21 apr 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) prevented Palestinian children’s access to their kindergarten close to al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City of al-Khalil city on Tuesday.
The Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) said the IOF soldiers barred the children and their teachers from entering the kindergarten after blocking the road leading to it.
The committee pointed out that the closure of the road constitutes a challenge to the children who insist on reaching their classes.
“It also spread fear among children as they have to pass through Israeli checkpoints where IOF soldiers search their school bags and delay their arrival at school every day”, the committee said.
It added that IOF soldiers closed the western road which is close to al-Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque. This forced the Palestinians to use the eastern roads in order to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque because of the closure of the Separation Wall’s gate which is allocated for the passage of people and vehicles.
The IOF soldiers also blocked the checkpoint leading to areas near the Mosque and even banned the passage of carts.
The children of the Old City of al-Khalil suffer from Israeli practices depriving them of their right of education. In contrast, the settlers’ children enjoy privileges of luxury and safety in parks and plazas just adjacent to the Ibrahimi Mosque.
The Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) said the IOF soldiers barred the children and their teachers from entering the kindergarten after blocking the road leading to it.
The committee pointed out that the closure of the road constitutes a challenge to the children who insist on reaching their classes.
“It also spread fear among children as they have to pass through Israeli checkpoints where IOF soldiers search their school bags and delay their arrival at school every day”, the committee said.
It added that IOF soldiers closed the western road which is close to al-Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque. This forced the Palestinians to use the eastern roads in order to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque because of the closure of the Separation Wall’s gate which is allocated for the passage of people and vehicles.
The IOF soldiers also blocked the checkpoint leading to areas near the Mosque and even banned the passage of carts.
The children of the Old City of al-Khalil suffer from Israeli practices depriving them of their right of education. In contrast, the settlers’ children enjoy privileges of luxury and safety in parks and plazas just adjacent to the Ibrahimi Mosque.
20 apr 2015
The Israeli occupation authorities have intensified arrest campaigns against Palestinian minors and children over the past four years and they are routinely tortured and some threatened with rape in Israeli detention and investigation centers, a Palestinian human rights report revealed.
Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission stated that over the past four years a high number of Palestinian minors was summoned, detained, investigated and subjected to psychological torture.
Israeli deliberate targeting of Palestinian children aims at destabilizing their national culture and keeping them away from the arena of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the report clarified.
The IOA treats Palestinian children over the age of 16-year-old as adults in total violation of the international law that recognizes any person below 18-year-old as a child.
The commission stressed the urgent need to stop treating “Israel as a state above the law.”
The detained children are routinely threatened with rape and blackmailed to be Israeli agents, according to the report.
For his part, Director of Statistics Department in the Commission Abd al-Nasser Ferwana called on international institutions related to children’s rights to put an end to the Israeli violations against Palestinian children.
Palestinian Prisoners’ Affairs Commission stated that over the past four years a high number of Palestinian minors was summoned, detained, investigated and subjected to psychological torture.
Israeli deliberate targeting of Palestinian children aims at destabilizing their national culture and keeping them away from the arena of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the report clarified.
The IOA treats Palestinian children over the age of 16-year-old as adults in total violation of the international law that recognizes any person below 18-year-old as a child.
The commission stressed the urgent need to stop treating “Israel as a state above the law.”
The detained children are routinely threatened with rape and blackmailed to be Israeli agents, according to the report.
For his part, Director of Statistics Department in the Commission Abd al-Nasser Ferwana called on international institutions related to children’s rights to put an end to the Israeli violations against Palestinian children.
Soldiers, Settlers, Invade Olive Orchard Near Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
Representative of Palestinian minor prisoners held in Israeli Ofer prison, Abd al-Fattah Dawla, reported Sunday that the Israeli military courts have imposed a total of NIS 120 thousand (just over $30,000) in fines on minor prisoners since the beginning of 2015.
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, Dawla informed a lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) that the highest percentage in terms of minors’ arrests took place in January; where 34 minors were arrested and imprisoned in Ofer jail, whereas 29 minors were arrested in February, and 23 others in March and mid April.
He said that the number of sick minors currently detained in Ofer jail has reached 24, citing the cases of two Palestinian prisoners; Mohammad Blasi, who suffers from severe infections, and Yazan Jawabreh, who suffers from asthma.
