CJPME Factsheet 53, published February, 2009: This factsheet provides figures and data gathered in the aftermath of Israel’s 21-day assault on Gaza in 2009. Israel’s aggression resulted in 1,440 casualties of which 431 were children. This factsheet looks at the state of Gaza’s health services, including health facilities, supplies, and access to health care; the major health challenges, including water-borne diseases, the increase need for medical specialists, psychological trauma, and malnutrition; the effect of the war on Gaza’s economy, including poverty and unemployment, and the destruction of commercial enterprises and the agricultural sector, among many other things. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 54, published February, 2009: This factsheet looks at the World Medical Association (WMA), an international organization that determines the proper ethical conduct physicians should abide by at all times. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) signed WMA’s Declaration of Tokyo in 1975, which prohibits the participation of physicians in interrogations and torture of any kind. Dr. Yoram Blachar, long-standing president of the IMA, was inaugurated as President of the World Medical Association (WMA) in 2008. Many have since called on Dr. Blachar to step down as head of the WMA, since doctors in Israel continue to play an integral role in the everyday running of Israeli interrogation suites that include cruel and inhumane treatment and humiliation amounting to torture. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 52, published February, 2009: This factsheet looks at how Israel failed in all of its obligations under international humanitarian law during the war on Gaza from Dec.27 to Jan. 17th 2009. Indeed, Israel is accused of not allowing sufficient aid into the territory, keeping detained Palestinians during the war in inhumane conditions, and using highly dispersed and non-precision weapons among other things. This factsheet also provides recommendations on how to persecute Israel for war crimes. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 51, published February, 2009: This factsheet looks at the Sabra and Shatila massacres. The Sabra and Shatila massacre was the killing of between 700 (the official Israeli figure) and 3500 (in the inquiry launched by the Israeli journalist Amnon Kapeliouk) civilians, mostly Palestinians refugees. In addition to providing an historical context to the massacre, this factsheet also looks at the responsibility of the different actors surrounding the massacre: the Phalanges (a Lebanese militia), the Israeli military and Minister of Defence Arial Sharon. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 50, published February, 2009: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are a deeply marginalized and vulnerable community.  They are scapegoated in popular discourse, virtually bereft of civil and political rights, and all too often the victims of indiscriminate violence.  Entering its 61st year, the Palestinian refugee diaspora is humanity’s largest and most enduring refugee population; Lebanon serves as its worst case scenario. This factsheet looks at how they are perceived in Lebanon and under what conditions they live. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 49, published January 2009: This factsheet looks at the causes and consequences of Israel’s 2008 war on Gaza. With nearly 1300 Gazans killed (including hundreds of women and children), 13 dead Israelis and none of the Israeli stated objectives for the war accomplished, we can ask ourselves if this war changed anything.  Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 48, published January 2009: During its recent assault on Gaza, Israel damaged or destroyed 53 installations used by the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNWRA), the branch of the UN responsible for providing basic services and aid to over a million of Gaza’s 1.5 million people, including 37 schools—six of which were being used as emergency shelters—six health centers and two warehouses. It is not the first time the UN has come under fire from Israel. In fact, Israel’s disregard for the UN during times of military conflict is systematic and has been ongoing for decades.  Over the past several decades, Israel has attacked UN installations literally hundreds of times, and killed hundreds – both civilians and UN peacekeepers – in the process. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 47, published January 2009: This factsheet provides an overview of Hamas’ positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It examines the1988 Hamas Charter and questions whether or not Hamas wants peace before explaining why Israel refuses to negociate with Hamas. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 35, published January, 2009: Since 2001, Palestinian militants have been launching small rockets – typically referred to as “Qassam Rockets” – from Gaza toward nearby Israeli population centers, notably Sderot and Ashkelon.  Israel often tries to justify its violence in Gaza as an attempt to stop the rash of rocket attacks.  Sadly, the reporting of such attacks, Palestinian and Israeli, does little to illuminate the context to such attacks. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 46, published November 2008: Modern day Iraq is divided along religious and ethnic lines. Northern Iraq is dominated by Kurds while the rest of Iraq is composed largely of Arabs, though Iraq also contains small communities of Assyrians, Turkmen, Persians, Armenians and Marsh Arabs. This factsheets provides an overview of Iraq’s struggle with its National Identity. Continue reading