The Palestinians (Minority Rights Group. Report)
by David McDowall
Category: Israel

In 1918 Christian and Muslim Arabs formed over 90 per cent of the population of Palestine. Fifty years later, those left were a powerless minority in their own land, while most were refugees outside Palestine. Since 1967, Israel has been an occupying force in Gaza and the West Bank, expropriating for example over 60 per cent of the West Bank's land area, dispossessing many Palestinians. While Israel's actions have been condemned in United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Israel continues its actions largely unchecked. Within Israel, Palestinians are systematically discriminated against in almost, all areas of society. While condemning the Israel governent's policies, the Report also discusses the abuses of the newly-established Palestinian Authority. The Report provides information on the outlook for Palestinian society and examines why the peace process - once seen to offer a constructive way forward - is now in tatters. The Report offers a concise and accessible analysis of the background to this situation and cogently argues that the international community must act as a matter of urgency to enable a just settlement to be found - one that promotes and protects Palestinians' rights and enables Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work towards peaceful coexistence - based on respect for international law. (Adapted from Publisher's Abstract).