2008 BADIL Annual Report · 2008 BADIL Annual Report Summary of Results and Activity Report. BADIL...

“Putting Rights into Practice”BADIL Action Plan 2008-2010

2008 BADIL Annual Report

Summary of Results and Activity Report

BADIL Resource Centerfor Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights

PO Box 728Bethlehem, PalestineTel/fax. [email protected]

BADIL Resource Center was established in January 1998 based on recommendations issued by popular refugee conferences in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. BADIL is registered with the Palestinian Authority and legally owned by a General Assembly composed of activists in Palestinian national institutions and refugee community organizations. BADIL’s current Board and Oversight Committee were elected by the extraordinary General Assembly convened on 12 June 2008

Cover Photo: The Culture of Return: Keeping Memories and Hopes Alive: Mazaj Alani theater troupe performing at the Right of Return Festival organized by the Doha Children`s Cultural Center, July 2008. © Ma`an

General Assembly

Adnan Abelmalik (Nur Shams RC/Tulkarem) Adnan Ajarmeh (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Afif Ghatashe (Fawwar RC/Hebron) Ahmad As’ad (Al-Far’ah RC/Toubas) Ahmed Muhaisen (Deheisha RC/Bethlehem) Anwar A. Hamam (Balata RC/Nablus) Atallah Salem (Deheisha RC/Bethlehem) Ayed Ja’aysah (Al-Far’ah RC/Toubas) Bassam Abu ‘Aker (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Buthaina Darwish (Beit Jala/USA) Dr. Abdelfattah Abu Srour (Aida Camp/Bethlehem) Dr. Adnan Shehadeh (Arroub RC/Hebron) Dr. Nayef Jarrad (Tulkarem) Faisal Salameh (Tulkarem RC/Tulkarem) Fayyez H. Arafat (Balata RC/Nablus) Ghassan M. Khader (Balata RC/Nablus) Haitham Zahran (Deheisha RC/Bethlehem) Hassan Faraj (Deheisha RC/Bethlehem) Hussam M. Khader (Balata RC/Nablus) Imad Shawish (Al-Far’ah RC/Toubas) Ingrid Jaradat Gassner (Beit Jala) Issa Qaraq’a (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Jamal Shati (Jenin RC/Jenin) Karine Mac Allister (Bethlehem/Canada) Muhammad al-Lahham (Deheisha RC/Bethlehem) Muhammad Jaradat (Beit Jala) Naji Odeh (Deheishe RC/Bethlehem) Najwa Darwish (Beit Jala) Nidal Azza (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Nihad Boqa’i (Sha’b/Galilee) Rifa’ Abu al-Reesh (al-Am’ari Camp/Ramallah) Salem Abu Hawwash (Doura/Hebron) Samir Ata Odeh (Aida RC/Bethlehem) Shaher J. al-Bedawi (Balata RC/Nablus) Tayseer S. Nassrallah (Balata RC/Nablus) Terry Rempel (Candada) Wajih Atallah (Kalandia Camp/Jerusalem) Walid M. Ja’arim (Balata RC/Nablus) Walid Qawasmeh (Jerusalem) Wisal F. al-Salem (Nur Shams RC/Tulkarem).

Board of Directors

Head: Afif Ghatasha (Social Service Network - Fawwar camp, Hebron)Deputy Head: Tayseer Nasrallah (PNC, Yafa Cultural Center; Balata camp, Nablus)Secretary: Dr. Nayef Jarrad (PNC, Popular Committee-Aidoun; Tulkarem)Treasurer: Wajih Atallah (Union of Youth Activity Centers, HQ, Kalanida camp)Members: Jamal Shati (Palestinian Injured Association; Jenin camp); Fayez Arafat (Committee for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights, Balata camp); Ayed Ja’aiseh (Youth Activity Center – Far’ah camp); Dr. Adnan Shehadeh (lecturer, Hebron Politechnic; Arroub camp); Ghassan Khader (Committee for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rigths, Balata camp)

Oversight Committee

Faisal Salame (Popular Committee, Tulkarem camp)Anwar Hamam (Yafa Cultural Center, Balata Camp/Nablus)Rifa’ Abu al-Reesh (al-Am’ari camp, Ramallah)

Executive Committee

Ingrid Jaradat Gassner, directorNajwa Darwish, admin-finance coordinatorMuhammad Jaradat, coordinator, campaign unit Nidal Azza, coordinator, resource unit

Organizational Affiliations

BADIL has consultative status with UN ECOSOC and a framework partnership agreement with UNHCR.

BADIL is a member of the global Palestine Right-of-Return Coalition, al-Awda Right-to-Return Coalition (USA), BNC-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee, HIC-Habitat International Coalition (Cairo), CRIN-Child Rights Information Network (UK), ICVA-International Council of Voluntary Agencies (Geneva), ICNP-International Coordinating Network on Palestine, OPGAI-Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative, and PNGO-Palestinian NGO Network.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

BADIL’s Environment 2008 – the Ongoing Nakba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Part I: Organizational Profile

Governance and Management Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

Units and Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

Organizational Learning: the 2008 Management Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

Finances and Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

Part II: Summary of Main Results Progress towards the Strategic Objective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1

How has BADIL contributed to the Strategic Objective? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4

Gaps yet to be bridged - obstacles to be overcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0

Part III: 2008 Progress Report Outputs from Projects and Activities; Challenges, Problems and Solutions

(1) Building local capacity to participate and engage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3

1.1 Youth Education & Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3

1.2 Academic and Activist Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5

1.3 Al-Awda Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6

1.4 Palestinian Strategy Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9

(2) Outreach, support and alliance building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0

2.1 The Ongoing-Nakba Education Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0

2.2 Participation in international networking conferences and meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5

(3) Research, Mobilization and Intervention with Duty Bearers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6

3.1 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6

3.2 Facilitation of CBO actions and civil society campaigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7

3.3 Special media and public outreach activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 9

3.4 Legal advocacy and intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1

Part IV: 2008 External Audit Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5

Annexes

1- BADIL in Palestinian civil society coalitions 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1

2- List of BADIL tools and publications 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2

3- BADIL participation in international conferences 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4

2008 Badil Annual Report7

Introduction

In 2008 BADIL became ten years old. We marked our anniversary with the launch of a new, three-year action plan entitled “Putting Rights into Practice.” Our 2008-2010 program is expected to galvanize new energies and political will for more effective protection of the rights of Palestinian refugees and IDPs and those at risk of forced displacement. This report presents the results of the first year of work.

As BADIL works to achieve results which have concrete impact on the rights of the Palestinian people, we decided – with the encouragement of international partners – to give more emphasis to result-based program management and presentation. A new format was thus created for BADIL progress reports, and we expect that this will facilitate organizational learning and adaptation and give better visibility to the results of our work.

The first section of this report includes an updated profile and new developments in our organization. We report – on the positive side - about how governance and transparency have been improved through management reform, whereas more effort is still required for organizational sustainability in the longer term. An unprecedented cash-flow crisis which marred our operations throughout the entire year of 2008 was the single most negative development in this context.

Section two includes a summary presentation of our program and the main 2008 results. We show how BADIL has contributed to independent civil society campaigning and advocacy for accountability to international law. We believe that the former achieved impressive and unprecedented impact in 2008, irrespective of the fact that the US-led alliance of Western governments and the EU have continued to undermine the rule of law and protect Israel’s impunity.

In the third and final section, a progress report is presented of BADIL projects and activities for: capacity-building; outreach, support and alliance building; and, research, mobilization and intervention. The section includes a discussion of challenges and problems faced during implementation and solutions found or considered.

On behalf of the BADIL team,

Ingrid Jaradat Gassner Afif GhatashaDirector Head of Board

March 2009

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Photo: Tens of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly discplaced in the occupied Gaza Strip when their homes were damaged or destroyed during Israel`s latest massive military assault that lasted from 27 December 2008 until 17 January 2009. Most of these people are Palestnians refugees of 1948 who have suffered yet another round of forced displacement.

Izbet Abed Rabbo, northern Beit Lahiya, March 2009 © Ahmad Al-Tahrawi/Badil


Our Environment in 2008 The Ongoing Nakba

In December 2008, Israel decided to mark the 60th anniversary of its existence the same way it had established itself – destroying lives and livelihoods of the Palestinian people. For 23 days, one of the world’s most powerful armies shelled and pounded from the air, land and sea the 1.5 million Palestinian inhabitants of the tiny, over-populated, occupied and blockaded Gaza Strip that was compared to the Warsaw Ghetto by UN Rapporteur for Human Rights, Prof. Richard Falk. Israel thus caused the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the death of more than 1,400 and the injury of over 5,000, the great majority of them civilians. 13 Israelis, ten of them soldiers, were killed in this latest round of hostilities. An official UN fact finding mission has yet to be dispatched to Gaza. Eyewitnesses, NGOs and international agencies have raised that Israel has applied excessive force, including illegal weapons, in an indiscriminate and wanton manner against the civilian population of Gaza. Once again, Israel is a suspect of war crimes and gross and systematic human rights violations. In common and plain language, Israel has committed massacres.

The story of the 1.5 million Palestinians in the tiny Gaza Strip is the story – in a nutshell – of BADIL’s work environment: the Ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) of the Palestinian people, Israeli oppression and Western complicity.

Under the pretext of self-defense, the state of Israel invoked – and western governments endorsed – a “right” to indiscriminately and wantonly kill, injure and displace those Palestinians refugees and civilians under occupation, whose fundamental human rights,

including the rights to return and self-determination, Israel and the international community have failed to respect, protect and promote for the past 60 years. The Palestinians killed, injured and displaced by Israel’s brutal military assault in December 2008 are the same Palestinians – and their descendants - whom Israel had expelled from their homes and pushed into refugee-hood in Gaza in 1948 (two out of every three Palestinians in Gaza are refugees), whose land it has stolen, whom it has oppressed since 1967 by means of a brutal military occupation, whose freedom of movement it has severely restricted since the early 1990s (the Gaza Strip was called an “open-air prison” already back then), and whom it had tried to starve into submission by means of a criminal blockade of food, fuel and electricity in the 18 months preceding the military assault.

As in the case of Israel’s war against Lebanon in 2006, western governments led by the United States and the European Union condoned and supported Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and helped delay a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. The same states continue to block further action by the United Nations, including effective sanctions and investigation and prosecution of Israeli war crimes and gross and systematic human rights violations.

Against this background, efforts by the stateless Palestinian people to organize and protect themselves continued to face huge challenges, mainly because the policies and practices of Israel and the Western diplomatic community since 2006 have resulted in the loss of political unity, internal armed conflicts, unprecedented humanitarian crisis and disempowerment. Still, independent campaigning and legal efforts by Palestinian and international

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grass-roots and civil society actors have provided a supportive environment for BADIL’s work and achieved impressive and unprecedented impact in 2008. Palestinian commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba of 1948, for example, triggered worldwide interest in Palestinian refugees and exposed Israel’s policy of ethnic cleansing. The Palestinian civil society-led Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel underwent substantial growth and consolidation; by November 2008 it was promoted by the President of the UN General Assembly:

More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations.1

Sadly, none of the above was able to prevent Israel’s latest military assault against Gaza, Western complicity,

and the thousands of Palestinian casualties.

By early 2009, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are working to dig out what remains of their families, rebuild what remains of the homes - built through a lifetime of work - and unearth what remains of belongings bearing memories of generations. The government that promoted “preventive war” and “war on terror” and established Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib has come to an end in the United States, and new hope for change and a different, more just and peaceful world inspires millions.

For most people of the world, however, such hope will remain elusive, until legitimacy is restored to their struggles for justice, freedom and unmitigated equality, the powerful are held accountable to universal standards, and impunity for gross and systematic violation of human rights and war crimes can be put to an end. The case of the Palestinian people, represented by the victims of Israel’s assault on Gaza, is a test case in this regard, because Israel’s racist and oppressive regime which combines elements of apartheid, colonialism and military occupation is sustained and protected by the most powerful Western states.

1. For more detail and reference, see Part-II/1 of this report.


Part I

Organizational Profile

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Photo: More forced displacement of Palestinians is induced by Israel`s illegal Wall in the occupied West Bank which segregates Palestinian population centers. Segregation causes more de-development of Palestinian communities and serves Israeli domination and colonization.

Northern part of segregated Bethlehem overtowered by the Jewish colony of Har Homa which is rapidly expanding on Palestinian land. © Badil


Part I: Organizational Profile

BADIL Governance and Management Structures

The General Assembly (GA) is the legal owner of BADIL and the highest decision-making body. It sets guidelines for organizational three-year plans, approves plans and annual reports and elects the BADIL Board. The GA is currently composed of 40 members active in Palestinian refugee community organizations in the West Bank. It convenes annually, the last meeting having been held on 12 June 2008 (extraordinary session).

The Oversight Committee (OSC) is elected for a two-year period by the GA and reports to it. The OSC (3 members) monitors and assesses BADIL’s performance under local law and BADIL by-laws. The current OSC was elected on 12 June 2008.

