JUNE 8, 2007
The Association of International Development
Agencies (AIDA)
CALLS FOR AN END OF 40 YEARS OF OCCUPATION
We, the undersigned international NGOs working in the OPT, remain seriously concerned by the humanitarian impact of 40 years of occupation on the Palestinian population as reflected by our experience in the field and recent UN reports.
We agree with the assessment of the World Bank, United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, among others, that the ongoing civil and military occupation of the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, and effective control of Gaza's borders is a violation of international law. This occupation lies at the heart of the ongoing conflict and of the increased poverty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In the commemoration of the 40th year of the occupation of the Palestinian territory, we call on our governments and the UN to renew their efforts to end the occupation and to ensure the respect of international humanitarian law and human rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
We further call upon our governments to:
a. Re-engage with the Palestinian Authority and press the Israeli government to release vital tax revenues owed to the Palestinians, so that essential services can continue.
b. Urge both sides to implement their obligations under the November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access and to ensure that freedom of access for humanitarian cases is assured;
c. Secure the protection of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular children, and the essential infrastructure that supports them in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.
Signed by the following AIDA member organizations:
Campaign for the Children of Palestine (CCP)
Caritas-Jerusalem
Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (C.I.S.P.)
Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI)
Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS)
Diakonia
Enfants du Monde - Droits de l'Homme (EMDH)
Gruppo Volontariato Civile (GVC)
Handicap International
Italian Consortium of Solidarity (ICS)
Japanese Volunteer Center (JVC)
Lutheran World Federation
Medecins du Monde - Spain
Medecins du Monde - Suisse
Medico International
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Great Britain
Oxfam Quebec
Oxfam Solidarite Belgium
Palestinian Solidarity Association - Sweden (PSAS)
Premiere Urgence
Quaker Service - Jerusalem (QSJ)
Save the Children - Sweden
Save the Children - UK
Swedish Cooperative Center (SCC)
Swedish Organization for Individual Relief (SOIR)
United Nations Association for International Service (UNAIS)
World Vision