By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

BETHLEHEM, West Bank – On October 14, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians in Wadi Ahmed near Beit Jala from reaching their olive trees for the annual olive harvest. The harvesters told Ma’an News Agency that they went to their lands early in the morning, only to find large gates and barbed wire across the entrance to the groves.

 

When asked why they were barred, Israeli soldiers told the farmers they did not have the proper permits to harvest. Olive harvest season is central in Palestinian culture—many people take time off from work or university to help their families with the harvest. Olive harvest season is also traditionally a time of increased hostility between Israeli settlers and Palestinian farmers. With the construction of the Israeli barrier through the West Bank, many Palestinians have found themselves separated from their olive trees, some of which are thousands of years old and have been in Palestinian families for generations.

 

The farmers in Wadi Ahmed were accompanied by local and international activists, who said they believed their presence would prevent attacks by Israeli soldiers. When the farmers and the activists refused to leave the area, they reported that the soldiers screamed at them and told them “there were no crops on the trees anyway.”

 

Awad Abu Soury, a Bethlehem resident who was with the farmers, said the soldiers “invented false stories about permits needed to access lands,” and speculated that the soldiers did “it on purpose to spoil the harvest and keep owners away from their lands.”

 

Elsewhere in the West Bank, farmers near Nablus reported that Israeli soldiers warned them that if farmers bring international activists to their trees, farmers could be charged with a fine of $1700 (U.S.).

 

Palestinian police forces have promised extra protection for farmers this fall, particularly where clashes between farmers and settlers have broken out in the past. The harvest this fall is expected to be particularly low, and many farmers are concerned about harvesting all the fruit from their trees.

 

For more information, please see:

 

International Middle East Media Center – The Military Fines Local Farmers 1,700 USD if They Bring International Activists to Their Lands – 15 October 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Olive Harvesters Must Now Apply for Permits Before Accessing Lands – 15 October 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Olive Harvesters Get Security Details This Year – 14 October 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – Concerns Over Olive Harvest Increase for Families Under Threat of Settlers – 7 October 2009

 

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAMADI, Iraq – On October 11, a triple car bombing in Iraq killed between nineteen and twenty-six individuals, and injured over eighty. The bombings took place in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province. The attacks took place near the provincial government of Anbar. It is believed that the bombings were targeting a reconciliation meeting between Shi’ite-led government officials and the Sunni groups known as Awakening Councils.

The first bomb targeted individuals who were waiting outside of a municipal building waiting to claim money. Meanwhile, the second bomb went off after police and other emergency workers arrived on the scene. The third bomb went off close a security checkpoint on a road that led to the local hospital. Officials have reported that eighty percent of the individuals hurt by the attack were police.

The violence in Anbar province had been among the lowest in Iraq in the last two years. This was reportedly because many tribal leaders dropped their allegiance to al Qaeda in Mesopotamia (AQM). Those who dropped their allegiance to AQM joined forces with Awakening Councils that linked with the American military and the Iraqi government. The level in violence has, however, increased since American forces have ceded control of the province to Iraqi military forces.

The triple bombing allegedly targeted the reconciliation meeting between the Shi’ite and Sunni factions. The bombings failed to hit any of the individuals involved of the meeting. The goal of the gathering was create new election law. The rise in attacks and the inability of the two groups to come together on new laws increases concerns that the national elections currently scheduled for January will have to be postponed.

The concern for the election date coincides with a fear that insurgency in Anbar has regained its footing. Despite the previous lull in violence that the province had experienced, October has seen a number of attacks hit Anbar.  This attack is the latest in a string of recent attacks focused on tribal leaders and members of Iraqi security forces. Overall, however, violence in the country has gone down as September experienced the lowest death toll for the country as a whole since May.

For more information, please see:

Los Angeles Times – Iraq Bombings Target Reconciliation Meeting, Killing 26 – 12 October 2009

AFP – Triple Attacks Kill 19 In Western Iraqi City – 11 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Iraq Hit By Triple Car Bombing – 11 October 2009

New York Times – Bombings Outside Iraq Reconciliation Meeting Kill 23 – 11 October 2009

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – Fallout from Iran’s June election continues as the Islamic Republic sentenced three election protesters to death. The Iranian Students News Agency quoted a member of Tehran’s prosecutor’s office saying that the three protesters are to be hanged and are considered to be part of terrorist organizations according to the Iranian government. The Iranian Students News Agency reported on October 10 that the judgments against the unnamed detainees must be confirmed by a higher court.

Justice Ministry official Zahed Bashiri Rad is quoted as saying that the three protesters were convicted for maintaining ties to the banned monarchist group Kingdom Assembly of Iran and to the People’s Mujahedeen. Both of these groups advocate for the overthrowing of the Islamic Republic. The prosecutors claim that the accused admitted to spying, but human rights groups allege that these confessions came after torture was used.

While the names of the three condemned Iranians have not been confirmed, Rad agreed to give the initials of the convicts. Rad explained that “MZ and AP were convicted for ties with the Kingdom Assembly of Iran and NA for ties with the Monafeghin (People’s Mujahedeen).” A reformist website claimed that one of individuals to be put to death is an opposition activist named Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani.