The Board of Directors is elected by the GA for a period of up to two years and meets monthly. The nine-member Board leads organizational affairs on

behalf of the GA, reviews/approves plans and reports submitted by the director, and facilitates program implementation. The current Board was elected on 12 June 2008 .

The Executive Committee (EC) forms the collective executive management of BADIL. The EC is led by the director and composed of program unit coordinators and the admin-finance coordinator. It monitors and adapts program implementation, and recruits and allocates resources as approved by the Board. The EC reports to the Board via the director.

Units and Human Resources

BADIL’s program was implemented by professional staff working in two program units (Campaign Unit, Resource Unit). Assistance was provided by contracted personnel, interns, volunteers and volunteer members of BADIL support networks. Administrative support and financial control were provided by the admin-finance coordinator and the director.

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Units and Human Resources (2008)Director Ingrid Jaradat Gassner Admin-Finance Coordinator Najwa DarwishAdmin Assistant vacancySecretary-Receptionist Haitham Zahran Consultants2008 Management Reform Shawqi al-Issa, advocate (consultant, 3-5/08) Administrative Assistance Ala Khalifeh (8/08 - 1/09)

Campaign Unit

Unit Coordinator: Muhammad JaradatProject Officer/Youth Education Hassan FarajProject Offer/Assistant-Awda Award Fares Atrash (6-12/08)

Contracted Organizations and PersonnelAssistant, Awda Award Fares Atrash (10/07 - 5/08) Field-Activity Coordination Northern West Bank Mahmoud Subouh (2-8/08) Yaffa Cultural Center (9-12/08) Central West Bank Wajih Atallah (1-6/08) Union of Youth Activity Centers (9-12/08) Gaza Strip Naim Mattar (5-8/08) Union of Youth Activity Centers (9-12-/08)Field worker Ghassan Talab al-Atel, UYAC Kalandia (1-8/08)

33 Consultants/Jury, Al-Awda Award: Children’s story: Issa Qaraq’e, Salman Natour, Zacharia Muhammad, Renad Qubaj, Mahmoud Shqeir; Poster: Yusef Katalu, Sleiman Mansour, Umaya Ijha, Maqboula Nassar, Sharif Waked, Abed ‘Abeida; Research Paper: Ass’ad Ghanem, Norma Massriya, Aziz Heidar, Moslih Kanaaneh, Shawqi Issa; Oral History: Adel Yahya, Sonya Nimr, Mustafa Kabha, Nayef Jarrad, Adnan Shehadeh; Documentary Film: Muhammad Fawzi, Muhammad Bakri, Ra’ed Othman, Suheir Isma’el, Ibrahim Milhem, Layla Sansour; Written Journalism: Abdelnasser Najjar, Qassem Khatib, Shireen Abu ‘Aqleh, Nasser al-Lahham, Najib Farraj, Khalil Shaheen.

13 CBOs, Youth Education & Activation: Palestinian Children’s Cultural Center (Fawwar camp); Lajee Center (Aida camp); Doha Children’s Cultural Center (Doha, Bethlehem); YaffaCultural Center (Balata Camp); Youth Activity Center (al Far’ah camp); Youth Activity Center (Jelazoun camp); Palestinian Children’s Center (Shu’fat camp); Kay-La-Nansa Society (Jenin camp); Youth Activity Center (Nur Shams camp); Youth Activity Center (Aqbat Jabr camp); Tawassul Society (Nusseirat camp); ADRID (Nazareth); Aidoun-Syria Youth Group (Damascus).

VolunteersAssistants, Nakba 60 Media Campaign Staff of the MA’AN News AgencyCoordinators, Youth Summer Camp Adnan Na’eem, Safaa Msallem, Majdolen al-JaafariSummer camp administration 62 volunteersStudent activism, al-Quds University Hamdi al-Sheikh Khalil, Ahmad Nouba, Fawaz al-SilwattiCampaigner/Europe Rania Madi, Geneva


Resource Unit

Unit Coordinator Nihad Boqa’i (1-2/08); Nidal Azza (as of 7/08)Coordinator, Legal Advocacy Karine Mac Allister (1-7/08) Reem Mazzawi (as of 6/08)Info-Media Officer, English Hazem Jamjoum (3/08 – 3/09, Oxfam Quebec)Info-Media Officer-Arabic vacancyTechnical Support Officer: Atallah SalemContracted Personnel (Consultants)Research Charmaine Seitz (Nakba-60 Packet, 2 – 3/08) Terry Rempel (Handbook/Durable Solutions; contract from 2006) Karin Berg, (Brief/Refugee women’s rights (12/07 - 1/08) Elna Sondergaard (Working paper./universal jurisdiction) Research editors Salem Abu Hawwash (Expert Forum Reader, 2007-8) Nihad Boqa’i (Haq al-Awda, Awda Award; 8/08-1/09)Legal Advocacy Rania Madi, consultant, UN-Geneva (1-12/08)Training Nidal Azza (law course, al-Quds University; 12/07-06/08) Library development Anan Hamad, electronic catalogue, training (1-12/08)IT maintenance Isam Ishaq, Beit Sahour (1-12/08)Web redesign Isam Ishaq, Beit Sahour (9/08 - 6/09)Translation (per piece) Yara Abu Gharbiya, Salem Abu Hawwash, Rawwa MasalhaDesign-Print: Al-Ayyam Publishers, Safad Advertizing, al-Jerashe, Latin Patriarchate Printshop, al-Amin, Jimzo, Turbo DesignVolunteers/InternsLinux System Maintenance Curtis Rempel, Engima Logic Inc., CanadaPhotographer: Anne PaquierResearch/legal advocacy Terry Rempel (Reader, 2003-4 Expert Forum) Nihad Boqa’i (60 Terms on the Nakba, booklet) Shannon Erwin (research/indigenous people’s rights; 5-8/08) Isabelle Humphries, production, al-Majdal magazine

BADIL Support Networks

Legal Support Network (LSN): composed of 80 international and local legal experts, academic researchers and human/refugee rights activists. LSN is coordinated by BADIL and meets annually. Members provide professional advice and contribute to BADIL research, seminars and advocacy activities. Al-Majdal Editorial Advisory Board: 14 researchers, journalists and refugee rights activists who contribute to editorial planning and writing of BADIL’s English language quarterly.Haq al-Awda Editorial Advisory Board: 11 Palestinian writers and community activists who contribute to editorial planning and writing of BADIL’s Arabic-language magazine (bi-monthly).

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Organizational Learning: the 2008 Management Reform

A BADIL management reform implemented in the previous period (2005 – 2007) resulted in improvement in financial planning, management and reporting. However, clarification of the respective roles of governance institutions and the executive were not completed. By 2007, disputes over proper management had a negative impact on BADIL operations, in particular on human resources.

One vacancy (info-media officer/English) was staffed in March 2008, and replacement of the outgoing Coordinator, Legal Advocacy was recruited in June. However, BADIL continued to operate in an environment of stress, uncertainty and shortage of staff in the first half of 2008.

Efforts between March and May to resolve management problems with the help of an external consultant team did not bring about the desired results. Therefore, the BADIL General Assembly convened for an extraordinary session on 12 June 2008 for the purpose of early elections of a new Board and Oversight Committee. The new Board, OSC and staff subsequently engaged in a concerted effort in order to repair damage done and implement the outstanding items of the management reform.

Main development - by the end of 2008, efficiency and transparency of BADIL governance and management had improved, whereas more effort is yet required, in particular with human resources, in order to ensure organizational sustainability in the longer term.

aa new Basic Law and organogram were approved

by the Board in 2008 and will be presented to the GA in 2009. The new Basic Law is clear about mandates and division of tasks between governance and executive institutions;

acustomized by-laws/human resource management were drafted, approved by the Board and became operational in 2008;

aa new Coordinator, Resource Unit, was recruited in July, and temporary administrative assistance was hired in August;

atemporary contracts with individual field-coordinators and -workers were replaced by institutional cooperation agreements with CBOs who are committed to provide regular field support;

ahuman resource needs were re-assessed, some job-descriptions and job-titles revised and two vacancies announced towards staff recruitment and training in 2009;

aadditional office space was secured as planned in the second half of 2008 for the Ongoing-Nakba Education Center, including a BADIL meeting hall and library.

Additional tasks remaining for 2009: staff recruitment and training; annex to By-Laws/Human Resource Management; customized By-Laws/Financial Management; recruitment of new members to GA, in particular women.

Finances and Donors

Main development – An unprecedented cash-flow crisis marred BADIL operations throughout the entire year of 2008 and posed a serious threat to community and staff confidence in our organization. It was mitigated by successful financial management.


Managing Cash-flow Shortage

The 2007 annual report, including external audit report, were completed in a timely fashion, and 2005 – 2007 BADIL program files were closed. Financial sustainability of our new 2008 – 2010 program appeared guaranteed based on early pledges received, and BADIL was prepared to handle some delay with the signing of new contracts. However, more contracts and fund transfers were delayed for much longer periods than expected. The result was a serious shortage of cash-flow in the entire year of 2008, i.e. at a time when BADIL was committed to a large number of Palestinian grass-roots organizations to support and facilitate the largest-ever commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba at its 60th anniversary.

The cash-flow crisis was mitigated through tight budget control and a number of financial emergency measures, including:

• strict prioritizing of payments;• postponement of payments whenever possible;• temporary use of restricted staff saving funds to cover

cost of priority activities (with staff consent);• frequent postponement of staff salary payment (with

staff consent).

BADIL, moreover, administered a special grant of the Welfare Association for the National Committee/Nakba-60. In this way, we were able to keep our commitment and support community mobilization for the Nakba-60 Campaign, albeit in a different way.

The cash-flow crisis ended in December 2008, when a substantial grant for the 2008-2009 program period was received.

Improving Cooperation with Donors

Heavy work load and the tight management reform schedule prevented implementation of the planned annual BADIL consultation with donors and partners about the progress of our 2008 - 2010 strategic plan.

At the same time, BADIL invested more time and effort than ever before in efforts at collective programming and planning initiated by DCA-Danchurch Aid, EPER/HECKS and ICCO with all local NGO partners in Palestine. BADIL also worked with Oxfam Solidarity on results-based program management and participated in a partner consultation organized by Trocaire for development of the Trocaire Palestine program (Maynooth, Ireland, 15-18 September).

In 2008, BADIL established cooperation with four new donors (Catalan Agency for International Development, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation-AECID, the European Human Rights and Good Governance Program, Arab Human Rights Foundation), while two veteran donors terminated their support for reasons not related to BADIL (Stichting Vluchteling; Norwegian People’s Aid by 2009).

New cooperation agreements and the fact that more donors (seven as compared to three in the past) are ready to provide non-earmarked (institutional) support to BADIL’s 2008 – 2010 program, give rise to the expectation that BADIL can become more stable, predictable, flexible and sustainable in financial terms.

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Photo: Generations of Palestinians have responded to forced displacement and dispossession by commemorating the Nakba of 1948 and demanding respect of the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and places of origin as part of reparations.

Nakba-60 commemoration in Ramallah, occupied West Bank, 15 May 2008. © Badil


Part II

Summary of Main Results2

2. Note on terms used: results are defined in line with the agenda for aid efficiency formulated in the 2005 Paris Declaration.Outputs are the results of project activities; outcomes are results related to the strategic (mid-term) objectives, while impact relates to changes relevant to the long-term objective (aim) which are affected by a variety of external, uncontrollable factors.

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Photo: In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, internally displaced Palestinian citizens of Israel organized the largest march of return ever held inside Israel from Nazareth to the 1948 depopulated and destroyed village of Saffuriya.

Saffuriya, 8 May 2008. © Badil


Part II: Summary of Main Results

We assume that if this strategic objective is achieved, Israel’s war crimes and gross and systematic violations of international human rights law can be ended and a situation can be achieved where international law and UN resolutions are respected so that Palestinian refugees and IDPs can exercise their right to return, the Palestinian people can exercise their rights to freedom and self-determination, and all people in the country can enjoy peace and security that is based on justice and equality.

We believe that Palestinian civil society and our global allies have achieved impressive progress and unprecedented impact in 2008, irrespective of the fact that the US-led alliance of Western governments and the EU have continued to undermine the rule of law and ensure Israel’s impunity.

8 2008 Progress Accomplished Towards the Strategic Objective:

aMore Palestinian activists engaged for rights-based vision, strategies and campaigning. Palestinian civil society organizations have become organized in a broader, more effective and sustainable manner. Many of them are part

of national committees which include major sectors of the Palestinian national movement in Palestine and the exile (see Annex-1); they have adopted a common problem analysis (Israel’s regime over the Palestinian people which combines apartheid, colonialism and occupation) and strategic principles for the solution (ending occupation, colonization and discrimination; justice, equality and refugee return).

aMore allies have been recruited worldwide and civil society campaigns have grown in scope and impact in 2008. Palestinian civil society was able to lead a Nakba-60 Campaign which resulted in unprecedented media coverage and public interest and concern about the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the legitimacy of Israel’s policies, not only in Arab countries, but also in Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere. Civil society organizations broke the siege of Gaza (albeit symbolically), and the Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel led by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC) continued to grow. It became mainstreamed in response to Israel’s military assault on Gaza at the end of the year.

