RAMALLAH, February 9, 2011 (WAFA) – A number of Palestinian human rights organizations defended in a recent press release the work of the Israeli human rights organizations accusing the Israeli government and parliament of attempting to hide the truth by investigating the work of these organizations.
“The Israeli radical right has recently endorsed a new act which establishes a parliamentary commission to investigate the transparent Israeli human rights organizations’ work and funding,” said nine West Bank and two Gaza-based Palestinian human rights organizations.
“This act represents a direct attack on these organizations as well as the Palestinian victims whom they work with,” they said.
“Israeli human rights played an integral, significant role in exposing the truth about the Israeli practices against Palestinians; including during and after Israel’s military attack on the Gaza Strip (Operation Cast Lead). They were able to do so through their honest and professional documentation of the grave breaches committed by the Israeli army of International law,” said the press release.
The Palestinian groups said the Israeli occupation authorities had for years “instituted policies that violated Palestinians’ human rights in the occupied Palestinian Territory.”
They said the Israeli human rights organizations had won respect of the world community because of their “clear voice that embraces peace and believes in the premise that human rights are for all humans, regardless of their nationality, gender or religion.”
The Israeli organizations have “worked diligently to help the victims,” said the release. “The contributions of these organizations were very important when the international community failed to secure the conditions for the Palestinians to enjoy their human rights through bringing an end the Israeli occupation and securing protection for them.”
The Palestinian organizations said, “We consider the Knesset (Israeli parliament) decision to investigate Israeli human rights organizations, or enact legislations restricting their work, as a means to conceal the truth and prevent them from acting on their roles in combating the violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws.”
“We condemn the arbitrary measures against the Israeli human rights organizations, assert our firm intention to support and continue to work with them to secure respect for human rights and challenging their violators,” they said.
The release was signed by Gaza Community Mental Health Program and Palestinian Center for Human Rights, both based in Gaza. It was also signed by Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Al Haq, Al Dameer Association for Human Rights, Al Dameer Prisoners' Support and Human Rights Association, Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, Defense for Children International- Palestine Section, Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, Ramallah Center for Human Rights, and Ensan Center for Democracy and Human Rights.
M.A.
