Factsheets

We have produced a number of factsheets on key issues relating to Palestine – have a read or download them for your campaigning!

 

Basic Facts Since its foundation in 1948 the state of Israel has established a body of laws, policies, and practices that have systematically oppressed Palestinians. Because Israel’s activities have also fragmented the Palestinian population, this oppression operates in different ways. There are over 7 million Palestinians living in exile, many in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Download here	Britain in Palestine—100 Years of Intervention For centuries Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire, which comprised most of the Middle East and North Africa. In 1917 Britain invaded and occupied Palestine and with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War its territory was duly divided between France and Britain. Download here
The UK–Israel Arms Trade The UK is complicit in Israel’s daily violations of human rights through our arms trade. Despite the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and systematic violation of Palestinian human rights, the UK is a major arms exporter to Israel and purchaser of Israeli weapons and weapon technology. Beyond government responsibility, a range of private corporations are also complicit in the arms trade and profit from Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. Download here	Child Prisoners Israel is the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes children in military courts – between 500 and 700 each year. Since 2012, Israel has held an average of 204 Palestinian children in custody each month, according to data provided by the Israel Prison Service. Ill-treatment in the Israeli military detention system remains “widespread, systematic, and institutionalised throughout the process,” according to UNICEF. Download here
Israel’s Illegal Settlements Israeli settlements are villages, towns, and cities built illegally on Palestinian land. In order to build settlements, Palestinians are forced off their land and their homes are often demolished. In their place, Israel continues to build new neighbourhoods in which Palestinians are not allowed to live and has created a separate road system that Palestinians are not allowed to use. Palestinians and Israelis live under separate legal systems, with Palestinians subject to military, rather than civilian law. Download here	Palestinian Political Prisoners Currently nearly 6000 Palestinian political prisoners are being held in Israeli jails. The numbers peaked, during both the first and second Intifadas, at about 12,000. Since 1967 about 800,000 Palestinians have been detained, so that nearly all families have experienced the imprisonment of at least one male relative. As the occupying power, and a signatory to the 4th Geneva Convention, Israel is under a number of legal obligations with regards to prisoners, which it violates on a daily basis. Download here