On International Women's Day, 8 th March 2008

The occupation of the Palestinian Territory has continued for over 40 years and is increasingly curbing the basic human rights of all Palestinians, but particularly women and girls, to education, personal safety, normal family life and economic security. Palestinian women bear the absolute brunt of the occupation and conflict, and at present, the humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip is such that it is impossible for the women of the Jerusalem Link to celebrate International Women's Day, but rather must mark it as a day of mourning and solidarity for our Gazan sisters who are suffering immeasurably as a result of ongoing collective punishment and indiscriminate attacks upon the civilian population. Between the 27 th of February and 2 nd of March, 116 Palestinians in Gaza were killed by Israeli air strikes and ground operations, including six women and 27 children. Two of those children were the Asliyeh sisters, Samah, 13 and Salwa, 18, who was a first year medical student. These girls are but a single example of the wanton waste of human life that is occurring in Gaza at present.

In order for Palestinian women and girls to gain the level of freedom and human rights to which they are unequivocally entitled under international law, there must be the actualization of human rights for all Palestinian people. In order for Palestinian women to be allowed to realize their full potential in society, there must be collective security for all Palestinian people, in their own autonomous, economically viable state. It is impossible to engage in meaningful debate on Palestinian women's rights and security when the entire Palestinian population exists is without rights or security.

On this International Women's Day, the Jerusalem Link is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of all Palestinian women, particularly those in the Gaza Strip and uses this occasion to unequivocally urge:

- All people to demand the right of women and girls everywhere in the world to live freely without fear of violence and oppression;

- All Palestinians and Israelis to work towards a just, equitable and gender balanced peace;

- The Government of Israel to immediately halt the incursion into the Gaza Strip and to respect its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law as the protector of civilians in an occupied territory by halting its campaign of collective punishment and reopening all border crossings to allow the free movement of people and goods;

- The international community and the High Contracting Parties of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to hold Israel accountable to its commitment as prescribed in the Convention regarding the protection and welfare of civilians in the occupied territories;

- The Secretary General of the United Nations to bring the crisis in Gaza to the immediate and urgent attention of the Security Council and to urge immediate action; and

- Concerned international individuals and organizations to lobby their elected representatives to pressure Israel to adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law.

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The Jerusalem Center for Women condemns the Israeli army practice of forcing Palestinian women to give birth at checkpoints 04 August 2008

The Jerusalem Center for Women firmly condemns the Israeli army's policy of collective punishment against the Palestinian people through the use of military roadblocks which prevent patients from accessing healthcare and pregnant women from reaching medical centers.

The Jerusalem Center for Women is deeply dismayed and concerned about the recent report by the Palestinian Medical Relief Society on the case of Magda Abdel Latif Aldjaarfah, who was prevented by soldiers to pass a closed Israeli military checkpoint in Beith Khalil, north of Hebron . Ms. Abdel Latif Aldjaarfah was on her way to the hospital and was forced to give birth inside of the car at the barrier.

Such cases are neither new nor rare.

69 cases of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at checkpoints have been recorded since 2000, resulting in the death of 24 women and 27 children.

The Jerusalem Center for Women is for numerous reasons deeply concerned about this illegal practice of preventing pregnant women's access to emergency assistance and appropriate medical attention:

Unpredictable access to maternity services is a determinant in Palestinian women's decisions regarding induced labor and caesarean sections. Complications with pregnancy increase due to late arrivals after delays at checkpoints, and it also discourages women from seeking quality post-natal care.

Mobility restrictions impede the continuity of medical care throughout the cycle of pregnancy and thus the development of a relationship of trust between medical staff and the patient.

Pregnant women and their families live with anxiety and stress of not being guaranteed that they will be able to reach a maternity facility.

Restrictions on movement result in pregnant women being deprived of psychosocial support by her wider family, which in Palestinian culture and society is especially important. It is often the case that close family members are prevented from accompanying pregnant women to hospital or are impeded from arriving on time.

These severe restrictions on movement are unlawful as they are disproportionate, discriminatory and violate the right to freedom of movement. International law grants special protection to the sick, wounded, the infirm, and pregnant women, and states that medical staff and sick and wounded persons must be permitted open passage.

These restrictions are in breach of the law and cause grave harm to the health of Palestinians and Palestinian women alike. The Jerusalem Center for Women calls on Israel to lift restrictions on movement, halt its inhumane violations of human rights against Palestinians and respect International law and the Geneva Convention.

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Jerusalem Center for Women visits West Bank Village in Threat of House Demolitions - July 19, 2008

delegations from the Jerusalem Center for Women participated in a solidarity visit to the unrecognized Palestinian village of Izbet al-Tabib, which is adjacent to Azzun. The visit was part of Jerusalem Center for Women joint project with Israeli women's organization, Bat Shalom under the banner ‘Jerusalem Link'.

Together the women met with local villagers and toured homes slated for demolition by the Israeli Occupying forces.

The village of Izbet al-Tabib was developed in the 1920's when the first resident's purchased dunams of land, using it to herd goats and cattle. Between 1948 and 1967 the land was under Jordanian control, when after the 1967 war Israeli forces first instructed the villagers to leave the land. Soon afterwards, Israeli settlements were built near to Azzun on illegally annexed land.

Today, Izbet al-Tabib has approximately 230 residents in 45 homes. 21 of these homes have received demolition orders. Trapped between 2 Israeli settlements, Givat Tal and Nofei Zufin - there is wide speculation that the villages homes will be destroyed to clear a path for a road between these settlements

Izbet al-Tabib does not have a school, or any community centers or medical facilities.

A building which was supposed to house a nursery, primary school, office space for the local council and medical clinic has not yet been completed as a demolition order has also been issued on it. The villagers have applied to be connected to the main electricity grid in the Qalqilya area and were denied permission.

In general, the conditions are very crowded in Izbet al-Tabib, with some small homes housing over 20 individuals. Many have applied for building permits to improve the crowded conditions but all permit applications have been denied.

The Jerusalem Center for Women condemns outright the Israeli Occupation forces practice of demolishing Palestinian homes. Legally, house demolitions are considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention of 1949. In addition, on 19 May 2004 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1544 which reiterated the obligation of Israel as an occupying power to abide by its legal obligations and responsibilities.