Progress towards the Strategic Objective

BADIL’s current three-year program “Putting Rights into Practice” (2008 – 2010) aims to contribute to a stronger Palestinian civil society whose campaigns are based on collective and rights-based analysis and

strategic vision and can generate more political will to hold Israel accountable and respect and protect the rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right of return of the refugees and IDPs.

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Nakba-60 Abroad

A Surge of New Nakba Awareness

Civil society and the media abroad engaged in commemorating the Nakba at is 60th anniversary in a way they had never done before.

This applies in particular to Arab countries, where Arab satellite TV stations engaged in months of intensive awareness-raising through documentary films and studio debates.

Not only in Arab countries, however, but encouragingly also in Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere, Nakba-60 triggered new interest and concern about the ongoing plight of the Palestinian refugees and raised questions about the legitimacy of Israel’s policy of population transfer. An unprecedented number of Nakba-60 events and actions - exhibitions, film and music festivals, seminars, conferences, and public rallies - have been undertaken in the United States, Canada, Australia, the U.K., Chile, Germany, Belgium and elsewhere. Poster campaigns and public petitions called upon governments to recognize the Nakba and the injustice done to the Palestinian refugees and to respect, protect and promote their right to return.

The Nakba featured prominently for the first time in major mainstream newspapers published in Europe and North America.

The 2008 BDS Campaign

Main Results

In 2008, at least 14 new resolutions were passed by civil society organizations joining the BDS movement, including resolutions of student unions and senates (London School of Economics, American University of Cairo, ASSE/Quebec), labor unions (Catalan Workers’ Union, CUPE and CUPW in Canada; UNISON and UCU in the U.K.), the US-Green Party and European Jews for a Just Peace (EJJP).

The Boycott National Committee (BNC) in Palestine recorded over 20 public letters and calls and some 60 BDS actions worldwide in 2008, including lawsuits and other court action, protests against trade and arms cooperation with Israel, and direct action against official Israeli participation in sports, arts and cultural events.

More than ever since the launch of the Palestinian civil society BDS Call in 2005, BDS actions began to show tangible results, such as: decisions to abstain from participation in Israel-60 celebrations; relocation of companies from Israeli colonies in the 1967 occupied West Bank; UNICEF cutting ties with its former sponsor Lev Leviev for his implication with Israel’s arms trade and colonial enterprise; a decision by the European trans-national corporation Unilever to divest from an Israeli factory in the West Bank colony of Ariel; and, termination of serveral university and public institutions` contracts with the Israeli owned Eden Springs water company in Scotland. First substantial reports about the BDS campaign by mainstream media came in response to Israel’s military assault against Gaza at the end of the year.


aMore duty bearers, including states, have affirmed and supported the rights-based civil society message and campaigns inside and outside the United Nations: Arab, Asian and African states, members of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs in the Occupied Territories, have called for sanctions against Israel since 2007. Britain tightened control of imports of Israeli settlement products, whereas the governments of Bolivia, Ecuador, Mauritania, Qatar, Turkey and Venezuela, among others, imposed various forms of diplomatic sanctions in response to Israel’s military assault on Gaza at the end of the year.

Statement of H.E. Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, President of the UN General Assembly,

57th plenary meeting on agenda item 16, The Question of Palestine

United Nations, New York, 24 November 2008 (excerpts):

4. I spoke this morning about apartheid and how Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories appear so similar to the apartheid of an earlier era, a continent away.

5. I believe it is very important that we in the United Nations use this term. We must not be afraid to call something what it is. It is the United Nations, after all, that passed the International Convention against the Crime of Apartheid, making clear to all the world that such practices of official discrimination must be outlawed wherever they occur.

6. We heard today from a representative of South African civil society. We know that all around the world, civil society organizations are working to defend Palestinian rights, and are trying to protect the Palestinian population that we, the United Nations, are failing to protect.

7. More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations.

8. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations.

Photo: Also abroad, public interest and concern about the plight of the Palestinian refugees was stronger than before. Nakba-60 in Paris, May 2008. © ActiveStills

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How has BADIL Contributed to the Strategic Objective?BADIL’s contribution is best demonstrated by a review of the strategic results (outcomes) of our program in 2008:

8 Strategic Result (1) - Palestinians, including refugees and youth, are engaged and participate in the implementation of rights-based analysis, strategic vision and campaigns.

BADIL initiated and led drafting of two major new rights-based strategy documents which were adopted by collective civil society fora in 2008.

Expected Results (Outputs) Actual Results and Progress in 2008

New rights-based strategy documents have been developed and adopted collectively.

Two major new rights-based strategy documents drafted by BADIL were adopted in •2008: “United against Apartheid, Colonialism and Occupation – Dignity and Justice for the Palestinian People” (BNC Strategic Position Paper for the UN Durban Review Conference, October 2008); and, the Final Statement, Fourth National Conference to Defend the Right of Return (National Committee-Nakba 60, 29 November).Additional drafts and ideas regarding practical planning for implementation of the •right of return and promotion of a one-state vision/solution resulted from conferences organized by like-minded organizations in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and elsewhere.

BADIL implemented its project of “Youth Education & Activation”: 747 refugee/IDP children and youth aged 14-17 were trained in the courses of 2007/8 and 2008/9. Trainees have become more aware of their rights and responsibilities, have organizing skills, and are active organizers in their communities.


Participants/trainees are more aware of their rights and responsibilities, have organizing skills, and are active organizers in their communities.

Youth in Gaza and Syria join the project for the first time.•Most of the youth involved in BADIL training in 2006 -7 have meanwhile become •youth leader/trainers, taken on administrative tasks in their CBO, or are active in community organizing elsewhere. At the 2008 Summer Camp (course of 08/09), 10 of the 60 organizers/ facilitators were graduates of previous courses.At the 2008 Summer Camp, facilitators and guests were impressed by the enthusiasm •with which youth engaged in workshops exploring how they and their friends and peers could campaign for refugee rights, and by the quality of their artistic performances. BADIL also received many compliments for the quality of activities, professionalism of organization, and the healthy food served by the camp kitchen.Two graduates of the 07/08 course were granted a scholarship award for university •studies by Deir Yassin Remembered (USA).

3. For base-line information, see the BADIL 2007 Annual Report. Information about indicators and means of verification is available upon request.


BADIL implemented two law courses for 36 university students and additional informal training workshops for 100 students, human rights activists and media workers. Trainees understand relevant concepts, and many applied them to their studies/work and/or social and political activism.


Students/trainees understand relevant concepts and apply them in their professions and/or in community organizing with the aim to protect Palestinians from, during and after displacement and join civil society campaigns.

36 Palestinian law students improved knowledge• of international law applicable to Palestinian refugees, Palestinian history and politics, as well as academic research skills; BADIL’s course program, methodology and reading materials were highly •commended; the university and students have requested more BADIL courses.Students from the courses have formed a committee for raising awareness among •university students. The committee distributed BADIL publications, encouraged participation in the Awda Award, and organized a lecture with the al-Quds Human Rights Clinic about the relationship between the right of return and self determination in December. At least 100 additional students, media and human rights workers were introduced to •legal concepts and analysis and apply them to reporting about forced displacement and student activism, in particular the Right to Education Campaign and the annual Israeli Apartheid Week.

BADIL effectively encouraged participation of the Palestinian public in intellectual and cultural production on the right of return through implementation of the 2008 al-Awda Award competition.


Palestinian public is more engaged in intellectual and cultural production on the right of return.

Number of participants has increased (387 in 2008 vs. 292 in 2007).•Audience at Award Festival increased from 800 in 2007 to 1,200 in 2008.•Women have featured strongly among the Award winners (9 of 16 in 2007; 6 of 18 •in 2008).Much positive feedback was received from the public in Palestine and abroad. •The Award-winning poster was adopted by the • National Committee/Nakba 60 as the poster of the Palestinian Nakba-60 campaign. Some winning entries were useful as promotion and information tools (see strategic •result-2).Awda• Awards are a major media opportunity for BADIL (see strategic result-3).BADIL was able to share experience with the • US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation who organized a similar public competition (“Expressions of the Nakba”) on the occasion of Nakba-60 in the United States.

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8 Strategic Result (2) – more and better informed allies and supporters are recruited worldwide for implementation of the rights-based strategy.

BADIL launched the Ongoing-Nakba Education Center in response to the growing demand for information tools and services in support of civil society campaigns. In this context, BADIL improved office space and information tools and services, expanded outreach, and developed old and new alliances.

BADIL and members of the Legal Support Network-LSN participated in 13 international conferences and meetings for networking and promotion. At least one major new strategic alliance for campaigning in Europe was formed in 2008.


More and better information and advocacy tools and services are available at BADIL.

Outreach of tools and services is wider than in the past.

New alliances are formed and existing ones have become stronger.

Public resource library is operational and • onlineBADIL participated, for the first time, in • library conferences and book-fairs in Palestine and other Arab countries;25 new tools and 79 press releases • were produced in larger numbers than in the past, mainly due to the Nakba-60 commemoration (see Annex-2).BADIL served as an information “• clearing house” on the Nakba and networked with some 120 organizations for a global Nakba-60 events calendar,Much • positive feedback was received from readers/users of BADIL Nakba-60 tools and persons briefed. The number of • visitors briefed inside and outside BADIL’s offices has increased by more than one third (1,300 as compared to 900 in 2007).The number BADIL web-visitors remained • slightly lower than in 2007 (32,500).BADIL contributed to the “Bilbao Civil Society Forum”, which was the • single most important networking event in 2008. It resulted in a new strategic alliance between the BNC/Palestinian NGO networks and major civil society networks in Europe (ECCP, RESCOP in Spain) and elsewhere (e.g. ICNP, IJAN) for implementation of a joint plan of action (“Bilbao Initiative”) based on the BNC’s principles, analysis and BDS Campaign.


8 Strategic Result (3) – Duty bearers respond by affirming the rights-based message in statement and actions.

BADIL researched instruments and mechanisms relevant to international crimes and UN and EU enforcement of the rule of law. No new BADIL studies were published in 2008, but research provided legal analysis and data for position papers and statements prepared for campaigning, advocacy and lobbying.


More professional analysis, facts and figures are available and support the rights-based message.

No new studies were published in 2008, but BADIL studies published earlier were •frequently recommended and cited.Legal analysis and data compiled informed campaign and legal advocacy statements •and interventions.

BADIL provided much logistic support, as well as small-scale financial support, to CBOs of refugees/IDPs, the National Committee-Nakba 60 and the BNC-National Committee/BDS Campaign whose campaigns have grown impressively and exert stronger pressure on duty bearers than before.

BADIL implemented 3 special media projects, at least 40 interviews and 3 speaking tours in the United States, Belgium and Spain which amplified the strategic message and gave more publicity to the campaigns.


Civil Society campaigns have grown in scope and extend stronger pressure on duty bearers.

The • National Committee/Nakba-60 and the BNC-National Committee/BDS Campaign were established; they are effective, broad and stable mechanisms for implementation of civil society campaigns. BADIL contributed to their establishment and operation.The BNC• launched its BDS website and issued regular calls and statements; BADIL contributed to both.BADIL operated a field-coordinator in the Gaza Strip for the first time.•BADIL administered a grant• for the National Committee-Nakba 60 for a one-year long program of community-based action.In May• 2008, the largest-ever number of CBO’s and NGOs in Palestine – on both sides of the “green line” – carried out the largest ever mobilization for the right of return on the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, and BADIL recorded at least 190 Nakba-60 events abroad.More• Israeli Jews joined and supported Nakba-60 events, including in Talbiya (West Jerusalem) where Palestinian owners protested in front of their confiscated homes and demanded their right to return.

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At least 14 new resolutions• were passed by organizations joining the civil society BDS campaign worldwide. The BNC-Boycott National Committee in Palestine recorded over 20 public letters/calls and some 60 BDS actions worldwide which – more than in the past - began to show tangible results (see box, p. 22). Media reporting and public awareness of the BDS campaign have increased.BADIL was • reported at least six times by mainstream media (al-Jazeera TV, BBC, daily press in Belgium and US). In general, however, local Arabic, alternative/specialized foreign media and the blogosphere have remained BADIL’s major forum.

Nakba-60 in Palestine – Public Rallies for the Right of Return

Commemorations were launched by the National Committee/Nakba 60 on 8 May (Israel’s independence day) with the opening of the Return Camp in Ramallah, a general strike in the OPT, and the Return March of the internally displaced Palestinians from Nazareth to the 1948 depopulated Palestinian village of Saffuriya. Approximately 10-15,000, including a substantial number of Jewish Israelis, joined this largest-ever Return March in Israel. People were dispersed by a brutal police attack towards the end of the day.

