Record Number of Palestinians Displaced by Unlawful Demolitions

israel palestianian home demolitions

There has been a sharp rise in demolitions of Palestinian homes in 2011 © Amnesty International

Amnesty International, one member of a 20 member strong coalition of major international humanitarian and human rights organizations that work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), issued a joint press release yesterday announcing that there has been a record number of unlawful demolitions by the Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, over the past year, displacing a record number of Palestinian families from their homes and calling on the Middle East Quartet to change their failing approach.

The Middle East Quartet, made up of representatives from the United States, Russia, the United Nations and European Union, is currently meeting in Jerusalem in an attempt to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The coalition believes that startling figures issued this year show a sharp deterioration in the situation on the ground and calls for an immediate and “radical” change in approach by the Quartet. Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director, Oxfam International and coalition partner said:

“The increasing rate of settlement expansion and house demolitions is pushing Palestinians to the brink, destroying their livelihoods and prospects for a just and durable peace. There is a growing disconnect between the Quartet talks and the situation on the ground. The Quartet needs to radically revise its approach and show that it can make a real difference to the lives of Palestinians and Israelis.”

Figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) show that since the beginning of 2011 more than 500 Palestinian homes, wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, displacing more than 1,000 Palestinians – doubling the number of people displaced over the same period in 2010, and the highest figure since at least 2005.  More than half of those displaced have been children.

Children are particularly traumatized by the loss of their home and belongings as well as by the disruption to their lives and trauma to their parents.

Also, the sharp rise in demolitions in 2011 has been accompanied by accelerated expansion of Israeli settlements and an escalation of violence perpetrated by settlers.

Peace Now, an Israeli peace organization, has documented plans for around 4,000 new settler housing units that have been approved in East Jerusalem over the past 12 months – the highest number since at least 2006. Plus, in November, Israel announced plans to speed up construction of 2,000 new units in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

The latest figures from OCHA show that violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians, including children, have escalated by over 50% in 2011 compared to 2010, and by over 160% compared to 2009. Settlers have also destroyed or damaged nearly 10,000 Palestinian olive and other trees during this year, undermining the livelihoods of hundreds of families.  Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that works for long-term structural improvement in the human rights situation in the OPT, determined that the perpetrators act with virtual impunity, with over 90% of complaints of settler violence closed by the Israeli police without indictment in 2005-2010.

And up to 2,300 Bedouin living in the Jerusalem periphery could be forcibly and unlawfully relocated if Israeli authorities follow through with their reported plans in 2012, which would destroy their livelihoods and threaten their traditional way of life. Rural communities in the Jordan Valley are also facing the prospect of further demolitions as settlements continue to expand.

This well respected  and credible group of major organizations, which includes Amnesty International, Oxfam and Human Rights Watch among others, is calling for the Quartet to hold all parties to the conflict to their international law obligations. They state that the Quartet must press the Israeli government to immediately reverse its settlement policies and freeze all demolitions that violate international law. (Amnesty International believes settlements must be addressed according to international law.)

Phillip Luther, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Interim Program Director, summed it up best when he said,

“Israel’s escalating violations show the fundamental failure of the Quartet’s approach. It’s time for the Quartet to understand that they cannot contribute to achieving a just and durable solution to the conflict without first ensuring respect for international law.”

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45 thoughts on “Record Number of Palestinians Displaced by Unlawful Demolitions

  1. hi Edith
    Great article. Super.

    One little teeny tiny criticism.

    I was wondering if next time perhaps you could possibly in all fairness make some mention the enormous rate of Palestinian housing ***CONSTRUCTION*** ( yes you read right, construction not demolition ).

    Edith dear, perhaps you should be sitting down before you read this.

    According to the official government Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2010, Palestinians actually built 33,822 newly constructed Palestinian dwelling units,

    This compares with only 33,128 Israeli dwelling units that were constructed in 2010 according to the official government Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Note this Israeli housing construction total includes not only the few hundred Jewish settlement homes constructed in the west bank, but also includes all Israeli housing construction of any kind in any part of all of Israel, both Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab construction.

    In fact, according to the Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of housing units in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is expected to reach a total of 884,385 in 2011, an increase of about 26 percent compared with 2007,

    source: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    So Edith, my question is: when you write about the supposedly 500 illegally constructed buildings supposedly demolished by the Israeli authorities, don't you not think it would be at least a little fair to mention that at the same time Palestinians built about 33,500 other dwellings that were not demolished by the Israelis ?

    So even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits, the net increase for the Palestinians was about 33,500 – 500 = 33,000 newly constructed homes even taking into account the 500 the nasty mean Israelis supposedly demolished.

  2. hi Edith
    Great article. Super.

    One little teeny tiny criticism.

    I was wondering if next time perhaps you could possibly in all fairness make some mention the enormous rate of Palestinian housing ***CONSTRUCTION*** ( yes you read right, construction not demolition ).

    Edith dear, perhaps you should be sitting down before you read this.

    According to the official government Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2010, Palestinians actually built 33,822 newly constructed Palestinian dwelling units,

    This compares with only 33,128 Israeli dwelling units that were constructed in 2010 according to the official government Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Note this Israeli housing construction total includes not only the few hundred Jewish settlement homes constructed in the west bank, but also includes all Israeli housing construction of any kind in any part of all of Israel, both Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab construction.

    In fact, according to the Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of housing units in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is expected to reach a total of 884,385 in 2011, an increase of about 26 percent compared with 2007,

    source: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    So Edith, my question is: when you write about the supposedly 500 illegally constructed buildings supposedly demolished by the Israeli authorities, don't you not think it would be at least a little fair to mention that at the same time Palestinians built about 33,500 other dwellings that were not demolished by the Israelis ?

    So even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits, the net increase for the Palestinians was about 33,500 – 500 = 33,000 newly constructed homes even taking into account the 500 the nasty mean Israelis supposedly demolished.

  3. hi Edith
    Great article. Super.

    One little teeny tiny criticism.

    I was wondering if next time perhaps you could possibly in all fairness make some mention the enormous rate of Palestinian housing ***CONSTRUCTION*** ( yes you read right, construction not demolition ).

    Edith dear, perhaps you should be sitting down before you read this.

