The Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network—PENGON
International Appeal
Land Research Center (LRC) Forcefully Closed
By the Israeli Security Forces
Israel Continues to Destroy Palestinian Institutions and Infrastructure
The Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON) is calling on all local and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society, as well as concerned individuals, to intervene in the latest assault by the Israeli government against Palestinian institutions, most notably in Jerusalem. The shutting down of a prominent Jerusalem environmental institution—the Land Research Center--is a part of the continued offensive by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people, damaging daily life and national institutions and infrastructure. Join PENGON in supporting the LRC and other Palestinian institutions through the unequivocally condemnation of the Israeli government's latest attack. Such acts go against all international and human rights agreements. Israel continues to breach all aspects of international law through its role as an occupying power.
Background
On Wednesday, February 6th, 2002, at about 6 PM, Israeli security forces stormed the headquarters of the Land Research Center (LRC) in Nuzha Building, 12 Abu Obida street, Jerusalem. The director of the Arab Studies Society (ASS) who was present at the time of the attack was given an order signed by the Israeli Minister of Interior Uzi Landau stipulating the closure of LRC under the pretext of being affiliated to the Palestinian Authority.
The attackers confiscated all the office contents, including files, archives, studies, specialized library, computer network, office equipment and floppy disks and CDs which contain huge amount of research information and data.
LRC is a research based non- governmental, non-profit Palestinian organization which started its duties in 1986 as a branch of the Arab Studies Society (ASS) in Jerusalem. It is specialized in agricultural and soil research, as well as monitoring violations against land, agriculture, environment and Palestinian rights to housing.
Take Action
PENGON, along with the Land Research Center and other Palestinian and international NGOs, is calling for a worldwide letter writing campaign to put pressure on Israel and its supporters to cease the closing, destruction, and shelling of Palestinian institutions. The LRC is among many Palestinian institutions that have either been shut down or shelled and exploded by the military, along with the hundreds of homes that have faced the same destruction. This is further incriminating evidence that Israel's main target is the civilian population, civil institutions, and national infrastructure. It therefore goes unsaid that such a campaign is also a call for the unequivocal denunciation of Israel's policy and military actions.
We call on you to join us in solidarity through this letter writing campaign. Below is a list of relevant emails and faxes. Please also send letters to your local and national officials and governments as well to international and local environmental organizations that can make public this latest violation and take part in the letter writing campaign.
Please write to the names below, and include in your statements:
Land Research Center to Reopen Immediately
Israel to Stop Targeting Jerusalem Palestinian NGOs
Israel to Cease All Destruction of Palestinian Homes, Institutions & Infrastructure
1. Uzi Landau, Israeli Minister of Internal Security:
Fax: 972-2-5847872
Email: sar@mops.gov.il
2. Shimon Peres, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Fax: 972-2-5303367
Email: sar@mfa.gov.il
3. European Parliament
Fax: +32-2-2846974 or +32-2-2306933
4. George Bush, US President:
Fax: +1-202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov
5. Kofi Anan, UN Secretary-General:
Fax: +1-212-963-4879
Email: sg@un.org or ecu@un.org
6. Amr Mousa, General-Secretary, Arab League:
Fax: +202-779546-740331-775626
Please send a copy of your letter to the Land Research Center and/or PENGON.
Land Research Center
Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network
Fax: +972-2-5857688
