Israeli crimes continue unabated

Seven gruelling years since the start of the second Palestinian Intifada, one major question presents itself in 2008: can the Palestinian president and the Israeli prime minister strike a peace accord despite of the "rejectionist" forces on both sides? In Israel, besides the opposition factions within the ruling Kadima party, Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu parties have threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition and undermine Olmert's government if it makes "concessions" to the Palestinians. Indeed, Yisrael Beiteinu had already withdrawn.

President Mahmoud Abbas's political career is also on the line. Since 1967, the Israeli occupation was, and continues to be, the cause of a wide range of violations of human rights and international law.

There are differences over the "achievements" of the Annapolis meeting, and the donors conference in Paris. And Israeli violations against the Palestinian people continue to escalate.

A look at the November 2007 report of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Negotiation Department shows the following facts: 42 Palestinians, including 2 children and a physician, were shot dead; 126 were injured, including 20 children; 411 were taken prisoner, including 27 children. All this while Israel tightened its restrictive measures. This included 429 roadblocks and 816 incursions into civilian communities. Seven homes were demolished, while colonists carried out 25 attacks. Besides, there were several other encroachments.

The deteriorating situation was further aggravated in the period from December 18-24, 2007 when the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations were in session. In that period, Israel committed 1,280 violations, in which 15 Palestinians were shot dead and 59 were jailed. There were 137 incursions carried out, and 84 temporary barriers erected.

Crimes

In total, 58,913 cases of Israeli violations and encroachment were perpetrated in 2007, in which there were 3,033 cases of shootings. A total of 405 Palestinians were killed and 2,274 injured; 55,167 military roadblocks were set up, 5,415 Palestinians were jailed and there were 162 rounds of tree-uprooting. Palestinians were not immune from colonist violence either - the Jewish extremists carried out 307 attacks.

B'Tselem (Peace Now) pointed out in its report that one third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 2007 were civilians. It further confirmed that 2007 saw a "deterioration in the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories", especially in Gaza.

Concern

Things have degenerated to their lowest levels in January, as we all have witnessed. There is concern about an Israeli invasion of the Strip. The Israeli media has carried reports about a planned large military operation to finish the "rocket" firing capacity of Palestinian groups.

So the Israeli siege and suffocation of Gaza has intensified to include cuts in fuel, gas, electricity, food supplies and a sealing of the borders. Israel's "special" perception of the Annapolis peace conference seems to "give" it the go-ahead for its assassinations, imprisonment, incursions, seizure and destruction in the Occupied Territories - acts that constitute war crimes according to international law.

Annapolis has nothing to do with a "historic settlement" leading to the realisation of the minimum Palestinian demands of establishing their independent state, to say nothing about the right of return for refugees. Then there is the Israeli government's decision to build some 300 housing units in the Abu Ghneim colony.

The question is this: how can negotiations continue in the backdrop of the killings, land confiscation and continued colony activity? So far, the Israeli reaction has been one of sheer disdain.

Negotiating under continued Israeli aggression creates an unfavourable environment. This puts the unarmed Palestinians under Israeli pressure while it distracts them from engaging in the "essential issues".

The Arab states have clearly committed themselves to a "just", comprehensive peace, and to certain minimal Palestinian rights through their well-known "Initiative".

Israel, however, has not abandoned its policy of torture and suppression against the Palestinian people.

Securing international protection for the Palestinian people must be a top priority; it may be the only political solution that provides a way out of the current impasse.

Professor As'ad Abdul Rahman is the Chairman of the Palestinian Encyclopedia.