To be noted, there are 105 minors currently detained in Israeli jails, including Ofer, Megiddo, and Hasharoon.
On January 19, a lawyer of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs Committee reported that Palestinian minor prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails are subjected to physical torture during their arrest and interrogation as well as in detention.
“By the end of January 2014, it was reported that a total of 183 Palestinian children were prosecuted and detained in the Israeli court system, a rise of 18.8% over the month. The figure includes twenty children between the ages of 14 and 15,” reported the Middle East Monitor in news story.
“Around 500 - 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones. No Israeli children come into contact with the military court system,” said Defense for Children International (DCI).
“Despite international condemnation and awareness of Israel’s widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian child prisoners, there have been no practical steps taken to curb violations,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The international community must demand justice and accountability.”
Israel is the only state to systematically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic standards of due process. Addameer human rights group says most of the detained children report being subjected to ill-treatment and having confessions extracted from them during interrogations.
Forms of ill-treatment used by Israeli soldiers include slapping, beating, kicking, violent pushing, threats and even sexual assault.
A study conducted by Defense for Children International (DCI) in the occupied Palestine territories showed that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons are being subjected to torture, sleep deprivation and are repeatedly blindfolded.
DCI reported that, “In 21.4% of cases, Israeli military, police and security agents held children in solitary confinement for an average of 10 days for interrogation purposes.”
In 96% of cases documented by DCI-Palestine in 2013, children were questioned alone and rarely informed of their rights, particularly their right against self-incrimination.
DCI stated, “The interrogation techniques are generally mentally and physically coercive, frequently incorporating a mix of intimidation, threats and physical violence with a clear purpose of obtaining a confession. More than one in five of the 2013 cases, children signed statements in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.”
DCI reported that, “Military detention is a reality for hundreds of Palestinian children each year, exposing them to physical and psychological violence, interrupting education, contributing to mental health issues, and placing large numbers of families under stress. This continued to be the case in 2014.”
According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, Dawla informed a lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) that the highest percentage in terms of minors’ arrests took place in January; where 34 minors were arrested and imprisoned in Ofer jail, whereas 29 minors were arrested in February, and 23 others in March and mid April.
He said that the number of sick minors currently detained in Ofer jail has reached 24, citing the cases of two Palestinian prisoners; Mohammad Blasi, who suffers from severe infections, and Yazan Jawabreh, who suffers from asthma.
To be noted, there are 105 minors currently detained in Israeli jails, including Ofer, Megiddo, and Hasharoon.
On January 19, a lawyer of the Detainees and Ex-detainees Affairs Committee reported that Palestinian minor prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails are subjected to physical torture during their arrest and interrogation as well as in detention.
“By the end of January 2014, it was reported that a total of 183 Palestinian children were prosecuted and detained in the Israeli court system, a rise of 18.8% over the month. The figure includes twenty children between the ages of 14 and 15,” reported the Middle East Monitor in news story.
“Around 500 - 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones. No Israeli children come into contact with the military court system,” said Defense for Children International (DCI).
“Despite international condemnation and awareness of Israel’s widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian child prisoners, there have been no practical steps taken to curb violations,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “The international community must demand justice and accountability.”
Israel is the only state to systematically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic standards of due process. Addameer human rights group says most of the detained children report being subjected to ill-treatment and having confessions extracted from them during interrogations.
Forms of ill-treatment used by Israeli soldiers include slapping, beating, kicking, violent pushing, threats and even sexual assault.
A study conducted by Defense for Children International (DCI) in the occupied Palestine territories showed that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons are being subjected to torture, sleep deprivation and are repeatedly blindfolded.
DCI reported that, “In 21.4% of cases, Israeli military, police and security agents held children in solitary confinement for an average of 10 days for interrogation purposes.”
In 96% of cases documented by DCI-Palestine in 2013, children were questioned alone and rarely informed of their rights, particularly their right against self-incrimination.
DCI stated, “The interrogation techniques are generally mentally and physically coercive, frequently incorporating a mix of intimidation, threats and physical violence with a clear purpose of obtaining a confession. More than one in five of the 2013 cases, children signed statements in Hebrew, a language they do not understand.”
