur settlement in the West Bank during the disengagement in 2005, returned to the village overnight without approval from Israeli security forces.
Government officials joined the group, including Bayit HaYehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich and Professor Aryeh Eldad. The entered the fort-like structure that remains standing in Sa-Nur with the intention of permanently returning to the settlement.
"Ten years after the disengagement, it's about time to fix things. And that begins here, in northern Samaria," said Smotrich in a press release. "Families have begun settling into the rooms of the fort with the intention of staying for some time. We don't intend to move from here."
Violence erupted in the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah late Wednesday night when a group of approximately 200 young adults took control of the so-called Draynoff buildings, two housing structures which the High Court ordered be torn down Sunday night.
Security forces arrested 50 of the activists according to Honenu, an organization that offers legal help to Israelis. The rest of those protesting in Beit El were removed using riot control measures. The activists claimed that security forces used tear gas was inside the buildings in an attempt to remove those present.
The area was designated as a closed military zone and Israeli Border Police occupied the Draynoff buildings in order to prevent the return of the violent protesters.
Meanwhile, some 250 people, including dozens of families that were removed from the Sa-Nur settlement in the West Bank during the disengagement in 2005, returned to the village overnight without approval from Israeli security forces.
Government officials joined the group, including Bayit HaYehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich and Professor Aryeh Eldad. The entered the fort-like structure that remains standing in Sa-Nur with the intention of permanently returning to the settlement.
"Ten years after the disengagement, it's about time to fix things. And that begins here, in northern Samaria," said Smotrich in a press release. "Families have begun settling into the rooms of the fort with the intention of staying for some time. We don't intend to move from here."
27 july 2015
On Monday morning, the Israeli Ministerial Committee drafted an “anti-terrorism” law.
According to Israeli Channel 7, the committee is expected to approve the bill, which amends and expands the definition of “terrorist organizations”, and stresses that sanctions must be imposed on members of so-called organizations and perpetrators of “terrorist” attacks.
Under this bill, any members of organizations which fulfill the infrastructure necessary to be considered a “terrorist” organization will be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, said the PNN. A member who holds a senior position in the organization could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Furthermore, according to the bill, any person who offers technical support, broadcast services or money laundering to the organization can be convicted. Furthermore, the bill prevents any judicial changes and reductions to the convicted sentence of 15 years or more.
According to Israeli Channel 7, the committee is expected to approve the bill, which amends and expands the definition of “terrorist organizations”, and stresses that sanctions must be imposed on members of so-called organizations and perpetrators of “terrorist” attacks.
Under this bill, any members of organizations which fulfill the infrastructure necessary to be considered a “terrorist” organization will be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, said the PNN. A member who holds a senior position in the organization could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Furthermore, according to the bill, any person who offers technical support, broadcast services or money laundering to the organization can be convicted. Furthermore, the bill prevents any judicial changes and reductions to the convicted sentence of 15 years or more.
Hundreds of settlers and supporters set up a tent city in protest of the High Court's decision to halt the construction of Beit El housing project.
In the wake of Sunday's High Court of Justice decision to halt construction in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, settler groups set up a protest tent near the site.
Hundreds of settlers and their supporters were expected to come to Beit El on Monday to join the protest against the construction freeze of the so-called Draynoff buildings, named for the contractor who built them, which have 24 housings. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also expected be present.
Sunday night, in contradiction with last week's decision of the subcommittee for settlement in the IDF's Civil Administration, the High Court ordered an immediate halt to the preparation and development of the area until deliberations are held in early August.
The decision raised the ire of local settler leaders. "As observant Jews, along with the legal procedures, we turn in prayer to God to have mercy on his children and do what's right for the people of Israel," said Shay Alon, head of the Beit El council.
The High Court's decision, issued by Justice Anat Baron, was made following an urgent petition filed by Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian Territories.
"These directives are designed in accordance with its stated mission, to try and give a seal of approval to illegal building on private land, without permits and in violation of administrative orders," reads the petition regarding the approval of the Drayonff complex by the Civil Administration. "The acceleration of the program was clearly in bad faith, contrary to all basic rules of planning, and a head-on violation of domestic and international law, in an attempt to save the houses."