    According to the official government Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2010, Palestinians actually built 33,822 newly constructed Palestinian dwelling units,

    This compares with only 33,128 Israeli dwelling units that were constructed in 2010 according to the official government Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Note this Israeli housing construction total includes not only the few hundred Jewish settlement homes constructed in the west bank, but also includes all Israeli housing construction of any kind in any part of all of Israel, both Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab construction.

    In fact, according to the Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of housing units in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is expected to reach a total of 884,385 in 2011, an increase of about 26 percent compared with 2007,

    source: http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    So Edith, my question is: when you write about the supposedly 500 illegally constructed buildings supposedly demolished by the Israeli authorities, don't you not think it would be at least a little fair to mention that at the same time Palestinians built about 33,500 other dwellings that were not demolished by the Israelis ?

    So even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits, the net increase for the Palestinians was about 33,500 – 500 = 33,000 newly constructed homes even taking into account the 500 the nasty mean Israelis supposedly demolished.

  4. hi Edith
    Great article. Super.

    One little teeny tiny criticism.

    I was wondering if next time perhaps you could possibly in all fairness make some mention the enormous rate of Palestinian housing ***CONSTRUCTION*** ( yes you read right, construction not demolition ).

    Edith dear, perhaps you should be sitting down before you read this.

    According to the official government Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2010, Palestinians actually built 33,822 newly constructed Palestinian dwelling units,

    This compares with only 33,128 Israeli dwelling units that were constructed in 2010 according to the official government Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Note this Israeli housing construction total includes not only the few hundred Jewish settlement homes constructed in the west bank, but also includes all Israeli housing construction of any kind in any part of all of Israel, both Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab construction.

    In fact, according to the Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of housing units in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is expected to reach a total of 884,385 in 2011, an increase of about 26 percent compared with 2007,

    source:
    http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/HousingDy_2011E.pdf

    So Edith, my question is: when you write about the supposedly 500 illegally constructed buildings supposedly demolished by the Israeli authorities, don’t you not think it would be at least a little fair to mention that at the same time Palestinians built about 33,500 other dwellings that were not demolished by the Israelis ?

    So even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits, the net increase for the Palestinians was about 33,500 – 500 = 33,000 newly constructed homes even taking into account the 500 the nasty mean Israelis supposedly demolished.

  5. Are you serious? What could homes that the Palestinians constructed for themselves have to do with the destruction of homes by the Israelis? As long as the victims are keeping up with and surpassing the destruction, these aren't really important human rights violations? Did you think about what you were writing?

    Just saying you doubt the facts is also absurd, the weakest argument possible when one can't bear the truth. The facts about home demolitions and settlers' violence are not hard to find. There are several organizations that keep track of such activity in the West Bank, and some are within Israel. You would probably say they were just making all that up, and the photos and videos of demolition work are fabricated, as well as the records of the families affected, and all the details of settlers' attacks. Do you know any details about what is happening there? Would you prefer not to know?

    And why should the Palestinians have to have permits to build on their own land? Because they are under perpetual military occupation, a people with no rights and no one to protect them, for 44 years, soon to be 45.

  6. Are you serious? What could homes that the Palestinians constructed for themselves have to do with the destruction of homes by the Israelis? As long as the victims are keeping up with and surpassing the destruction, these aren’t really important human rights violations? Did you think about what you were writing?

    Just saying you doubt the facts is also absurd, the weakest argument possible when one can’t bear the truth. The facts about home demolitions and settlers’ violence are not hard to find. There are several organizations that keep track of such activity in the West Bank, and some are within Israel. You would probably say they were just making all that up, and the photos and videos of demolition work are fabricated, as well as the records of the families affected, and all the details of settlers’ attacks. Do you know any details about what is happening there? Would you prefer not to know?

    And why should the Palestinians have to have permits to build on their own land? Because they are under perpetual military occupation, a people with no rights and no one to protect them, for 44 years, soon to be 45.

  7. Terry:

    Your mistake is in thinking that the blog above is an actual attempt to inform about a human rights violation. The intent of Edith's blog is actually the opposite; to manipulate uninformed gullible people into falsely believing the Palestinians are helpless suffering victims. This is all part of a slick advertising campaign put together for the Palestinians by some of the most expensive western Public Relations firms.

    A lot of profession pro Palestinian activists like Edith depend for their jobs on having you believe the propaganda that Palestinians are just pitiful losers wallowing in the rubble of their former homes.

    But the Palestinians are not helpless victims. They are an extremely industrious, hard working people with a very large construction industry of their own. Palestinians put up more new home construction last year than went up in all of Israel. All over the West Bank and Gaza there are Palestinian construction sites. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians work in that sector of the Palestinian economy.

    So maybe the equivalent of 1 percent of all the 10s of thousands of new homes the Palestinian construct each year supposedly get torn down by the Israelis for lack of permits.

    This is ethnic cleansing ? This is a major human rights violation compared to say for example brutal dictatorships like Syria or Iran shooting down thousand of protestors in the streets? No, I do not think so.

  8. Terry:

    Your mistake is in thinking that the blog above is an actual attempt to inform about a human rights violation. The intent of Edith’s blog is actually the opposite; to manipulate uninformed gullible people into falsely believing the Palestinians are helpless suffering victims. This is all part of a slick advertising campaign put together for the Palestinians by some of the most expensive western Public Relations firms.

    A lot of profession pro Palestinian activists like Edith depend for their jobs on having you believe the propaganda that Palestinians are just pitiful losers wallowing in the rubble of their former homes.

    But the Palestinians are not helpless victims. They are an extremely industrious, hard working people with a very large construction industry of their own. Palestinians put up more new home construction last year than went up in all of Israel. All over the West Bank and Gaza there are Palestinian construction sites. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians work in that sector of the Palestinian economy.

    So maybe the equivalent of 1 percent of all the 10s of thousands of new homes the Palestinian construct each year supposedly get torn down by the Israelis for lack of permits.

    This is ethnic cleansing ? This is a major human rights violation compared to say for example brutal dictatorships like Syria or Iran shooting down thousand of protestors in the streets? No, I do not think so.

