Spokesman of PA Security Forces denounces Human Right Watch’s report on torture and human abuses by the PA and Hamas; says it ignores Israeli “crimes”
Headline: "Al-Damiri: The Human Rights Watch report is political and ignores the occupation's crimes"
"Official Spokesman of the [PA] Security Forces [and General Political Commissioner of the PLO Political and National Guidance Authority] Adnan Al-Damiri said that the Human Rights Watch organization's report is a political, subjective, and unprofessional report in everything regarding the documentation of the situation of human rights and their violations in Palestine. He added that the report ignores all the occupation's crimes against the Palestinians. Damiri added… that the contents were based on the opinions of political opponents, without verifying them or having representatives [of the organization] hear the side of the PA or the relevant official bodies. This is while the Palestinian security establishment is open to all of the human rights organizations… He added that the fact that the organization demanded to stop the aid given to the PA, during a press conference it convened to present its report, proves that this is a political report par-excellence, which is completely aligned with the steps that the administration of [US President Donald] Trump has taken against the PA in recent months (possibly referring to the US ending its funding of UNRWA and transferring its embassy to Jerusalem; see notes below –Ed.)."
The Human Rights Watch report, published on Oct. 23, 2018, concludes that both the PA and Hamas systematically violate the basic human rights of those under their rule to such an extent that their actions may constitute a crime against humanity. It should be noted that contrary to Al-Damiri’s statements, the report includes information that was supplied to HRW by the PA itself. The annex to the report includes letters that HRW sent to the relevant PA and Hamas bodies and their responses.
US President Donald Trump's administration announced on Aug. 31, 2018 that it was immediately cutting all $360 million of annual American funding to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Explaining the decision, the US State Department said, "The fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years – tied to UNRWA’s endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries – is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years. The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation."
The move came after the US froze two planned payments to UNRWA in early January 2018 for more than $100 million, and the US administration spoke about the need to reexamine and conduct a reform of the UN body. This occurred after the PA refused to negotiate with Israel and cut diplomatic ties with America following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017.
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv and opened in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.
"Official Spokesman of the [PA] Security Forces [and General Political Commissioner of the PLO Political and National Guidance Authority] Adnan Al-Damiri said that the Human Rights Watch organization's report is a political, subjective, and unprofessional report in everything regarding the documentation of the situation of human rights and their violations in Palestine. He added that the report ignores all the occupation's crimes against the Palestinians. Damiri added… that the contents were based on the opinions of political opponents, without verifying them or having representatives [of the organization] hear the side of the PA or the relevant official bodies. This is while the Palestinian security establishment is open to all of the human rights organizations… He added that the fact that the organization demanded to stop the aid given to the PA, during a press conference it convened to present its report, proves that this is a political report par-excellence, which is completely aligned with the steps that the administration of [US President Donald] Trump has taken against the PA in recent months (possibly referring to the US ending its funding of UNRWA and transferring its embassy to Jerusalem; see notes below –Ed.)."
The Human Rights Watch report, published on Oct. 23, 2018, concludes that both the PA and Hamas systematically violate the basic human rights of those under their rule to such an extent that their actions may constitute a crime against humanity. It should be noted that contrary to Al-Damiri’s statements, the report includes information that was supplied to HRW by the PA itself. The annex to the report includes letters that HRW sent to the relevant PA and Hamas bodies and their responses.
US President Donald Trump's administration announced on Aug. 31, 2018 that it was immediately cutting all $360 million of annual American funding to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Explaining the decision, the US State Department said, "The fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years – tied to UNRWA’s endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries – is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years. The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation."
The move came after the US froze two planned payments to UNRWA in early January 2018 for more than $100 million, and the US administration spoke about the need to reexamine and conduct a reform of the UN body. This occurred after the PA refused to negotiate with Israel and cut diplomatic ties with America following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017.
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv and opened in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.