Source: The World Factbook. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021.

International and Regional Human Rights Agreements

Note: As of November 2012 Palestine is accorded “non-member observer State status” in the United Nations following a vote of the United Nations General Assembly. Since that time, Palestine has acceded to more than two-dozen international treaties and conventions. Palestine is also recognized as a full member of the League of Arab States.

* Category includes ratification, accession, or succession to the treaty

Constitutional Framework

Palestine’s temporary Constitution, the Basic Law, was passed by the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1997 and ratified by President Yasser Arafat in 2002. It was amended in 2003 and in 2005. Freedom of association is guaranteed by Article 26(2), which states that all Palestinians have the right, both individually and in groups, “to form and establish unions, associations, societies, clubs and popular institutions in accordance with the law.”

National Laws and Regulations Affecting Sector

Relevant national legislation includes the following:

• The Law on Charitable Associations and Community Foundations (Law 1 of 2000) [English] [عربي]
• Implementing Regulations for Law 1 of 2000 (Council of Ministers Decision 9 of 2003) [عربي]
• Basic Law of the Palestinian National Authority [عربي]
• Law on Public Assemblies (Law 12 of 1998)
• Regulation on Non-Profit Companies (Regulation 3 of 2010) [عربي]
• Decree-Law No. 9 of 2021regarding the postponement of the elections of trade unions and financial unions
• Decree-Law No. 7 of 2021amending Law No. 1 of 2000 regarding charitable associations and civil society organizations and its amendments
• Decree-Law No. 18 of 2021 suspending enforcement of Decree-Law No. 7

Pending NGO Legislative / Regulatory Initiatives

1. The government has periodically sought to revise the legal framework for CSOs through amendments to the Law on Charitable Associations and Community Foundations (Law I of 2000), ministerial directives, and other regulations and policies. Most recently, a 2021 decree introduced several restrictive measures but was suspended after robust pushback from CSOs. The government has indicated that it plans to issue a new decree covering the same matters after consulting with “relevant entities.”

2. A ministerial committee has been formed under the auspices of the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister tasked with amending the Non-Profit Companies Regulation in Palestine. The committee has not invited any representatives of CSOs to take part in consultations or dialogue.

3. The Palestinian government has drawn up a new restrictive draft law through the Ministry of Interior and the Palestinian Monetary Authority that imposes strict measures related to money laundering and combating support for terrorism.

Please help keep us informed; if you are aware of pending initiatives, write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Organizational Forms

Although Palestinian law refers to both “charitable organizations” and “community foundations,” only the legal form of an “association” is defined. According to Law 1 of 2000, an “association” is any institution with “independent legal personality, established upon an agreement concluded among no less than seven persons to achieve legitimate objectives of public concern, without aiming at attaining financial profits to be shared among the members or achieving any personal benefits.”

Public Benefit Status

There is no public benefit status defined in Law 1 of 2000. However, all registered associations are exempt from taxes and customs duties.

Public Participation

The legal framework in Palestine provides insufficient protection for public participation. While some laws and decrees contain provisions that protect the rights of marginalized groups, the implementation of such provisions falls short. The Palestinian Authority, for example, has prevented civil society activists with disabilities from holding sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Health building to demand their right to free health insurance, as stipulated by law. Moreover, the territorial, legal and political fragmentation that exists in Palestine has a continuing, negative impact on the ability of marginalized groups and civil society activists to participate meaningfully in public policy and service provision.

Barriers to Entry

Registration is mandatory for associations operating in Palestine. According to Law 1, the procedure for licensing requires that the applicant submit three copies of the association’s bylaws along with an application form provided by the Ministry of Interior. However, the Ministry has on occasion mandated additional requirements (see below).

The law provides that the Ministry must issue a decision accepting or denying the application within two months after its submission. If the Ministry fails to do so, the association is considered registered by law after the lapse of the two-month period. However, it has been reported that in some instances of default registration, the Ministry may refuse to consider the association as registered and may hinder its activities or even prevent them altogether. Also, if a registration certificate has not been issued, the association will not be allowed to open a bank account in order to receive funds.

