Updates

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

On 10 Jan. 2019, plain-clothed Israeli police arrived at Dr. Karim Hussein’s home in Jabal al-Mukabber, East Jerusalem. They demanded he hand over security camera footage, even though they had explicitly arranged to collect it the next day from his brother’s home. The officers insisted on coming inside, despite refusing to present a search warrant. A confrontation ensued with other family members who arrived on the scene and thought that civilians were assaulting their relatives. One officer beat Dr. Hussein on the head and he lost consciousness. This incident is but another example of the violent, arbitrary police conduct that has long since become part of the daily life in East Jerusalem.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

About a month ago, soldiers raided ‘Urif for 3 nights in a row. For years, the village has suffered attacks by settlers with the backing, and at times active support, of the military. The soldiers entered 14 homes, kept the inhabitants confined, ransacked the houses and intimated residents. Soldiers invading Palestinians’ homes in the dead of night, waking entire families, has long since become part of the routine imposed by the occupation regime in the West Bank. These actions, clearly intended to intimidate the population, are unjustified and are but one more example of the military’s arbitrary abuse of its power.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

Every day, Israel determines what the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank will look like – while they, themselves, are barred from taking part in decisions that shape their present and their future. Israel uses its power in a violent, arbitrary fashion, with blatant disregard for the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of the Palestinians who live under its control.

In Aug. and Sept. B’Tselem investigated 3 cases in which Israeli security forces arrested 4 Palestinians, incl. a minor, in order to force their relatives to turn themselves in: police came to a home in the middle of the night, searched it and then randomly arrested other family members, making it clear they would be released only once the wanted individual turned himself in. It is unacceptable and unlawful to arrest individuals suspected of no wrongdoing in order to pressure others to turn themselves in. The number of cases and the number of officers involved indicate the incidents are not some individual officer’s whim. Instead, they demonstrate the intolerable ease with which Israeli security forces violate Palestinians’ rights, disrupt their lives and undermine their safety.