For over five decades the conflict in the Middle East has captivated the world’s attention. The ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel brings about continuous violations of the rights of the Palestinian people in many ways including a heavy loss of life.

Attacks by Palestinian armed groups have cost the lives of Israeli civilians, and triggered Israeli military reprisals against the Palestinian population in a disproportionate manner. In this context, children continue to pay the heavy price of violence.

Israel
Israel recognizes itself as the 'Jewish State' which overlooks the fact that 20% of the population are (non- Jewish) Palestinian citizens of Israeli. This population group lives separately from the Jewish population in their own villages and neighborhoods. An especially difficult situation prevails in 45 so-called “unrecognized villages” where 76000 indigenous Palestinian Bedouin live.

These villages are denied basic services such as water, electricity, access to roads, health and education as a measure to coerce the community to move to state-planned townships, otherwise called by the Isareli authorities as “concentrations” (rekuzim). Overall, the Palestinian population of Israel is in a difficult situation, suffering discrimination from the Jewish majority and state policies.

Jewish children are affected by the conflict, albeit to a much lesser scale and extent. There are fears of small scale attacks by Palestinian individuals. In the South of Israel bordering Gaza, there is fear of rocket attacks and of intrusion, namely Qassam rockets launched by Palestinian militant groups from Gaza, which often land in public buildings (including schools) and houses.

Israel is also the home of ca. 25000 African refugees and asylum seekers that covertly crossed the Israel border through Egypt. Many of these asylum seekers are children and their human rights outlined in the International Refugee Law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child are not fulfilled by the Israeli state.

Palestinian Territories
The living conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories (West Bank of the River Jordan and the Gaza Strip) are extremely difficult. The Israeli occupation has placed a tight blockade on Gaza since mid-2007, which has a devastating impact on the Palestinian civilian population. In the West Bank, a Wall was built on Palestinian land, severely dividing the territory and making movement and access to services and resources very difficult to Palestinians.

Jewish Israeli settlers living on the same territory enjoy a high level of security and freedom of movement, in addition to services and a high quality of life that Palestinians are denied access to. A growing concern is over rights to land and water, which is diminishing for Palestinians. Bedouin populations in the West Bank, and residents of Area C, which is occupied by the Israeli military and covers 60% of the West Bank, are at constant risk of displacement and demolition of their houses and schools. In many parts of Area C, children face many difficulties with accessing to schools and services.

Travel, movement and other exchanges between the two bits of the “future Palestinian state”, West Bank and Gaza are near impossible except for internationals and some selected NGO/UN workers who require permits issued through lengthy application processes by the Israeli authorities that are controlling the borders.

Out of the 4 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, around 53% are children. Children are among the victims of the ongoing violence, being killed, injured and arrested by Israeli forces, against them, their families and friends. The conflict has a severe psychosocial impact on children limiting their opportunity to live a safe and healthy life, access quality education, health or an adequate standard of living.

Internal violence between Palestinian factions erupted violently in 2007. The violence has turned into deep rivalry and divide between the two factions, Fatah and Hamas. Hamas, is the ruling authority in Gaza while Fatah is the ruling party in the West Bank (Israel continues to retain overall power and sovereignty). Children are also caught in the middle of this which hugely undermines optimism and prospects that a solution to the Palestinian problem is even close.


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