The United Nation General Assembly
(UNGA) and the 15-member Security Council (UNSC) has passed over 600
resolutions related to the division of the former British mandate of Palestine
and the subsequent Palestinian-Israeli conflict since 1947. The following is an
assemblage of the most important objectives of the resolutions.
Resolution 181(ll) - 1947
On 29 of November 1947, the UNGA
adopted resolution 181, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at
the end of the British Mandate. Resolution 181(1947) was based on the plan of
creating two independent Arab and Jewish states and a special international
regime for the city of Jerusalem. According to the four-part Partition Plan,
attached to resolution 181(1947), the British armed forces would withdraw before 1 August 1948 and the
two new states would come to exist no later than 1 October 1948. In the
transition period a Commission, elected by UNGA and guided by UNSC, would take
over the administration of Palestine and help to establish a Constituent
Assembly of each state and administrative organs of government, central and local
in both the Arab and Jewish states. The intention of resolution 181(1947) was that the Constituent Assembly in
each state should draft a democratic constitution that guarantee:
“…all
persons equal and non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and
religious matters and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including freedom of religion, language, speech and publication, education,
assembly and association…”
Resolution 181(1947) prohibits
discrimination of any kind between inhabitants on the grounds of race,
religion, language or sex. All persons within the jurisdiction of the State
shall be entitled to equal protection of the laws. The UNGA still stand by its believe
in a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, as well be demonstrated
in all subsequent relevant resolutions.
1947 – 1948 Ethnic Cleansing of
Palestinians
One day following the vote on UNGA
Resolution 181 (1947) and its rejection by Arab States, Zionist paramilitary
troops commenced on 30 November 1947 in attacking Palestinian civilians and
villages and continued until 14 May 1948. The UNSC reacted by adopting Resolution
42 on 5 March 1948 by appealing to all governments and people to aid the
situation in any way possible. One month later, on 1 April 1948, UNSC noted
increasing violence and disorder in Palestine and called upon the Arab and
Jewish groups to cease act of violence immediately in resolution 43 (1948) and
UNSC asked the Jewish Agency of Palestine and the Arab Higher Committee to
collaborate with the Security Council in arranging and enforcing a truce.
UNSC’s resolutions 46 (1948), 48 (1948), 49 (1948), 50 (1948), 53 (1948), 54 (1948),
56 (1948), 61 (1948), 62 (1948), and 66 (1948) all followed and emphasized
Resolution 43 (1948), calling for a ceasefire and the maintenance of truce.
Conciliation Commission
The events that followed UNGA
Resolution 181 until 14 May 1948 led to the exodus of at least 700,000
Palestinians, who became refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza
Strip. In response to the refugee cause and to other implications of the ethnic
cleansing of Palestinians, UNGA adopted resolution 194 on 11 December 1948,
which states:
“Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to
their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do
so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for
the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to
property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be
made good by the Governments or authorities responsible”
The resolution also establishes a Conciliation
Commission, previously mentioned in resolution 181(1947). The purpose of the
Conciliation Commission is to establish contact between all stakeholders and
involved parties to achieve settlement of all outstanding issues and questions
between them. The resolution instructs the Conciliation Commission to seek
arrangements among the Governments and authorities that can “facilitate the
economic development of the area including arrangements for access to ports and
airfields and the use of transportation and communication facilities.” The work
of the Conciliation Commission continues to be relevant today because it has
never reached its objective.
1967 Arab-Israeli War
Continued tensions in the region between Israel
on one hand and Egypt, Jordan and Syria on another hand, ultimately led to the
outbreak of a full-scale war in 1967 when Israel set the objective to reopen
the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. 1967 Arab-Israeli War lasted from 5 –
10 June 1967. The war resulted in the occupation of the West Bank, including
east Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. Additionally,
Israel annexed east Jerusalem immediately after the war in contravention with
principles of international law. A
number of UN resolutions are relevant to the six day war, including UNSC resolutions
233 (1967), 234 (1967), 235 (1967), 236 (1967), 237 (1967) and UNGA resolution
2252 (1967) that called for an immediate ceasefire and emphasized the
importance of adhering to provisions of international humanitarian law,
including protection of the civil population, the prisoners of the war, and to
respect the human rights.
