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RECOMMENDED SOURCES OF NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
This page highlights the News Agencies and Human Rights NGOs in Palestine/Israel, and UN agencies and programs, that we recommend as reliable and accurate information and news sources about the conflict, including especially the Palestinian news service, Ma'an.
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NEWS AGENCIES |
| Ma'an News Agency (MNA), with more than 3 million visits per month, is one of the most visited websites in the Occupied Territories. Publishing updates around the clock in both Arabic and English, MNA is the primary source of independent news from within the Occupied Territories. MNA's production ranges from television to video and radio production, including training courses for Palestinian journalists and media personnel. MNA is the premier source of independent Palestinian news on the internet, and also translates important items from the Hebrew press into Arabic. |
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| As the world's first international news agency, AFP's major priority is accuracy: every claim is sourced, every fact checked and then double-checked. AFP also prides itself on seeking alternative view points; accusations and claims are investigated to the fullest extent, providing a fair and balanced coverage of every situation. AFP's 1959 Statute guarantees the organization's independence and journalistic freedom, and that it will not allow itself to be controlled by any ideological, economic, or political group. The use of multiple languages and partner agencies makes AFP a remarkably accessible news agency for viewers worldwide. |
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| Al-Jazeera is a global news network rooted in the global South, employing more than 3,000 staff members from over 60 countries; this makes it one of the most diverse newsrooms in the world. Al-Jazeera can also be viewed online, either on LiveStation.com or on YouTube, where it is the most watched news channel. In January 2007, Al-Jazeera replaced BBC World on the Israeli satellite television station, Yes. Al-Jazeera is a well-respected news source on the international stage, having received numerous nominations and accolades from organizations such as The Royal Television Society, Amnesty International, The Association of International Broadcasters, The Foreign Press Association, and others. |
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| The BBC is one of the most recognizable news sources today, and is the largest news broadcasting agency in the world. A public service broadcaster, it was established by Royal Charter in 1927, and is funded by a government grant to provide informational, educational, and entertaining programs. BBC considers trust to be its foundation, and commits itself and its journalists to independence, impartiality, and honesty. Over the next year, BBC plans to expand its programs, while continuing to deliver factual, informative news content. |
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| Ha'aretz provides coverage specific to the Jewish World, the Diaspora, news regarding the Middle East, the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as defense, diplomacy, international relations, and the peace process. Often described as liberal, the news agency is Israel's oldest daily newspaper, and widely considered one of the most influential, if not the most widely circulated. Academic, political, and economic elites are Ha'aretz's primary subscribers. |
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HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE & JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS |
Adalah is an independent human rights organization and legal center. Since 1996, it has worked to promote the rights of the Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel and the Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The group advocates on behalf of a beleaguered minority, and challenges racist and discriminatory policies at all levels of the judicial process. Adalah's legal work and publications keep it in the public eye, and the organization is viewed with a great degree of respect as a credible source and an important reference point in Arab legal affairs. In 2005, Adalah obtained Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. |
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Al-Haq
Address:P.O.Box: 1413, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine
Phone: + 970 (0)2 2954646 Fax: + 970 (0)2 2954903
Website: http://www.alhaq.org |
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Al-Haq is an independent human rights organization that seeks to apply international and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Working with civil society organizations and government institutions, Al-Haq defends the individual and collective rights of Palestinians, regardless of the ethnic or national identity of the perpetrator. Al-Haq gives the Palestinian people a much-needed voice and advocate in the legal arena. |
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Amnesty International is one of the most highly respected, high-profile human rights advocacy organizations in the world. Using media outreach and high-level legislative work backed by a powerful grassroots base, Amnesty International publishes hundred of meticulously researched reports on the status of human rights in countries around the world. With the support of more than 3 million citizens from 150 countries around the world, Amnesty International believes in the power of ordinary people enacting change for those who suffer under tyranny or oppression. Amnesty International is funded by individual supporters and foundations in order to maintain its independence from governments and corporations. |
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ACRI is Israel's oldest and largest humanitarian rights organization, with a well-respected reputation for accountability and legal work. ACRI works towards its goal through precedent-setting legal work, in-depth human rights education, extensive public outreach, and strategic international advocacy. Working inside both Israel and the Occupied Territories, ACRI also works extensively on the international stage, providing a legitimate and reliable conduit of information regarding the human rights situation and Israel/Palestine. |