In the West Bank, the Return Camp served as the focal point for 10 days of organizing, political debate and cultural events. Memorial activities included film screenings, testimonies of eyewitnesses of the 1948 Nakba, exhibitions, visits to lost homes and villages, lectures and debates, sports events, protest marches and rallies all over Palestine. Over

13,000 visitors (1,000/day and 3-4,000 on 15 May), including Palestinian officials, politicians, local and international media, frequented the Return Camp between May 8 - 15. Information materials were distributed at the Information Tent. Approximately 10,000 visitors put their signature onto the “pledge to the land of Palestine” set up at the entrance to the Camp.

On 15 May at noon, tens of thousands (estimate: 50,000), including many youth and women, marched through the streets of down-town Ramallah demanding respect of their right to return to their homes and lands, and black balloons were flown from Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jerusalem. The massive public gathering in the center of Ramallah represented one of the largest public events in the recent history of the occupied West Bank; it was widely covered by the media locally

and abroad.

No similar Nakba-60 commemoration could be held in the Gaza Strip, where only small events were organized due to the lack of public safety.


BADIL intervened with duty bearers, including the PLO Chairman and PA President and through legal advocacy with the Human Rights Council, UN special rapporteurs, UNHCR, UNRWA, OHCHR, OCHA and other UN agencies and international organizations. Rights-based statements and practical action were the response in some occasions. On other occasions, however, even duty bearers directly bound by mandates under international humanitarian and human rights law clearly failed to act upon their legal obligation.


Duty bearers, in particular those involved in UN human rights mechanisms, humanitarian and development aid, respond with rights based statements and actions.

BADIL • legal advocacy in the OPT contributed to international recognition of the ongoing phonemon of forced displacement, affirmation of the right of return of Palestinian IDPs, and planning for implementation of the UN Collaborative Response to Forced Displacement in the OPT by a new, OCHA-led inter-agency Forced Displacement Working Group (DWG).Legal advocacy has contributed to • re-affirmation of the right of return of Palestinian refugees and IDPs by UN human rights mechanisms and the General Assembly, and support of war crimes investigations, embargos and sanctions against Israel by many states of Africa, Asia and Latin America.A petition on behalf of the 1948 dispossessed residents of Kafr Bir`im and Arab as-•Subeih was dropped by the OHCHR most likely for political reasons; In December, efforts to draw the attention of states to Israel’s system of instutionalized •racial discrimination failed during the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) of Israel which was undertaken just days before the military assault against the Palestinians in Gaza.

In 2008, the United Nations was unable or unwilling to give recognition to the Palestinian vicitms of the Nakba, including in UN meeting organized to raise awareness for the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nakba-60 was commomorated only once in the General Assembly in New York, where a little-publicized conference was convened in June under the auspices of the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

In the spring of 2008, BADIL and COHRE were informed that our petition on behalf of the 1948 displaced Palestinian residents of Kafr Bir’im and Arab as-Subeih demanding return and restitution was “no longer under consideration” by the responsible working group of the UN human rights office (OHCHR). We were also informed that no reason would be given for why the case was dropped. Off-record we were made to understand that the issue was “too political.”

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r Organized Palestinian civil society still lacks clarity and consensus about the political vision of the solution. It is fragmented and lacks the mechanism (i.e., the PLO) for more effective political action.

r Palestinian activists lack experience with new forms of action which can show that people can protect themselves and that they can return;

r The broad Palestinian public is largely unaware of strategic civil society debate and does not believe that the BDS Campaign can achieve policy change.

r The US-led alliance of Western governments and the EU continues to avoid addressing the root causes of the conflict. It rather endorses Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people and protect Israel from efforts to hold it accountable to international law.

Gaps yet to be bridged - Obstacles to be overcome towards the Strategic Objective

Photo: Approximately 50,000 participated in the largest-ever public rally for he right of return in the occupied West Bank. The organizing committee included all sectors of the Palestinian national movement. Ramallah, 15 May 2008. © Badil


Part III

Progress Report

Outputs from Projects and Activities

Challenges, Problems and Solutions

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Photo: As international protection remains largely ineffective, Palestinians must be able to protect themselves from further forced displacement and dispossession. Graduates of BADIL Youth Educattion & Activation are more aware of their rights and responsibilities, have organizing skills, and most are active organizers in their communities.

BADIL youth summer camp `Generations of Return` with 252 participants from 13 CBOs, Beit Jala, 10 - 14 August 2008. @ Badil


(1) Building Local Capacity to Participate and Engage

1.1 “Youth Education & Activation” 747 refugee/IDP children and youth aged 14-17 were trained in the courses of 2007/8 and 2008/9. The courses included theoretical study and collective activity, among them participation in the public commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, a summer camp and exchange visits. BADIL cooperated with 10 CBOs for implementation of the 2007/8 course and with 13 CBOs for the 2008/9 course (ongoing).

Part III: Progress ReportOutputs from Projects and Activities, Challenges, Problems and Solutions

CBO partners in 2008/9 Youth Education & Activation

West Bank: Palestinian Children’s Cultural Center (Fawwar camp); Lajee Center (Aida camp); Doha Children’s Cultural Center (Doha, Bethlehem); Yaffa Cultural Center (Balata Camp); Youth Activity Center (al Far’ah camp); Youth Activity Center (Jelazoun camp); Palestinian Children’s Center (Shu’fat camp); Kay-La-Nansa Society (Jenin camp); Youth Activity Center (Nur Shams camp); Youth Activity Center (Aqbat Jabr camp); Gaza Strip: Tawassul Society (Nusseirat camp); 1948 Pal/Israel: ADRID (Nazareth); Syria: Aidoun-Syria Youth Group (Damascus).

Schedule of Activities Undertaken

Course of 2007/8

March Evaluation with 10 partner CBOs Selection of 20 best students from the 2007/8 course for follow-up training and support18 April Public graduation ceremony for 379 youth (aged 14-17, among them 187 girls) and their CBOs at the Fenique Center, Dheisha camp

Course of 2008/9

25 April to 14 partners were selected; contracts were signed and orientation was provided. Seven partners are CBOs that had participated previously and performed well; seven were new partners, including one each in the Gaza Strip and in Syria.

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May 1 May: start of the course with 384 youth aged 14-17 (among them 180 girls). The course had a late start due to coinciding preparations for the Nakba-60 commemorations. It will continue until 31 March 2009, in order to compensate for time lost. Participation in Nakba-60 commemoration: two partner-CBO’s and their youth participated in the official launch of Nakba-60 commemorations in Saffouriya/Nazareth and Ramallah (8 May). All CBOs and their youth prepared slogans and invited relatives and friends to join local Nakba-60 commemorations organized by the National Committee Nakba-60 in the week of 8 – 15 May. On 15 May, ten CBOs participated in large numbers in the central Nakba-60 memorial rally held in Ramallah.June - July Visits by the BADIL project officer with all CBO partners and their youth for advice and guidance; cancellation of one contract (Baladna, Haifa); course continues with 13 CBOs and 368 youth (184 boys, 184 girls). Study and debate based on the BADIL Facilitator Manual-1 (history and geography of Palestine). Start of Preparations: Central Summer Camp: renting venue (including kitchen, outdoor space, swimming pool and sleeping rooms for girls). Three coordinators were contracted for July -August to manage the 62-member volunteer-team that assisted with preparation and implementation of the summer camp; T-shirts and hats were produced for camp staff and youth participants; services were contracted for construction of the tent camp (sleeping area for the boys).10-14 August: Summer Camp “Generations of Return” with 252 youth (including 94 girls) from 12 CBOs in the West Bank and Nazareth. The following assisted with implementation: Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Palestinian Union of Health Work Committees, Municipality of Beit Jala, MA’AN TV and News Network and the Popular Committees in the Dheisha and Aida refugee camps.Aug – Sept Study and debate based on Manual-2 (current situation of Palestinian refugees and IDPs). Regular activity reports received from all partners, including those in Syria and Gaza Strip.October 9 October: training day for faciliators on Manual- 3 (refugee rights under international law); study and debate of Manual-3.28 Nov Exchange visits to the Aqbat Jaber Camp, Jericho (Youth Activity Center) and Nur Shams Camp, Tulkarem (Youth Activity Center)10 Dec Exchange visit to al-Fawwar camp, Hebron (Palestinian Children’s Cultural Center)


Challenges, Problem, Solutions

Youth and CBO partners in the Gaza Strip and Syria cannot participate in joint activities in the West Bank.

Solutions: Youth of Aidun-Syria participated in the summer camp organized annually by Aidun in Syria. No summer activity could be arranged for the trainees of Tawassul/Nusseirat camp, Gaza. BADIL therefore decided to compensate the children with new school bags and school supplies.

Youth contributions to the project web-page www.badil.org/training/index.htm (in Arabic) are rare and weak; and there is a need for improvement of the course format to ensure that trainees learn.

Solutions: shorten and simplify the course material; prepare and prescribe practical activities (e.g. short plays, video films, etc.) that should accompany theoretical training; train facilitators in methods of learning that can be fun.

Follow-up training of the 40 best graduates selected since 2007 has been unsatisfactory as BADIL has rarely found opportunities to offer meaningful learning experiences to them.

Solutions (for discussion): invite them and organize trainings in future summer camps; find special training opportunities, including with volunteers from abroad.

1.2 Academic and Activist Training

Activities implemented

BADIL courses at al-Quds University Law School, “Palestinian Refugees under International Law”: Spring semester (February – June): 21 graduates, success rate 100%, average grade 81; Fall semester (Sept. 08 – January 09): 15 graduates, success rate 100%, average grade 80.

The syllabus was prepared in cooperation with members of the BADIL Legal Support Network who teach similar courses at universities abroad. Student reading materials include materials published by BADIL.

Workshops on forced displacement

BADIL facilitated a first training by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC) for local and international NGOs aimed at providing tools to identify and respond to forced displacement in the OPT based on the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Forced Displacement (27-28 February).

BADIL workshop on ongoing forced displacement for local (Palestinian and international) media workers (26 April; 15 participants).

Right to Education Campaign: in coordination with the Right to Education Campaign and the universities’ Student Ambassadors Program, BADIL provided workshops to over 60 students at Bethlehem University and al-Najah University. These workshops provided students with the tools for using a rights-based approach, in particular in presentations to foreign audiences. Workshops focused on understanding and refuting prevailing myths and untruths surrounding

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the Palestinian refugee issue in particular, and Israeli colonialism, apartheid and occupation in general.

Israeli Apartheid Week: BADIL worked with students in Bethlehem University, al-Quds Open University in Bethlehem, and al-Quds University (Abu Dis) to develop the analysis of Israel as a state committing the internationally prohibited crime of apartheid. The goal of these meetings and activities was to deepen the awareness and understanding of the apartheid analysis and the Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS). These meetings and activities were done in coordination with the international student network associated with Israeli Apartheid Week (www.apartheidweek.org).


Law courses at al-Quds University: students in the first course initially complained about the large amount of reading and writing required in the course. They showed little background knowledge of general international human rights law and IHL and the political history of the Palestinian people, as well as weak analytical and writing skills. Extensive introduction and explanations were provided by the BADIL lecturer and students improved over time. The course program and reading materials were subsequently adapted for the second course, in order to better meet the level and needs of the students.

An additional challenge is the fact that al-Quds University and its academic program do not encourage students to engage with refugee rights and the Palestinian refugee question.

Solution: BADIL may encourage distinguished

and active students to engage in voluntary activities with the aim to build academic expertise and leadership.

Activists Workshops: were not initially part of the plan but launched in response to demand, with tools (e.g. power-point presentations) prepared ad hoc for this purpose. Training tools must be developed (in Arabic and English) and future trainings planned systematically, in particular with CBO partners in BADIL “Youth Education and Activation.”

1.3 Al-Awda Award Competition

BADIL received 387 submissions to the 2008 award competition from participants in Palestine and abroad: 27 short films, 159 posters, 18 research papers, 15 oral history testimonies, 109 children’s stories and 59 pieces of written journalism. The 18 winners in the six categories were selected by independent expert juries and honored at two parallel Award Festivals in Ramallah and Gaza.

Photo: The ultimate review of award-winning children`s stories. 2008 Awda Award Festival, Ramalah. © Badil



In the long term, the lack of suitable co-sponsors and the need for innovation regarding format and style of future Awda Award competitions and festivals represent major challenges. All offers of co-sponsorship received from the Palestinian private sector had to be rejected because they would have resulted in too much commercialization of the event.

Solution: Re-assess and decide about the future of the Awda Award, including possible improvements or termination, after completion of the 2009 competition in June 2009.

A matter of immediate concern is the low quality of entries in some categories, including winning entries. This has posed big problems to BADIL who is committed to publish and promote winning entries.

