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"The child shall enjoy special
protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities,
by law and by other means, to enable him to develop
physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a
healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and
dignity."
Principle 2, Declaration of the Rights of the Child - UN
General Assembly resolution 1386 (XIV), 20 November 1959
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Background
The conditions
of both Palestinian and Israeli children have deteriorated sharply
in the last two years, as a result of the Palestinian Intifada and
the escalation of violence and terror attacks. In addition to the
pain and suffering of children on both sides, there is also concern
about the long term psychological damage that may result from the
trauma of witnessing violence either first hand or as a result of a
family or loved one’s involvement.
Because of the
innate importance of children to the future of the Middle East, The
Prism Group undertook an extensive study to examine the impact two
years of violence has had on the children of the Middle East. While
the study will be released shortly, this Fact Sheet presents an
overview of some of our findings, including:
Children Growing Up With
Violence
The
International Covenant of Children's Rights condemns the recruitment
of children under age 18 in armed conflicts. Yet contrary to this
basic tenet, Palestinian children are deliberately being raised in a
culture of violence and hate. The instances of proof are many and
varied. Following are but a few examples:
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The BBC has videotaped Islamic Jihad-sponsored summer camps
where children as young as eight receive paramilitary
training. In contravention of normal humane standards,
children are taught that after a person becomes a suicide
bomber, he reaches the highest level of paradise. Such
ingrained hatred leads to the glorification of violence and
martyrdom, and the willingness to kill others for the
perceived benefit of spiritual immortality. Children of a
very young age, and even babies, have been dressed and
photographed as suicide bombers by their parents. |
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Abu Mazen, a senior official within the Palestinian Authority,
admitted that children have been paid approximately $1 for every
pipe bomb they throw. According to Abu Mazen, at least 40 children
have lost arms when throwing these bombs. (Alzamim [a Kuwiati
newspaper] June 20, 2002) |
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Incitement to violence is rife throughout the Palestinian
Authority school system. School textbooks encourage hatred
and extol "martyrdom". Signs are posted on the walls of
kindergartens praising their students as
"the shaheeds [martyrs] of tomorrow". Elementary
school teachers and principals commend students for wanting to
"tear their [Zionists'] bodies
into little pieces and cause them more pain than they will
ever know." |
How can this be considered acceptable, a society that encourages its
children to die? The Palestinian leadership must be brought to
account.
Circumstances Surrounding the Deaths and Injury to Children
A study of the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injury of
Palestinian and Israeli children shows that the settings in which
these deaths and/or injuries took place differ extensively. It
cannot be ignored that there have been scattered instances of
Palestinian children killed as innocent bystanders. And yet, the
vast majority of Palestinian children have been tragically killed
during confrontations with the IDF. Exact numbers are unavailable,
but educated estimates set the number of killed in this manner at
around 200.
How did these children come to be exposed to danger? Why are
Palestinian children allowed to confront a military force? Why are
they present among rioters, snipers, and terrorists? And how is the
press always in "the right place at the right time" to photograph
such acts of false heroism? Unfortunately, these very reasonable
questions have not as yet been answered – neither by the Palestinian
Authority nor by the families of the victims themselves.
Exploitation
of Children for Political Gain
The cynical use of children extends to many other spheres.
There is mounting evidence that Palestinian children have been
exploited by elements within the Palestinian leadership, in order to
manipulate media images, deliberately being sent to the front lines
of the conflict. For example, there is documented television footage
revealing that Palestinian snipers have repeatedly used children as
human shields when shooting at the IDF. By contrast, Israeli
soldiers have standing orders not to shoot live ammunition at
children.
Cash incentives
have been provided to the parents of children wounded or killed as
"martyrs."
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Iraq's Saddam Hussein increased his financial pledge to
Palestinian families of suicide bombers from $10,000 to $25,000.
(Associated Press, April 3,2002) |
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A quasi-governmental committee in Saudi Arabia last year pledged
$5,333 to "each family that has suffered from martyrdom." (The
Washington Post, April 9,2002) |
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Payment authorisation for ceremonies honouring suicide bombers, as
well as money to support families of the suicide bombers, have been
found signed by the chairman of the Palestinian authority. (The
Washington Post, April 3,2002; MSNBC, April 3,2002) |
This is coupled to a social approval so powerful that when
15-year-old Ahmat Omar Abu Selmia was killed on his way to attack
the Israeli community of Dugit, his father celebrated his
"martyrdom" at a street festival attended by about 200 men.
Intentional Targeting of
Children
Hundreds of Israeli children have been killed or maimed since
September 27, 2000. In many cases, these children were merely
engaging in everyday activities, such as riding in a bus to school,
eating at a restaurant with their parents, playing in a kindergarten
or simply queuing to enter a discotheque on the weekend. A more
comprehensive list is available in The Prism Groups extensive study
on The Children of the Intifada.
What links these incidents is that the targets were picked as “soft”
and unprotected. Nothing can justify these acts of violence, which
strike at the core of reasonable Western values.
Conclusion
The most vulnerable and valuable segment of any society is its
children; every effort should be made to afford them the protection
promised in the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the
Child. The Palestinian educational system is in urgent need of
reform in order to break the endless cycle of hatred. The
exploitation of Palestinian children on the battlefield must be
stopped.
It is vital that all children, both Palestinian and Israeli, grow up
free of violence and hate. This is the key to a true and lasting
peace in the future.
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