'Israeli intolerance' concerns UK

Human rights report released by Foreign Office in London calls 'Nakba Law' discriminatory; slams treatment of Bedouins, Silwan children

Ynet |Published: 03.31.11 , 20:50

The 2010 Human Rights and Democracy report prepared and released Thursday by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office expresses concern over the "growing climate of intolerance in Israeli society, and in particular by the progress of proposed Knesset bills that discriminate against minorities and human rights defenders."

The report specifically mentions the “Nakba Law”, which seeks to withdraw government funding from NGOs participating in events that mark Israel’s Independence Day as a day of mourning, and the “Anti Boycott Law”, which seeks to impose fines on Israeli citizens participating in or encouraging boycotts against Israel, "including the settlements."

"We continue to urge the Israeli government to do more to speak out against such discriminatory proposals," the British Foreign Office said.

'Al Arakib village demolished 21 times' (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

The report also addresses the home demolitions in unrecognized Bedouin villages. "We remain disappointed that the demolition of Bedouin houses and villages in the Negev continues. We urge the Israeli government to find a solution that offers an agreeable compromise.

"The Al Arakib Bedouin village in the Negev, which has been demolished 21 times in total and nine times since the beginning of the year, is of particular concern," the report states.

The British Foreign Office's report also touched on the human rights situation in east Jerusalem, claiming Palestinian children in the neighbourhood of Silwan are "detained and interrogated by the Israeli authorities on an almost weekly basis.

"But unlike in the West Bank where children are subject to Israeli military justice, this occurs under the Israeli civil system. War Child, the human rights NGO, states that many of these arrests occur during night raids, which often result in children being taken from their beds, handcuffed and blindfolded," according to the report.

However, the British Foreign Office's said it welcomes the "efforts, including by the Israeli government, to tackle discrimination and reduce inequality between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

"In particular, we welcome continuing progress in developing new housing units, sewage infrastructures, transport networks, internal security reforms and agricultural developments in Arab areas," the report said.