By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

JERUSALEM, Israel/West Bank – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government has no plans to completely freeze Jewish settlements in the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

 

On September 14, Netanyahu told the Israeli Knesset that settlement construction in East Jerusalem will “go on as planned.” Netanyahu added that Israel had several different interests to balance in implementing its settlement policies.

 

“There has to be a balance between the desire to make progress in political negotiations and the need to allow inhabitants of Judea and Samaria to continue to lead normal lives,” said Netanyahu, referring to the Israeli names for region also known as the occupied West Bank.

 

Netanyahu’s statements came while U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell was in the region to move both the Israelis and the Palestinians toward restarting peace negotiations. For weeks, the U.S. and the Palestinians have urged the Israeli government to agree to a freeze on settlement development as a precondition to any peace talks.

 

Mitchell arrived in Israel on September 12 ahead of the United Nations General Assembly taking place during the week of September 21. Many observers speculate Mitchell is in the region to prepare Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

 

President Obama has requested that Israelis completely halt any new construction on existing settlements, following the requirements of the Roadmap, the agreement created during the Bush Administration’s peace efforts in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

 

The areas in dispute came under Israeli control after the 1967 Mideast War. Since 1967, both Israelis and Palestinians have claimed the area, which stretches from the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. Palestinians argue that Israeli settlements defeat the Palestinian goal of establishing a viable, independent state. Palestinian officials maintain their goal has remained unchanged, even in light of Netanyahu’s statements.

 

“Israel has to stop stalling and focus on creating the atmosphere for a resumption of the peace process. Its sole track should lead to the establishment of the Palestinian state,” said Sabri Seidam, an aide to President Abbas.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Al-Jazeera – Funeral Delays Netanyahu-US Talks – 14 September 2009

 

Associated Press – Netanyahu: No Complete West Bank Building Freeze – 14 September 2009

 

Christian Science Monitor – Netanyahu Defiant on Israeli Settlements Ahead of Mitchell Meeting – 14 September 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Netanyahu: East Jerusalem Settlements Not Up For Discussion – 14 September 2009

 

Voice of America – Israeli PM Rejects Halting Settlement Construction – 14 September 2009

 

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

AL-ZAHRA, Yemen – Twelve-year-old Yemeni girl, Fawziya Abdullah Youssef died after struggling for three days in labor. Youssef died of severe bleeding while giving birth to a stillborn in the al-Zahra district hospital in the Hodeida province 140 miles west of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.

Youssef was 11-years-old when her father married her to a 24-year-old man working in Saudi Arabia as a farmer. According to Ahmed Al-Quraishi, the chairman of Siyaj human rights organization, “this is one of many cases that exist in Yemen, the reason behind it is the lack of education and awareness, forcing many girls into marriage in this very young age.”

Despite its proximity to oil rich Saudi Arabia, Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world. Tribal customs dominate and more than a quarter of the country’s females marry before the age of 15, according to a recent report by the Social Affairs Ministry. This issue vaulted into the international spotlight after the case of Nujood[VAC1] Mohammad Ali, an 8-year old girl whose unemployed father arranged a marriage with a man 20-years her senior. Ali was granted a divorce by a Yemeni court, in explaining his actions the father cited fears that she may have been kidnapped by her would be spouse had he not arranged the marriage.

Ali’s lawyer Shada Nasser [VAC2] has been a vocal advocate for the child brides. She places the blame on the government for not adopting laws which would enact a minimum age for marriage. Nasser has said the government “should launch awareness campaigns in rural areas and prevent clerics from concluding marriage contracts for girls under the age of 17.”

For more information, please see:

UN News Centre – Yemen: Unicef Chief Deplores Death of 12 -Year-Old Bride – 15 – September 2009

Arab News – 12-Year-old Yemen Bride Dies in Labor – 14 – September – 2009

Chronicle – Yemeni 12-year-old dies in labor – 12 – September – 2009

Middle East Online – Tragedy In Yemen: 12-year-old bride dies giving birth – 13 – September – 2009

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

ANKARA, Turkey – Talks have come to a stand still after officials from Iraq and Syria met in Ankara to discuss Iraqi allegations that Syria is harboring militants allegedly involved in deadly bombings on August 19 which killed more than 100 people and wounded more than 600. Turkey has been acting as a peace broker throughout the crisis between the two nations, especially since the recall of envoys from each nation respectively last month.

Among those present at the high-level talks were Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

The Iraqi government spokesmen Ali al-Dabbagh claims that the Iraqi delegation has evidence to back their allegations including communications, financing and logistic support by people living in Syria and who have relations with al Qaeda. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki alleges that 90 percent of foreign fighters in Iraq have entered through Syria, a claim the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies. Further, Iraq claims that Syria is harboring two Baathist leaders who plotted the devastating bombings in August.  Iraq has demanded that Syria hand them over to Iraqi officials; a demand Syria has refused.