  9. Destruction of property by others is an act of violence. It is important for everyone to know the violence perpetrated by others – especially state sponsored violence….Not having Building permits is a way of glossing over this destruction of other peoples' dwellings and water resources.
    Housing is greatly needed for Palestinians..Did the Israeli government build homes for Palestinians. No. Did the Israeli government build roads, highways, hospitals, water treatment? anything for the Palestinians?
    To speak of a net increase in Palestinian homes and to ignore or play down the traumatic destruction of homes and water resources…is manipulating the facts, that is the brutality of the Occupation.

  10. Destruction of property by others is an act of violence. It is important for everyone to know the violence perpetrated by others – especially state sponsored violence….Not having Building permits is a way of glossing over this destruction of other peoples’ dwellings and water resources.
    Housing is greatly needed for Palestinians..Did the Israeli government build homes for Palestinians. No. Did the Israeli government build roads, highways, hospitals, water treatment? anything for the Palestinians?
    To speak of a net increase in Palestinian homes and to ignore or play down the traumatic destruction of homes and water resources…is manipulating the facts, that is the brutality of the Occupation.

  11. What the Israelies have done to the palestinians is unlawful and unjust. Although their are houses being built, there were still many who were taken away from their homes

  12. What the Israelies have done to the palestinians is unlawful and unjust. Although their are houses being built, there were still many who were taken away from their homes

  13. Mr. Judonimh:

    I just wanted to set the record straight about one statement you made: "A lot of profession[al] pro Palestinian activists like Edith depend for their jobs on having you believe the propaganda…" Like all AIUSA country specialists, my hard-working and dedicated colleague Edith Garwood is a VOLUNTEER activist and carries out all of her duties for Amnesty International without receiving any compensation whatsoever. She puts in a huge amount of time solely out of her commitment to human rights for everyone–Palestinians, Israelis, and immigrant workers alike.

    Elise Auerbach, country specialist for Iran and Jordan

  14. Mr. Judonimh:

    I just wanted to set the record straight about one statement you made: “A lot of profession[al] pro Palestinian activists like Edith depend for their jobs on having you believe the propaganda…” Like all AIUSA country specialists, my hard-working and dedicated colleague Edith Garwood is a VOLUNTEER activist and carries out all of her duties for Amnesty International without receiving any compensation whatsoever. She puts in a huge amount of time solely out of her commitment to human rights for everyone–Palestinians, Israelis, and immigrant workers alike.

    Elise Auerbach, country specialist for Iran and Jordan

  15. And I would like to set the record straight too.

    Instead of criticizing me you should be criticizing Edith for bringing discredit to the Amnesty blog by making false claims that Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed and displaced en mass by Israel.

    I posted a link to a document prepared by the Palestinian Government and hosted on the web site of the Palestinian Government stating the 180 degree opposite of what Edith believes is true, that in fact there has been a massive **increase** in housing being built for Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of new Palestinian homes built in just the last few years alone, vastly outpacing the tiny numbers of Jewish settler homes being built by a ratio of close to 50 new Palestinian homes being built to every one Jewish settler home.

    source: Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    And your reaction to this ? Instead of asking Edith to stop using your blog to promote false accusations of ethnic cleansing against Israel, thus raising questions of credibility about every statement Amnesty makes on not only Israel but any subject at all, instead of asking Edith to be less one sided in her posts for the sake of the reputation and integrity of your organization, nope, you instead criticize me for daring to point out reality.

  16. And I would like to set the record straight too.

    Instead of criticizing me you should be criticizing Edith for bringing discredit to the Amnesty blog by making false claims that Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed and displaced en mass by Israel.

    I posted a link to a document prepared by the Palestinian Government and hosted on the web site of the Palestinian Government stating the 180 degree opposite of what Edith believes is true, that in fact there has been a massive **increase** in housing being built for Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of new Palestinian homes built in just the last few years alone, vastly outpacing the tiny numbers of Jewish settler homes being built by a ratio of close to 50 new Palestinian homes being built to every one Jewish settler home.

    source: Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    And your reaction to this ? Instead of asking Edith to stop using your blog to promote false accusations of ethnic cleansing against Israel, thus raising questions of credibility about every statement Amnesty makes on not only Israel but any subject at all, instead of asking Edith to be less one sided in her posts for the sake of the reputation and integrity of your organization, nope, you instead criticize me for daring to point out reality.

  17. And I would like to set the record straight too.

    Instead of criticizing me you should be criticizing Edith for bringing discredit to the Amnesty blog by making false claims that Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed and displaced en mass by Israel.

    I posted a link to a document prepared by the Palestinian Government and hosted on the web site of the Palestinian Government stating the 180 degree opposite of what Edith believes is true, that in fact there has been a massive **increase** in housing being built for Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of new Palestinian homes built in just the last few years alone, vastly outpacing the tiny numbers of Jewish settler homes being built by a ratio of close to 50 new Palestinian homes being built to every one Jewish settler home.

    source: Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics, http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease

    And your reaction to this ? Instead of asking Edith to stop using your blog to promote false accusations of ethnic cleansing against Israel, thus raising questions of credibility about every statement Amnesty makes on not only Israel but any subject at all, instead of asking Edith to be less one sided in her posts for the sake of the reputation and integrity of your organization, nope, you instead criticize me for daring to point out reality.

  18. And I would like to set the record straight too.

    Instead of criticizing me you should be criticizing Edith for bringing discredit to the Amnesty blog by making false claims that Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed and displaced en mass by Israel.

    I posted a link to a document prepared by the Palestinian Government and hosted on the web site of the Palestinian Government stating the 180 degree opposite of what Edith believes is true, that in fact there has been a massive **increase** in housing being built for Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of new Palestinian homes built in just the last few years alone, vastly outpacing the tiny numbers of Jewish settler homes being built by a ratio of close to 50 new Palestinian homes being built to every one Jewish settler home.

    source: Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics,
    http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/HousingDy_2011E.pdf

    And your reaction to this ? Instead of asking Edith to stop using your blog to promote false accusations of ethnic cleansing against Israel, thus raising questions of credibility about every statement Amnesty makes on not only Israel but any subject at all, instead of asking Edith to be less one sided in her posts for the sake of the reputation and integrity of your organization, nope, you instead criticize me for daring to point out reality.

