Commissioner-General’s Preface ... I
Director-General’s Introduction ... III
Executive Summary ... VII
Chapter One: Israeli Violations of Palestinian Citizens’ Rights During 2002 ... 3
1. The Legal Status of the Occupied Palestinian Territories ... 5
2. Violations of the Right to Life, Physical Safety and Personal Security ... 7
3. Israeli Assaults on Palestinian Property ... 28
4. Assaults on the Freedom of Movement ... 36
5. Israeli Liability for Violations of Palestinian Citizens’ Rights ... 44
Appendix: Brief Descriptions of the Israeli Incursions into West Bank Governorates from 29 March . 10 May 2002 (Operation Defensive Shield) ... 47
Chapter Two: The Status of Citizens’ Rights in the Territories Controlled by the Palestinian National Authority ... 63
Section One: The Legislative Branch ... 65
1. The Palestinian Legislative Council . Basic Structure ... 66
2. The PLC’s Legislative Performance ... 71
3. The PLC’s Oversight Performance ... 75
4. Problems Facing the PLC ... 78
5. PICCR Activities Supporting the PLCs Work ... 81
6. Recommendations ... 82
Section Two: The Judicial Branch ... 85
1. Completion of the Body of Judiciary Laws ... 87
2. The Regular Courts ... 92
3. The Office of the Attorney General ... 104
4. Administration of the Judiciary’s Affairs ... 107
5. The Religious Courts ... 110
6. Regulation of the Legal Profession ... 112
7. Developments in the Special Security Courts ... 115
8. Problems Facing the Palestinian Judicial Branch ... 124
9. Recommendations ... 126
Section Three: The Executive Branch ... 129
1. The Presidency ... 130
2. The Cabinet ... 131
3. The Ministries ... 134
4. Public Institutions and Authorities ... 137
5. Local Governance ... 138
6. Security Agencies ... 140
7. Public Budget ... 143
8. Prisons and Detention Centers ... 144
9. Civil Service and State Employees ... 145
10. Financial and Administrative Reform ... 147
11. The Legislative Role of the Palestinian National Authority ... 147
12. Conclusions and Recommendations ... 149
Section Four: Violations of Citizens’ Rights ... 153
1. Violations of the Right to Life ... 154
2. Violations of the Right to Form Associations and to Peaceful Assembly ... 162
3. Suspension of the Right to Vote and be Nominated for Public Office ... 163
4. Arbitrary Arrest and Detention ... 164
5. Violations of the Freedom of the Press ... 165
6. Violations of the Right to Freedom from Maltreatment and Torture ... 166
7. Violations in the Sphere of Public Sector Employment ... 166
8. Conclusions and Recommendations ... 167
Chapter Three: PICCR Activities Promoting Citizens’ Rights ... 171
Section One: Grievance Casework ... 173
1. Types of Grievances handled by PICCR ... 173
2. The Mechanism for Processing Grievances ... 174
3. Tally of Complaints and Responses ... 176
4. Complaints handled in 2002 ... 176
5. Distribution of Complaints among Agencies in 2002 ... 179
6. Classification of Violations ... 195
Section Two: PICCR’s Activities During 2002 ... 199
1. Legal Reports ... 199
2. Special Reports ... 202
3. Review and Development of Laws ... 208
4. Public Awareness-Raising ... 215
5. Field Research ... 227
6. Palestinian Human Rights Quarterly ... 228
7. PICCR’s Library ... 288
Appendices ... 229
Appendix One: A Sample of Cases ... 231
Appendix Two: Press Releases ... 263
Appendix Three: Letters ... 287
PICCR’s Publications ... 317
Director-General’s Introduction ... III
Executive Summary ... VII
Chapter One: Israeli Violations of Palestinian Citizens’ Rights During 2002 ... 3
1. The Legal Status of the Occupied Palestinian Territories ... 5
2. Violations of the Right to Life, Physical Safety and Personal Security ... 7
3. Israeli Assaults on Palestinian Property ... 28
4. Assaults on the Freedom of Movement ... 36
5. Israeli Liability for Violations of Palestinian Citizens’ Rights ... 44
Appendix: Brief Descriptions of the Israeli Incursions into West Bank Governorates from 29 March . 10 May 2002 (Operation Defensive Shield) ... 47
Chapter Two: The Status of Citizens’ Rights in the Territories Controlled by the Palestinian National Authority ... 63
Section One: The Legislative Branch ... 65
1. The Palestinian Legislative Council . Basic Structure ... 66
2. The PLC’s Legislative Performance ... 71
3. The PLC’s Oversight Performance ... 75
4. Problems Facing the PLC ... 78
5. PICCR Activities Supporting the PLCs Work ... 81
6. Recommendations ... 82
Section Two: The Judicial Branch ... 85
1. Completion of the Body of Judiciary Laws ... 87
2. The Regular Courts ... 92
3. The Office of the Attorney General ... 104
4. Administration of the Judiciary’s Affairs ... 107
5. The Religious Courts ... 110
6. Regulation of the Legal Profession ... 112
7. Developments in the Special Security Courts ... 115
8. Problems Facing the Palestinian Judicial Branch ... 124
9. Recommendations ... 126
Section Three: The Executive Branch ... 129
1. The Presidency ... 130
2. The Cabinet ... 131
3. The Ministries ... 134
4. Public Institutions and Authorities ... 137
5. Local Governance ... 138
6. Security Agencies ... 140
7. Public Budget ... 143
8. Prisons and Detention Centers ... 144
9. Civil Service and State Employees ... 145
10. Financial and Administrative Reform ... 147
11. The Legislative Role of the Palestinian National Authority ... 147
12. Conclusions and Recommendations ... 149
Section Four: Violations of Citizens’ Rights ... 153
1. Violations of the Right to Life ... 154
2. Violations of the Right to Form Associations and to Peaceful Assembly ... 162
3. Suspension of the Right to Vote and be Nominated for Public Office ... 163
4. Arbitrary Arrest and Detention ... 164
5. Violations of the Freedom of the Press ... 165
6. Violations of the Right to Freedom from Maltreatment and Torture ... 166
7. Violations in the Sphere of Public Sector Employment ... 166
8. Conclusions and Recommendations ... 167
Chapter Three: PICCR Activities Promoting Citizens’ Rights ... 171
Section One: Grievance Casework ... 173
1. Types of Grievances handled by PICCR ... 173
2. The Mechanism for Processing Grievances ... 174
3. Tally of Complaints and Responses ... 176
4. Complaints handled in 2002 ... 176
5. Distribution of Complaints among Agencies in 2002 ... 179
6. Classification of Violations ... 195
Section Two: PICCR’s Activities During 2002 ... 199
1. Legal Reports ... 199
2. Special Reports ... 202
3. Review and Development of Laws ... 208
4. Public Awareness-Raising ... 215
5. Field Research ... 227
6. Palestinian Human Rights Quarterly ... 228
7. PICCR’s Library ... 288
Appendices ... 229
Appendix One: A Sample of Cases ... 231
Appendix Two: Press Releases ... 263
Appendix Three: Letters ... 287
PICCR’s Publications ... 317