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Badil - Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights
Address:Karkafa St., PO Box 728, Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Phone: +972-2-277-7086 Fax: +972-2-274-7346
E-mail: info@badil.org
Website: http://www.badil.org/ |
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BADIL is a non-governmental human rights organization, unique in the fact that it is legally owned by the refugee community whose rights and self-determination it works to advance. An entirely democratic process, representatives for BADIL's General Assembly, Board, and Oversight Committee are all selected by the community. BADIL's work and mission is guided by the Palestinian identity, and the principles of international law. BADIL has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and works with many international organizations. |
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Bimkom is an Israeli non-profit that concerns itself with spatial planning, or how buildings will be demolished or built, on all scales. Bimkom wishes to take the largely exclusive planning system and bring it into the sphere of public debate so that local communities are able to have a say in what happens to the areas in which they live. This group is especially dedicated to assisting disadvantaged and minority populations, both Jewish and Arab, who are not well educated as to their rights and how to affect the planning process. In 2005, Bimkom was granted formal legal status by the Ministry of the Interior; a status that has only been awarded to a handful of NGOs in the state of Israel. |
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B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Address: P.O. Box 53132, Jerusalem 91531
Phone: 972-2-6735599 Fax: 972-2-6749111
E-mail: mail@btselem.org
Website: http://www.btselem.org/ |
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B'Tselem is one of the most prominent Israeli human rights organizations. Highly respected, B'Tselem has won the Carter-Menil Award for Human Rights, and is funded by himan rights activity foundations in Europe and North America, as well as by private individuals in Israel and abroad. B'Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Territories, to educate the Israeli public and policy makers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, and to foster human rights culture in Israel. B'Tselem devotes a large amount of its time to research and verifying all of its information before any facts are included in official reports. |
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Gisha - Using a combined approach of public advocacy and legal assistance, this Israeli non-profit works to protect the freedom of movement for Palestinian citizens. 'Gisha' means "access" and "approach," and by protecting the freedom of movement, this, by extension, allows Palestinians access to employment, education, and medical care. Supported by donations from Israel and abroad, the staff operating Gisha includes both Arabs and Jews, men and women, legal practitioners and academics. Gisha advocates for the Palestinian people in courts and in front of decision makers, and also promotes awareness and sensitivity for human rights in the Occupied Territories. |
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Hamoked - established in 1988 in the shadow of the first intifada, HaMoked works to enforce standards of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Occupied Territories. The organization handles complaints on topics ranging across the board of human rights violations, including but not limited to: residency rights, family unification, house demolitions, violence towards Palestinians by security forces and settlers, and detainee rights. HaMoked works to promote legislative changes to improve the status of human rights in the Occupied Territories. |
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) is one of the premier human rights defense organizations in the world. Through relentless investigation and strategic advocacy, HRW shines a light on violence perpetrated against those who have no voice to speak out. By advocating on behalf of victims and activists around the world, HRW brings issues to the international stage, and enlists the support of the international community to prevent and stop violence against those who seek justice. |
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International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a global organization funded primarily by voluntary contributions from governments. Its goal is to provide humanitarian aid to victims of conflict and armed violence, and to promote laws protecting victims of war. Based on the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the ICRC is independent and neutral, taking action when necessary and promoting respect for international humanitarian law. |
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The Jerusalem Fund/Palestine Center, based in Washington, DC, focuses on bringing a Palestinian perspective to the international community regarding the peace process, international law, media coverage, and foreign policy initiatives by Israel, Palestine, and the U.S. The Jerusalem Fund also awards grants to institutions in the Occupied Territories, such as schools, hospitals, civil society organizations, clinics, and orphanages. In addition, the Jerusalem Fund also exhibits the cultural and artistic heritage of the Palestinian people through competitions, film series, musical performances, and workshops. |
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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Address: 29 Omar El Mukhtar Street, Near Amal Hotel, PO Box 1328, Gaza
Phone: (972) 8 2824-776 Fax: (972) 82825-893
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org
Website: http://www.pchrgaza.org/ |