DCI reported that, “Military detention is a reality for hundreds of Palestinian children each year, exposing them to physical and psychological violence, interrupting education, contributing to mental health issues, and placing large numbers of families under stress. This continued to be the case in 2014.”
17 apr 2015
Khaled Sheikh After His Release - Still Image From Palestine TV Video
The Israeli Authorities released on Thursday at night child detainee, Khaled Sheikh, 14, from Beit ‘Anan in occupied Jerusalem, while his family and scores of residents waited, and welcomed him. Israeli soldiers earlier stormed the Betunia nearby town, and kidnapped two children.
The released child, who suffers from anemia and other health issues, said that he did not receive any medications related to his illness, and that the only meds he received were painkilling pills.
“They give the ailing detainees those pills to silence them, and reduce the symptoms instead of providing us with the medical treatment we urgently need,” he said.
The child’ mother told Palestine TV that she is very happy for his release after the four months he spent in ‘Ofer Israeli prison, facing constant violations and difficult living conditions.
“Am so happy he will fill our house with his presence and pleasant spirit” the mother said, “My wish is for all detained children, and every imprisoned Palestinian, to be released and return to their families.
His family was never allowed to visit him, and were granted a permit dated after his scheduled release.
The Israeli Authorities released on Thursday at night child detainee, Khaled Sheikh, 14, from Beit ‘Anan in occupied Jerusalem, while his family and scores of residents waited, and welcomed him. Israeli soldiers earlier stormed the Betunia nearby town, and kidnapped two children.
The released child, who suffers from anemia and other health issues, said that he did not receive any medications related to his illness, and that the only meds he received were painkilling pills.
“They give the ailing detainees those pills to silence them, and reduce the symptoms instead of providing us with the medical treatment we urgently need,” he said.
The child’ mother told Palestine TV that she is very happy for his release after the four months he spent in ‘Ofer Israeli prison, facing constant violations and difficult living conditions.
“Am so happy he will fill our house with his presence and pleasant spirit” the mother said, “My wish is for all detained children, and every imprisoned Palestinian, to be released and return to their families.
His family was never allowed to visit him, and were granted a permit dated after his scheduled release.
Raed Ghazzawi, 13
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Israeli soldiers kidnapped two Palestinian children near their homes in Beit ‘Anan, without any legal justification, especially since there were no clashes or confrontations in the area
The abduction of the two children was captured on video by the Palestine TV crew; they have been identified as Raed Ghazzawi, 13 years of age, and Bara’ al-Akhras, 15.
They were both near their families’ homes in Betunia when the soldiers kidnapped them, and took them two kidnapped children to the ‘Ofer Israeli prison.
-- Video by Ali Dar Ali of Palestine TV, documenting the release of Sheikh, and the abduction of the two children in Betunia.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Israeli soldiers kidnapped two Palestinian children near their homes in Beit ‘Anan, without any legal justification, especially since there were no clashes or confrontations in the area
The abduction of the two children was captured on video by the Palestine TV crew; they have been identified as Raed Ghazzawi, 13 years of age, and Bara’ al-Akhras, 15.
They were both near their families’ homes in Betunia when the soldiers kidnapped them, and took them two kidnapped children to the ‘Ofer Israeli prison.
-- Video by Ali Dar Ali of Palestine TV, documenting the release of Sheikh, and the abduction of the two children in Betunia.
14 apr 2015
At least 21 Palestinian, including minors, were taken by Israeli military and police on Tuesday, most of them during predawn raids on Palestinian towns across the occupied West Bank districts of Hebron, Ramallah and Bethlehem, according to reports by local and security sources.
The army forces broke into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, during the late night hours before abductig Abed Suleiman Titi, 14, Musa Titi, 19, Abdel-Rahman Swelem, Nadim Badawi, 18, and Hazem Ra’i, 15.
Israeli soldiers also stormed the city of Hebron, according to WAFA, where they kidnapped 13-year-old Aladdine Saharawneh, and the nearby town of Dura, where they also took Yousef Masalmeh. The two were led to an unknown destination.
The army further broke into other towns in the district of Hebron and set a number of checkpoints at main streets, but there were no reports of arrests.
