Israel and the Occupied Territories

„Surviving under siege – The impact of movement restrictions on the right to work“

The restrictions imposed by Israel on the movements of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have reached an unprecedented level since the beginning of the intifada (Palestinian uprising) in September 2000. Closures, blockades, checkpoints, roadblocks, curfews and other restrictions have had a disastrous impact on the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and have crippled the Palestinian economy. Unemployment and poverty have spiralled, malnutrition has emerged, anaemia and other health problems have increased and education has been negatively affected.

In law as well as in practice, the Israeli authorities have breached their obligations under international law to respect and protect the rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The sweeping and indiscriminate restrictions imposed by Israel on the movement of people and goods in the Occupied Territories not only violate the right to freedom of movement, but also infringe the right to work and other economic and social rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

Some 60 percent of Palestinians now live below the poverty line of US$2 per day and most are forced to depend on aid. The high levels of unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and other health problems afflicting Palestinians are not just a humanitarian problem – they are the direct result of the restrictions imposed by Israel on the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

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