Press Release October 29, 2003

The PHRMG is Concerned about the Internal Problems between the Palestinian
People

The PHRMG is concerned by the violations committed by the Palestinian gunmen
against the Palestinian civilians, and calls for an immediate halt for such
violations.

On the 22nd of October, Ghaleb Al-Faroukh was killed by two Palestinian
gunmen, while he was on his way to Sa'ir to shop, and on the 23rd of
October, Majid Zein was also killed by three firemen in the same area. It is
said that the reason behind the crimes is tribal.

The area where the men were killed is governed by Israel. Israel is
responsible for the insecure situation in the areas governed by it and is
responsible to halt such violations against Palestinian civilians as long as
it governs the Palestinian areas.

In addition, the Palestinian Authority violates the laws by humiliating the
Palestinian civilians. On the 8th of October, a man who lives in Bethlehem
complained to the PHRMG of the mistreatment of three Policemen to him. They
beat him and slapped him in a very humiliating way. He said that they had no
intentions to stop beating him until he apologized to them.

Moreover, a Palestinian man complained to the PHRMG about the way of torture
in the Palestinian prisons. On the 22nd of May at 12 in the midnight, the
man was taken from his house by a troop of gunmen. They beat him hardly
until one of the policemen asked them to stop. The policeman was afraid that
the man may be killed by their hands. The man said that there were no
reasons behind arresting him. After 11 days they released him. The PHRMG
calls on the Palestinian Authority to protect the Palestinian civilians
instead of humiliating and torturing them. The PHRMG also calls on the
Palestinian Authority to increase their efforts to ensure security and
safety among the Palestinian civilians.

The PHRMG demands an immediate halt to all kinds of violations committed by
the Palestinian gunmen against the Palestinians. The PHRMG calls on people
of Palestinian origin to stop violations against civilians and innocent
people, and calls on Israel to control the security system in the
Palestinian areas governed by it.
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The Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) is a Palestinian,
independent, non-governmental organization working to end human rights
violations committed against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and
East Jerusalem, regardless of those responsible. The members of the
Monitoring Group believe that the strength of democracy and civil society in
Palestinian society will be determined by the Palestinian people, through
their defense or neglect of human rights.

Ragheb Nashashibi Street 5
Sheikh Jarrah-Jerusalem
P.O. Box 19918
East Jerusalem 91198
www.phrmg.org
tel. 972-2-582-3372/3
fax. 972-2-582-3385