Meanwhile, army forces broke into multiple locations in Ramallah district at predawn, before abducting at least eight Palestinians. They were identified as Taha Asmar, Jamal Yasin, Abdel-Qadir Barghouti, Majdi Harb, Hammam Harb, Mosab Qasem, Hussein Aqel and Mohammad Aqel.
Israeli forces also stormed the village of Rashaydeh, east of Bethlehem, where they kidnapped Majed Rashaydeh, 26, after raiding and searching his home.
In the meantime, Israeli police in Jerusalem kidnapped two Palestinians in the neighborhood of Silwan. The two, identified as Foad Kak and Ali Da’na, where led to the Russian Compound detention center in the city.
The Israeli army arrested three released prisoners from the Qalqilia governorate. They were identified as Musa Sawi, 29, Imad Ji’idi, 27 and Saleh Daod, 30.
The army forces broke into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, during the late night hours before abductig Abed Suleiman Titi, 14, Musa Titi, 19, Abdel-Rahman Swelem, Nadim Badawi, 18, and Hazem Ra’i, 15.
Israeli soldiers also stormed the city of Hebron, according to WAFA, where they kidnapped 13-year-old Aladdine Saharawneh, and the nearby town of Dura, where they also took Yousef Masalmeh. The two were led to an unknown destination.
The army further broke into other towns in the district of Hebron and set a number of checkpoints at main streets, but there were no reports of arrests.
Meanwhile, army forces broke into multiple locations in Ramallah district at predawn, before abducting at least eight Palestinians. They were identified as Taha Asmar, Jamal Yasin, Abdel-Qadir Barghouti, Majdi Harb, Hammam Harb, Mosab Qasem, Hussein Aqel and Mohammad Aqel.
Israeli forces also stormed the village of Rashaydeh, east of Bethlehem, where they kidnapped Majed Rashaydeh, 26, after raiding and searching his home.
In the meantime, Israeli police in Jerusalem kidnapped two Palestinians in the neighborhood of Silwan. The two, identified as Foad Kak and Ali Da’na, where led to the Russian Compound detention center in the city.
The Israeli army arrested three released prisoners from the Qalqilia governorate. They were identified as Musa Sawi, 29, Imad Ji’idi, 27 and Saleh Daod, 30.
13 apr 2015
Palestinian workers cut onions at a field belonging to Israeli settlers near the West Bank, Jordan Valley.
Israeli settlement farms in the occupied West Bank are using Palestinian child labor to grow, harvest and pack agricultural produce, much of it for export, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.
The farms pay the children low wages and subject them to dangerous working conditions in violation of international standards.
The 74-page report, "Ripe for Abuse: Palestinian Child Labor in Israeli Agricultural Settlements in the West Bank," documents that children as young as 11 are working on settlement farms.
The children carry heavy loads, are exposed to high temperatures and hazardous pesticides, and in some cases have to pay themselves for medical treatment for work-related injuries or illness.
"Israel's settlements are profiting from rights abuses against Palestinian children," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch.
"Children from communities impoverished by Israel’s discrimination and settlement policies are dropping out of school and taking on dangerous work because they feel they have no alternatives, while Israel turns a blind eye."
The head of Israel's settler community in the Jordan Valley dismissed the report.
"They've made up lies. The entire goal of this organisation (HRW) is to sully Israel's image," David Elhayani, himself a former farmer, told AFP
"If they'd show me a farmer employing a child, I'd report it to police immediately."
Human Rights Watch interviewed 38 children and 12 adults who work on seven settlement farms in the Jordan Valley area, which covers about 30 percent of the West Bank and where most large agricultural settlements are located.
The report said that Israel has allocated 86 percent of the land in the Jordan Valley to settlements, and Palestinian poverty rates in the Jordan Valley are among the highest in the West Bank at 33.5 percent.
The report called on Israel to dismantle the settlements and, in the meantime, prohibit settlers from employing children in accordance with Israel's obligations under international treaties on children's rights and labor rights.
'No alternative' to support families
Israeli and Palestinian development and labor rights groups estimate that hundreds of children work in Israeli agricultural settlements year-round, and that their numbers increase during peak harvesting times, the report said.
Virtually all the Palestinian children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they felt they had no alternative but to find work on settlement farms to help support their families.