  19. source:

    "Labour market in the west bank briefing on first-half 2011"

    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201112123454.pdf

    West Bank Employment first half 2011
    Palestinian Private Sector Employment in the Construction Industry

    92,663 Palestinians employed full time

    "In the parallel period comparison, there were about 26,265 more private sector jobs, a growth rate of 6.3 percent. Construction contributed nearly 70 percent of these gains, adding some 36,500 additional jobs, 39.4 percent more than in first-half 2010."

    By the way Edith, the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.

    Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian homes have gone up in the last 4 years alone and hundreds of thousands more are under construction.

    Edith, what do you think, you think you are right and the Palestinian government and the United Nations are wrong when they report a massive Palestinian building boom perhaps 50 or more times larger than any few pitiful settler homes being built which are less than a drop in the bucket next to the huge numbers of Palestinian housing going up next door to them?

    Edith, please stop promoting your ugly shameful baseless lies accusing Israel ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of the Palestinians.

    You are only succeeding in one thing with these lies: that is bringing all of Amnesty International on any subject into disrepute and under suspicion as an organization which is nothing more than a promoter of politically correct false propaganda lies.

  20. source:

    "Labour market in the west bank briefing on first-half 2011"

    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201112123454.pdf

    West Bank Employment first half 2011
    Palestinian Private Sector Employment in the Construction Industry

    92,663 Palestinians employed full time

    "In the parallel period comparison, there were about 26,265 more private sector jobs, a growth rate of 6.3 percent. Construction contributed nearly 70 percent of these gains, adding some 36,500 additional jobs, 39.4 percent more than in first-half 2010."

    By the way Edith, the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.

    Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian homes have gone up in the last 4 years alone and hundreds of thousands more are under construction.

    Edith, what do you think, you think you are right and the Palestinian government and the United Nations are wrong when they report a massive Palestinian building boom perhaps 50 or more times larger than any few pitiful settler homes being built which are less than a drop in the bucket next to the huge numbers of Palestinian housing going up next door to them?

    Edith, please stop promoting your ugly shameful baseless lies accusing Israel ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of the Palestinians.

    You are only succeeding in one thing with these lies: that is bringing all of Amnesty International on any subject into disrepute and under suspicion as an organization which is nothing more than a promoter of politically correct false propaganda lies.

  21. source:

    "Labour market in the west bank briefing on first-half 2011"

    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201112123454.pdf

    West Bank Employment first half 2011
    Palestinian Private Sector Employment in the Construction Industry

    92,663 Palestinians employed full time

    "In the parallel period comparison, there were about 26,265 more private sector jobs, a growth rate of 6.3 percent. Construction contributed nearly 70 percent of these gains, adding some 36,500 additional jobs, 39.4 percent more than in first-half 2010."

    By the way Edith, the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.

    Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian homes have gone up in the last 4 years alone and hundreds of thousands more are under construction.

    Edith, what do you think, you think you are right and the Palestinian government and the United Nations are wrong when they report a massive Palestinian building boom perhaps 50 or more times larger than any few pitiful settler homes being built which are less than a drop in the bucket next to the huge numbers of Palestinian housing going up next door to them?

    Edith, please stop promoting your ugly shameful baseless lies accusing Israel ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of the Palestinians.

    You are only succeeding in one thing with these lies: that is bringing all of Amnesty International on any subject into disrepute and under suspicion as an organization which is nothing more than a promoter of politically correct false propaganda lies.

  22. source:

    “Labour market in the west bank briefing on first-half 2011”

    United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
    http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/201112123454.pdf

    West Bank Employment first half 2011
    Palestinian Private Sector Employment in the Construction Industry

    92,663 Palestinians employed full time

    “In the parallel period comparison, there were about 26,265 more private sector jobs, a growth rate of 6.3 percent. Construction contributed nearly 70 percent of these gains, adding some 36,500 additional jobs, 39.4 percent more than in first-half 2010.”

    By the way Edith, the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.

    Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian homes have gone up in the last 4 years alone and hundreds of thousands more are under construction.

    Edith, what do you think, you think you are right and the Palestinian government and the United Nations are wrong when they report a massive Palestinian building boom perhaps 50 or more times larger than any few pitiful settler homes being built which are less than a drop in the bucket next to the huge numbers of Palestinian housing going up next door to them?

    Edith, please stop promoting your ugly shameful baseless lies accusing Israel ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of the Palestinians.

    You are only succeeding in one thing with these lies: that is bringing all of Amnesty International on any subject into disrepute and under suspicion as an organization which is nothing more than a promoter of politically correct false propaganda lies.

  23. hey Judonimh

    Since you think it is ridiculous for Edith to claim that the United Nations is wrong in its report of what you would call "Palestinian building boom." Than why are you doubting the "Figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) show that since the beginning of 2011 more than 500 Palestinian homes, wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, displacing more than 1,000 Palestinians."

    I get this sense of doubt from you when you say, "so even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits"

    Edith is just reporting what the UN reports said. Since you believe that the UN reports about the "Palestinian housing boom" cannot be denied. Why than can the UN reports about the illegal demolition orders can be denied?

  24. hey Judonimh

    Since you think it is ridiculous for Edith to claim that the United Nations is wrong in its report of what you would call “Palestinian building boom.” Than why are you doubting the “Figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) show that since the beginning of 2011 more than 500 Palestinian homes, wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, displacing more than 1,000 Palestinians.”

    I get this sense of doubt from you when you say, “so even if what you are saying is true which I doubt about 500 buildings being supposedly demolished by the Israelis for lack of building permits”

    Edith is just reporting what the UN reports said. Since you believe that the UN reports about the “Palestinian housing boom” cannot be denied. Why than can the UN reports about the illegal demolition orders can be denied?

  25. MEH

    The documentation I posted above concerning housing and construction rates among the Palestinians is directly from the UN and Palestinian government web sites. These documents show that Palestinians, far from being ethnically cleansed by Israel, are to the contrary engaged in a massive Palestinian housing building boom of their own, where 250,000 new Palestinian homes were built in the last 4 years alone, where at least 50 new Palestinian homes were built last year vs every 1 single Jewish settler home.

    Not what any sane rational person would describe as an Israeli racist ethnic cleansing operation.