This diplomatic feud has strained already tarnished relations between the two countries, which saw a slight resurgence since the removal of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The talks collapsed after Syria refused acquiesce to Iraq’s demands that it extradite a list of people suspected to be involved in the bombings. Syria claims that the Iraqi government has not provided sufficient proof of involvement in the bombings to warrant extradition. The Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, speaking for the delegation, stated, “We consider this security meeting as the final one.  Such a meeting won’t happen in the future unless Syria positively responds to the unchallenged evidence and proof presented by Iraq. This is the final meeting.”

Moreover, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to the U.N. Security Council to set up an international tribunal to investigate the bombings. The Iraqi government hopes to ease tension by discussing the matter with United States Vice President Joe Biden during his visit.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Iraq and Syria to hold Ankara Talks – 13 September 2009

Yahoo News Agency – Iraqi Official: Talks with Syria over attacks fail – 16 September 2009

Reuters – Iraq says Syria must show will to stop militants – 11 September 2009

Government Inflicts Heavy Casualties on Rebel Forces in Northern Yemen as Humanitarian Crisis Looms

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’ADA, Yemen – Armed conflicts continue in Northern Yemen as Yemeni government forces engage rebel groups in the mountainous province of Sa’ada.  Regional sources claim that seventeen members of the Houthi rebel group were killed in the skirmish, which occurred in response rebel attacks in several regions. Furthermore, it has been reported that Yemeni government forces have inflicted heavy losses to the rebellion elements and destroyed several hideouts.

The government claims that the rebels are trying to impose religious Shia law. However, the rebels assert that the government is corrupt and has carried out airstrikes against villages in the region killing civilians. International Humanitarian Law requires warring parties at all times to distinguish between civilians and combatants, both the Government forces and Houthi rebels have pledged to do so. If the rebel’s assertions are true, the Government may be violating their pledge.

Moreover, a larger humanitarian crisis looms at Al-Mazraq refugee camp, located ten miles from the fighting near the Saudi Arabian border, where thousands of refugees have been displaced as a result of the fighting. Aid groups have stressed the possibility of humanitarian crisis, as the intense fighting has prevented aid groups from entering the region. Possible consequences of prevented access include lack of food to refugees and inadequate or nonfunctioning health facilities. Many of the refugees have been turned down at the border of Saudi Arabia while attempting to flee the conflict.

The United Nations (UN) is attempting to put together a cross border aid operation from inside Saudi Arabia. Although the UN has launched a $23 million dollar “flash aide” appeal to assist the approximately 150,000 displaced persons, as of now no funds have been received for the initiative. Currently the UN has been using emergency funds from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has approved a $2.5 million loan pending responses for the previous $23 million appeal. As of September 8, the refugees have received 170 metric tons of food delivered to camps in towns Hajjag and Sa’ada.

For more information, please see:

Saba News Agency – Armed Forces Cause Rebellion Elements Heavy Losses – 12 September 2009

Al Jazeera – ‘Heavy Losses’ in Yemen Fighting – 11 September 2009

UN News Centre – Yemen: UN Appeal Remains Unfunded As Thousands Flee Fighting Through Desert – 11 September 2009

BBC – Yemen Claims Success Over Rebels – 10 September 2009

Human Rights Watch – Armed Conflict in Northern Yemen – 28 August 2009

By Ann Flower Seyse
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt– Police have arrested one hundred fifty-five people for breaking fast during the daylight hours of the holy month of Ramadan, according to several Egyptian newspapers and human rights activists.

On September 9, Al-Arabiyya reported that an unnamed source within the interior ministry stated that Egypt has launched an unprecedented campaign to enforce prohibitions against eating, drinking, and smoking during the Muslim holy month.  Several human rights organizations have condemned the arrests as a violation of personal freedoms. Furthermore, many human rights activists have emphasized that these detentions have no legal or religious legitimacy.

During the Lunar month of Ramadan all healthy adults are expected to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sexual relations between dawn and dusk. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and sick individuals are not expected to keep the strict fast.

However, Gamal Eid of the Arabian Network for Human Rights (ANHR) said that fasting is something that people should do according to their own will, and that it is not an obligation, though many do fast out of courtesy. He further commented that there is no law that prohibits eating and drinking during the day in Ramadan, and that all citizens have the right to do so without being harassed. He believes that the government’s arrests are an implicit endorsement of turning Egypt into a religious state. He primarily blames the government for being complicit.

Negad Al Borei, head of the Institution for Democracy Development commented that he found it strange that, although the administration typically chases extreme religious and jihadist groups, it was executing an extreme policy based on religion. Khaled Ali, Executive Manager of the Hesham Mubarak Law Centre for Human Rights, accused the Ministry of imposing religiosity on citizens. 

For more information, please see:

Al Arabiyya News Chanel – Egypt Cracks Down on Breaking Ramadan Fast – 9 September 2009

J Post – Egyptians Irked By ‘Ramadan Eating’ Arrests – 9 September 2009

UPI – Ramadan Arrests Called Unconstitutional – 9 September 2009

LA Times – Egypt: Police Arrest 155 for Failing to Keep Ramadan – 7 September 2009