Rejection of a registration application must be made in writing and must specify the reasons (though the law does not contain a list of permissible grounds for rejecting a registration application). As the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network reported in 2009, “a multitude of decrees, decisions and instructions have been issued by the PNA… that are entirely contradictory… to the regulations of the Law of Charitable Associations and Community Organizations in particular. For instance, Presidential Decree 16 of 2007 granting the Minister of Interior the power to review all licensing certificates; Council of Ministers Resolution 8 of 2007 regarding associations engaged in activities that are against the law; and the Ministry of Interior Decision 20 of 2007, according to which associations are obliged to refer to security agencies for the completion of registration procedures, may all be considered to contravene the NGO law itself. Registered associations in Gaza are subject to security checks and must present a certificate of good conduct and a clean criminal record for all their members; this has become a prerequisite for registration at the MoI of [the West Bank Government as well].” (Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Freedom of Association in the Euro-Mediterranean Region 2009, p. 68. )

It has been reported that on some occasions the Ministry of Interior has rejected a registration application because “there are other registered associations that provide the same services.”

As noted above, the Ministry of Interior has also repeatedly changed the registration requirements. As of 2015, the following additional elements are required for registration:

1. Three copies of the registration form.
2. Three copies of the by-laws of the association.
3. Copies of the ID cards of the founders (or of any other document that proves their nationality).
4. Revenue stamps (worth 20 Jordanian Dinars, or approximately $30).
5. Written authorization that allows three founders to follow-up on registration procedures and sign on behalf and in the name of the organization.
6. Letter certifying that the signatures of the founders are true (the letter should be prepared by the three authorized founders).
7. Form of information about the founders.
8. All founders (or the three authorized founders) must sign each page of the by-laws.
9. All of the documents enclosed with the application shall be printed.
10. All founders that hold Israeli identity cards must have a notarized statement in which they accept the competence of Palestinian courts for any arising legal issue.
11. All founders must be cleared by the Ministry of Finance and Income Tax Department.
12. All foreign organizations must additionally prepare and submit narrative and financial guides as part of their registration application.

Barriers to Operational Activity

Palestinian law places virtually no limitations on the rights of an association, though  in recent years the government has sought to exert greater control over civil society through amendments, regulations, ministerial decisions, or informal practices towards CSOs. Associations are free to engage in public policy debates, raise funds from foreign and domestic sources, and merge and dissolve. Associations can affiliate with foreign or domestic organizations without seeking prior permission, and foreign associations are free to establish branches in Palestine so long as approval is given by both the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

The Ministry of Interior has the right to “scrutinize the activities of an association to ascertain that its funds have been spent for the purposes for which they were allocated,” which may allow inappropriate government intervention in NGO activities by the government. Also, although the law provides that associations are entitled to set up branches within Palestine, it has been reported that authorities in Gaza may refuse to allow the opening of organizations registered in the West Bank (and vice-versa).

In 2021, the government issued a decree (Decree-Law No. 7) requiring CSOs to align their annual workplans with the plans of relevant government ministries. Decree-Law No. 7 also provided that an organization’s operating expenses and employee salaries could not exceed 25 percent of its annual budget. Due to civil society advocacy, the government suspended enforcement of Decree-Law No. 7. Nonetheless, CSOs are concerned that Decree-Law No. 7 reflects the government’s intent to exercise greater control over the ability of civil society to freely operate.

Barriers to Speech / Advocacy

There are no barriers to speech or advocacy in Law 1 of 2000.

However, since 2019, dozens of Palestinian civil society activists have been arrested and detained for publishing opinions critical of the government on social media. The latest incident involved the activist, Nizar Banat, who was arrested in June 2021 and then died in police custody in the West Bank after having criticized the Palestinian Authority’s corruption.

Barriers to International Contact

There are no major legal barriers to international contact in Law 1 of 2000. However, foreign associations must secure the approval of the Ministry of the Interior, which is required to “take into consideration the opinion of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation,” before opening any branches in Palestine (Article 34).

Barriers to Resources

On July 7, 2015, the Palestinian Council of Ministers approved new restrictions on funding for non-profit companies. The Council authorized amendments to Regulation No. 3 of 2010 on Non-Profit Companies, adding a paragraph to Article 11 that states: “Acceptance of any gifts, donations, aid, or funding is subject to prior approval from the Council of Ministers after specifying the purpose of such [gifts, donations, aid, or funding].” A number of charitable associations and community organizations in Palestine have recently established non-profit companies in order to carry out economic activities aimed at advancing social development and supporting marginalized groups. The new requirement of prior government approval creates an additional obstacle for non-profit companies seeking financial support.