Following the 1967 war, the UNGA issued Resolutions 2256 (1967) and
2257 (1967), which emphasized that the UN remained seized on the matter of the
situation in the Middle East and added the situation to the agenda of the 22nd
regular session of the General Assembly. UNSC Resolution 242 (1967) recalled
that all member states in their acceptance of the Charter of the United Nations
have committed to act in accordance with the Charter principles, emphasizing
the inadmissibility of the acquisition through the use of force and the need to
work for a just and lasting peace in the region. UNSC Resolution 242 demanded Israel
to withdraw its armed forces from territories occupied after the war in 1967
and to acknowledge the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of every state with the right to live in peace and security.
Israeli
practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian People
Israel’s
continued occupation of Palestinian territory, including the annexation of east
Jerusalem, following the 1967 war and associated system of oppression and
domination is in violation of International Humanitarian Law, including
the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to
the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; relevant
UN Resolutions; and International Human Rights Law. This includes the
acquisition of territory through the use of force, whether through annexation
or through settlement expansion; use of collective punishment; restrictions on
freedom of movement and closure of areas; and policies and practices designed
to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of
the State of Palestine, including Jerusalem. UNGA resolution 54/79(1999)
addressed this issue, emphasizing these actions and measures’ inadmissibility
and illegality, calling for their immediate rescind, particularly those
pertaining to the territorial integrity of Palestine.
On
another level, UNGA expresses grave concern with respect to Israeli acts of
violence, intimidation and provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian
civilians, and properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural
lands; further, UNGA condemns acts of terror by several extremist Israeli
settlers in resolution 72/14(2017). Additionally, UNGA, in resolution
72/14(2017) highlights the disastrous socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis in
the Gaza Strip due to the blockade and point out that efforts should be aimed
at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy and opening
Gaza’s borders.
Assistance to Palestine Refugees
In the aftermath of the ethnic
cleansing of Palestinians in 1948, UNGA stressed its concerns about the
Palestinian refugees on 19th November 1948 in its resolution 212,
which emphasized the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinian refugees and
need for aid and relief, stating:
“…action must be taken to determine the necessary
measures [of relief] and to provide for their implementation”
Resolution 212 (1948) paved the way
for the establishment of the United Nations Work and Relief Agency for
Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) through UNGA Resolution 302 of
December 1949. The presence of the UNRWA to provide relief services does not
negate the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland in
accordance with UNGA’s
resolution 194 (1948). Resolution 194(1948), recalled countless times, stresses that
“Refugees wishing to return to their
homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at
the earliest practicable date, and that compensations should be paid for the
property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property
which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good
by the Governments or authorities responsible.”
As Resolution 194 is yet to be realized in
fulfillment of the Palestinian right of return, the UNGA has repeatedly renewed
UNRWA’s mandate recently extending it until 30 June 2020.
Notwithstanding UNRWA’s relief and work
programs, the right of return of Palestinian refugees is recalled, since 1948,
annually by the UNGA: resolution 302 (1949), 393 (1950), 394 (1950), 513 (1952),
614 (1952), 720 (1953), 881 (1954), 916 (1955), 1091 (1957), 1018 (1957), 1191
(1957), 1315 (1958), 1456 (1959), 1604 (1961), 1725 (1961), 1856 (1962), 1912 (1963),
2002 (1965), 2052 (1965), 2154 (1966), 2341 (1967), 2380 (1968), 2522 (1969), 2653 (1970),
2756 (1971), 2912 (1972), 3053 (1973), 3227 (1974), 3370 (1975), 31/22 (1976),
32/40 (1977), 32/111 (1977), 33/81 (1978), 34/52 (1979), 35/13 (1980), 36/146(1981),
37/120(1982), 38/83 (1983), 39/99 (1984), 40/165 (1985), 41/69 (1986), 42/69 (1987),
43/58 (1988), 44/47 (1989), 45/73 (1990), 46/46 (1991), 47/69 (1992), 48/40 (1993),
49/35 (1994), 50/28 (1995), 51/128 (1996), 52/63 (1997), 52/62 (1997), 53/51 (1998),
54/75 (1999), 54/74 (1999), 55/129 (2000) 55/128 (2000), 56/58 (2001), 56/57 (2001),
56/56 (2001), 58/95 (2002), 58/95 (2003), 59/120 (2004), 59/119 (2004), 60/102 (2005),
61/114 (2006), 62/104 (2007), 63/93 (2008), 64/89 (2009), 65/100 (2010), 66/74 (2011),
67/116 (2012), 68/78 (2013), 68/88 (2014), 70/85 (2015), 71/93 (2016), and
72/80 (2017).