Amnesty International released a statement urging Iran to rescind Zamani’s death sentence, which was imposed on October 8. The charges against Zamani include “enmity against God” and conspiring against national security. Zamani was also accused of illegally traveling to Iraq for an alleged meeting with a member of the U.S. military. Amnesty International USA Executive Director, Larry Cox, explained that “Zamani’s trial was a mockery of justice,” and encouraged Iran to withdraw the death sentence.

This marks the first time that an announcement was given that any of the hundreds of individuals arrested for protesting following the June 12 presidential election received death sentences. The June election was followed by mass street protests over alleged vote-rigging. Iranian authorities alleged that the protesters were sponsored by hostile nations. The opposition claims that sixty nine people died and thousands were arrested. Over one hundred prominent opposition leaders remain on trial for their role in the protests.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Iran Sentences 3 Election Protesters To Death – 11 October 2009

Al Jazeera – Death Sentences For Iran Protesters – 10 October 2009

New York Times – Tehran Plans To Execute 3 Protesters Of Election – 10 October 2009

UPI – 3 Iran Protesters Given Death Sentences – 10 October 2009

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – As intense fighting continues in northern Yemen, local government officials have accused al-Huthi rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The government urged people living in the area to flee to refugee camps set up throughout the area. The Yemeni government has set up four refugee camps.  However, SABA, Yemen’s official news agency, reported that the pathways to these safe havens have been dangerous due to escalations in the conflict.  The Supreme Security Council (SSC), which supervises the 63-day war, responded to repeated calls for safe corridors by attempting securing passage to the respective camps.

In past reports, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that both the rebels and government forces have endangered civilians during the fighting. In a July report, HRW said researchers found “allegations of serious law of war violations by both sides, including the use of children under 18 in combat, use of anti-personnel land mines in civilian areas, and taking civilians hostage.”

The current accusations by the Yemeni government echo the claims made by the president Ali Abdullah Saleh that rebels have been using civilians as human shields and killing civilians.   Rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Huthi responded by dismissing demands that the rebels leaving their mountain hideouts as this would amount to them leaving their lands. Furthermore, the rebels say they want autonomy and accuse Saleh of despotism and corruption in a drive to in power.  They also accuse him of introducing Sunni fundamentalism via his relationship with Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Military developments as of October 11 have been relatively quiet.  However, there have been air strikes on the rebels’ fortifications and supply movements, according to sources from the ground. The Ministry of Defense also reported that about 20 rebels were killed in different places in the two main frontlines of Harf Sufyan and al-Malahaid.

For more information please see:

CNN – Yemen Government: Rebels Use Civilians As Human Shields – 13 October 2009

Yemen Observer – Yemen Accuses Al-Houthi Rebels of Using Civilians as Human Shields – 13 October  2009

Reuters – Yemen President Says Rebels Use “Human Shields” – 20 September 2009

By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

EAST JERUSALEM, Israel/West Bank – On October 11, Israeli police lifted restrictions on Palestinians visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, two weeks after violence exploded around the site. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Temple Mount, is on land considered holy by both Jews and Muslims.

 

Since September 27, the Israeli police had closed the site to Muslim males under the age of fifty. On that day, Palestinians threw rocks at a group of visitors the Palestinians suspected of being right-wing extremists. The Israeli police responded with shun grenades. Many Palestinians expressed concern that the tourists would try to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a political statement during the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday. In the past, political tensions have sparked violence during the Jewish holy days. Most notoriously, the Second Palestinian Intifada, or Uprising, began after Ariel Sharon, who later went on to become Israeli Prime Minister, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holidays.

 

Prior to lifting the restrictions, Palestinians who did not meet the age requirement and did not have an Israeli ID card were barred from religious services at the mosque. Israeli soldiers were stationed at the gates to the mosque courtyard, checking the IDs of all who arrived. Demonstrations against the police action sprouted up throughout the West Bank and Gaza. On October 9, hostilities had heightened, with Israeli helicopters circling the site and several Palestinian news sources reported that Israeli police posing as journalists were sent into demonstrations to seize those participating.

 

While the police have lifted the restrictions, there may be further repercussions in the region. Jordan has threatened to expel Israel’s ambassador from Amman, citing the provision in the Jordanian-Israeli 1994 peace treaty in which Israel recognized Jordan’s right to look after all Muslim and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem. The United Nations considers East Jerusalem an occupied territory.

 

There were also unconfirmed rumors running through the city that Israel was planning to dig under the area, with the aim of building a synagogue on the site. At his cabinet meeting on October 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Arab world to ignore the “lies.” Prime Minister Netanyahu also directly addressed Israeli Arabs:

 

“You are citizens with equal rights; we want to live together in coexistence and bring our children prosperity.”

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Netanyahu to Arab World: Ignore “Lies” About Temple Mount – 12 October 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Christians Gather in Support of Muslims Trapped in Al-Aqsa – 12 October 2009

 

Press TV – Al-Aqsa Flares Up Tensions Between Israel, Jordan – 12 October 2009

 

Al Jazeera – Israel Lifts Al-Aqsa Restrictions – 11 October 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – Worshippers Banned from Reaching Al-Aqsa, Prayers Held Outside, Soldiers Pose as Journalists – 10 October 2009