Studies Show Israeli Violence Surpassed Palestinian Violence Tenfold

December 4, 2001, Washington D.C.--The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) calls on our government to urge Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to stop the campaign of escalation of violence against the Palestinian people. This weekend's terrible events, which we condemn, did not take place in a vacuum. According the Mitchell plan, endorsed by the United States Government, the Palestinians, and Israel, the basis of the violence in Israel/Palestine is Israel's Illegal Occupation . It is in American security interests for Israel to withdraw immediately from the Occupied Territories--it is time for Israel to show it is serious about peace, not territorial expansion and ethnic cleansing.

Total Deaths Between 9/1/01-12/1/01: Israeli: 23, Palestinian: 219
(Source: B'Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories)

Latest Figures: Palestinian Casualties From September 1, 2001-December 3, 2001

(Source: Health development Information, and Policy Institute (HDIP). (http://www.hdip.org)

Palestinian deaths according to age are:

• 13.8% below the age of 15
• 20.3% age 16-18
• 50% age 19-29
• 8.7% age 30-39
• 3.6% age 40-49
• 3.6% 50-59

Major causes of Palestinian deaths are:

• Bullets - 92%
• Tear gas - 1.4%
• Torture - 1.4%
• Prevented access to medical treatment due to the closure - 2.2%

The locations of wounds which caused the deaths:

• 48.1% in the head and neck
• 50.4% in the chest and abdomen
• 1.6% in the lower limbs

Injury statistics are telling as well. Locations of injuries have been:

• 26% in the head or neck
• 70% to the upper body
• 58% to the upper body if injuries to the upper limbs are excluded