As can be seen, the issue of
Palestine refugees remains on the agenda of the UN since 1948. In resolution 72/80
adopted on 7 December 2017, the UNGA refers to the growing needs of the
Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic and Palestine;
emphasizes the inalienability of the right of return of Palestinian refugees;
and requests funding to support the work of UNRWA in its work to provide
education, health, relief and social services and ongoing work in the areas of
camp infrastructure, microfinance, protection and emergency assistance.
That same day UNGA also adopted
resolution 72/83(2017) recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
the principles of international law to uphold that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived
of his or her property. Furthermore, resolution 72/83 (2017) recalls resolution
394 (1950), in which the Conciliation Commission, continued in consulting with
concerned parties to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights,
property and interests of Palestine refugees. The Conciliation Commission
announced in its twenty-second progress report that the Land Office has a schedule
of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other
particulars of Arab property. The importance of this information lies in
facilitating a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in
conformity with resolution 194 (1948).
International Status of the City of
Jerusalem
One
of the most contentious issues revolves around the legal status of east
Jerusalem and especially the Old City of Jerusalem. Positions on the legal
status of Jerusalem vary among States. Proposals range from support to east
Jerusalem being the capital of the State of Palestine and west Jerusalem the
capital of the State of Israel while another proposal seeks to confer an international
status over the unified city as outlined in UNGA’s resolution 181 (1947). The plan was that the UN should
administer the international status
of Jerusalem to preserve freedom of transit and visits for all residents and
citizens, while Israel and Palestine should control residence within its
borders. According to UNGA’s resolution 181(1947) and
the following UNGA resolutions; the borders of the City
of Jerusalem should include the municipality of Jerusalem plus the surrounding
villages and towns, the most eastern of which shall be Abu Dis, the most southern
Bethlehem, the most western, Ein Karim (including also the built-up area of
Motsa); and the most northern, Shu'fat. The UNGA requested in 1947 of UNSC to
take further steps to ensure the demilitarization of Jerusalem, and UNGA asked
for an agreement, among the Governments and authorities concerned, of the
freest possible access to Jerusalem by road, rail or air to all inhabitants of Palestine.
After the Arab-Israeli War 1947-1949,
UNGA’s resolution 303(1949) clarifies that UNGA remains on the position it held
before the war. Additionally, after the Arab-Israeli War in 1967, UNSC
reaffirmed in resolution 252 (1968) that Israel has failed to comply with UNGA
resolutions and emphasized the illegality of the annexation of east Jerusalem
in light of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory through the use
of force. Additionally, the UNSC considers all legislative and administrative actions taken by Israel
to change the status of Jerusalem, “including expropriation of land and
properties thereon, which tend to change the legal status of Jerusalem” remain
invalid and cannot change that status. UNSC’s resolution 271 (1969) announced
in the aftermath of arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Denis
Michael Rohan, that the attack underlined Israel’s need to respect previous UN
Resolutions and condemned Israel for failing to do so.
Another
important UNSC resolution on this issue is resolution 478(1980).
While Israel de facto annexed east Jerusalem in June
1967, it completed the de jure annexation in gradual, incremental steps.
In 1980, the Israeli Knesset passed “Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel.”
The law stated in Article 1 “Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of
Israel”. In response, UNSC Resolution
478 reaffirmed in its preamble that the acquisition of territory by force is
inadmissible, censured in the strongest terms Israel’s enactment of the “basic
law”, decided not to recognize the “basic law”, and requested that member
states that have established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw them.
The
declaration of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, that Jerusalem
is the capital of Israel on 6 December 2017 was met with a Security Council
Resolution to withdraw recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Naturally, the resolution was vetoed by the United States. Consequently, an
emergency session for the UNGA was organized, which voted in a landslide to
withdraw recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in accordance with
the ‘Uniting for Peace’ procedure. The importance of this vote lies in that the
procedure, under UNGA Resolution 377 (1950), serves as a pathway around a
Security Council veto.
Another
important resolution is UNGA resolution 56/31 (2001), which
determined that Israel, the occupying power, has altered or purported to alter
the character of the city and UNSC called these legislative, administrative
measures and actions taken by Israel: “…null and void and must be rescinded
forthwith.” Additionally, UNGA resolution 63/30 (2009) expressed grave
concern about the continuation of illegal settlement activities including the
so called E-1 plan; Israel’s construction of the wall in and around east
Jerusalem; its restrictions on access to and residence in east Jerusalem; and
the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. All these acts have a detrimental effect on the lives of
Palestinians. Resolution 63/30 (2009) points towards a solution that takes
considerations of both parties into account and that ensure the freedom of
religion, conscience of its inhabitants and permanent, free and unhindered
access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities.
