Center for the Defence of the Individual - Following an appeal by HaMoked, the military retracted its arbitrary demand for the private phone numbers of Palestinians as a condition for processing various requests submitted on their behalf by human rights organizations, including HaMoked, to the Gaza DCO: In its response, the military claims the directive had been handed down at the request of the ISA and that the phone numbers were required for "operative needs". It has, however, been decided that the directive would not apply to Palestinians who turn to the Gaza DCO via organizations such as HaMoked. The military has stated that where necessary, the phone numbers would be submitted when Palestinians cross the Erez checkpoint
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חזרה לעמוד הקודם
19.02.2007

Following an appeal by HaMoked, the military retracted its arbitrary demand for the private phone numbers of Palestinians as a condition for processing various requests submitted on their behalf by human rights organizations, including HaMoked, to the Gaza DCO: In its response, the military claims the directive had been handed down at the request of the ISA and that the phone numbers were required for "operative needs". It has, however, been decided that the directive would not apply to Palestinians who turn to the Gaza DCO via organizations such as HaMoked. The military has stated that where necessary, the phone numbers would be submitted when Palestinians cross the Erez checkpoint

On 21 January 2007, HaMoked – Center for the Defence of the Individual sent a letter to the Prime Minister's office demanding the cancellation of an arbitrary and unreasonable directive issued by the Gaza District Coordination Office (DCO). According to the directive, processing of requests forwarded by human rights organizations on behalf of Palestinians, including HaMoked, is conditional upon provision of those Palestinians' personal phone numbers. HaMoked claimed that the directive is arbitrary, particularly considering the fact that the Gaza DCO refuses to have direct communications with Palestinians and notify them, by way of example, of the answers to their requests. HaMoked also claimed that the order contradicts the basic precepts of Israeli administrative law and constitutes badgering and an unjustified infringement on the residents' privacy. Therefore, HaMoked demanded the directive be withdrawn and requested information regarding who gave it and what the motivations behind it were. 

In a letter of response dated 19 February 2007, the military noted that the directive to provide the personal telephone numbers of those submitting requests to the Gaza DCO was given following a demand put forward by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA). The numbers were needed for the ISA's "operative needs". The military claimed that the directive did not infringe on the privacy of Palestinians who turn to the DCO and was indeed approved by the legal advisor. Nevertheless, the military added that the order would no longer apply to Palestinians who turn to the Gaza DCO through human rights organizations, such as HaMoked. If need be, the military representatives noted, the numbers will be obtained once the Palestinians cross the Erez checkpoint.