In its 19th session (November to December 1998) the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights rejected Israel’s argument that the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights does not apply to Israeli actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). In its Concluding Observations, the Committee requested Israel “to provide additional information on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in the Occupied Territories… in time for the 23rd session of the Committee from November to December 2000” (CESCR e/C.12.1/Add.27).
Alarmed by Israel’s failure to provide such information, especially in light of the tragic consequences of increased Israeli violations of economic, social and cultural rights in the OPT from September 28 to the present, the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) is submitting this special report for consideration by the Committee. The report focuses exclusively on the impact of Israel’s military siege of Palestinian cities and towns in the OPT, although CESR is also deeply concerned by Israel’s failure to protect the economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian citizens inside Israel, an overt discrimination in breach of article 2(2) of the Covenant.
While international attention has focused on Israel’s use of excessive force in killing almost 200 Palestinians in the OPT and inside Israel, most of them unarmed demonstrators, little attention has been paid to equally grave violations of economic, social and cultural rights resulting from the strict Israeli military blockade imposed on the OPT. As the authoritative UN body concerned with these rights, it is imperative that the Committee takes a clear position condemning Israeli violations during the current crisis.