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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an NGO based in Gaza City that actively promotes a democratically-based civil society and upholds human rights. By offering legal counsel, the preparation of research articles, and documenting and reporting on human rights violations, PCHR advocates on behalf of legislation both in Gaza and in Israel that adheres to international human rights standards and the fundamental principles of democracy. PCHR holds special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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Peace Now is the premier peace organization in Israel, advocating for the right of Israel and it's neighbors to live in peace and security. Peace Now aims to promote democracy and peace through the education of both sides. Lately, Peace Now has taken an active role in protesting the continued construction of settlements in the Occupied Territories, presenting the alternative view that there are many Israelis who are against the construction of settlements in Palestinian territory. Toward this end they have developed the premier online resource describing the development of settlements by Israel in the West Bank. But the organization also operates in a great variety of ways, from vigils to protests to online campaigns. |
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Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-Israel) focuses on promoting the right to health in the broadest sense possible, using the definition of health expressed by the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural rights. Under this definition, the right to health includes access to medical services, freedom of movement, clean water, sanitary and safe living conditions, education and employment opportunities, and proper nutrition. In light of this definition, PHR-Israel opposes the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territory as the basis of a multitude of human rights violations. PHR-Israel operates using advocacy, medical assistance, legal action, thoroughly researched reports, and individual assistance on a case-by-case basis. |
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Yesh Din is an Israeli human rights organization that functions solely on the donations of private individuals. While focusing on individual cases of human rights violations, Yesh Din sketches a larger picture of structural violence against the Palestinian people living in the Occupied Territories. Yesh Din operates using a unique two-tiered model: they employ a professional staff which includes leading human rights experts, as well as relying heavily on volunteer efforts to report, donate, and fact-check all information. Yesh Din publishes reports detailing human rights abuses, engages with the media, and takes legal action and advocates directly on behalf of abused citizens. |
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UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES - NEWS AND INFORMATION
(pertaining to the Middle East conflict) |
| UN NEWS CENTRE - a modern high-tech news service providing breaking news, special features, and other multi-media newswire products about what, when and who is happening at the United Nations. This includes easy access to official statements, resolutions, programme and speaking schedules, and other essential resources. Online access, accreditation, liason services, RSS feeds and email alert subscriptions are available. |
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 | IRIN NEWS (Integrated Regional Information Networks - division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
http://www.irinnews.org/ |
| IRIN is an award-winning humanitarian news and analysis service, reaching over 1 million online readers, and covering parts of the world often under-reported, misunderstood or ignored. According to a 2008 survey by the global marketing research company ACNielsen, IRIN is the premier online humanitarian news source for people who describe themselves as having a "strong impact on humanitarian issues". IRIN has its head office in Nairobi, Kenya, with regional desks throughout the world, covering some 70 countries, supported by a vast network of local correspondents. |
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| UNISPAL has been established by the U.N. General Assembly to preserve, organize and make available the major U.N. documents pertaining to the Middle East conflict. Currently, the collection includes over 30,000 documents. Especially notable are the maps, multi-media documents, a wide range of documents in other languages, and even non-U.N. documents relevant to the conflict. |
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UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES - General |
| UNITED NATIONS (UN) is a democratic, international organization created in 1945 with the primary goal of eliminating the possibility of all future wars. The UN has 6 main bodies (General Assembly, Security Council, Economic & Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat) and, currently, 193 member-nations from across the globe. The UN mission and operations are defined in its Charter. The UN employs numerous resources for accomplishing it's mission by promoting greater mutual understanding and non-violent approaches to conflict resolution, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and democratic systems of governance and decision-making, environmental sustainability, and more, through cultural exchange, negotiation mediation, media and public relations campaigns, international conferences and forums of all kinds, sanctioning programs and deploying peace-keeping troops, distribution of aid, and more. The website itself provides limited access to a comprehensive library of 700,000+ documents made accessible to government officials, experts of all types and the general public alike. |
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| UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA) - the democratic representative branch of the UN guaranting that each of it's 193 member-nations has an equal vote in policymaking decisions pertaining to issues of global importance as enumerated in the UN Charter and as laid out by the six major internal GA committees ((1) Disarmament and International Security; (2) Economic and Financial; (3) Social, Humanitarian and Cultural; (4) Special Political and Decolonization; (5) Administrative and Budgetary; and (6) Legal), resulting in resolutions (which are none-the-less non-binding). GA transparency and accountability comes from publication on the website and in book form of it's resolutions, meeting discussions and voting records.