Israeli Settlements
Settlement construction and expansion
is illegal under International Humanitarian Law. Article 49, paragraph 6,
states:
“The Occupying Power shall not deport or
transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
The latest binding Resolution on the
issue of settlements is UNSC Resolution 2334 (2016). The resolution recalled previous
resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 478
(1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008). Resolution 2334 (2016) is a
firm and insisting reminder of Israel’s obligations, as the occupying power, to
respect its legal obligations and responsibilities having signed the Fourth
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949. UNSC condemn all measures at altering the demographic
composition, character and status of the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including east Jerusalem. These being the construction and expansion of
settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, and demolition
of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians. These actions are in
violation with international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions.
UNSC reiterated its concern that
settlement activities are threatening the objectives and realization of the
two-state solution and recalled its obligation under the Quartet roadmap in
resolution 1515 (2003) for a freeze of all settlements by Israel, including
“natural growth”, and the dismantlement of all settlements build since 2001. In
resolution 2234 (2016) UNSC continue to push for its vision of a region where
two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within
secure and recognized borders. “…status quo is not sustainable and that
significant steps consistent with the transition contemplated by prior
agreements...”
In resolution 2234 (2016) UNSC called
upon member states to bear in mind to distinguish between the State of Israel
and the territories occupied since 1967. UNSC called upon both parties to
refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric to
de-escalate the situation, rebuild trust and confidence, demonstrated through
policies and actions committed to the two-state solution and creating the
conditions necessary for promoting peace.
UNSC resolution 446 (1979) determines that the
policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and
constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace in the Middle East. Several UNSC and UNGA resolutions since 1967 have
recalled resolution 242 (1967) and 446 (1979) to persist in pressuring Israel
to uphold and abide by the principles of international law.
Israeli settlements also existed within
Egyptian territory in the Sinai Peninsula and within the Gaza Strip following
the 1967 war. Israel dismantled 18 settlements in the Sinai Peninsula in 1982
and 2005 it dismantled 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and 4 in the West Bank.
However, Israel continues to expand its settlements and setting new areas for
construction in the West Bank despite numerous UN resolutions.
The Israeli Government and PLO in the
United Nation General Assembly
While Israel was granted membership
in the United Nations on 4 March 1949 through UNSC resolution 69 (1949),
considering Israel is a peace-loving state, Palestine is yet to enjoy a similar
status.
On 29 November 2012 UNGA adopted
resolution 67/19 (2012) in which UNGA recalled the principle of resolution
58/292 (2004) affirming that the status of the Palestinian territory occupied
since 1967, including east Jerusalem remains a military occupation. According
to international law and relevant UN resolutions, as the Palestinian people are
entitled to the right of self-determination and to sovereignty over their
territory, the UNGA continues to recognize the PLO as a non-state observer entity
in UNGA.
The PLO was granted the status of
non-state observer for the first time on 22 November 1974 when UNGA adopted
resolution 3237 (1974). The Resolution effectively recognized the PLO as the
sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Nine years later UNGA
past resolution 43/160 (1988) granted the PLO the right to circulate
communications without intermediary like other official documents of UNGA.
Later the same year UNGA in resolution 43/177 agreed on changing the term they
use to describe PLO in the UN system. As UNGA recognizes the PLO as the
representative of the Palestinian people, the PLO is referred to as ‘Palestine’
in the UN system. In UNGA resolution 52/250 (1998) Palestine was granted the
right to participate in general debate and additional rights.
In resolution 67/19 (2012) UNGA expressed
its hopes that UNSC will consider the State of Palestine’s application to
become a full member of the UN.
Healthcare Restricted: Female Cancer Patients in Gaza
Date posted: June 07, 2023
By MIFTAH
Background:
The Israeli-imposed siege and the frequent aggressions targeting medical facilities in Gaza have debilitated the health sector and its capacity to provide proper medical services. This is exacerbated in cases of chronic diseases, which gives rise to a need to leave the Gaza Strip to receive medical treatment in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, or elsewhere. However, Israel imposes a strict and discriminatory permit regime, which has a disproportionate impact on medical patients given their conditions, and it is not unusual for these permits to be significantly delayed or ultimately refused by Israel.
