21.06.2012
HaMoked and other human rights organizations in an urgent appeal to the Minister of Defense: the military must prepare in advance for possible attacks against Palestinians in the build up to the evacuation of the Ulpana Hill
Following the decision to vacate the Ulpana Hill in the Jewish settlement of Beit El and the anticipated evacuation of other settlements, five human rights organizations, among them HaMoked, wrote to alert the Minister of Defence that, on the basis of past lessons, there is a real threat that violent settlers will engage in acts of vengeance in retaliation over the evacuation of the houses, as part of the so-called 'price tag' Jewish terror campaign.
The organizations recall that, as the occupying power in the West Bank, Israel is obligated to maintain public order and ensure the safety of the Palestinian residents from any injury to their person or property; when necessary, Israel must enforce the law against criminal settlers and maintain constant presence of police and security forces in areas most at risk. The organizations assert that Israel's obligation to protect the safety of the Palestinians in the West Bank is firmly-entrenched in international humanitarian law, in Israeli legislation and in the decisions of the High Court of Justice, and it does not constitute an act of goodwill, even if it entails the allocation of large resources.
