Joint memorandum submitted by the Palestine
Platform
The Palestine Platform is a grouping of UK based
development and humanitarian agencies working with Palestinians
and Israelis. It provides a forum for members to share information,
discuss emerging issues and co-ordinate activities. Members work
together through the Palestine Platform to raise awareness and
improve understanding of the roots of the impoverishment of Palestinians
amongst policy makers, the press and other key audiences and to
campaign for change.
The undersigned agencies represented in the
Palestine Platform consider upholding international humanitarian
and human rights law by the Government of Israel, the Palestinian
National Authority and the UK Government essential to their work
and the development of the oPt, in particular:
— guaranteeing the safety of humanitarian
workers and the re-establishment and facilitation of their freedom
of movement;
— respecting the fundamental human
rights of freedom of movement and freedom from arbitrary arrest
such as administrative detention for Palestinians and their institutions;
— constant efforts to ensure the rights
to education, adequate food and water and to health is fulfilled
and to minimise to the greatest extent possible adverse effects
on the psychosocial wellbeing of the Palestinian population caused
by the disruption of normal life.
Furthermore, members of the Palestine Platform
are concerned about increased difficulties in carrying out their
work in the occupied Palestinian territories, in particular:
— the destruction and disabling of
infrastructure, part of which is foreign-funded, and the lack
accountability for damage replacement and repairs;
— a political climate detracting from
provision of assistance according to need.
The conditions for working with Palestinians
in development have starkly deteriorated for the international
community over the past three years. The Department for International
Development and the UK Government as a whole should put all its
diplomatic weight behind creating the necessary conditions for
Palestinian development in accordance with international human
rights and humanitarian law, a culture of accountability and the
capacity to do so in Palestinian society and institutions in order
to reduce the dependence of Palestinian families on external actors
for their livelihoods.
Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability
(ABCD), CARE International UK, Education Action International,
Friends of Birzeit University, Healthlink Worldwide, International
Service (UNAIS), Interpal, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Oxfam
GB, Qattan Foundation, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Save the
Children UK, War on Want, Welfare Association, Y Care International.
September 2003
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