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| UN SECURITY COUNCIL (SC) - primarily responsible for international peace and security, the SC is the major enforceable policing body of the United Nations taking action to both prevent and resolve conflicts through binding resolutions that guide the brokering of peace and disarmament agreements, and then the enforcement of it's decisions with measures such as economic sanctions and deployment of peace-keeping forces. The SC has five permanent members and ten rotating, non-permanent members. SC transparency and accountability comes from publication on the website and in book form of its resolutions, decision-making procedures, policies and discussions, and voting records. |
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| UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC) is the research arm of the UN that develops research data and manages discussion forums on global economic and social issues neccessary for UN decision-making, as well as forums and ministerial reviews assessing UN program effectiveness. Participants in the various forums include representatives of member-states, outside experts on the topic, and non-government organizations. Topics include everything from human rights to environment to economic issues to unemployment to food shortages. ECOSOC has fifty-four members whom are elected to three-year terms by the GA. Like the other branches of the UN, ECOSOC publishes its resolutions and meeting proceedings on the UN website and in other forms. |
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| UN OFFICE FOR THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) - part of the UN Secretariat, the OHCHR is focused on human rights as per the UN Charter (1945) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1949). OHCHR primarily undertakes three tasks: (1) setting standards for respect of human rights, (2) promoting implementation of these standards world-wide, and (3) monitoring the implementation of these standards. The OHCHR then works with other UN agencies, local governments, and NGOs to reach these goals. The OHCHR also works hard at public education about human rights, and thus has a large library of materials online, including many of its own publications. |
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| UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) At the 2000 Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed on eight measurable goals to reach by 2015 that would benefit socio-economic development around the world. These eight goals are; (1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; (2) Achieve universal primary education; (3) Promote gender equality and empower women; (4) Reduce child mortality; (5) Improve maternal health; (6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; (7) Ensure environmental sustainability; (8) Develop a global partnership for development. In 2002, the UN Secretary-General created the Millennium Project, an independent advisory board, to support the implementation of the MDGs. This advisory board explains how the MDGs are to be measured and provides annual reports of progress towards these goals. Links to other governmental and private organizations working on the MDGs are also available. |
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UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES
(specific to the Middle East Conflict) |
| PERMANENT OBSERVER MISSION OF PALESTINE - the Palestine Liberation Organization was awarded Permanent Observer status at the UN by the UN General Assembly in 1974 so that representatives of the Palestinian people could play a more active and contiguous role in UN decision-making, including speaking at conferences and participating in discussions prior to voting on resolutions. It also gives the PLO more direct access to the UN Secretary-General for reporting on human rights conditions and incidents in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Mission website provides online access to documents pertaining to the Mission's contribution to UN proceedings on the Middle East conflict and other issues, as well as a chronological history of Palestine. |
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| THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE (QoP) - is the official summary term for the U.N. handling of the conflict in Palestine since 1947. The website for QoP contains links to all the relevant entities and official documents to the conflict, as well as essays on the history of the conflict. Issues covered include settlements, refugees, water, Jerusalem, etc. The online library through UNISPAL accesses over 20,000 documents. |
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| UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (UNDP/PAPP) - in 1978 the UN General Assembly called on the UN Development Programme to take the lead in helping the Palestinian people develop economically while still subjected to military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. In response UNDP launched PAPP which includes both a fund-raising aspect as well as field operations. Projects are undertaken in partnership with local and outside groups and services, but especially in partnership with the PA. A major focus is infrastructure - schools, health facilities, housing, roads, and water and sanittion systems. Other focus areas are supporting the development of democratic and financial institutions and systems, reducing poverty, working to improve environmental impacts and assisting with gender issues. |
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| UN COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (CEIRPP) - was created in 1975 to devise a plan for a self-determined state for Palestinians. CEIRPP supports a two-state solution and continues to aid Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, as well as sponsor conferences with civil organizations. For example, this group hosts the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People to push for the creation of a Palestinian state. CEIRPP also uses its position to pressure the UN to enforce international law in Palestine and accept Palestine's application as a permanent member to the UN. |
