Starvation Policy / cont. >>> READ THE REPORT

Cited causes of the food crisis in the draft report reveal the relentless progression of Israeli pressure on Palestinian communities in the occupied territories: curfews, closures and movement restrictions; expropriation of land; growth of settlements; destruction of economically productive assets; blockage of humanitarian aid; and the carving up of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip into isolated 'Bantustans.'

The Special Rapporteur quotes UNRWA statistics from June 2003 of 231 separate instances of excessive delay or denial of passage at checkpoints in the West Bank, the highest since the beginning of the Intifada. This harrassment of UN officials did not include the Special Rapporteur's own experience at Qalqilya checkpoint a few days later, where a soldier delbierately took aim at his vehicle at very short range . . .

"The proximate cause of the economic crisis is closure" - The World Bank

The report concludes with several recommendations to the Government of Israel, chief amongst which are the following:

• End the obstruction of humanitarian relief services.
• End the regime of closures and curfews where they exacerbate malnutrition and poverty levels.
• Lift internal closures within the Territories which inhibit movement of the population and economic access to food.
• Cease the destruction of Palestinian lands, water resources and social services' infrastructure.
• Halt construction of the segregation barrier on Palestinian territory and cease interference in Palestinians' access to their land.
• Dismantle all settlements on occupied territory and observe Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
• Put an end to the policy of confiscation and expropriation of Palestinian land and the 'ghettoisation' of Palestinian communities.
• Prosecute the criminal acts of settlers committed against Palestinians, notably those which inhibit the food economy.
• Ensure adequate supplies of food and water for prisoners and detainees.
• Review the operation of the Joint Water Committee in conjunction with the Palestinian National Authority.
• Participate in an equitable distribution of natural water resources under the Palestinian Territories in accordance with international law.
• Promote the objectives of the Roadmap such that territorial contiguity and control over resources allow the development of a viable state, including international borders to facilitate import and export trade development.
• Permit international human rights' monitoring of Roadmap obligations by the Quartet.
• Co-operate with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food with regard to the monitoring of violations and implementation of recommendations.
• Since most of the violations of the right to food stem from the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, withdraw military forces to the 1967 borders.