They said they had suffered nausea and dizziness. Some said they had passed out while working in summer temperatures that frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius outdoors, and are even higher inside the greenhouses in which many children work.
Other children said they had experienced vomiting, breathing difficulties, sore eyes, and skin rashes after spraying or being exposed to pesticides, including inside enclosed spaces. Some complained of back pain after carrying heavy boxes filled with produce or "backpack" containers of pesticide.
Israeli labor laws prohibit youth from carrying heavy loads, working in high temperatures, and working with hazardous pesticides, but Israel has not applied these laws to protect Palestinian children working in its settlements, the report said.
It added that Israeli authorities rarely inspect working conditions for Palestinians on Israeli settlement farms, and no authority has a clear mandate to enforce regulations.
Children dropping out of school
Of the children interviewed for the report, 33 had dropped out of school and were working full-time on Israeli settlements, and of these, 21 had dropped out before completing the 10 years of basic education that are compulsory under Palestinian as well as Israeli laws.
"So what if you get an education, you'll wind up working for the settlements," one child said.
Teachers and principals at Palestinian schools in the Jordan Valley said that children who worked part-time on settlements during weekends and after school were often exhausted in class.
Israeli military authorities state that they do not issue work permits for Palestinians under 18 to work in settlements. However, Palestinians do not need Israeli work permits to reach the settlement farms, which are outside the gated areas of settlements that Palestinians need permits to enter, the report said.
All of the children and adults working for the settlement farms whom Human Rights Watch interviewed said they were hired by Palestinian middlemen working for Israeli settlers, were paid in cash, and did not receive pay-slips or have work contracts.
Settlement produce exported abroad
The report said that Israeli settlements export a substantial amount of their produce abroad, including to Europe and the United States.
Although the US Department of Labor maintains and publishes a list of more than 350 products from foreign countries that are produced with the use of forced labor or child labor in other countries, it has not included Israeli settlement products on the list, the report said.
It added that the US continues to grant preferential treatment to Israeli settlement products under the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement, and called on the US to revise the agreement to exclude settlement products.
"The settlements are the source of daily abuses, including against children," Whitson said. "Other countries and businesses should not benefit from or support them."
Israeli settlement farms in the occupied West Bank are using Palestinian child labor to grow, harvest and pack agricultural produce, much of it for export, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.
The farms pay the children low wages and subject them to dangerous working conditions in violation of international standards.
The 74-page report, "Ripe for Abuse: Palestinian Child Labor in Israeli Agricultural Settlements in the West Bank," documents that children as young as 11 are working on settlement farms.
The children carry heavy loads, are exposed to high temperatures and hazardous pesticides, and in some cases have to pay themselves for medical treatment for work-related injuries or illness.
"Israel's settlements are profiting from rights abuses against Palestinian children," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director for Human Rights Watch.
"Children from communities impoverished by Israel’s discrimination and settlement policies are dropping out of school and taking on dangerous work because they feel they have no alternatives, while Israel turns a blind eye."
The head of Israel's settler community in the Jordan Valley dismissed the report.
"They've made up lies. The entire goal of this organisation (HRW) is to sully Israel's image," David Elhayani, himself a former farmer, told AFP
"If they'd show me a farmer employing a child, I'd report it to police immediately."
Human Rights Watch interviewed 38 children and 12 adults who work on seven settlement farms in the Jordan Valley area, which covers about 30 percent of the West Bank and where most large agricultural settlements are located.
The report said that Israel has allocated 86 percent of the land in the Jordan Valley to settlements, and Palestinian poverty rates in the Jordan Valley are among the highest in the West Bank at 33.5 percent.
The report called on Israel to dismantle the settlements and, in the meantime, prohibit settlers from employing children in accordance with Israel's obligations under international treaties on children's rights and labor rights.
'No alternative' to support families
Israeli and Palestinian development and labor rights groups estimate that hundreds of children work in Israeli agricultural settlements year-round, and that their numbers increase during peak harvesting times, the report said.
Virtually all the Palestinian children interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they felt they had no alternative but to find work on settlement farms to help support their families.
They said they had suffered nausea and dizziness. Some said they had passed out while working in summer temperatures that frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius outdoors, and are even higher inside the greenhouses in which many children work.