Associations other than non-profit companies are generally free to raise funds from foreign and domestic sources without seeking prior approval or notifying the Ministry of the Interior.

However, the government may exercise undue control over an association’s funds in the case that it is dissolved. An amendment to the law per the decision of President Mahmoud Abbas (issued in April 2011) grants the Ministry of Interior unlimited discretion and authority to transfer the funds and assets of a dissolved organization to the public treasury of the PNA. (Prior to this amendment, the organization could determine how its funds and assets should be disposed in the event of its dissolution, in the text of its by-laws.) This amendment appears to invite the government to confiscate the funds of dissolved organizations. As noted above, in 2021 the government issued a restrictive decree (Decree-Law No. 7) but later suspended its enforcement. Among other restrictions, Decree-Law No. 7 sought to increase government control over dissolved organizations’ funds and CSOs’ fundraising activities.

Barriers to Assembly

Vague Provisions. Law No. 12 of 1998 on Public Assemblies contains a number of vague provisions concerning permissible assemblies. For instance, Article 4 states that a demonstration “must be far from areas of tension, and the purpose of the meeting must not contradict with the law or public order.” The meanings of “areas of tension” and “public order” are subject to various interpretations, and may be used as a pretext to deny and restrict citizens’ right to peaceful assembly. Palestinians are also unable to know in advance whether they are violating the law by gathering in a certain place and discussing certain topics, due to the vagueness of these terms.

Advance Notification. The Law on Public Assemblies requires prior notification for planned gatherings of more than 50 people in a public space. Article 4 of the Law provides that this notification requirement is triggered when “50 people are invited in an open public venue, including public squares, courts, parks etc.” Article 3 stipulates that prior written notice must be submitted to the governor or to the police director at least 48 hours before the date of any meeting or public assembly. The notice should be signed by the organizers, who must be more than three people.

Article 1 of the Executive Regulation details the procedures for notification as follows:

1. the notice shall be handwritten and addressed to the governor or police director;
2. the notice shall be submitted at least 48 hours before the date of the meeting or the demonstration;
3. the notice shall define the venue, time, and goal of the meeting or demonstration; and
4. the notice shall define the route and duration of the demonstration.

If the organizers do not receive a response within 48 hours, the organizing party has the right to convene the public meeting on the date specified in the notice, per Article 4 of the Law on Public Assemblies.

Article 2 of the Executive Regulation provides that, following receipt of the notice, the police director has authority to issue the license for the assembly. If he or she does so, Article 11 stipulates that the license shall include:

1. the name of the notice filer;
2. the subject matter of the meeting or the goal of the demonstration;
3. the venue of the meeting and its duration;
4. the point of assembly for the demonstration and its duration;
5. the security terms and conditions that are decided by the police director to provide protection for the meeting or demonstration to guarantee the protection of the public and the public safety;
6. Any other terms and conditions.

There is no right to challenge a decision by the police director to deny the organizers a license.

Spontaneous Assemblies and Counter-Demonstrations. The Law on Public Assemblies does not explicitly provide for spontaneous assemblies, nor does it address counter-demonstrations. Because of the prior notification requirement, however, it may be assumed that both types of assemblies are prohibited. In practice, they are also suppressed. For example, in June 2012, the Palestinian police broke up a spontaneous demonstration aimed at protesting the visit of the Israeli Minister Ehud Barak to the region.

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions. The Law on Public Assemblies does not place explicit restrictions on assemblies based on their timing, location, or subject matter.

Police Enforcement. There have been several incidents where police have responded to peaceful demonstrators with excessive force. In March 2011, for example, a peaceful demonstration was organized near City Inn Circle in Ramallah on the occasion of Earth Day. The security bodies placed several check points before the participants to prevent them from joining the assembly, and the police detained a number of the participants.

Criminal Penalties. The Law on Public Assemblies provides for penalties if individuals violate the Law. Article 6 states that “notwithstanding any other penalty set forth by the Penal Code, anyone violating the provisions of this Law shall be punished with imprisonment for no more than 2 months, or a fine that does not exceed fifty thousand Jordanian Dinars or their equivalent in the applicable currency.” By incorporating provisions of the Penal Code, the Law exposes assembly participants to harsher penalties.