    But I must add, I pointed these documented facts out only to counter this ridiculous absurd ethnic cleansing lie, not to make a criticism of the Palestinians for building. I believe in peace one day and so I see a flourishing Palestinian economy as very much in the interest of peace.

  26. MEH

    The documentation I posted above concerning housing and construction rates among the Palestinians is directly from the UN and Palestinian government web sites. These documents show that Palestinians, far from being ethnically cleansed by Israel, are to the contrary engaged in a massive Palestinian housing building boom of their own, where 250,000 new Palestinian homes were built in the last 4 years alone, where at least 50 new Palestinian homes were built last year vs every 1 single Jewish settler home.

    Not what any sane rational person would describe as an Israeli racist ethnic cleansing operation.

    But I must add, I pointed these documented facts out only to counter this ridiculous absurd ethnic cleansing lie, not to make a criticism of the Palestinians for building. I believe in peace one day and so I see a flourishing Palestinian economy as very much in the interest of peace.

  27. Judo,

    Amnesty International is a well-respected organization for a reason. Amnesty has performed credible work in support of human rights around the world for years. We have just celebrated the 50th anniversary with over 3 million supporters worldwide that support our vision “for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”

    AI advocates for human rights to be respected in every country where there are violations regardless of the country’s political system or regime, conservative or liberal, socialist or capitalist; where there are violations, Amnesty works hard to end the abuses, have those responsible held accountable and have human rights be an integral part of any system moving forward from that point. Sadly, this means we cover quite a few countries – if not all countries – so you should not take criticism or exposure of human rights violations by Israel so personally. Amnesty does not ‘pick on’ or single out any single country to advance some secret and shadowy political agenda. It is what it is. For more details, please check out http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are.

    As for myself, I am a long-time human rights activist (close to 30 years now) that has come to specialize on the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since I have lived in the region, studied there and continue to travel there regularly. Since I have been a member of Amnesty International USA since the early 80’s, I serve the section on the work surrounding concerns we have there with the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto administration in the Gaza Strip, Hamas. In all that time, I have not found any information coming from our research department that hasn’t been backed up by thorough methodology and well researched and documented data that is often substantiated by other, independent sources such as independent media reports, U.N. fact-finding missions, investigations by other credible, independent NGOs, etc….

    That being said, the statistics cited in this blog post come from credible, independent, international humanitarian and human rights organizations that came together as a coalition for this public statement and press release due to the startling numbers. Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved. This phenomenon is not new – it is a tactic that has been used by Israeli forces for decades – what is new is the dramatic growth in the numbers of those left homeless – a record number actually.

    Also, I think it is interesting that it is you that have used the term “ethnic cleansing” several times, yet you are accusing me of using this term. The blog itself does not use the term “ethnic cleansing”, nor is “ethnic cleansing” used in the coalition’s public statement. If this is what you or other readers take away from the facts and statistics cited in the piece, then so be it, but I wanted to point out that despite your anger on this point – you are simply wrong – neither Amnesty International nor I said that Israel was using “ethnic cleansing”.

    Also, the data you provided does not negate the fact that a record number of Palestinians have been displaced in 2011 showing a dangerous, but continuing increase over the past few years in demolitions and forced evictions.

    Construction happening while a startling increase in demolitions and forced evictions are taking place is quite feasible. One does not negate the other.
    Plus, I’m sure that should I post statistics about the amount of devastated civilian infrastructure and wide swathes of homes that are still waiting to be renovated or rebuilt in Gaza after the crushing conflict three (3) years ago between Israel and the Gaza Strip, you would cite some numbers to show a boom in construction there. Oh wait, you did.

    You said, “… the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.” Although you don’t cite your source, I don’t even need to ask – I find your statement perfectly believable – although a bit disingenuous. Two relevant and important facts are left out

    1) the reason there are thousands of Gazans in the construction trade and
    2) the projections that have been published showing it will take years and over two billion dollars to just recover from the destruction visited upon the strip three years ago (excluding the de-development suffered prior to the military offensive). You also omit the fact that although the amount of construction materials ok’d by Israel to enter the Gaza Strip has increased, it is still only a small percentage of what entered the strip prior to the Israeli imposed blockade and a pittance of what is needed.

    Good health to you Judo. I hope you have a good 2012.

  28. Judo,

    Amnesty International is a well-respected organization for a reason. Amnesty has performed credible work in support of human rights around the world for years. We have just celebrated the 50th anniversary with over 3 million supporters worldwide that support our vision “for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”

    AI advocates for human rights to be respected in every country where there are violations regardless of the country’s political system or regime, conservative or liberal, socialist or capitalist; where there are violations, Amnesty works hard to end the abuses, have those responsible held accountable and have human rights be an integral part of any system moving forward from that point. Sadly, this means we cover quite a few countries – if not all countries – so you should not take criticism or exposure of human rights violations by Israel so personally. Amnesty does not ‘pick on’ or single out any single country to advance some secret and shadowy political agenda. It is what it is. For more details, please check out http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are.

    As for myself, I am a long-time human rights activist (close to 30 years now) that has come to specialize on the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since I have lived in the region, studied there and continue to travel there regularly. Since I have been a member of Amnesty International USA since the early 80’s, I serve the section on the work surrounding concerns we have there with the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto administration in the Gaza Strip, Hamas. In all that time, I have not found any information coming from our research department that hasn’t been backed up by thorough methodology and well researched and documented data that is often substantiated by other, independent sources such as independent media reports, U.N. fact-finding missions, investigations by other credible, independent NGOs, etc….

    That being said, the statistics cited in this blog post come from credible, independent, international humanitarian and human rights organizations that came together as a coalition for this public statement and press release due to the startling numbers. Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved. This phenomenon is not new – it is a tactic that has been used by Israeli forces for decades – what is new is the dramatic growth in the numbers of those left homeless – a record number actually.

    Also, I think it is interesting that it is you that have used the term “ethnic cleansing” several times, yet you are accusing me of using this term. The blog itself does not use the term “ethnic cleansing”, nor is “ethnic cleansing” used in the coalition’s public statement. If this is what you or other readers take away from the facts and statistics cited in the piece, then so be it, but I wanted to point out that despite your anger on this point – you are simply wrong – neither Amnesty International nor I said that Israel was using “ethnic cleansing”.