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| UN OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - works to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) in the occupied Palestinian Territories. OHCHR's goal in Palestine is to end human rights violations from both Israel and the internal political struggles of the Palestinians. The office produces both resolutions and annual country reports on the status of human rights, and then gives them to the General Assembly to encourage debate on the issue. |
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| UN OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: ISRAEL - looks at the resolutions and reports produced by the different departments of the UN on the implementation of human rights in Israel. The Country reports then issued by the High Commissioner fulfill the office's UN mandate to monitor the application of international human rights law in Israel as it is required to do for every member state, and then encourage discussion of it's findings in the General Assembly. |
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| UN RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) - was created in 1949, after the founding of the State of Israel, to assist what is now over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees residing in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. UNRWA aids Palestinian refugees with camp infrastructure, healthcare, education, and emergency relief in times of military conflict. UNRWA is funded by UN member-states and, unlike other relief aid groups, provides aid directly to refugees through its own facilities and projects. UNRWA also runs public education programs advocating for a peaceful solution to the conflict and to end the suffering of these refugees. |
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| INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE - is an annual event held on November 29th and hosted by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People (CEIRPP). This event brings together UN member states and civil actors to discuss the question of a Palestinian state and the permanent membership of Palestine in the UN. Speeches made by leading international figures, like the UN Secretary-General, call for Israel and Palestine to work together to resolve their conflicts and create two separate and peaceful states. |
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| UN TRUCE SUPERVISION ORGANIZATION (UNTSO) - was the first UN peacekeeping operation in 1948. UNTSO continues to monitor ceasefires and armistice agreements in the region, as well as contain possible escalation of conflict between groups. More uniquely, UNTSO is available for rapid deployment for other peacekeeping missions in the area because of its continued presence in Palestine. UNTSO also works with other groups (such as UNIFIL and UNDOF) to maintain peace in the Palestine. UNTSO employs 150 military personnel from 24 UN member-states. |
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| UN DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE (UNDOF) - is responsible for implementing and maintaining a 1974 Security Council resolution calling for the disengagement of Israeli and Palestinian forces in the Golan Heights. UNDOF continues to supervise the ceasefire in the Golan Heights by guarding a no man's land over 40 miles long and keeping all other military forces from entering. Though there has been limited conflict recently, the UN maintains UNDOF to prevent future armed conflict and the humanitarian disaster that would follow. UNDOF employs about 1,000 troops from six different UN member-states and a civilian staff of 100. |
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| UN EMERGENCY FORCE I 1956-1967 (UNEF I) - was created in 1956 to monitor the General Assembly's call for the removal of French, British, and Israeli troops from Egypt and the end of hostilities in the Sinai Peninsula. UNEF I acted as a defensive unit supervising the withdrawal of various armed forces and as a buffer between Israeli and Egyptian forces. It was also employed to monitor the terms of the ceasefire without bias. Through its duration UNEF I employed between 3,000-6,000 troops from ten different member-states. |
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| UN EMERGENCY FORCE II 1973-1979 (UNEFII) - was created in 1973 to end renewed hostilities between Egypt and Israel. UNEF II employed 7,000 troops from 13 member-states to effectively end the conflict and monitor the retreat of Egypt and Israel to pre-war borders, and then maintained a buffer zone between the two nations. This force also helped the Red Cross provide humanitarian assistance in the region. The UN renewed the UNEFII mandate until 1979, when Israel finally withdrew from the Sinai and UNTSO was able to take over guarding the buffer zone. |
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| UN OBSERVER GROUP IN LEBANON JUNE-DECEMBER 1958 (UNOGIL) - was rapidly deployed by the UN in June of 1958 to stop the transportation of illegal arms and personnel into Lebanon from Syria to anti-government rebels. The UN created UNOGIL with the support of Lebanon and the Arab League. UNOGIL was mandated to only observe and report back to the UN, not to physically prohibit arms transportation. Still it was able to limit the amount of arms the rebels received and because of its success, was terminated the same year. UNOGIL included between 400-600 troops from 28 different member-states. |
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| UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON (UNIFIL) - was originally created by the Security Council in 1978 to escort Israeli troops exiting Lebanon and to restore Lebanese authority within its own borders as steps toward ending armed conflict. The UN updated UNIFIL's mandate after the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War to continue supporting Lebanese troops in regaining peace in South Lebanon, but also to ensure the safe return of refugees, and to maintain a safe environment for humanitarian aid agencies to operate in. At the height of the 2006 conflict, UNIFIL employed 15,000 troops from 36 member-states, as well as over six hundred civilians. |
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