This morning, 12/12/2000, a delegation representing Al-Mezan Center has met with the members of the UN-International Inquiry Committee.
Mr.
Issam Younis, director of Al-Mezan Center, and Mr.
Sameer Zaqout and Mr.
Jasem Humeid, researchers at Al-Mezan, participated in the meeting.
The purpose of the visit of the committee to the Palestinian Occupied Territories is to investigate the violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The delegation of Al-Mezan Center welcomed the members of the committee, and provided them with information about the Israeli violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Al-Mezan stressed that the Israeli actions against the Palestinian civilians and their property constitute war crimes, and that those who committed them, or ordered them to be committed, should be tried.
The delegation gave examples of the Israeli violations, which includes use of excessive and lethal force, destruction of civilian premises such as houses, schools, mosques, public premises, health care facilities (ambulances), industrial premises, agricultural lands, and water wells.
Al-mezan also stressed that the comprehensive closure imposed by the belligerent Israeli Occupation Forces upon the Palestinian Occupied Territories constitutes a form of collective punishment.
In this context, Al-Mezan’s delegation provided the committee with data about the effects of the closure, especiallly on the economic sector, stating that it has resulted in a $US 10.
000.
000 daily loss to the Palestinian economic sector, as well as increasing the unemployment rate.
Al-Mezan supported its testimony before the committee with well documented data, testimonies, and video films, all of which were given to the committee.
During the meeting, Al-Mezan provided answers to a number of questions posed by the committee.
The International Inquiry Committee has been formed on the basis of Resolution Number 1/5 – s agreed upon by the UN Committee of Human Rights, which was issued on 19/10/2000.
The committee is composed of three independent members: Professor John Dogard from South Africa.
Professsor Ritchard Folk, from the United States of America.
Dr.
Husein Kamal, former Minister of Foreigin Affairs in Bangladish.
END