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) collected questionnaires from 102 women diagnosed with cancer in the Gaza Strip to assess the quality of the treatment, availability of equipment, accessibility, and referral process.
The full report is accessible here.
Conclusion and recommendations:
The 16-year-long Israeli-imposed blockade and closure on Gaza have had detrimental impacts on the health sector in the besieged Strip. Specifically, the siege has compromised the ability of the healthcare sector to deliver proper medical services due to the absence of crucial medication, equipment, and supplies under flimsy security pretexts. Ultimately, frequent aggressions and targeting of health facilities and the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza compromise the availability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare services available to Palestinians in Gaza.
MIFTAH urges the international community to:
- Put an end to Israel’s impunity and hold it accountable for its persistent crimes, including the crime against humanity of apartheid, through the adoption of effective and concrete measures;
- Exert pressure to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow for the free movement of people and goods;
- Ensure the urgent implementation of UNSCR 1325 to provide immediate protection for Palestinian women and to put an end to Israel’s impunity;
- Support the UN Special Rapporteur in the oPt, the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, the ICC investigation and the UN Commission of Inquiry.
The summary factsheet is accessible here.
Financial indicators for the Family Protection Bill
Date posted: May 17, 2023
By MIFTAH
The legislation of the family protection bill is aimed at the protection of the family itself as an institution, and to guarantee its preservation. Palestinian legislators are aware of the importance of this bill, which is why all ministries and official institutions committed to developing its relevant programs, policies and plans, each according to their field of expertise. Their goal is to contribute to the promotion of a culture that combats domestic violence and encourages the response of public policies to this objective, through education, health, legislation and the media. Another objective is to track the bill’s impact and periodically assess it in cooperation with other civil societies. This paper focuses on some of the financial indicators pertaining to this bill.
All family members in Palestine are subjected to violence, including children, minors, women and men. However, married women remain the sector most vulnerable to domestic violence according to a 2019 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics survey. It said 29.4% of married women had been subjected to at least one type of violence by their husbands as opposed to 13% of men who had been subjected to violence by their wives, by their own confession. A total of 44.7% of individuals who have never been married have been subjected toviolence;7.6% of the elderly and 44.2% of children(12-17yearsold) were the victims of violence at the hands of one of their parents. Although a high percentage of women have been victims of violence from their spouse, a considerable percentage of these women, around 60.3% preferred to stay silent about the assault. Only a small percentage of women asked for help through official avenues; 2.9% went to a defence lawyer to file a lawsuit against their husbands, 1.3% went to the police or a family protection unit and 1.4% went to the centres for mental, social and legal aid.
Financial indicators for the Family Protection Bill
| Article of Bill/Law by Decree | Relevant party | Estimated cost |
| Article(4) specialization of Ministry of Social Development: The Ministry, in cooperation with government and civil society organizations, provide the following services to victims of domestic violence: 1.Protection and fulfilment of needs of the victim; economically and socially empowering her and reintegrating her in society in order to preserve the family fabric, while ensuring not to equate the victim with the perpetrator. 2.Appointing protection counsellors in all directorates and qualifying them to deal with domestic violence cases 3.Providingsocial, psychological and legal experts to provide victim support 4.Ensuringthe provision of social, psychological, health and legal services to domestic violence victims in coordination with relevant parties. 5.Preparing rehabilitation programs for perpetrators of domestic violence crimes 6.Coordination and cooperation with government and civil society organizations to provide the necessary training for the enforcers of this law by decree. Preparing the necessary preventative plans and programs against domestic violence |
Ministry of Social Development | ILS12 million over 3 years on average of ILS4 million year, based on a study prepared by the Ministry of Social Development |
| Article 6: Family and Minors Protection Police: In accordance with the provisions of this bill/law by decree, a family and minor protection police will be established, with branches set up in all districts of the homeland. It’s specializations are the following: 1.Goingtothe place of the domestic violence incident when the informer states that the violence has occurred, is about to occur is ongoing; or in case of violation of a restraining order, even if the informer is not the victim 2.Providingfree 24-hourhotlinestohelp victims |
Palestinian police and Family and Minors Protection Department
Reform and Rehabilitation Centres Department |
ILS7.3 million/year (the study is based on the number of those working in the family and minors protection department and their mean salary)
ILS1.3 million/year (the study is based on the number of those working in reform and rehabilitation enters, which includes special sections for women boarders) |
| Article7: Family Protection Prosecution 1.In accordance with the provision of this bill/law by decree, a prosecution’s office will be established to follow up on domestic violence cases in all districts and will operate under the supervision of the Attorney General in accordance with penal measures in force. 2. This family protection prosecution office will promptly investigate domestic violence incidents while also preserving the privacy and dignity of the victim |
Family Protection Prosecution | ILS1.7 million, based on the number of relevant prosecution agents and their mean salaries |
| Article10: parties qualified to issue restraining orders 1.Restrainingorders will be issued by the following parties of their own accord: a. Family Protection Prosecution b. The presiding judge |
Presiding judges | ILS1.9 million, based on the number of judges and their mean salaries |
| Total expected estimated cost | ILS16.2 million |
The table above shows that the estimated and main additional cost of the Ministry of Social Development to be around ILS4 million a year, considering that the other parties (police, prosecution and courts) are currently carrying out their roles without fully allocating specialized departments for protection from violence. However, if these parties do allot specialized departments for protection from violence, overall costs will reach approximately ILS16.2 million. Nonetheless, even if this cost is incurred, it still only comprises a small part of public expenditures, approximately 0.1%. Overall public expenditures for 2022 amount to approximately ILS16.2 billion, which means the cost of passing this bill and implementing its provisions will not constitute financial burden on the general budget and will not be an obstacle to ratifying the law by decree.