    Also, the data you provided does not negate the fact that a record number of Palestinians have been displaced in 2011 showing a dangerous, but continuing increase over the past few years in demolitions and forced evictions.

    Construction happening while a startling increase in demolitions and forced evictions are taking place is quite feasible. One does not negate the other.
    Plus, I’m sure that should I post statistics about the amount of devastated civilian infrastructure and wide swathes of homes that are still waiting to be renovated or rebuilt in Gaza after the crushing conflict three (3) years ago between Israel and the Gaza Strip, you would cite some numbers to show a boom in construction there. Oh wait, you did.

    You said, “… the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.” Although you don’t cite your source, I don’t even need to ask – I find your statement perfectly believable – although a bit disingenuous. Two relevant and important facts are left out

    1) the reason there are thousands of Gazans in the construction trade and
    2) the projections that have been published showing it will take years and over two billion dollars to just recover from the destruction visited upon the strip three years ago (excluding the de-development suffered prior to the military offensive). You also omit the fact that although the amount of construction materials ok’d by Israel to enter the Gaza Strip has increased, it is still only a small percentage of what entered the strip prior to the Israeli imposed blockade and a pittance of what is needed.

    Good health to you Judo. I hope you have a good 2012.

  29. Judo,

    Amnesty International is a well-respected organization for a reason. Amnesty has performed credible work in support of human rights around the world for years. We have just celebrated the 50th anniversary with over 3 million supporters worldwide that support our vision “for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”

    AI advocates for human rights to be respected in every country where there are violations regardless of the country’s political system or regime, conservative or liberal, socialist or capitalist; where there are violations, Amnesty works hard to end the abuses, have those responsible held accountable and have human rights be an integral part of any system moving forward from that point. Sadly, this means we cover quite a few countries – if not all countries – so you should not take criticism or exposure of human rights violations by Israel so personally. Amnesty does not ‘pick on’ or single out any single country to advance some secret and shadowy political agenda. It is what it is. For more details, please check out http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are.

    As for myself, I am a long-time human rights activist (close to 30 years now) that has come to specialize on the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since I have lived in the region, studied there and continue to travel there regularly. Since I have been a member of Amnesty International USA since the early 80’s, I serve the section on the work surrounding concerns we have there with the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto administration in the Gaza Strip, Hamas. In all that time, I have not found any information coming from our research department that hasn’t been backed up by thorough methodology and well researched and documented data that is often substantiated by other, independent sources such as independent media reports, U.N. fact-finding missions, investigations by other credible, independent NGOs, etc….

    That being said, the statistics cited in this blog post come from credible, independent, international humanitarian and human rights organizations that came together as a coalition for this public statement and press release due to the startling numbers. Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved. This phenomenon is not new – it is a tactic that has been used by Israeli forces for decades – what is new is the dramatic growth in the numbers of those left homeless – a record number actually.

    Also, I think it is interesting that it is you that have used the term “ethnic cleansing” several times, yet you are accusing me of using this term. The blog itself does not use the term “ethnic cleansing”, nor is “ethnic cleansing” used in the coalition’s public statement. If this is what you or other readers take away from the facts and statistics cited in the piece, then so be it, but I wanted to point out that despite your anger on this point – you are simply wrong – neither Amnesty International nor I said that Israel was using “ethnic cleansing”.

    Also, the data you provided does not negate the fact that a record number of Palestinians have been displaced in 2011 showing a dangerous, but continuing increase over the past few years in demolitions and forced evictions.

    Construction happening while a startling increase in demolitions and forced evictions are taking place is quite feasible. One does not negate the other.
    Plus, I’m sure that should I post statistics about the amount of devastated civilian infrastructure and wide swathes of homes that are still waiting to be renovated or rebuilt in Gaza after the crushing conflict three (3) years ago between Israel and the Gaza Strip, you would cite some numbers to show a boom in construction there. Oh wait, you did.

    You said, “… the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.” Although you don’t cite your source, I don’t even need to ask – I find your statement perfectly believable – although a bit disingenuous. Two relevant and important facts are left out

    1) the reason there are thousands of Gazans in the construction trade and
    2) the projections that have been published showing it will take years and over two billion dollars to just recover from the destruction visited upon the strip three years ago (excluding the de-development suffered prior to the military offensive). You also omit the fact that although the amount of construction materials ok’d by Israel to enter the Gaza Strip has increased, it is still only a small percentage of what entered the strip prior to the Israeli imposed blockade and a pittance of what is needed.

    Good health to you Judo. I hope you have a good 2012.

  30. Judo,

    Amnesty International is a well-respected organization for a reason. Amnesty has performed credible work in support of human rights around the world for years. We have just celebrated the 50th anniversary with over 3 million supporters worldwide that support our vision “for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”

    AI advocates for human rights to be respected in every country where there are violations regardless of the country’s political system or regime, conservative or liberal, socialist or capitalist; where there are violations, Amnesty works hard to end the abuses, have those responsible held accountable and have human rights be an integral part of any system moving forward from that point. Sadly, this means we cover quite a few countries – if not all countries – so you should not take criticism or exposure of human rights violations by Israel so personally. Amnesty does not ‘pick on’ or single out any single country to advance some secret and shadowy political agenda. It is what it is. For more details, please check out http://www.amnesty.org/en/who-we-are.

    As for myself, I am a long-time human rights activist (close to 30 years now) that has come to specialize on the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since I have lived in the region, studied there and continue to travel there regularly. Since I have been a member of Amnesty International USA since the early 80’s, I serve the section on the work surrounding concerns we have there with the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto administration in the Gaza Strip, Hamas. In all that time, I have not found any information coming from our research department that hasn’t been backed up by thorough methodology and well researched and documented data that is often substantiated by other, independent sources such as independent media reports, U.N. fact-finding missions, investigations by other credible, independent NGOs, etc….

    That being said, the statistics cited in this blog post come from credible, independent, international humanitarian and human rights organizations that came together as a coalition for this public statement and press release due to the startling numbers. Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved. This phenomenon is not new – it is a tactic that has been used by Israeli forces for decades – what is new is the dramatic growth in the numbers of those left homeless – a record number actually.