In practice, the Palestinian Authority often relies on Articles 81-84 of the Palestinian Penal Code of 1936; Articles 165-178 of the Jordanian Criminal Code of 1960; and the Presidential Decree on Promoting National Unity and Preventing Incitement to prevent or restrict the freedom of peaceful assembly. These provisions, however, were intended to address assemblies that had criminal intent.

While we aim to maintain information that is as current as possible, we realize that situations can rapidly change.  If you are aware of any additional information or inaccuracies on this page, please keep us informed; write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Hamas claims it is ‘ready’ to hold first elections in Gaza in 18 years (September 2023)
Gaza’s ruling militant group Hamas has said there is a cross-factional agreement to hold elections in the besieged enclave, which would be the first in 18 years. Speaking to local Palestinian outlet Quds News, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said a meeting was held with Palestine’s Central Elections Committee and the armed factions in the Gaza Strip. “There was a consensus that the atmosphere was very positive in the Gaza Strip and the conditions were completely favourable for holding these elections,” Mr Qassem said.

Seven Palestinian NGOs shut down by Israel (August 2022)
For the seven Palestinian civil society and human rights organizations forcibly shut by Israeli raids, the reasons are quite clear. According to Mazen Rantisi, head of the board of directors of the Health Work Committees (HWC), which runs hospitals and clinics and was among the groups raided, the closures were aimed at “destroying Palestinian society.” Six of the organizations had been criminalized as “terrorist” organizations in October 2021 by Israel, which claimed they were affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) Hosts Civil Society Conference (February 2022)
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) held a conference at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Ramallah to announce the commencement of the EU-funded project ‘Shoraka’ to present and discuss the trend of “shrinking space for civil society organizations” within the Palestinian context.

PNGO condemns Dutch government decision to end funding for UAWC (January 2022)
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) unites and represents the leading and oldest NGOs in Palestine. One of PNGO’s respected members is the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC). All PNGO members are now standing in solidarity around UAWC after the Dutch government decided to end its funding for UAWC.

Civil society organizations conclude training workshop on legal restrictions (December 2021)
The Palestinian NGO Network, in cooperation with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, held a training workshop for the training of trainers of Palestinian CSOs that lasted for two days and featured the participation of 20 trainers and trainees. It focused on empowering institutions and increasing their capabilities with regard to asssuring the legal environment is in accordance with local law.

Ministry of Finance amends some provisions of the draft VAT law (December 2021)
The Palestinian Ministry of Finance discussed value added tax with the Social and Economic Policies Observatory in a meeting called by the ministry at its headquarters. The result of the meeting was to confirm the Ministry of Finance would make some amendments to the draft law in line with the observations made at the meeting.

PNGO Calls on International Community’s Pressure to Stop Violations against Civil Work Institutions (August 2021)
According to Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), the international community must assume its responsibilities to the occupation’s attacks on Palestinian civil work institutions, following the closure of the Union of Health Work Committees, the arrest of its general manager, Shatha Odeh, the closure of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and the incitement against other civil work institutions.

ICHR Announces its Opposition to Amendment of the Law of Charitable Societies and Civil Organizations (April 2021)
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) expressed its opposition to  the decision to amend the Law of Charitable Societies and Civil Organizations No. (01) for the year 2021 and its amendments issued on February 28, 2021. The Commission considered that this decision by law constitutes a serious and direct infringement of the right to form trade unions, associations, federations and associations, which is guaranteed by the Basic Law in Article (26). It also contradicts the presidential decree issued regarding the promotion of public freedoms and fundamentally harms the environment for rights and freedoms prior to the electoral process.

The European Union sets new funding terms and Erekat calls for reconsideration (December 2019)
The Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Saeb Erekat, called on the European Union to reconsider the new financing conditions that it placed on civil society institutions, and to ensure equal, impartial and transparent access to financing opportunities for all.

Discussing the draft study on the reality of civil work in Palestine (July 2019)
The Palestinian Civil Society Organizations in Ramallah organized a workshop aiming at discussing the draft study on the reality of civil work in Palestine under preparation. The workshop was attended by researchers, CSO representatives from all the cities of the West Bank, and representatives of the different competent ministries.

Agreement on Principles between NGOs and AIDA (March 2018)
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network signed an Agreement on Principles with the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) to increase collaboration and cooperation between the two entities.