Other children said they had experienced vomiting, breathing difficulties, sore eyes, and skin rashes after spraying or being exposed to pesticides, including inside enclosed spaces. Some complained of back pain after carrying heavy boxes filled with produce or "backpack" containers of pesticide.
Israeli labor laws prohibit youth from carrying heavy loads, working in high temperatures, and working with hazardous pesticides, but Israel has not applied these laws to protect Palestinian children working in its settlements, the report said.
It added that Israeli authorities rarely inspect working conditions for Palestinians on Israeli settlement farms, and no authority has a clear mandate to enforce regulations.
Children dropping out of school
Of the children interviewed for the report, 33 had dropped out of school and were working full-time on Israeli settlements, and of these, 21 had dropped out before completing the 10 years of basic education that are compulsory under Palestinian as well as Israeli laws.
"So what if you get an education, you'll wind up working for the settlements," one child said.
Teachers and principals at Palestinian schools in the Jordan Valley said that children who worked part-time on settlements during weekends and after school were often exhausted in class.
Israeli military authorities state that they do not issue work permits for Palestinians under 18 to work in settlements. However, Palestinians do not need Israeli work permits to reach the settlement farms, which are outside the gated areas of settlements that Palestinians need permits to enter, the report said.
All of the children and adults working for the settlement farms whom Human Rights Watch interviewed said they were hired by Palestinian middlemen working for Israeli settlers, were paid in cash, and did not receive pay-slips or have work contracts.
Settlement produce exported abroad
The report said that Israeli settlements export a substantial amount of their produce abroad, including to Europe and the United States.
Although the US Department of Labor maintains and publishes a list of more than 350 products from foreign countries that are produced with the use of forced labor or child labor in other countries, it has not included Israeli settlement products on the list, the report said.
It added that the US continues to grant preferential treatment to Israeli settlement products under the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement, and called on the US to revise the agreement to exclude settlement products.
"The settlements are the source of daily abuses, including against children," Whitson said. "Other countries and businesses should not benefit from or support them."
12 apr 2015
The 13th Aqsa Child festival at the Aqsa Mosque concluded its activities on Saturday evening despite Israeli restrictions that had prevented the participation of more children.
Hundreds of Palestinian children from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands participated in the event and its activities, especially the drawing contest.
In a speech during the festival, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, affirmed that the Palestinians have the right to look after the Aqsa Mosque and defend it against desecration attempts by Jewish settlers because it is part of their faith to protect the Mosque.
"We have to keep our future generations attached to the Aqsa Mosque," Sheikh Sabri said.
"The Israeli police become reluctant to escort Jewish extremists into the Aqsa Mosque when they find its courtyards abounding with Muslim worshipers because they are afraid for them and their own safety," he added.
For his part, Palestinian artist Yousuf al-Rajbi, who participated in the festival, pointed out that the Israeli police prevented the entry of many drawing tools to the Aqsa Mosque.
"Even if we are unable to bring in anything, we can draw with a stone, an olive branch, a piece of wood ... because what is important is to achieve our goal. The festival does not mean drawing a picture, but it means that our continuous presence in the Aqsa Mosque despite all Israeli obstacles and challenges proves that we are the rightful owners of this place," the artist underscored.
Hundreds of Palestinian children from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands participated in the event and its activities, especially the drawing contest.
In a speech during the festival, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, affirmed that the Palestinians have the right to look after the Aqsa Mosque and defend it against desecration attempts by Jewish settlers because it is part of their faith to protect the Mosque.
"We have to keep our future generations attached to the Aqsa Mosque," Sheikh Sabri said.
"The Israeli police become reluctant to escort Jewish extremists into the Aqsa Mosque when they find its courtyards abounding with Muslim worshipers because they are afraid for them and their own safety," he added.
For his part, Palestinian artist Yousuf al-Rajbi, who participated in the festival, pointed out that the Israeli police prevented the entry of many drawing tools to the Aqsa Mosque.
"Even if we are unable to bring in anything, we can draw with a stone, an olive branch, a piece of wood ... because what is important is to achieve our goal. The festival does not mean drawing a picture, but it means that our continuous presence in the Aqsa Mosque despite all Israeli obstacles and challenges proves that we are the rightful owners of this place," the artist underscored.