    Also, I think it is interesting that it is you that have used the term “ethnic cleansing” several times, yet you are accusing me of using this term. The blog itself does not use the term “ethnic cleansing”, nor is “ethnic cleansing” used in the coalition’s public statement. If this is what you or other readers take away from the facts and statistics cited in the piece, then so be it, but I wanted to point out that despite your anger on this point – you are simply wrong – neither Amnesty International nor I said that Israel was using “ethnic cleansing”.

    Also, the data you provided does not negate the fact that a record number of Palestinians have been displaced in 2011 showing a dangerous, but continuing increase over the past few years in demolitions and forced evictions.

    Construction happening while a startling increase in demolitions and forced evictions are taking place is quite feasible. One does not negate the other.
    Plus, I’m sure that should I post statistics about the amount of devastated civilian infrastructure and wide swathes of homes that are still waiting to be renovated or rebuilt in Gaza after the crushing conflict three (3) years ago between Israel and the Gaza Strip, you would cite some numbers to show a boom in construction there. Oh wait, you did.

    You said, “… the growth of the Palestinian construction trade in Gaza is even higher than the West Bank. More than 100,000 Gazans are currently employed in the Gaza Palestinian construction trade.” Although you don’t cite your source, I don’t even need to ask – I find your statement perfectly believable – although a bit disingenuous. Two relevant and important facts are left out

    1) the reason there are thousands of Gazans in the construction trade and
    2) the projections that have been published showing it will take years and over two billion dollars to just recover from the destruction visited upon the strip three years ago (excluding the de-development suffered prior to the military offensive). You also omit the fact that although the amount of construction materials ok’d by Israel to enter the Gaza Strip has increased, it is still only a small percentage of what entered the strip prior to the Israeli imposed blockade and a pittance of what is needed.

    Good health to you Judo. I hope you have a good 2012.

  31. "500 Palestinian homes, wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank"

    Read carefully. There is no claim that 500 homes were destroyed. It would be better to break out the number of homes from the number of cisterns and itemize the number of other essential structures. The statement is misleading as can be seen from the subsequent comments.

  32. “500 Palestinian homes, wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and other essential structures have been destroyed in the West Bank”

    Read carefully. There is no claim that 500 homes were destroyed. It would be better to break out the number of homes from the number of cisterns and itemize the number of other essential structures. The statement is misleading as can be seen from the subsequent comments.

  33. And a happy 2012 to you Edith. May 2012 bring peace to the Palestinians and the Jews.

    The above discussion points out how important peace really is.

    The Palestinians managed to construct for themselves a net increase of at least 250,000 Palestinian homes in the last 4 years, at least 100 times more Palestinian homes constructed during this same period than the few hundred Palestinian homes torn down by the Israelis for lack of building permits. This is a great accomplishment for the Palestinians to have built such a huge number of homes.

    But can you imagine what an amazing country the Palestinians could have built under conditions of a Palestine homeland living side by side a peaceful Jewish homeland of Israel ? How many more homes could the Palestinians have built, how many Palestinian factories and workplaces too, how many Palestinian schools, universities, hospitals and scientific research centres the Palestinians could have built for themselves in addition ?

    If only the two sides came together and made peace, can you imagine just how much human creativity, Jew and Arab, could be diverted from war and released to the benefit of both sides to the conflict and the whole world?

    One year this will really happen, inshalla, and let 2012 be that year.

  34. And a happy 2012 to you Edith. May 2012 bring peace to the Palestinians and the Jews.

    The above discussion points out how important peace really is.

    The Palestinians managed to construct for themselves a net increase of at least 250,000 Palestinian homes in the last 4 years, at least 100 times more Palestinian homes constructed during this same period than the few hundred Palestinian homes torn down by the Israelis for lack of building permits. This is a great accomplishment for the Palestinians to have built such a huge number of homes.

    But can you imagine what an amazing country the Palestinians could have built under conditions of a Palestine homeland living side by side a peaceful Jewish homeland of Israel ? How many more homes could the Palestinians have built, how many Palestinian factories and workplaces too, how many Palestinian schools, universities, hospitals and scientific research centres the Palestinians could have built for themselves in addition ?

    If only the two sides came together and made peace, can you imagine just how much human creativity, Jew and Arab, could be diverted from war and released to the benefit of both sides to the conflict and the whole world?

    One year this will really happen, inshalla, and let 2012 be that year.

  35. Palestinians a martyr country, thanks to the Predator Israel state (backed by USA) who went to recuperate the dead corpses of Palestinians killed in their raids, take them to a TelAviv hospital and then sell the organs (heart, lungs, etc…) to foreign hospitals at ten thousand dollar a piece, maybe a nice way to make the raids profitable.

  36. Palestinians a martyr country, thanks to the Predator Israel state (backed by USA) who went to recuperate the dead corpses of Palestinians killed in their raids, take them to a TelAviv hospital and then sell the organs (heart, lungs, etc…) to foreign hospitals at ten thousand dollar a piece, maybe a nice way to make the raids profitable.

  37. dear Jean:
    How sad for you.
    It appears you yourself must have been a victim of this organ stealing, as it is obvious someone has stolen all your brains, judging by your comment.

  38. dear Jean:
    How sad for you.
    It appears you yourself must have been a victim of this organ stealing, as it is obvious someone has stolen all your brains, judging by your comment.