Furthermore, it should be noted that while it is imperative to calculate some of the costs resulting from violence against women, the reaerate the high costs as well. The secret social costs, which impact society as a whole. Data from the Ministry of Social Development showed (see graph), that violence exercised against women has prompted around 60% of them to flee their homes. Also, 18% of them attempted suicide in addition to suffering from mental and physical illnesses, unwanted pregnancies or others. Calculating expenses incurred from violence is not an easy process and there are no national data or figures that can measure the impact violence has on the state’s general budget due to the prevalent mentality towards violence as an issue associated only with women. This is especially true when the conversation is about the indirect and intangible effects of violence, including:
Violations of human rights; negative social, economic and political impacts; working women who get sick and need to take sick leave; lack of focus and productivity; impact of violence on children and academic failure; the rise in the percentage of school dropouts among children; the rise in long-term unemployment rates; the percentage of homeless children who become a burden on society; government expenditures for medical treatment; safehouses; therapy; monitoring cases of violence against women; individual expenses for following up on legal cases and lawyer fees; loss of income because of repeated absence from work or inefficacy; social expenses resulting from the breakup of the family; expenses of training individuals on how to deal with cases of violence; expenses for issuing laws and legislation on the protection of women from violence.
Confirmation of the above is that the UN believes the economic, social and health costs of violence against women are, to a large extent, undocumented and unrecognized. However, these remain colossal, according to researchers, specialists and defenders of women’s rights.
To view the full factsheet as PDF
Israeli state-sanctioned settler terrorism: A gendered lens
Date posted: April 26, 2023
By MIFTAH
Background:
The illegal Israeli settlement project, including settler-only bypass roads, military checkpoints, and the annexation wall, continues to expand and steal more Palestinian land and resources. As of today, the number of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, is close to 300, with around 750,000 Jewish settlers residing in them.
Israeli state-sanctioned settler terrorism against Palestinian civilians and property is prevalent and has been on the rise in recent years. Violence takes the form of psychological, physical, and verbal violence, including beating, throwing stones or sharp tools, intimidation, shooting, verbal assaults, and assaults on agricultural lands, cars, and homes. Such attacks are committed in the presence of Israeli occupation forces who often join them.
The high frequency of these forms of violence and their persistence give rise to psychological, physical, and material harm. Palestinian survivors of settler terrorism seldom press charges and file complaints against Israeli settlers given the complicity of the Israeli law enforcement system.
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) and the Women’s Center for Legal and Counseling (WCLAC) collected questionnaires from 229 Palestinian women covering settler violence in the occupied West Bank governorates of Al-Khalil/Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.
MIFTAH calls on the international community to:
Put an end to Israel’s impunity and hold it accountable for its persistent crimes, including the crime against humanity of apartheid, through the adoption of effective and concrete measures;
Stop all relations and trade with illegal Israeli settlements including international companies that profit from them;
Criminalize and blacklist Israeli settler groups that engage in terrorist activities and hold those with dual citizenship accountable in their respective states;
Ensure the urgent implementation of UNSCR 1325 to provide immediate protection for Palestinian women and to put an end to Israel’s impunity;
Support the UN Special Rapporteur in the oPt, the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, the ICC investigation and the UN Commission of Inquiry.