Launch of a Palestinian Civil Society Index Website (February 2018)
The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, the National Commission of Palestinian Civic Institutions, and the Palestinian General Union of Charitable Societies launched a website to feature various indexes on the state of civil society in Palestine.

With Electricity in Short Supply, 10,000 Protest in Gaza, Defying Hamas (January 2017)
The nearly two million residents of Gaza have been suffering through a cold winter of crippling power cuts, receiving electricity for only three or four hours a day. Popular anger over the cuts recently erupted in a large protest. In a rare display of defiance against the Hamas authorities who control the Palestinian territory, about 10,000 people took to the streets in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

A New Model for the Relationship between the National Authority and Civic Institutions (October 2016)
The National Commission of Palestinian Civic Institutions (“PNIN”) and The Students Forum Foundation organized a specialized workshop entitled “a new model for the relationship between national power and the institutions of civil society.” Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Social Development, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the NGO Affairs Authority participated in the workshop, in addition to a number of representatives of civil society institutions.

Training session on the right to organize and to form associations (September 2016)
The Student Forum Foundation held a training session in Bethlehem for a group of young volunteers working in civil society organizations, providing sessions on the right to organize and form societies as ensured by the Palestinian basic law and international laws and conventions.

Human Rights Watch: Palestine – Crackdown on Journalists, Activists (August 2016)
According to Human Rights Watch, the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza are arresting, abusing, and criminally charging journalists and activists who express peaceful criticism of the authorities. The crackdown directly violates obligations that Palestine recently assumed in ratifying international treaties protecting free speech.

Civil Society Organizations Commission holds a consultative meeting on civil work (January 2016)
On January 11, 2016, the Civil Society Organizations Commission held a consultative meeting on civil work in Palestine which was attended by the Palestinian government officials, as well as CSOs. The meeting was meant to introduce a phase of strategic cooperation and partnership between the public and civil sectors to ensure civil society’s involvement and engagement in the decision-making processes at the national and sectoral levels. In the meeting, the Minister of Interior assured that the Ministry will take measures to make the process of registering CSOs easier and faster, including canceling the requirement of financial clearance.

Emphasizing civil society’s role to stop confiscation of rights organizations (December 2015)
The Network of Palestinian Civil Organizations and Advisory Board issued a set of recommendations for strengthening the CSO sector, and condemned rights abuses taking place in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister addresses role of civil society sector (October 2015)
The Prime Minister said to Donia Al-Watan that the government is aware of the important role of CSOs, however, the government still has to oversee the civic sector and ensure the transparency and accountability of Palestinian associations. The Prime Minister also said that the government is currently working on amending the legislation that governs civil society so it conforms with the international agreements that Palestine acceded to.

Legal committee to discuss special regulations concerning the law on CSOs (August 2014)
The head of the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau announced on August 24th the formation of a legal committee tasked with studying all laws and regulations affecting civil society organizations, for the purposes of streamlining the various rules and institutions that govern CSO formation and operations.

Paving the Way for Women’s Inclusion in Palestinian and Israeli Peacebuilding (August 2014)
The latest breakdown in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations marks an opportune time to open up reconciliation processes to recognize and account for women’s contributions. Creativity for Peace is a unique grassroots organization that teaches young Palestinian and Israeli women the tools for community-based peace and reconciliation intervention programs. It is one of the few organizations that have emerged during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to completely focus on peacebuilding for women, and is believed to be the only organization of its kind based in the United States. The women of Creativity of Peace have shown that they can be facilitators in cross-conflict communal talks. Offering counter-narratives to the status quo encourages wider civil society input into communal peacebuilding activities.

Workshop on the Reality of NGOs in Palestine (November 2013)
A workshop entitled “The Reality of Palestinian NGOs” took place on November 26th, 2013. The workshop came out with many recommendations including the need to enhance the cooperation between NGOs and the government.

Workshop on NGO Transparency and Good Governance (November 2013)
The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) and Anti-Corruption Commission organized a workshop in Bethlehem on November 13th, 2013, on mechanisms to enhance the transparency and integrity of NGOs. The workshop focused on NGOs’ board members and executive management.

Project Launched to Protect and Promote Freedom of Association in Palestine (November 2013)
A group of organizations signed an agreement to launch a project aimed to strengthen protection for the freedom of association in the Palestinian Territories. The agreement was signed by the Palestinian Consultative Staff for NGOs Development (PCS); the Palestine National Institute for NGOs (PNIN); the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO); and the Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF).

