Orphans Under Threat: The United Nations Report

Saturday, April 26, 2008

The United Nations Report

Date: 15 April 2008
Mr. Maxwell Gaylard
Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian and
Development activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Dear Mr. Gaylard,
I am writing to you in my capacity of chair of the inter-agency Protection Sector Working Group (PSWG) in the oPt and on behalf of its members.
The PSWG would like to seek the Humanitarian Coordinator’s intervention regarding the IsraeliDefense Force’s (IDF) recent order to close and confiscate establishments owned by the Islamic Charitable Society in the city of Hebron (translated copies of the orders are enclosed). The closure and confiscation orders stipulate that the Islamic Charitable Society is an illegal organisation affiliated with Hamas, impose the closure of targeted establishments for three years and transfer their ownership to the IDF. The establishments affected include a school under construction for 1500 girls, the Al Huda market building - which includes a children’s library, eights shops, a physiotherapy centre, a dental and a cardiology clinic, three NGOs, including the Muslim Youth Society - the Islamic Charitable Society’s warehouse a restaurant and two bakeries. The Charitable Society employs close to 550 staff, including teachers and counselors.The Charitable Society also runs two orphanages. Although no written orders were issued by the IDF relating to these orphanages, the IDF has issued oral instructions to close these institutions and to evict their residents. These instructions were allegedly followed by two raids
on the orphanages. In one of these raids (on 6 March) the IDF apparently confiscated all the clothing, food, stationary and other supplies of the children. A second raid was reportedly carried out in the middle of the night, causing harassment and fear among the children. These orphanages accommodate and care for 3192 children, out of whom 95 children cannot return home due to severe economic hardship and 55 who have no family at all. The remaining 3042 children have either one single parent or only extended family. It is understood that as of now, the Hebron Islamic Charitable Society has no contingency plans for shelter or humanitarian assistance for these children, should they be forcibly evicted.
To read the report..............
http://www.4shared.com/file/45451745/7d0c2e25/080415_UNSCO1.html

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Are Schools and Orphanages Under Threat?

Our Lawyer, Mr Jawad Bulus, An Israeli Arab, appealed to the Israeli military within the 14 day period they alloted with closure orders. On 30 th of March , Mr Bulus received the following..........

Attn: lawyer Jawad Bulus
Subject: Closure of the Islamic Charitable Society in Hebron
Our Ref.: 2\6\00 – 2\4066 of 19\10\2005
2\6\000 – 2\6246 of 9 March 2008
Your Ref: of 3\3\08 and at our office on 9 March 2008 and 23 March 2008
By this we declare receiving your appeal of the above mentioned subject.
In your appeal, you explained the requests of the Islamic Charitable Society (ICS) against the closure and confiscation orders of properties that were issued by the General of Command (GOC) In Judea and Samaria.
In the above mentioned appeal you stated the following:
a) The GOC has no authority to close or confiscate properties in A or B areas which are under the full responsibility Palestinian Authority (PA).
b) The ICS is not connected to Hamas.
According to what you explained, you asked the GOC to cancel the closure and confiscation orders that were issued against the facilities and properties of the ICS.
I do inform you in this regard that your appeal was proposed to the GOC who insisted to refuse it for the following reasons:

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28. As we mentioned earlier, we would like to inform you that the claims of your client of absence of authority in A and B areas were discussed several times before and they were rejected.
29. We would like to draw your attention, in this regard; to the military court order of appeal 2016 \ 07 (enclosed) which explains the point.
30. To sum up, it was proved that your client (ICS) has connections with Hamas, the illegal party, and due to this there is an everlasting danger on the safety of the public, the area and the state of Israel. The GOC, therefore, decided to refuse your appeal.
31. The GOC intends to work continuously to perform the closure and confiscation orders that he signed, to close and confiscate the properties of the ICS immediately. Moreover, the GOC checks the possibility of expanding his activities against the ICS in a more effective and wider way due to the criminal acts in serving Hamas.
32. There is no need to say that the continuing work of the ICS which includes the working facilities or providing any service through it is a very dangerous violation of the law in the area. The GOC intends to take all necessary measures to stop that.
33. According to all that I mentioned, I ask you to inform your client to immediately stop all its activities. Otherwise, they will be exposing themselves to severe measures in both criminal and administrative frames.
34. As for the schools, orphanages and kindergartens mentioned in your appeal, the GOC gives himself the complete right to take all necessary measures according to the law if they continue to work in these facilities.
35. As for any future arrangements, all appeals and requests should be directed through official parties in the Palestinian Authorities – Hebron Governor- or the Minister of Civil Affair in the PA who has direct contact with Israeli Civil Administration.
With respect
Hariel
Officer- Political Advisor