A protest against Sharap in Beer-Sheva (Photo: Physicians for Human Rights)

Bill to strengthen the public health system

A bill to strengthen the public health system was table on Tuesday by Hadash MK Dov Henin and supported by MKs Orly Levy-Abecassis (Likud Beteinu), Ilan Gillon (Meretz) and United Torah Judaism MK Ya’acov Litzman – from both the coalition and the opposition. The bill calls for providing geriatric nursing care to which families would…

Activists and doctors take part in a demonstration, organized by PHR organization, against a bill to legalize forced feeding of hunger-striking prisoners in Israel, in front of the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 16, 2014. The sign reads: "I work in medicine not torture" (Photo: Activestills)

Palestinian prisoners suspend hunger strike; 1,300 medical personnel against force-feeding

Sixty-three Palestinian prisoners have suspended the hunger strike which they have observed in Israeli jails since late April, one of their lawyers said Tuesday. Shawqi al-Ayasa, the minister of prisoner affairs for the newly-formed Palestinian unity government, confirmed the suspension of the hunger strike, saying a major portion of prisoners’ demands had been met. Prisoners…

Protest against forced feeding of Palestinian prisoners, Jerusalem, June 16, 2014. Activists and doctors take part in a demonstration, organized by Physicians for Human Rights organization, against the bill to legalize forced feeding of hunger-striking prisoners in Israel, in front of the Knesset. Sign in Hebrew reads: "Judge, what is legal in administrative detention?" and in English and Arabic: "Force Feeding = Torture." (Photo: Activestills)

MK Khenin: Force-feeding is torture

The Attorney General’s Office defended on Monday a controversial bill to allow hunger-striking prisoners to be force-fed, telling the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee it had suitable checks and balances and was not a “torture law.” The Knesset had been scheduled to vote on the bill in a final reading on Monday, as it had been…

The funeral of 26 years-old Ahmed Fahmawi, who was killed by Israeli soldiers at Al Ein Refugee Camp during night raid, near Nablus, West Bank, June 22, 2014 (Photo: Activestills)

Israeli Human Rights organizations: “Refrain collectively punishing Palestinians”

Israeli human rights organizations active in the Palestinian Occupied Territories sent on Sunday an urgent letter to the heads of the Israeli security establishment and military commanders in the West Bank, demanding that they refrain from collectively punishing the civilian Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as part of “Operation Brother’s Keeper”.…