PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING GROUP

PRESSS RELEASE

August 13, 2003

PHRMG Condemns the Two Attacks on Israeli Civilians in Rosh Ha’ayin and in Ariel

PHRMG condemns the two suicide bombing attacks in Rosh Ha’ayin and in Ariel yesterday that murdered two innocent people and injured 12 others. Suicide bombings on innocent people are always illegal.

Six Israelis have been murdered since the hudna began. Yesterday’s attacks were the second and the third suicide bombings to take place since the cease-fire was announced on June 29, 2003. Thus, it is a mistake to claim that the previous period since the hudna began had been quiet.

PHRMG calls on people of both Israeli and Palestinian origin to stop killing civilians. All innocent people; Israelis or Palestinians, are equal and each innocent life needs to be regarded as equal and valuable to others. It is a tragedy when innocent people are the victims.

Ten Palestinians and six Israelis have been murdered since the hudna began. Violence begets violence as history and daily life remind us. PHRMG calls on all members of Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, as well as it calls on the Israeli army to stop their assaults on Israeli or Palestinian civilians. Retaliation is a cycle without end and only when the leaders and those with power lay down the violence and seek dialogue and resolution through peaceful efforts, will the vicious cycle be broken.

The greatest tragedy is that although government leaders, militaries, and militants take the violent action and make the violent decisions, it is always the innocent civilians who pay the price with their own blood. A greater value of human life is in dire need in this area.

PHRMG condemns the two attacks that murdered two innocent people yesterday and calls on stopping killing innocent civilians of both sides. PHRMG also regrets to report that 2317 Palestinians and 753 Israelis have lost their lives since the start of this bloody Intifada on September 29, 2000.

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.

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