Settlers promised to stop tractors and bulldozers with their bodies in the event they come to fulfill the court's decision to demolish the pair of houses before the end of July.
Announcements published in Shabbat pamphlets distributed by the Yesha Council invited the general public to come to Beit El and take part in its activities. The Draynoff controversy comes after reports of an unofficial settlement freeze, implemented recently by the government, that was harshly condemned by settler leaders and right-wing MKs.
Last week, council leader Alon criticized the High Court's intervention on the issue, which, according to him, should be decided at the municipal level. "These houses are located within Beit El's jurisdiction," he said. "The High Court ruled that these houses will be demolished in one week's time and we're asking, since when does the High Court intervene within municipal boundaries? Why destroy only to build once again?"
Alon added, "This is part of the democracy we have that allows us to fight and say to all the people of Israel that something absurd is happening, there is protest, there is exploitation. It's illogical that the High Court in all other areas doesn't intervene in municipal jurisdictions, and suddenly here it is trampling with a heavy hand, it is violating the legislature, it is violating the rule of right, saying, I am the landlord here!"
The Beit El local council stated that "the Civil Administration validated the construction program of the Draynoff houses and we published the validation as required. Accordingly, the Council issued a building permit at the end of last week already, that was transmitted to the houses and therefore the temporary order issued today has no meaning as the building permit was issued in advance. The Council's intention is to turn to the Civil Administrator to cancel the demolition order due to the building permits given."
In the wake of Sunday's High Court of Justice decision to halt construction in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, settler groups set up a protest tent near the site.
Hundreds of settlers and their supporters were expected to come to Beit El on Monday to join the protest against the construction freeze of the so-called Draynoff buildings, named for the contractor who built them, which have 24 housings. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also expected be present.
Sunday night, in contradiction with last week's decision of the subcommittee for settlement in the IDF's Civil Administration, the High Court ordered an immediate halt to the preparation and development of the area until deliberations are held in early August.
The decision raised the ire of local settler leaders. "As observant Jews, along with the legal procedures, we turn in prayer to God to have mercy on his children and do what's right for the people of Israel," said Shay Alon, head of the Beit El council.
The High Court's decision, issued by Justice Anat Baron, was made following an urgent petition filed by Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian Territories.
"These directives are designed in accordance with its stated mission, to try and give a seal of approval to illegal building on private land, without permits and in violation of administrative orders," reads the petition regarding the approval of the Drayonff complex by the Civil Administration. "The acceleration of the program was clearly in bad faith, contrary to all basic rules of planning, and a head-on violation of domestic and international law, in an attempt to save the houses."
Settlers promised to stop tractors and bulldozers with their bodies in the event they come to fulfill the court's decision to demolish the pair of houses before the end of July.
Announcements published in Shabbat pamphlets distributed by the Yesha Council invited the general public to come to Beit El and take part in its activities. The Draynoff controversy comes after reports of an unofficial settlement freeze, implemented recently by the government, that was harshly condemned by settler leaders and right-wing MKs.
Last week, council leader Alon criticized the High Court's intervention on the issue, which, according to him, should be decided at the municipal level. "These houses are located within Beit El's jurisdiction," he said. "The High Court ruled that these houses will be demolished in one week's time and we're asking, since when does the High Court intervene within municipal boundaries? Why destroy only to build once again?"
Alon added, "This is part of the democracy we have that allows us to fight and say to all the people of Israel that something absurd is happening, there is protest, there is exploitation. It's illogical that the High Court in all other areas doesn't intervene in municipal jurisdictions, and suddenly here it is trampling with a heavy hand, it is violating the legislature, it is violating the rule of right, saying, I am the landlord here!"
The Beit El local council stated that "the Civil Administration validated the construction program of the Draynoff houses and we published the validation as required. Accordingly, the Council issued a building permit at the end of last week already, that was transmitted to the houses and therefore the temporary order issued today has no meaning as the building permit was issued in advance. The Council's intention is to turn to the Civil Administrator to cancel the demolition order due to the building permits given."
