JERUSALEM, April 4, 2007, (WAFA)- Palestinian Network for Children's Rights (PNCR) said Wednesday that Palestinian children are exposed to daily violations of their rights in contravention of international law as a result of the continuous occupation and aggression by the Israeli army within the Palestinian territories.

In press statement released, on the occasion of Palestinian Child Day, today, PNCR stated that external pressure by the international community on the Palestinian Authority has increased violations against Palestinian children.

"A cut to international aid to the Palestinian people has directly affected the implementation of economic, cultural and social services, undermining the exercise of children's rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories," PNCR said.

It pointed out that, the Israeli army killed 124 children during ongoing military operations in the Palestinian Territories in 2006.

"In 2007, the Israeli army continues to deploy the same violent policy towards Palestinian children with 8 children being killed so far this year. This brings the total number of children killed since the beginning of the Second Intifada in September 2000, by the Israeli army and illegal Israeli settlers, to 860," it stated.

Additionally, 5200 Palestinian children have been arrested by the Israeli army since the Second Intifada and among them, close to 400 are still being held in Israeli prisons and interrogation centres, exposing them to many violations of their rights, according to PNCR.

The violations of Palestinian children's rights in the Palestinian territories go beyond the violation of the right to life and liberty. Israeli military actions and the withholding of international aid by the international community, have gravely affected their right to education, an adequate standard of living, protection from discrimination and protection from economic exploitation, rights articulated in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Amidst the aggression of the Israeli army and the withdrawal of support by the international community, there is another danger that is not less important. In some regions within the Territories, the divisions between Palestinian political parties have recently resulted in a breakdown in the rule of law, in violence and a lack of security for the Palestinian population.

PNCR appealed to the international community and to State Parties to the CRC to uphold their obligations to protect the rights of all children in the international community without discrimination, and to place pressure on the Israeli government to abide by international law and stop the violations of Palestinian children's rights.

The PNCR called for the international community to resume international aid to the Palestinian people and to cease utilizing the policy of withholding humanitarian aid as a form of political pressure on the Palestinian Authority.

It concluded by calling for the international community to recognize urgently that the major victims of this policy are Palestinian children and that the policy is in contradiction of the CRC, which in principle obliges State Parties to assist other countries in the implementation of the CRC through international cooperation.

S.A.S. (P 22:18) (GMT 19:18)