Schedule of Activities Undertaken

1 March Closing date for submissions.

21 March - Selection of winners by independent juries mid-April Adoption of award winning poster by the National Committee/Nakba 60

3 May Parallel Al-Awda Award Festivals in Cultural Palace, Ramallah, and the Red Crescent Hall, Khan Younis, Gaza (with satellite link and broadcast). The program included: poster exhibition, dance performance of al-Funoun al-Sha’abiyya, screening of winning short films, and award of 18 prizes to the first, second and third place winners (US$1,000, $600, $400), with honorable mention of 34 (combined audience: 1,200)

October Evaluation and planning meetings with staff and jury members15 November Public launch of call for entries for the 2009 Awda competition, with special focus on universities, schools and CBOs.

Solutions for the 2009 competition

Topic of research paper will be specified (the role •of refugee women in combating the consequences of the Nakba and ongoing displacement)

The categories “oral history testimony” and “short •documentary film” will be suspended.

A new award category for “best photo” will be •adopted for children participants.

Forms will be prepared for the juries in order to •facilitate professional assessment of entries and selection of winners.

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The Winners of the 2008 Al-Awda Award

Children’s Story

1st: Ahlam Mohammad Bisharat (33), school teacher and freelance writer, Toubas (West Bank), for the story Shubbak Al-Zinko (“The Zinc Window”)2nd: Maysoon Asadi (45), NGO director and freelance writer, Haifa, for the story Bayt Buyut (“House of Houses”)3rd: Dima Sahweel (34), bank employee and freelance writer, Ramallah, for the story ‘Ulbat Alwan (“Box of Colours”)

Documentary Short Film

1st: Hisham Zreiq (40), born in Nazareth, engineer in Germany, for the film Abna’ Eilaboun (“Sons of Eilaboun”) and: Mohammad Jabr (26), director of media training center, Ramallah, for the film Lu’bat Yaffa (“The Yaffa Game”)2nd: Ahmad Shehadeh (20), cameraman, Gaza, for the film Fi Tafasil al-Qussah (“Details of a Story”)3rd: Ameer Ahmaru (32), TV producer, Hebron, for the film Laji’ Ila Watani (“Refuge in my Homeland”)

Oral History

1st: Rasha Abu Zaitun (26), graduate of social sciences, Tulkarem, for her research on the 1948 depopulated Palestinian village of Sabbareen2nd: Abdel Hamid Al-Farani (42), lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza, for his research on the 1948 depopulated Palestinian village of Hamama3rd: Anwar Mar’i (28), social sciences graduate, Tulkarem, for his research on the 1948 depopulated Palestinian village of Abu Kishek

Nakba-60 Poster

1st: Ashraf Ghurayyib (33), arts teacher, Gaza2nd: Khaldoon Khatib (34), graphic designer, Hebron3rd: Anan Zurba (34), arts teacher, Nablus

Written Journalism

1st: Anas Abu Rahmah (31), student of journalism, Bil’in (Ramallah), for the piece al-Mithya’ (“The Radio”)2nd: Abdel Hakim Abu Jamous (42), civil servant, Nablus, for the piece Sir al-Lawn al-Azraq (“The Secret of the Color Blue”)3rd: Ahmad Jaber (39), journalist and writer, Syria, for the piece Lam al-Shaml wa al- Nawm ‘ala Hulm al-’Awda (“Family Reunification and Sleeping on the Dream of Return”)

Research Paper

1st: Muna Nabulsi (28), school teacher, Jerusalem, for the study Mustajaddat Wad’a al-Laji’in Al-Filastininyin Fi-Al-Iraq (“Developments in the Case of Palestinian Refugees in Iraq”) and Maliha Al-Maslamani (31), Jerusalem, PhD candidate in fine arts in Cairo, for the study Haq al-Awda fi Karikateir Naji al-Ali (“The Right of Return in the Caricatures of Naji Al-Ali”)

Note: no second and third place was awarded for failure of papers to meet academic standards


1.4 Palestinian Strategy Forum

Activities Implemented

BADIL contributed to collective analysis, strategy- and vision building by drafting legal analysis and strategic position papers and statements mainly for three broad Palestinian civil society fora which include among their members all the major unions, associations, NGOs and political groups which form the Palestinian national movement in Palestine and abroad:

Boycott National Committee/BDS Campaign (BNC): BADIL took the lead in drafting the BNC strategic position paper “United against Apartheid, Colonialism and Occupation – Dignity and Justice for the Palestinian People” for presentation to the Bilbao Civil Society Forum (29-31 October), broad, worldwide endorsement (29 November, UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People), and intervention at the UN Durban Review Conference in 2009.

National Committee/Nakba-60: BADIL presented a paper examining Palestinian refugees’ right of return in the context of a one-state and two-state model of conflict resolution to a series of workshops convened by the Committee in October. At the Committee’s Fourth National Conference to Defend the Right of Return (Ramallah, 29 November 2008), BADIL facilitated the debate as well as drafting of the final statement, which summarizes contemporary political analysis and strategic vision of the independent right of return movement.

Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition: BADIL participated and contributed to the final statement of the Coalition’s extraordinary 2008 annual meeting in Damascus, 18 – 21 November.

In addition, BADIL presented at three strategy

conferences/workshops organized by like-minded groups and organizations:

• Al-Quds Law Clinic – workshop on the analysis of apartheid in the OPT as promoted by the out-going UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the OPT, Prof. John Dugard (17 June)

• Conference on ‘The Right of Return and a Secular Democratic State in Palestine’ organized by a group of Jewish and Palestinian activists (Haifa, 21-22 June; over 200 participants)

• Zochrot Conference – ‘Return of the Refugees: Practices, Strategies and Visions’ (Tel Aviv, 22 – 24 June; 300 participants)


Although sharing common principles and strategic analysis, organized Palestinian civil society still lacks clarity and consensus about the political vision of the solution. Strategy debates are conducted by a multitude of civil society actors, and no common platform exists for debate.

Solution: building consensus about vision and strategies takes time; more of the same effort will have impact over time.

Palestinian grass-roots and popular opinion leaders speak of crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people and the idea of boycotts has become popular especially in response to Israel’s massacres in Gaza. Still, large sectors of the Palestinian population lack a good understanding of concepts, strategy and mechanisms of the civil society BDS campaign and/or do not believe that it can effect change.

Solution: redouble efforts to engage grass-roots and popular opinion leaders in strategy debate; increase publication and dissemination in Arabic.

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Activities Undertaken

a) Development of Library and Interactive Exhibition and Learning Space

Internal construction was completed on both office floors, and new space for the library and visitors are now available. Basic furniture and equipment were installed.

Public (online) resource library: includes print, audiovisual and electronic resources for the study of past and current forced displacement of Palestinians, related political and legal theory, and Palestinian memory. Development of the online library catalogue continued (Library of Congress system; WINISIS program); over 2,500 print documents are listed while some periodicals and audiovisual materials are not yet included. Two additional computers and desks were purchased for users.

Interactive Exhibition and Learning Space: further furnishing and equipment was put on halt until a professional concept is developed for use and design of space.

b) Information and Advocacy Tools (production, dissemination)

BADIL produced 25 new tools and 79 press releases. BADIL information was sold or provided free of charge or against donations, based on orders received via the internet or from visitors. It was distributed mainly via mailing lists to subscribers (al-majdal magazine), as newspaper supplement (Haq al-Awda), as bulk shipments to partners abroad, in handouts during public events, and via the National Committee/Nakba-60 and local CBO partners.

Print Tools

Nakba-60 Info Packet (English)Incl. fact-sheets, brochures, Q&A, map, CD and al-Majdal Nakba-60 special (April 2008, 3,500 copies)Distribution: Shipments abroad based on bulk orders: at least 1,500

(2) Outreach, Support- and Alliance-building

2.1 The Ongoing Nakba Education Center

BADIL launched the Ongoing-Nakba Education Center in 2008 in response to the growing demand for information tools and services in support of civil society campaigns. It involves improvement of BADIL space and quality and outreach of BADIL information tools and services, including:

• Public resource library and interactive exhibition and learning space• Print, audiovisual and online information tools (production and dissemination)• Information and networking services• Advertising and promotion


Nakba-60 Special of This Week in Palestine (English)Co-produced by BADIL and TWP based on the BADIL Nakba-60 Info Packet; incl. a brochure announcing 80 events of Nakba-60 commemorations in Palestine and abroad (May 2008)Distribution: 10,000 copies by TWP; 500 copies by BADIL to visitors.

“60 Terms on the Nakba” (Arabic): a Palestinian reader and dictionary about the Nakba with entries produced by Palestinian refugee and IDP youth in Palestine and in exile with expert supervision. A co-production of BADIL, the Ibn Khaldoun Center and the Aidoun Group - Lebanon (May 2008, 84 pages; 10,000 copies)Distribution: BADIL/2,000 copies; of them 1,000 shipped to Aidoun, Lebanon and Syria.

haq al-awda fi karikateir Naji al-Ali (The Right of Return in the Caricatures of Naji al-Ali, Arabic): 2008 Awda Award winning entry/research paper,by Maliha Maslamani; ISSN 1-10-339-9950-978 (40 pages, November 2008; 1,000 copies)

Oral History Testimonies – A Palestinian Reading of Displacement: 2007 Awda Award winning entries (Arabic)al-Haram – Sa’idna Ali by Rasha Abu ZaytounAsdoud by Rashad al-Madanial-Kafrayin by Maliha T’oamaISSN 8-11-339-9950-978 (98 pages, December 2008; 1,000 copies)

2009 al-Awda Award Call for Entries, brochure (Arabic, October 2008; 10,000 copies)

2009 BADL desk calendar: The Ongoing Nakba (English and Arabic; November 2008; 3,000 copies)

2007 BADIL Annual Report (144 pages, Arabic and English; 300 copies)

Haq al-Awda magazine (Arabic)ISSN 1814-9782www.badil.org/Arabic-Web/haq-alawda/haq-alawda.htm Vol. VI, issue nos.26, 27/28 and 29/30

Special issue BADIL’s 10th anniversary: reflections on one decade of advocacy and campaigning for Palestinian refugee rights (January 2008, 34 pages);

Focus themes:

Nakba-60, Mahmoud Darwish, Sabra and Shatilah (September 2008, 36 pages);

International Solidarity with Palestine: priorities, responsibilities and tasks (December 2008, 32 pages).

50,000 per issueNumber of copies:

48,000 copies as newspaper supplement (al-Ayyam, Ramallah; al-Ittihad, Haifa; al-Fajr al-Jadeed, Nazareth); rest shipped/distributed by BADIL in Palestine and abroad.

Distribution:

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al-Majdal magazine (English)ISSN 1726-7277www.badil.org/al-majdal/al-majdal.htm Vol. IX, issue nos. 36/37, 38 and 39/40

Nakba-60 special: “60 Years on: Honoring the Struggle for Justice and Dignity”, including historical overview and testimonies of Palestinian refugees and IDPs worldwide (Spring 2008, 88 pages)

Focus themes:

BDS-special: “Overcoming the Ongoing Nakba”, BDS and the global Anti-apartheid movement (Summer 2008, 136 p.);

Palestine’s Ongoing Nakba: Jaffa 1948 – Gaza 2008 (Autumn 2008/Winter 2009, 100 pages).

1,200 (regular issues) + 3,500 (Nakba-60 special issue)

Number of copies:

Mailings to subscribers (640) Special mailings upon bulk orders: 1,305 Nakba-60 special.

Distribution:

Electronic Tools and Services

Electronic information was provided on the BADIL website and via E-mail lists in English (2,197 subscribers) and Arabic (several hundred subscribers).

www.badil.org (English and Arabic): In 2008, BADIL’s website registered 38,500 page loads (32,500 unique visitors), with peak numbers recorded in April-May; most users came from Palestine (Israel and OPT), France, Spain and Arab countries. Special web-pages published:

• Nakba-60 Campaign, incl. BADIL info-packet, other resources, and announcements of some 190 events organized in 2008 as part of worldwide Nakba-60 commemoration.

• 2008 Al-Awda Award, including winning submissions, photos and reports from the Awda-Award Festivals.

• Some documents in other languages, in particular in Spanish and Italian, were included.

• In September, re-design and development of the BADIL website was started based on a 10-month development plan that includes, among others, design of a special page “The Ongoing Nakba” for documentation of ongoing forced displacement.

BADIL press releases: 79 (44/English, 35/Arabic)

DVDs (5 new, 8 reprints, 150 copies each); distributed to Palestinian TV stations for broadcast during Nakba-60 commemorations:

New: Highlights of the 2008 al-Awda Award (Arabic); Four short films, winners of the 2008 Awda-Award (Arabic);

Reprints: Four short films, winners of the 2007 Awda Award (Arabic); Youm Ilak Youm Aleik - Palestinian Refugees from Jerusalem 1948 (BADIL 1998, English and Arabic; Experiencing Return – Palestinian Refugees Studying the Case of Bosnia (BADIL 2002, Arabic); Salt of the Earth (BADIL 2007, Arabic).


Tools for the Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition

Report, 8th Annual Coordination Meeting, Uppsala, Sweden, 1 – 4 November 2007 (Arabic and English, 78 pages; October 2008; 500 copies)

www.rorcoalition.org : maintained on behalf of the Coalition

Campaign Tools for the National Committee/Nakba-60

Brochure: “60 Years of the Palestinian Nakba” (Arabic): writing and design by BADIL; 300,000 copies printed and disseminated by the Committee, including in public schools based on approval by the PA Ministry of Education.