Palestine Joins the Convention on Cluster Munitions (September 2013)
Palestine joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions as an observer state in September 2013, during the fourth meeting of state parties in Lusaka, Zambia.

Palestinian Civil Society: What Went Wrong? (April 2013)
Over the past two decades, social, political, cultural and institutional changes have swept across the occupied Palestinian territories. Many of the changes can be traced back to the Oslo process, such as the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, the redefinition of official Palestinian-Israeli relations, the involvement of international donors, and the radical shift in the political economy of the occupied territories. Al-Shabaka policy member Tariq Dana argues that Palestinian civil society is fundamental to understanding the multilayered changes that have negatively affected Palestinian society. He identifies the four dimensions of “what went wrong” since Oslo – the shift in organizations’ agendas, the role of the grassroots, the status of politics, and the production of knowledge – and concludes with recommendations to revive civil society as a fertile terrain for profound social transformation.

Banking woes for charity suspected of financing Hamas (January 2013)
The Al-Aqsa Foundation, a charity registered focusing on providing aid to Palestinians has recently had its banking facilities with two South African banks suspended. The Foundation is suspected by the US government to be raising funds for Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement and governing authority of the Gaza strip.

Newest ‘observer state’ should act on rights treaties (November 2012)
Palestinian leaders should pursue ratification of core international human rights treaties and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Governments that have pressured Palestine to forgo membership in the ICC, including the United Kingdom, or have said that they will impose sanctions on Palestine if it seeks ICC membership, namely Israel, should end such pressure and support universal ratification of the ICC treaty.

Palestine upgrade ‘brings obligations under international law’ (December 2012)
Palestine’s historic recognition as a non-member observer state of the United Nations brings with it obligations under international law, Amnesty International says. The vote at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday was decided by 138 votes in favor, 41 abstentions, and nine against. Palestine is in a position to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other human rights and international humanitarian law treaties, bolstering accountability for human rights violations and crimes under international law. “This would open the door for victims of human rights abuses to seek justice and empower them to claim their rights,” said Widney Brown, Senior Director of International Law and Policy at Amnesty International.

‘Investigate UK funding of Palestinian NGOs’ (September 2012)
The head of the Jerusalem-based research institute, NGO Monitor, has called for an inquiry into the British government’s funding of Palestinian organizations which he says promote political attacks on Israel.

Statement of the Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations (PCHRO) on EU Association Council Meeting (July 2012)
The Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations (PCHRO) issued a statement after the Association Council Meeting between EU and Israel.

Attacks against journalists in Ramallah violate Palestinian law (July 2012)
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) has condemned a series of attacks against journalists on July 1. It says the attacks are in direct contravention of the Palestinian Basic Law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

NGOs in Gaza accuse Hamas of crackdown (June 2012)
The Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip is increasingly interfering in the work of civil society, activists charge, cracking down on non-governmental organizations. Officials from groups ranging from aid organizations to cultural centers say they are seeing their operating space narrowed. They accuse Hamas of trying to bring Gaza’s civil society under its control.

Australia dismisses Palestinian NGO ‘terror’ claims (May 2012)
The Australian government on Thursday said it had cleared the local chapter of World Vision of an Israeli rights group’s claims that a Palestinian NGO it was funding had extremist links. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said a probe by the government’s aid agency AusAID had found no evidence that World Vision Australia’s funding of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) was a breach of the U.N. charter.

Palestinian hunger strikers’ lives in danger (May 2012)
Two Palestinian hunger strikers’ lives are in danger, as the Israeli Supreme Court has delayed ruling on the appeal against their detention without charge or trial. Other administrative detainees on hunger strike are still denied access to independent doctors.

HRW: Policy on Palestinian residency ‘arbitrary’ (February 2012)
Israeli government policies regarding Palestinian residency have stripped thousands of Palestinians of the ability to live in the West Bank or Gaza with their families, and severely restricted their movement between the two territories, the NGO Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Sunday. In the 90-page report, entitled “Forget about Him, He’s Not Here,” the NGO states that Israel “has used Palestinians’ residency status as a tool to control their ability to reside in, move within, and travel abroad from the West Bank, as well as to travel from Gaza to Israel and the West Bank.”