Qurei: elections in Jerusalem affirm city as Palestinian
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/16/2006

WAFA reported today that Palestinian Prime Minster "Ahmed Qurei asserted on the importance of carrying out of elections in Jerusalem as it reflects that the city is under occupation."

The report said "During his meeting with the Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, in his office in Ramallah, Qurei snubbed the Israeli attempts to portray that the elections in Jerusalem is for 'Palestinian community' lives on Israeli territories."

He also rejected the Israeli restrictions against the Palestinian electoral campaign in the holy city.

Meantime, WAFA he Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that Israeli occupation army my has "continued to violate International Humanitarian Law and Fundamental Human Rights, by restricting freedom of movement to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances and its medical teams. Delays, denial of access and arbitrary searches had a negative impact on wounded and sick in Tulkarem & Jericho."

In a weekly report, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said: These practices constitute a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions, which are legally applied to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In particular, they violate articles 20 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which guarantees the protection and respect of persons who engage in the search for, removal and transport of and caring for wounded and sick civilians, and article 63 which stresses that " Subject to temporary and exceptional measures imposed for urgent reasons of security by the Occupied Power, recognized National red cross and red crescent societies shall be able to pursue their activities in accordance with Red Cross principles, as defined by the international Red Cross Conferences...." In addition to articles 12 and 15 of the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva conventions which guarantees that " Medical units shall be respected and protected at all times and shall not be the object of attack and shall have access to any place where their services are essential" and article 16 which stresses that, "Under no circumstances shall any person be punished for carrying out medical activities compatible with medical ethics, regardless of the person benefiting there from.," in addition to article 21, which stresses that," Medical vehicles shall be respected and protected in the same way as mobile medical units under the Conventions and this Protocol."

Meantime, Haaretz reported today that "Israel Police boosted its presence in Jewish areas of Hebron on Monday, determined to limit further violence in the West Bank city after days of clashes between settlers and security forces over the eviction of Jewish families from Palestinian-owned properties."

WAFA had also reported that "Israeli bulldozers destroyed Monday a house south of occupied Jerusalem... to seize its land and expand the Israeli controlled areas at the entrance of Bethlehem."

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian official does not rule out delay of elections   (1/14/2006)
  Rice says January Palestinian elections a positive move   (1/12/2006)
  US view on Israeli intervention in Palestinian elections   (1/11/2006)

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