Nakba-60 poster (Arabic and English): winner of the BADIL al-Awda Award; design/finishing by BADIL and printed by the Committee. Tens of thousands of copies were disseminated locally and abroad.

Nakba-60 T-shirt (Arabic and English): design by BADIL, based on the Nakba-60 poster; 40,000 T-shirts distributed by the Committee and BADIL.

Nakba-60 Press Release Series, 8 – 15 May (English): produced and disseminated on daily basis jointly by BADIL and the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign on behalf of the National Committee.

c) Information and Networking Services

In the first half of 2008, BADIL was transformed into an information “clearing house” on the Nakba. During preparation of the worldwide calendar of Nakba-60 events, BADIL networked with some 120 organizations and initiatives abroad, mainly in the United States (19), Canada (16), Lebanon (15), Jordan, England and Scotland (12 each), Chile and Germany (7 each), Australia, Belgium, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. Networking is ongoing with the European Coordinating Committee on Palestine (ECCP), the International Coordinating Network on Palestine (ICNP), and for the BDS Campaign.

BADIL assisted, briefed and/or organized field visits in Palestine for at least 1,300 persons; coordination and cooperation was maintained with official Palestinian institutions, in particular the PLO Department on Refugee Affairs (DORA), the Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

d) Advertisement and Promotion BADIL articles, mainly from the English-language •quarterly al-Majdal, were re-published among others, by The Electronic Intifada, Znet, the Palestine Chronicle, Palestine Remembered, This Week in Palestine.

The • Nakba-60 info packet and al-Majdal magazine were advertized in in INAMO, no. 54 (Germany); based on an agreement with This Week in Palestine, BADIL published articles and advertisements in TWP on a bi-monthly basis from August 2008 onwards.

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2009 • al-Awda Award Call for Entries (November 2008): electronic advertisement on MA’AN News (5 months), Kol al-Arab (3 months); print advertisement in al-Quds and al-Ayyam dailies (twice/week for 15 weeks).

BADIL publications and • Awda-Award posters were exhibited at a Nakba-60 poster and book exhibition, Bethlehem University (13 May). Based on an agreement made in the second half of the year with the Abu Ghosh Publishing and Distributing Company, BADIL exhibited at the following international and domestic book-fairs:

- al-Sharqa International Book-fair, United Emirates, 28 October - 7 November;

- Palestine International Book-fair, Ramallah, 13– 23 November;

- Beirut International Book-fair (in cooperation with Aidoun-Lebanon), 13 - 27 December.

In mid-2008, BADIL’s al-Majdal magazine became •available at the Ju’beh bookstore, Ramallah, and the Educational Bookshop, Jerusalem. By the end of the year, it was also available at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, Toronto, Canada, and the Xarra community Bookstore, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Visitors to BADIL in 2008

At least 1,300 visitors were briefed:

Members of the diplomatic and development community, including the South African Representative Office, Swiss Development Cooperation and the US Consulate.

Approximately 70 fact-finding and study groups, as well as individuals, among them parliamentarians, unionists, school and university students, scouts, lawyers, university teachers, journalists, film makers, a.o., from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, the OPT, Spain, Switzerland, U.K and the United Sates. These groups were organized by: AFB-Belgian Action Platform, ATG, Birthright Unplugged, CPT, EAPPI, Guiding Star, ICAHD, MCC, MECA, the Norwegian Social Workers Union, Oxfam Solidarity, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (UK), the Presbytarian Church, Sabeel, Sodepaz, Trocaire, students of the Universities of Haifa and Jerusalem (Hebrew University), the Universities of al-Quds and Bethlehem, Zochrot, a.o.;

Participants in seminars and workshops organized in Palestine by the Bil’in Committee and Sabeel;

Consultants/staff of Palestinian and international NGOs/agencies, among them: Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, AIDA-Association of INGOs in Palestine; AHRF-Arab Human Rights Foundation, Broederlijk Delen, CISDE, COHRE, Crisis in Action, Danchurch Aid, FAFO, Hecks/EPER, ICCO, IDMC, International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council, NPA, OHCHR, Oxfam International, Oxfam Quebec, Oxfam Solidarity, Save the Children-U.K., UNRWA.


2.2 Participation in International Networking Conferences and Meetings

BADIL and members of the Legal Support Network-LSN participated in 13 international networking events which helped build support for the BADIL research and campaign strategy:

International Conference, “The Palestinian Refugees in Iraq: Reality and Solutions”, organized by the al-Quds University and sponsored by IDRC, Canada (al-Quds University, March 22 – 23);

Palestinian library conference organized by the Palestinian Librarian Association and the Ramallah Center for Human Rights (Ramallah, 31 March – 2 April);

Seminar on Critical Theory of Internal Displacement, Oxford University, Center for Refugee Studies (30 June – 1 July);

The Third World Social Forum on Forced Migration, with focus on Palestinian refugees (Spain, 11 – 14 September);

Legal Seminar “Making Monitoring Work; Re-inforcing International Law in Europe, organized by Diakonia and al-Haq (Brussels, 11 -14 September);

Bilbao Civil Society Forum for Justice in Palestine, and launching of the Bilbao Initiative; organized by Mewando, BNC/PNGO and Ittijah (Bilbao, 29 – 31 October);

Sabeel Conference “The Nakba: Memory, Reality and Beyond” (Galilee and Bethlehem, 12-19 November);


Shortage of staff (two vacancies) in the Resource Unit, and shortage of cash-flow constituted the major problems in the first half of 2008, and production of several information/advocacy tools and improvement of electronic information services (in particular in Arabic) had to be postponed. This situation improved slightly in the second half, when one vacancy was staffed.

Photo: The Ongoing Nakba Education Center, including a resource library, was launched in 2008 as BADIL`s response to the growing public demand for information services.Briefing of visiting health and human rights activists. © Badil

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3.1 Research


Research was undertaken for legal advocacy statements and reports to UN mechanisms agencies (e.g. Human Rights Council, UNHCR), for position papers and statements issued in the context of civil society campaigns, and for BADIL studies/working papers in progress:

Arabic-language edition of the 2005 BADIL Handbook on Protection of Palestinian Refugees in States Signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention (English original: 488 pages): in the print shop

Pilot Study/Working Paper: Ending Forced Displacement in the OPT - Response Assessment to Situations of Internal Displacement in the OPT by Karine Mac Allister (English): manuscript ready for layout and print

Rights in Principle, Rights in Practice: a reader from 2003 – 2004 BADIL expert seminars revisiting the role of international in crafting durable solutions for Palestinian refugees. English original: waiting for author to send final revised manuscript. Arabic edition: translation in progress.

BADIL Handbook on Durable Solutions for Palestinian Refugees and IDPs (English):Research resumed and in progress.

Working Paper: The Applicability of the Crime of

Apartheid to Israel’s Regime over the Palestinian People (English): research resumed and in progress

Working Paper: The Relevance for the Palestinian People of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (English): draft prepared by intern; on halt.

Working Paper: Universal Jurisdiction and the case of Palestinian refugees (English): advanced draft available; to be discussed further.

Challenges, Problems, Solutions

Shortage of staff caused delays in research production in the first half of the year. It also had a negative effect on BADIL’s ability to supervise and manage external research authors/publishers who do not abide by contractual deadlines or are unable to complete research in line with the agreed-upon standards (list on record with BADIL).

Follow-up of research work improved in the second half of the year when some vacancies were staffed. It has become clear, however, that BADIL will lack capacity for in-house research production, in particular in English language, even when staff will be complete.

Solutions: Make temporary contracts with suitable external research authors; adapt BADIL research plan to the level of skills and capacity available in the organization (i.e. accept that production will be slower than in the past).

(3) Research, Mobilization & Intervention with Duty Bearers


3.2 Facilitation of Community-based Actions and Civil Society Campaigns


a) Facilitation of the Nakba-60 Campaign

BADIL is a member of the National Committee/Nakba-60 and has provided much logistic support to its activities throughout the entire year.

In addition, BADIL provided small-scale operational support (mainly communication) to CBOs providing field coordination in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Yafa Cultural Center, Union of Youth Activity Centers).

Small financial support was also provided to the following 19 community initiatives:

Nakba-60 Campaign

Al-Doha Children’s Cultural Center: “Right of Return International Art Festival”, 29 – 31 May; the festival included satellite-transmitted poetry and songs by renowned Palestinian and other Arab artists abroad (e.g. Sameeh Shkeir, from Amman). It was held in Bethlehem University amphitheater and attracted an audience of some 5,000 mainly young people.

Sourif Cultural Forum: Nakba-60 awareness-raising day, 16 May; including workshops and photo exhibition.

Creative Art and Culture Society, Deir al-Balah, Gaza; wall painting, 29 May; 300 participants, young and old.

Handala Children’s Center, Azza camp, Bethlehem,

with Shepherds TV and local CBOs: arts and culture festival for children marking the start of the new school year, 5 – 17 August.

Society for Social Development, Jalazoun camp: story telling across generations, 29 October; 100 children participants.

Yaffa Cultural Center, Balata camp: networking meetings among CBOs in the northern West Bank (Nablus, Toubas, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya), 6 November – 20 December.

Popular Committee Izbat al-Tabib: public debate “refugee rights in the shadow of political division”, 30 December, 100 participants.

Yaffa Cultural Center, Balata camp: youth training program with graduates from BADIL Youth Education and Activation a.o. in the northern West Bank; 40 youth trainees; December 2008 – end June 2009

Youth Activity Center, al-Far’a camp: six-month soccer training for 25 youth, 15 December 2008 – 15 June 2009.

CBO summer camps

Al-Awda Children’s Club/Haifa Cultural Center, Tulkarem camp, 1 – 7 July: summer camp for 120 children (90 of them girls) at the UNRWA school.

Palestinian Progressive Youth Union, Arroub camp: summer camp (10 – 25 June) for 120 children (half of them girls) at the UNRWA boys school.

Refugee Affairs Committee-Salfit/Rafat village:

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summer camp (30 July – 15 August) for 100 children (half of them girls) at the UNRWA girls school.

Refugee Affairs Committee-Salfit: summer camp (18 – 28 July) at the “white house” for 100 children.

National Charitable Society, Dheisha camp: summer camp (1 – 31 July) at the UNRWA boys school for 100 children.

Local Committee for the Rehabiliation of the Disabled, Dheisha camp: summer camp (16 – 31 July) for 150 children (including 70 girls) at the community center.

Ansar Center, al-Walajeh: summer camp (14 – 29 June) for 55 children (including 25 girls) at the community center.

Emergency assistance to CBOs

Tawassul Society, Nusseirat camp, Gaza: purchase of 25 school bags including note books, pencils, crayons, rulers, and a pair of pants for the youth involved in BADIL Youth Education and Activation (compensation for exclusion from the 2008 summer camp in Beit Jala).

Tawassul Society, Nusseirat camp, Gaza: financial support to the 30 families of the children involved in BADIL Youth Education and Activation (re-allocation of funds initially designated for Nakba-60 soccer competition), December 2008.

Palestinian Boys and Girls’ Scouts Association (al-Qadesiya), al-Far’a camp: contribution to repair of the Association building, December 2008.

b) Facilitation of the Palestinian Civil Society BDS Campaign

BADIL contributed to the establishment of the BNC-National Committee/BDS Campaign in early 2008 and is a member of its Secretariat. BADIL staff supports the BDS website www.bdsmovement.net as part of the global web-team and oversight committee and offers logistic assistance, including drafting of BNC documents and statements, organizing, networking and outreach support.


Effective implementation of community-based public actions and civil society campaigns in the OPT was impeded by the precarious humanitarian situation and loss of political direction, in particular in the segregated Gaza Strip, where these were compounded with a lack of physical security and extreme forms of oppression. BADIL has no immediate solution.

Palestinian public confidence in the effectiveness of the BDS Campaign has remained low and community actions for the right of return have a routine and ceremonial character.

Solutions: see (1) above, in particular point 4.

Many Western civil society organizations, including large NGOs with programs in the OPT, understand and often support the Palestinian civil society campaigns (Nakba-60 Campaign, BDS Campaign), but continue to issue “balanced statements” or remain silent on Israel’s war crimes, accountability and the right of


return, because of perceived political and economic risks for their organizations.

Solution: sustained and concerted explaining and lobbying by Palestinian civil society; encourage collective decision-making and action by western civil society organizations, in order to reduce vulnerability.

3.3 Special Media & Public Outreach Activities


a) Special Media Projects

• Media Promotion of the 2008 al-Awda Award, including: three-month-long announcement/advertisement of the 2008 BADIL call for entries in the Palestinian media in the OPT and in Israel, promotion among journalists (request for interview opportunities) and live satellite broadcast from the 2008 Award Festival in Ramallah (BADIL, MA’AN News Network and Palestine TV, 3 May).

