From Jerusalem McGarry wrote, "Knife and vehicular attacks on Israeli civilians and security personnel, extrajudicial executions of Palestinian suspects, near daily protests and clashes, regular closures and roadblocks have combined to create a very unstable situation," in this part of the world.
McGarry explained that Palestinians in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza face numerous serious challenges, many of which are becoming more pronounced by the day. High rates of unemployment in the region – Gaza's astronomical 44 percent unemployment rate – home demolitions, extensive restrictions on movement, separation of families, and constant conflict are all major difficulties.
Similar to the confined townships in former apartheid South Africa, the Bethlehem area – nearly strangled by the Israeli separation barrier – is an example of an apartheid-like township where freedom of movement is seriously limited.
According to a commentary taken from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns' Middle East Notes (http://bit.ly/1OGStPn), there are no realistic prospects for a viable two-state solution in the foreseeable future. "The on-going and permanent occupation of the West Bank, the 'imprisonment' of the Gaza people, and the increasing restrictions of Jerusalem Palestinians, give evidence that Israel is moving toward complete annexation of all the 'occupied territories.'
"The focus held by Israeli, Palestinian and world-wide advocates for justice and peace, is toward pressuring the Israel government to guarantee and promote basic human rights of all the people under its control – Israelis and Palestinians."
An excellent way to greatly help accomplish the establishment of basic human rights is to actively promote the "Holy Land Principles" (www.holylandprinciples.org).