  39. No one has said anything about ethnic cleansing. I never said ethnic cleansing the person who wrote this blog post never said ethnic cleansing. Only you Judonimh keep bringing up ethnic cleansing. "The lady doth protest too much me think"

    Also, you act like all of the West Bank has to have permission from Israel to build and Israel is somehow being gracious by allowing Palestinians to build on land they own and they administer like in Area A of the West Bank where Palestinians are in control of that land so obviously they are building there. However in Area C where Israeli's are in charge of they are not allowing Palestinians to build.

    read this article by your beloved UN http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/59AE27FDECB03

    again judonimh no one has said anything about israel committing ethnic cleansing you go on these wild rants to defend your point without addressing any arguments. you haven't addressed, "Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved"

  40. No one has said anything about ethnic cleansing. I never said ethnic cleansing the person who wrote this blog post never said ethnic cleansing. Only you Judonimh keep bringing up ethnic cleansing. "The lady doth protest too much me think"

    Also, you act like all of the West Bank has to have permission from Israel to build and Israel is somehow being gracious by allowing Palestinians to build on land they own and they administer like in Area A of the West Bank where Palestinians are in control of that land so obviously they are building there. However in Area C where Israeli's are in charge of they are not allowing Palestinians to build.

    read this article by your beloved UN http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/59AE27FDECB03

    again judonimh no one has said anything about israel committing ethnic cleansing you go on these wild rants to defend your point without addressing any arguments. you haven't addressed, "Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved"

  41. No one has said anything about ethnic cleansing. I never said ethnic cleansing the person who wrote this blog post never said ethnic cleansing. Only you Judonimh keep bringing up ethnic cleansing. "The lady doth protest too much me think"

    Also, you act like all of the West Bank has to have permission from Israel to build and Israel is somehow being gracious by allowing Palestinians to build on land they own and they administer like in Area A of the West Bank where Palestinians are in control of that land so obviously they are building there. However in Area C where Israeli's are in charge of they are not allowing Palestinians to build.

    read this article by your beloved UN http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/59AE27FDECB03

    again judonimh no one has said anything about israel committing ethnic cleansing you go on these wild rants to defend your point without addressing any arguments. you haven't addressed, "Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved"

  42. No one has said anything about ethnic cleansing. I never said ethnic cleansing the person who wrote this blog post never said ethnic cleansing. Only you Judonimh keep bringing up ethnic cleansing. “The lady doth protest too much me think”

    Also, you act like all of the West Bank has to have permission from Israel to build and Israel is somehow being gracious by allowing Palestinians to build on land they own and they administer like in Area A of the West Bank where Palestinians are in control of that land so obviously they are building there. However in Area C where Israeli’s are in charge of they are not allowing Palestinians to build.

    read this article by your beloved UN http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/59AE27FDECB034BD85257793004D5541

    again judonimh no one has said anything about israel committing ethnic cleansing you go on these wild rants to defend your point without addressing any arguments. you haven’t addressed, “Despite figures you have provided showing construction; this still does not negate the fact that a RECORD NUMBER of Palestinians have been displaced due to home demolitions and forced evictions by Israeli authorities or that Israel is violating not just international law – but the human rights of these Palestinians involved”

  43. I don't really buy your denial. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck. Amnesty has indeed, by signing on to this ridiculous report, unjustifiably accused Israel of a racist ethnic cleansing campaign against the Palestinians .

    This is even though 98% of the Palestinian population including every single Palestinian population centre are in areas A, B and Gaza, areas where Israel has no absolutely zero control over any Palestinian building, where Israel is not involved in building permits issuance and does not do any building demolition.

    I will just repeat that figure since it was another undisputed fact Edith neglected to include in her blog above.

    Only 2% of the Palestinian population live in areas where they must obtain any Israeli building permits of any kind before building new structures.

    The other 98% of the Palestinian population live where they are completely free to build all they want and in fact they have done so very very successfully, constructing an astonishing record net increase of over 250,000 new Palestinian dwellings in just the last 4 years alone.

    True, about 2% of the Palestinian population temporarily pending god-willing a peace agreement still live under areas where the Israeli military has control over issuing building permits. All the above 500 demolitions mentioned in Edith's blog that supposedly took place all occurred in the section of the West Bank where these 2% of the Palestinian population lives

    Amnesty should not be going around making shrill extremist accusations against one side or the other, such as Edith's blog above which falsely implies some kind of mass dispossession of Palestinians is ongoing and leaves the impression some kind of racist ethnic cleansing is underway, which is all just a huge fabrication and you know it.

    No, the best way Amnesty could actually play a role in assisting all the victims of this conflict between Jew and Arab would be to urge the Palestinians and the Israelis to immediately restart peace negotiations without preconditions and rapidly come to an agreement so even the subject of Edith's blog, namely the 2% of Palestinians who must currently obtain Israeli military building permits before they build a home will get to live as soon as possible in a situation of peace and economic prosperity for both sides

  44. I don’t really buy your denial. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it is a duck. Amnesty has indeed, by signing on to this ridiculous report, unjustifiably accused Israel of a racist ethnic cleansing campaign against the Palestinians .

    This is even though 98% of the Palestinian population including every single Palestinian population centre are in areas A, B and Gaza, areas where Israel has no absolutely zero control over any Palestinian building, where Israel is not involved in building permits issuance and does not do any building demolition.

    I will just repeat that figure since it was another undisputed fact Edith neglected to include in her blog above.

    Only 2% of the Palestinian population live in areas where they must obtain any Israeli building permits of any kind before building new structures.

    The other 98% of the Palestinian population live where they are completely free to build all they want and in fact they have done so very very successfully, constructing an astonishing record net increase of over 250,000 new Palestinian dwellings in just the last 4 years alone.

    True, about 2% of the Palestinian population temporarily pending god-willing a peace agreement still live under areas where the Israeli military has control over issuing building permits. All the above 500 demolitions mentioned in Edith’s blog that supposedly took place all occurred in the section of the West Bank where these 2% of the Palestinian population lives

    Amnesty should not be going around making shrill extremist accusations against one side or the other, such as Edith’s blog above which falsely implies some kind of mass dispossession of Palestinians is ongoing and leaves the impression some kind of racist ethnic cleansing is underway, which is all just a huge fabrication and you know it.

    No, the best way Amnesty could actually play a role in assisting all the victims of this conflict between Jew and Arab would be to urge the Palestinians and the Israelis to immediately restart peace negotiations without preconditions and rapidly come to an agreement so even the subject of Edith’s blog, namely the 2% of Palestinians who must currently obtain Israeli military building permits before they build a home will get to live as soon as possible in a situation of peace and economic prosperity for both sides

  45. Hi there,

    “Israel’s increasing infractions demonstrate basic failing from the Quartet’s strategy. It is coming back the actual Quatern to comprehend which they are not able to help with attaining the simply and sturdy treatment for the actual discord without having very first making sure regard with regard to worldwide legislation. ”

    thanks
    mariya