• Nakba-60 Open TV Studio: live 11-hour satellite broadcast from the Al-Awda Camp, Ramallah, with links to interview partners in 7 studios located in Gaza, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Beirut, Damascus, Amman and Cairo, giving publicity to the official opening of the Nakba-60 commemorations and the Return March of the internally displaced Palestinians in Israel (BADIL and MA’AN News Network in cooperation with Palestine TV, 8 March).

• Radio Free Palestine: 18 Hours of Broadcasting on 60 Years of Dispossession: worldwide radio broadcast of pre-recorded interviews with Palestinian refugees and IDPs and live reports from the Nakba memorial rally in Ramallah, Palestine (IMEMC in cooperation with BADIL and 11 community radio stations in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.)

Photo: PA prime minister Salam Fayad assures the Palestinian public that his government is committment to a «just solution for the Palestinian refugees in accordance with UN Resolution 194» in an interview given at the Nakba-60 Open TV Sudio.Al-Awda Camp, Ramallah, May 2008. © Wafa

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b) Interviews

In 2008, BADIL staff gave at least 40 interviews, most of them (30) to Palestinian radio and TV stations and community radios/alternative press agencies in Canada, Catalonia, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and the United States. At least 10 interviews were given to mainstream press in the U.S. and Belgium during speaking tours, BBC radio, and to filmmakers, including a documentary about the Nakba produced by al-Jazeera TV.

c) Speaking Tours in the United States, Belgium and Spain

• BADIL-Zochrot speaking tour “Acknowledging the Past; Imagining the Future: Palestinians and Israelis on 1948 and the Right of Return” (sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 23 March – 8 April): over 30 public lectures and meetings, mainly with Jewish audience, in major US cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, New York.

• BADIL-Zochrot Nakba-60 speaking tour in Belgium (sponsored by Oxfam Solidarity and the Belgian Action Platform on Palestine, April 10 – 18): 21 lectures and meetings with interested public, high school students, NGO activists, trade union members and parliamentarians.

• BNC speaking tour for promotion of the BDS-Campaign and Bilbao Initiative in Spain, including Barcelona and Mallorca (sponsored by ACSUR, Nova and several other NGOs in Catalonia, 25 – 30 November): lectures and meetings with unionists, parliamentarians, student and NGO activists.


BADIL is still far from having exploited to its full potential public/media outreach opportunities, including with mainstream Arab and foreign media. Useful recommendations were gathered during BADIL speaking tours abroad (e.g. more speaking tours, preparation of information tools in various languages, broader dissemination) and more systematic use can be made of media contacts and opportunities available in Palestine.

Solution: complete BADIL staffing; recruit volunteers for preparation of foreign language information/advocacy tools based on BADIL resources; prepare a new strategic plan for public/media outreach.

BADIL in the Media Hightened media interest in the Palestinian Nakba, as well as special media outreach efforts undertaken by BADIL and partners, have led to some increase in coverage of BADIL’s activities and message in 2008, including by some mainstream Arab and western media. Thus, for example, BADIL featured prominently in Nakba documentary series broadcast by al-Jazeera TV (Arabic) and the German ARD. Some Belgian dailies (e.g. De Morgen) and local U.S. press published reports and interviews about the BADIL-Zochrot speaking tours. At the same time, however, local Palestinian media, al-Jazeera.net (Arabic), and specialized professional and activist electronic outlets (e.g. UN ReliefWeb, Electronic Intifada, NGO websites and activist blogs) have remained the main forum for BADIL information.


3.4 Legal Advocacy and Intervention


a) UN agencies and international community in the OPT

Forced Displacement Working Group (DWG): In response to awarenes-raising and advocacy the international humanitarian and human rights community in the OPT recognized the ongoing phenomenon of forced displacement of Palestinians in the OPT. The DWG was formed in March 2008 with the aim to develop an effective rights-based collaborative protection response in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles Internal Displacement. BADIL chaired the DWG on an interim basis (March to June), until OCHA was able to take the lead. The DWG is composed of over 50 local (Palestinian and Israeli) NGOs, INGOs and UN agencies, including OHCHR, UNRWA, UNICEF and UNIFEM. ICRC participates as an observer.

As chair/member of the DWG, BADIL contributed to:

• drafting of action plans for emergency response, research, legal assistance and advocacy to be operational by 2009;

• briefings of UN agencies, donors and policy makers, including: OCHA Protection Cluster meetings, the PA Ministry on Social Affairs, UNRWA, EU donors (“Friday Group”, 13 June) and the diplomatic community (22 October);

• written contributions on forced displacement to OCHA’s monthly Humanitarian Monitor.

Preparations of new response plans came to a halt at the end of the year, when all capacities of DWG members

were again absorbed by the emergency response in Gaza.

Technical Working Group to the Palestinian National Committee on the UN Register of Damages (UNROD): As a member of the Technical WG, BADIL briefed the head of board of the Vienna-based UNROD (12 April). UNROD launched pilot registration in two study cases in 2008 but has not yet become operational: no Palestinian has been able to register any damages caused by Israel’s illegal Wall, irrespective of the ICJ opinion and General Assembly resolution from 2004.

b) UNHCR

BADIL participated in the 2008 UNHCR NGO consultations (25 – 28 June, Geneva) and ensured that the joint NGO statement to the UNHCR Executive Committee included – as in the past - reference to the right of Palestinian refugees to durable solutions, including return to their homes and properties. Consultations about strategies for protection of Palestinian refugees in/from Iraq were undertaken with the UNCHR Department for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and INGOs. BADIL was able to intervene and assist UNHCR with protection of some Palestinian refugees from Iraq who were detained on their flight across borders.

c) Human Rights Council (HRC), OHCHR

BADIL presented written and/or oral statements at all 2008 HRC sessions. BADIL called upon UN member states to: address Israel’s policy of forced population transfer and the nature of its colonial apartheid regime; take measures, including sanctions, against Israel; and, protect the rights of return and restitution of Palestinian refugees and IDPs sixty years after the Nakba of 1948.

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Universal Periodical Review (UPR) of Israel (Human Rights Council, Geneva, 4-8 December): BADIL led the drafting of a joint NGO report that highlights Israel’s regime of institutionalized racial discrimination as a root cause for the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinians (BADIL, Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Arab Human Rights Association, ADRID, HIC-Housing and Land Rights Network, Zochrot, ITTIJAH). BADIL was present during the UPR in Geneva and presented its report jointly with Adalah in two side-events (inside and outside the UN). Some 50 states asked Israel many questions, but no substantial results came from the December sessions. The UPR, conceived as a major procedure for peer review of state compliance with international human rights law, was unable to detect the pattern of gross and systematic human rights violations that would trigger Israel’s military assault on the occupied and besieged Palestnian population in the Gaza Strip only two weeks later. The Human Rights Council is yet to consider the findings of the UPR of Israel in March 2009.

BADIL raised awareness of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba and Palestinian refugee’s right to return at the UN Conference – 60 Years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights hosted in Paris by UNESCO (3 – 5 September 08).

BADIL also participated in consultations and meetings towards the UN Durban Review Conference (April 2009) and advocated – without much success – for rights-based drafting language and timely preparations of an NGO Forum by the United Nations.

d) General Assembly

In a written testimony (30 June) to the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and

Other Arabs in the Occupied Territories, BADIL highlighted Israel’s regime of institutionalized racial discrimination, the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinians in the OPT, and the urgency of practical measures, including in-depth study of and diplomatic sanctions against the State of Israel by UN members states.

BADIL-LSN members intervened as expert speakers at two UN conferences organized under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People:

• International Conference on Palestine Refugees (UNESCO, Paris, 29 – 30 April)

• Conference on 60 years of Palestinian ‘refugeehood’ (UNHQ, New York, June 20)

e) Palestinian leadership and the diplomatic community

Open Letter to President Mahmoud Abbas: “The Rights of Palestinian Refugees and the Final Status Negotiations”, endorsed by 78 Palestinian refugee community organizations and NGOs, including BADIL (25 September);

Open Letter to the EU: “No New EU-Israel Action Plan in April 2009!”, 100 European Organizations Join the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) in Opposing EU-Israel Association Agreement Upgrade and Call for Suspension of the Agreement (9 July).

BADIL and members of the Legal Support Network briefed the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. State Department and advisers of the U.S. presidential candidates and promoted a rights-based approach to the Palestinian refugee issue.


BADIL also briefed Danish politicians and diplomats and advocated for a rights-based approach at “Israel and Palestinian NGOs Contribution to Peace and Reconciliation”, a conference organized by the Mandela Center in cooperation with the newspaper Politiken, Copenhagen, 1 November; and, participated in lobbying EU members of parliament in cooperation with the European Coordinating Committee of NGOs for Palestine (ECCP), 3-4 November.


Palestinian NGOs like BADIL that work/intervene for effective and rights-based responses with international humanitarian, human rights and development agencies and organizations in the OPT, face numerous challenges, including: high staff-turnover in international organizations and agencies; lack of institutional memory; narrow interpretation of organizational mandates; lack of understanding and/or interest in the specific context of the conflict; prejudice against Arab and Islamic culture; naivitee and expectation of “good faith” treatment by Israeli authorities; lack of personal courage and fear for professional careers and/or “brand-risks” for organizations, a. o.

NGO work among human rights mechanisms at UN headquarters abroad faces similar challenges. Additional obstacles are added as a result of the political agenda of UN member states and the current Palestine delegation; all of them succumb to US pressure and avoid root causes of and Israeli accountability for systematic violations of international law.

BADIL has no immediate solutions other than a sustained effort at explaining and building strong, principled and broad civil society campaigns that can exert pressure.

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Photo: The `World`s Largets Key` symbolizing Palestinian determination to return at the entrance to the Aida refugee camp. Nakba-60 commemoration, Bethlehem, May 2008. © Wafa


Part IV

External Audit Report

Auditor’s Reportand

Financial Statements

December 31, 2008

Table of Contents

Auditor’s Report 56-57 Statement of Financial Position 58 Statement of Activities 59 Statement of Changes in Net Assets 60 Statement of Cash Flows 61 Statement of functional expenses 62 Notes to Financial Statements 63-70

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Independent Auditor’s Report

To the Board of DirectorsBadil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee RightsBethlehem

Report on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights (Badil) (Not for Profit Entity), which comprises the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2008, statement of activities and changes in net assets and cash flows statement for the year then ended and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

Management’s responsibility for the financial statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 117 “Financial Statements of Not-For-Profit Organizations”. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.


An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Center’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Center’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of Badil Center as of 31 December 2008, its financial performance and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 117 “Financial Statements of Not-For-Profit Organizations”.

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See Notes to Financial Statements

Statement - A


Statement - B

See Notes to Financial Statements


1- Background:

BADIL was established in January 1998 to support the development of a popular refugee lobby for the right of return through professional research and partnership-based community initiatives. The center is registered with the Palestinian Authority.

BADIL actively encourages voluntary participation of grassroots activists, local and international experts, and regional and international partners based on the vision of BADIL as a community-based organization.

BADIL`s work is guided by a Board, elected from the General Assembly which is composed of activists in the Palestinian refugee community organizations and national institutions, and supervised by an elected Oversight Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for ongoing supervision, monitoring and adaptation of the regular program.

2- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

The financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards and the Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 117 “Financial Statements of Not-For-Profit Organizations.”

2.1 Adoption of New and Revised International Financial Reporting Standards:

The International Accounting Standards Board issued amendments to International Accounting Standards and issued new Financial Reporting Standards which have become effective January 1, 2007. This includes International Financial Reporting Standard No. 7 (Financial Instruments: Disclosures) which replaces IAS No. 30 and certain disclosure provisions in IAS No. 32 (Financial Instruments–Presentation and Disclosure) (effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2007). The Center has applied the revised IFRS and related amendments and there was no impact on the financial statements of the Center.

2.2 BADIL maintains its accounts in accordance with the principles of fund accounting under which the resources are classified as described below:

Unrestricted net assets • represent net assets whose use by BADIL is not subject to donor-imposed restrictions.Temporarily restricted • net assets whose use by BADIL is limited by donor-imposed and restriction that either expire by passage of time or can be fulfilled and released by actions of BADIL pursuant to those donor-imposed stipulations.

2.3 Contributions and grants, revenues from private grants and contract agreements are recognized as it is earned through expenditures in accordance with the agreements. Any funding received in advance of expenditures is recorded as temporarily restricted net assets in the statement of financial position.

2.4 Contributions Receivable represents amounts due from funding organizations for expenditures incurred prior to receiving funds.

Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee RightsNotes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 December 2008

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2.5 Estimates and assumptions: The financial statements include certain estimates and assumptions made by management relating to reporting of assets, liabilities, at the date of the financial statement, and the reporting of revenues, expenses, gains, and losses during the year. Actual results may differ from those estimates adopted by BADIL’s management. Estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements are the useful lives of fixed assets and all of other provisions.

