A Voice for the Voiceless

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

RAMALLAH, West Bank – On April 30, a group of three Israeli and three Palestinian officials released a joint report stating that Israel should remove ten important West Bank checkpoints to boost Palestinian economy and to increase the possibility of peace.  The group stated that moving the roadblocks would not compromise Israeli security, but their removal would decrease disruptions to Palestinian trade and movement.

Palestinian group members included Nasir Tahboub – an advisor to the Palestinian prime minister, Samih al Abed – a former minister of planning, and Abdul Hafeez Nofal – a senior official in the trade ministry.

Israeli members included Adi Ashkenazi – former Head of the Civil Administration Economics Department in the West Bank and Gaza, reserve Brig Gen Ilan Paz – former head of the Civil Administration in Beit El, and reserve Brig Gen Dov Tsdaka – also the former head of the Civil Administration in Beit El.  A significant portion of the report’s impact is from the fact that two members of the group are former Israeli generals in charge of the administration of the West Bank.

Gen Paz said, “It is our belief that now, more than ever before, it is in Israel’s long-term security interest to thoroughly assess the efficiency of the checkpoints and roadblocks regime, in relation to the damage and disruption they cause.”

“While there was once a serious security need for checkpoints and roadblocks, this need is diminishing with time,” the study said. “The checkpoints and roadblocks policy, however, has not changed accordingly.”

In addition, international donor states to the Palestinian Authority will meet in London on May 2.  It is expected that Israel will face sharp criticism for not doing more to boost the Palestinian economy.  Also, it is expected that the international donors will put pressure Israel to open Gaza’s borders and lift the blockade.

For more information, please see:

Ha’aretz – Donor Nations: Israel Must Lift West Bank Barriers – 2 May 2008

BBC – New Plan For W. Bank Checkpoints – 30 April 2008

Associated Press – Study: Israel can remove 10 Key West Bank Checkpoints – 12 April 2008

Independent – Israel Told To Tackle West Bank Plight – 30 April 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Over 1,000 Iraqis were killed across that country this month, reports AFP, reversing a trend of declining violence in Iraq.  Data from Iraq’s interior, health and defense ministries indicate that over 966 of those killed were civilians.

Most were killed in the crossfire in the fighting between Shiite militants and security forces, security officials said.  Combined figures from the three ministries complied by AFP shows that over 1,700 civilians were wounded in this violence, as well.

Violence in Iraq had been declining until March, when fighting broke out in Basra, and spread to other Shiite areas of Iraq.  These clashes broke out after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on militiamen.  After fresh fighting broke out in Sadr City, Maliki accused militiamen of using civilians as human shields.

“Criminals and lawless gangs are using human shields in Sadr City… They are following the steps of the Baathist regime,” he said.  “They are trying to gain sympathy but they are using the lies and values of the former regime [of Saddam Hussein].”

Two hospitals in Sadr City alone said they received the bodies of 421 Iraqis killed and have treated more than 2,400 wounded since late March, many of whom have been civilians caught in the crossfire.

For more information, please see:
BBC News – Baghdad clashes ‘leave 400 dead’ – 30 April 2008

Washington Post – April Iraq’s Deadliest Month Since Last August – 30 April 2008

AFP – Iraq bloodshed in April kills 1073 – 30 April 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Over 1,000 Iraqis were killed across that country this month, reports AFP, reversing a trend of declining violence in Iraq.  Data from Iraq’s interior, health and defense ministries indicate that over 966 of those killed were civilians.

Most were killed in the crossfire in the fighting between Shiite militants and security forces, security officials said.  Combined figures from the three ministries complied by AFP shows that over 1,700 civilians were wounded in this violence, as well.

Violence in Iraq had been declining until March, when fighting broke out in Basra, and spread to other Shiite areas of Iraq.  These clashes broke out after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on militiamen.  After fresh fighting broke out in Sadr City, Maliki accused militiamen of using civilians as human shields.

“Criminals and lawless gangs are using human shields in Sadr City… They are following the steps of the Baathist regime,” he said.  “They are trying to gain sympathy but they are using the lies and values of the former regime [of Saddam Hussein].”

Two hospitals in Sadr City alone said they received the bodies of 421 Iraqis killed and have treated more than 2,400 wounded since late March, many of whom have been civilians caught in the crossfire.

For more information, please see:
BBC News – Baghdad clashes ‘leave 400 dead’ – 30 April 2008

Washington Post – April Iraq’s Deadliest Month Since Last August – 30 April 2008

AFP – Iraq bloodshed in April kills 1073 – 30 April 2008