From: Center for Policy Research Subject: Arab H.R. Assoc.,Nazareth Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1483500385:000:1980 Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!cpr May 24 13:13:00 1993 Lines: 57 From: Center for Policy Research Subject: Arab H.R. Assoc.,Nazareth The Arab Association for Human Rights P.O. Box 215 Nazareth, 16101 Israel Phone (972)-6-561923 Fax (972)-6-564934 The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) was formed in 1988 to address discriminatory practices and human rights abuses by Israel against its Palestinian citizens. It is a unique association concerned with the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian national minority in Israel. Among the issues of concern are land confiscation, education, prison conditions, unemployment, torture and the unequal allocation of Israel's resources. Today there are around 800,000 Palestinian Arabs living within the Green line (the pre-1967 borders of Israel), constituting 18% of Israel's citizens. For them it is an empty citizenship in a system geared exclusively for the needs of the Jewish population. Legally and practically, Israel has proclaimed itself a Jewish state and early promises of equality for non-Jewish citizens have not been fulfilled. This is apparent in many areas strongly affecting the Palestinian national minority. Most Arab agricultural land has been confiscated since 1948. The Arab sector is vastly underfunded and does not receive a fair share of state resources. On a day-to- day level, Palestinians face discrimination in many different forms and find it is a struggle to get permission to build a house, start a business, find a job or educate their children. ACTIVITIES - Monitoring civil, economic, cultural and human rights abuses of Palestinians within the Green Line. - Taking carefully selected test cases to court. - Providing legal advice and assistance to lawyers in the Occupied Territories. - Educating the Palestinian public as to their rights and methods of mobilization. - Conducting public campaigns on local and international levels. - Researching and publishing pertinent publications.