The humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) continues (see 'The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion'). Its population of 3.7 million people, 52 per cent of whom are children, struggle for their basic needs. Palestinian women, children, and men are increasingly dependent on aid as their livelihoods are destroyed. The only sustainable solution to the crisis is a comprehensive peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians based on international law. 

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and Shams Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Participation on 12 March 2008 organised the first Forum 'Delivering Security to the People - Challenges to Palestinian Security Sector Governance' in Ramallah. The Forum is a new project by DCAF and Shams to enhance the Palestinian dialogue on security sector reform and to support a sustainable reform process based on the security needs of the Palestinian citizens. 

Despite [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert's announcement of a "settlement freeze", construction has been continuing in the settlements, East Jerusalem and the outposts, even after Annapolis. It is not only that existing construction has continued, but new plans have been promoted, construction tenders published and projects approved for marketing. 

How do Palestinian citizens see their individual future and the future of their national state still in the making? Do they appreciate democracy and equal rights for minorities or do we have to face tendencies in favour of an authoritarian state with a high inclination to ignore or simply deny the rights of women, religious or ethnic minorities? Starting from these and similar questions, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, commissioned an opinion poll on "Liberal Values in the Palestinian Society". 

Lawyers who represent Palestinians in Israeli military and civil courts face obstacles that systematically erode the right of Palestinian detainees to legal representation. Defense attorneys must contend with military orders, Israeli laws and prison procedures that curtail their ability to provide adequate counsel to their clients. This report describes how, from the moment of detention through the process of appeal, lawyers are prevented from giving adequate counsel to Palestinian defendants. 

On the face of it Israel's leadership has come a long way during forty years of occupation. In the aftermath of its 1967 victory, successive Israeli governments adopted a policy of "deciding not to decide" the future of the conquered West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under government protection, the system of settlements was set in motion. 

For decades, efforts to bring about a two-state solution in historic Palestine have failed to provide justice and peace for the Palestinian and Israeli Jewish peoples, or to offer a genuine process leading towards them. The two-state solution ignores the physical and political realities on the ground, and presumes a false parity in power and moral claims between a colonized and occupied people on the one hand and a colonizing state and military occupier on the other. 

Allow me, Mr. President, to thank you in my capacity as Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole representative of the Palestinian people, and on behalf of the Palestinian people, for inviting us to this international conference. 

A leaked November 17, 2007, draft of the planned joint Palestinian-Israeli declaration for the November 27, 2007, Annapolis peace conference. 

As Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations, we the undersigned, are deeply concerned by the lack of a clearly articulated legal framework for the upcoming diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to be held at Annapolis on 27 November. 

Israel continues to colonize the West Bank, particularly in and around occupied East Jerusalem, in violation of its Roadmap obligations and threatening the Quartet's vision of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state and, hence, of a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A freeze on Israeli settlement activity (as distinct from a reversal) could put an end to any further settlement activity and ensure that no further harm is done to Palestinian needs and interests. 

The "End of Mission Report" by Alvaro de Soto, the UN's outgoing Middle East envoy, obtained by the British newspaper The Guardian, presents a devastating account of failed diplomacy and condemns the sweeping boycott of the Palestinian government. It warns that American pressure has "pummelled into submission" the UN's role as an impartial Middle East negotiator, and blames Israel for setting unachievable preconditions for talks. 

This project sought to create a forum for Palestinian Arab citizens from as broad a social and political base as possible, a forum in which we could go beyond the boundaries of power politics and the limitations imposed on political parties' discourse to freely discuss our vision of the past, present, and future - specifically, our collective future and status in our homeland, the major challenges facing our society, our relationship with our people, nation, and the state of Israel. 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Honorable Senators and Members of Congress, My friends, Thank you for such a warm welcome. It is an honor to stand, as my father did, before this historic institution. Allow me to thank you, on behalf of all Jordanians. Jordan and the United States have had a long friendship. 

The opinion leaders' survey conducted by the Development Studies Programme is considered the first of its kind in Palestine. It is the first in regard to its population and the issues approached. The survey is significant and important; it discusses issues representing scenarios and strategies for the current and future status of the Palestinian Territory. The survey lays a solid ground towards reading the Palestinian leaders' approach, helping to understand the process of mobility and polarization of the Palestinian public in relation to the changing events on the ground. 

On the tenth anniversary of its founding, Adalah is issuing "The Democratic Constitution," as a constitutional proposal for the state of Israel, based on the concept of a democratic, bilingual, multicultural state. This proposed constitution draws on universal principles and international conventions on human rights, the experiences of nations and the constitutions of various democratic states. 

Message from President Abbas to Prime Minister Haniyeh constituting the Mecca agreement on the formation of a national unity government. 

The National Integrity System (NIS) approach was developed by Jeremy Pope to understand the weaknesses of state institutions and the failings of previous reform initiatives by asking about corruption from a number of perspectives. In Palestine the conflict still goes on which makes it difficult to deal with it as a regular case of reconstruction. However, the Palestinian case shows how reform and building national integrity systems is sensitive to political change. 

As leaders of churches and Christian institutions in the United States, we bring you greetings for the New Year and encouragement as you meet the challenges that face our nation and the global community. Even though we are from a wide range of Christian traditions -- Orthodox, Catholic, mainstream and evangelical Protestants -- we stand close together in our hopes and prayers for peace in the land we all call Holy and for the reconciliation of the children of Abraham -- Jews, Christians and Muslims. 

This paper shows that in contrast to the rhetoric used to describe the disengagement plan, Israel has not relinquished control over Gaza but rather removed some elements of control while tightening other significant controls. Far from improving the economy and welfare of Gaza residents, Israeli actions since September 2005 - including severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza and an economic stronghold on the funding of civil services - have contributed to an economic and humanitarian crisis in Gaza not seen in the 38 years of Israeli control that preceded the withdrawal of permanent ground troops.