2.6 Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and deposits with banks with maturity dates of 90 days or less

2.7 Fixed AssetsFixed Assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets at rates ranging between 6% - 33%.

When the expected recoverable amount is less than the net book value, of the fixed assets amount is reduced to the lower of the cost or net realizable value and the difference (if any) is included in the statement of activities.

The useful lives of fixed assets are reviewed at the end of each year. In case the expected useful life is different from what was determined before, the change in estimate is recorded in the following years, being as a change in estimate. The fixed assets are disposed off when there is no expected future benefit from the use of that asset.

2.8 Severance payBadil provides for severance pay by accruing for one month compensation for each year of service based on the last salary paid during the year.

2.9 Provident fundBadil has a defined provident fund plan, which covers all salaried employees. The participation of the Center and the employees are as follows: Badil share Employee shareFirst year 0% 0%Second year 4% 2%Third year 6% 3%Fourth year 8% 4%Fifth Year 10 5%

2.10 Foreign currency transactions

The books of accounts of the Center are maintained in Euro. Transactions and balances in currencies other than EURO were translated to EURO equivalent as follows:

Transactions which are denominated in EURO, have been presented in the financial statements •at the actual amount received or paid in EURO.Transactions incurred in currencies other than EURO were converted to EURO equivalent at the •spot exchange rate of those currencies to EURO.Balances of assets (other than fixed assets) and liabilities, which are denominated in USD or NIS, •are presented in the financial statements according to the representative rate of exchange rate prevailing on December 31 which were as follows:

31/12/2008 31/12/2007 US Dollar/Euro 0.787 0.678 NIS/Euro 0.187 0.177

Fixed assets and depreciation are stated at historical rates.•Exchange differences resulted from the translation are reflected in the statement of activities.•


3- Cash on hand and deposits with banks:

Composition as at 31 December:

2008 2007 EURO EURO Cash on hand 563 427 Deposits with banks-Israeli Shekel 2,524 1,205 Deposits with banks–Euro 187,453 10,078 Deposits with banks-US Dollar 2,585 2,714 193,125 14,424 Deposits with banks restricted for staff benefits 99,966 85,644 4- Pledges receivable and other assets: 2008 2007 EURO EURO Pledges receivable: NLG Foundation 1,574 -- Norwegian People’s Aid 10,397 -- Welfare Association 7,872 Political Division MFA Switzerland -- 3,790 Stichtling Vluchtling -- 3,000 Oxfam Solidarity -- 7,142 Catalan Cooperation Fund (via Ciemen) -- 2,255 Catalan Agency for International Development (via Ciemen/ Special) 5,530 3,550 Down payment * -- 25,759 Others -- 2,478 25,373 47,974

* In 2006 and 2007, Badil has paid an amount of Euro 25,759 as down payment for acquisition of additional library space out of the agreed upon price of US$ 78,750 (equivalent to Euro 57,041). During 2008, Badil had settled Euro 39.132 out of the cost and the ownership of the flat was transferred to the Center.

5- Fixed assets:

Composition: 2008 2007 EURO EURO Office equipment and furniture 88,645 77,967 Flats-Buildings 152,147 95,107 Total fixed assets 240,792 173,074 Accumulated depreciation (75,825) (59,860) Total 164,967 113,214

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6- Reserve for staff benefits

Activities in this account are as detailed below: 2008 2007 Severance Provident Severance Provident Pay Fund Pay Fund EURO EURO EURO EURO

Balance at beginning of year 78,749 38,051 67,709 22,556 Provisions for the year 12,350 13,986 11,040 15,495 Payments during the year (11,270) (7,644) -- -- Balance at end of year **79,829 44,393 **78,749 38,051 Total 124,222 116,800

** The balance of the deposit earmarked to fund the liabilities toward staff benefits as of 31 December 2008 was Euro 99,966 in comparison with the balance of liability (severance Pay and Provident Fund) in the amount of EURO 124,222.

7- Operation Expenses 2008 EURO Office Supplies 8,168 Office Equipment Maintenance 7,722 Communication 5,206 Stationary 2,663 Audit fees 4,414 Bank charges, Currency Exchange Losses & gains 8,287

36,460

8- Youth Education Activation 2008 EURO Annual Facilitation fees (12 orgs) 33,160 Central summer camp 16,676 Transport, Travel, Accommodation 4,122 Training Tools 2,283 56,241

9- Al Awda Award 2008 EURO 16 awards 9,494 Promotion 6,996 Rent Facilities, hospitality, transportation 4,323 Fees, selection committee members 6,500 27,313

10- Support Community Initiatives/Campaigns 2008 EURO Coordination 16,463 Initiatives 8,612 Nakba 60 / Special project 35,605 Posters, stickers, T-shirts, audiovisuals 16,456 77,135

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12- Comparative Figures:

Certain comparative figures were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

13- Financial instruments, fair values and risks management:

Operational Risk•

The costs of the programs, administrative expenses as well as cost of fixed assets are significantly financed by donors through donations. The management believes that the funding level in the year 2009 will be sufficient to finance all of its disbursements and will be consistent with the level of funding in the prior years. Furthermore, the management believes that the political and economical conditions prevailing in the area will not materially affect its operations.

Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities:•

The carrying book value of financial assets and liabilities are not materially different from their fair values at the date of the financial statements.

Credit Risk:•

BADIL credit risk is primarily attributable to its liquid funds and receivables. The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because liquid assets are placed with reputable financial institutions.

Interest Rate Risk•

BADIL interest rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in market interest rates may affect the value of its interest bearing assets. The management of BADIL usually monitors the fluctuation in interest rates in every individual currency in order to maximize the benefits from placements.

Currency Risk:•

Currency risk arises from the possibility that changes in the exchange rates may affect negatively the value of the financial assets and liabilities in case BADIL does not hedge its currency exposure by means of hedging instruments. The management usually distributes its liquid assets over its functional currencies to minimize any possible loss from currency rates fluctuation.


National Committee Nakba-60

National and Islamic Forces, High National Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return, PLO Department of Refugee Affairs, Palestine Right-of-Return Coalition, Consortium of Residents of Displaced Palestinian Villages and Towns, Executive Bureau for Refugees, Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps, Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, Union of Women’s Centers-West Bank Refugee Camps, Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), Committee for Political Awareness and Guidance, Right of Return Committees-West Bank, ITTIJAH-Association of Arab Community Organizations, Popular Coalition for the Defense of Jerusalem, Arab Human Rights Association, Palestinian Lawyers’ Union, Society for the Defense of the Internally Displaced (ADRID), Palestinian Vision-Jerusalem, and others.

BNC – The Palestian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee

Council of Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine (including all Palestinian political parties); Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition; General Union of Palestinian Workers; Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU); General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW); Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network; ITTIJAH - Union of Arab Community Based Associations; Independent Federation of Unions – Palestine (IFU); Palestinian Farmers Union (PFU); Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative; Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign; Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI); National Committee for the Commemoration of the Nakba; Civil Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem (CCDPRJ); Coalition for Jerusalem; Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations; Palestinian Economic Monitor.

The Global Palestine Right-of-Return Coalition

Aidun Group-Lebanon; Aidun Group-Syria; ADRID; Al-Awda Committee-Chile; Al-Awda Palestine Right-to-Return Coalition/North America; Al-Awda Committee-Canada; BADIL; Committee for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights and Yafa Cultural Center (Nablus); Consortium of Inhabitants of 1948 Occupied and Destroyed Villages and Towns-Ramallah; Coordination Forum of NGOs Working among the Palestinian Community in Lebanon; Palestine Right-of-Return Confederation-Europe; Popular Committees-West Bank; Popular Committees-Gaza Strip; Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps; and, Union of Women’s Centers-West Bank Refugee Camps.

Annex 1

BADIL in Pa les t in ian C iv i l Soc ie ty Coa l i t ions 2008

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Magazines

Haq al-Awda Arabic language bi-monthly, ISSN 1814-9782 Vol. VI, issues no. 26, 27/28, 29/30

al-Majdal English-language quarterly, ISSN 1726-7277 Vol. X, issue nos. 36/37 (Nakba-60 special), 38 (BDS-special), 39/40 (Ongoing Nakba)

Information and literature for the broad public

Nakba-60 Special of This Week in Palestine (English)Co-produced by BADIL and TWP, incl. brochure announcing 80 events of Nakba-60 commemorations in Palestine and abroad (May 2008)

“60 Terms on the Nakba” (Arabic)A Palestinian reader and dictionary about the Nakba with entries produced by Palestinian refugee and IDP youth in Palestine and in exile with expert supervision. A co-production of BADIL, the Ibn Khaldoun Center and the Aidoun Group - Lebanon (May 2008, 84 pages)

Research Paper by Maliha Maslamani, haq al-awda fi karikateir Naji al-Ali (The Right of Return in the Caricatures of Naji al-Ali; Arabic); winning entry, 2008 al-Awda Award; ISSN 1-10-339-9950-978 (November 2008, 40 pages)

Oral History Testimonies – A Palestinian Reading of Displacement: winning entries of the 2007 al-Awda Award (Arabic):• al-Haram – Sa’idna Ali by Rasha Abu Zaytoun• Asdoud by Rashad al-Madani• al-Kafrayin by Maliha T’oamaISSN 8-11-339-9950-978 (December 2008, 98 pages)

Annex 2

L i s t o f B A D I L t o o l s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s 2 0 0 8 © B a d i l


BADIL press releases: 79 (44/English, 35/Arabic)

www.badil.org (English and Arabic), with 2008 special web-pages:• Nakba-60 Campaign• 2008 Al-Awda Award• Selected documents in Spanish, Italian, French, Hebrew

Campaign Tools

Nakba-60 Info Packet (English)Incl. fact-sheets, brochures, Q&A, map, CD and al-Majdal Nakba-60 special (April 2008)

Brochure: “60 Years of the Palestinian Nakba” (Arabic)Nakba-60 poster (Arabic and English)Nakba-60 T-shirt (Arabic and English)DVDs 5 new DVDs:

Highlights of the 2008 al-Awda Award (Arabic);Four short films, winners of the 2008 Awda-Award (Arabic):

• Abna’ Eilaboun (“Sons of Eilaboun”)• Lu’bat Yaffa (“The Yaffa Game”)• Fi Tafasil Qussah (“Details of a Story”)• Laji’ Ila Watani (“Refuge in my Homeland”)

8 reprints: • Four short films, winners of the 2007 Awda Award (Arabic)• Youm Ilak Youm Aleik - Palestinian Refugees from Jerusalem 1948 (BADIL 1998; English, Arabic)• Experiencing Return – Palestinian Refugees Studying the Case of Bosnia (BADIL 2002; Arabic)• Salt of the Earth (BADIL 2007; Arabic)

Promotion tools

2009 al-Awda Award Call for Entries, brochure (Arabic, October 2008)2009 BADIL desk calendar: The Ongoing Nakba (English and Arabic; November 2008)

Documentation

2007 BADIL Annual Report (144 pages, Arabic and English)Report, 8th Annual Coordination Meeting, of the Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition, Uppsala, Sweden,

1 – 4 November 2007 (Arabic and English, October 2008, 78 pages)

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Annex 3

BADIL Participation in International Conferences 2008

Jerusalem, 22 – 23 March: “The Palestinian Refugees in Iraq: Reality and Solutions”, an international conference organized by the al-Quds University and sponsored by IDRC, Canada

Ramallah, 31 March – 2 April: Palestinian library conference organized by the Palestinian Librarian Association and the Ramallah Center for Human Rights

UNESCO HQ, Paris, 29 – 30 April: UN International Conference on Palestine Refugees (under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People)

Haifa, 21 – 22 June: Conference on the Right of Return and a Secular Democratic State in Palestine, organized by the One-State Group

Tel Aviv, 22 – 24 June: Conference – Return of the Refugees: Practices, Strategies and Visions, Zochrot

Oxford, 30 June – 1 July: “Seminar on Critical Theory of Internal Displacement”, Oxford University, Center for Refugee Studies

UNHQ, New York, 20 June: Conference on 60 years of Palestinian ‘refugeehood’ (under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People UNESCO, Paris, 3 – 5 September: UN Conference “60 Years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

Madrid, 11 -14 September: Third World Social Forum on Forced Migration, with focus on Palestinian refugees

Maynooth, Ireland, 15 - 18 September: Trocaire partner consultation on Palestine program

Brussels, 11 – 14 September: Legal Seminar “Making Monitoring Work; Re-inforcing International Law in Europe” organized by Diakonia and al-Haq

Bilbao, 29 – 31 October: Bilbao Civil Society Forum for Justice in Palestine and launching of the Bilbao Initiative, organized by Mewando, BNC/PNGO and Ittijah

Copenhagen, 1 November: “Israel and Palestinian NGOs Contribution to Peace and Reconciliation”, a conference organized by the Mandela Center in cooperation with the newspaper Politiken.

Galilee and Bethlehem, 12 – 19 November: Sabeel Conference “The Nakba: Memory, Reality and Beyond”

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“Putting Rights into Practice”BADIL Action Plan 2008-2010

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