Nablus checkpoint. Photo by Firas AlamiThe following letter was sent today to ACRI’s colleagues in the organizations B’Tselem and Al-Haq, upon being jointly awarded the Danish PL Foundation Human Rights Award, in recognition of the efforts of both organizations to uphold the principles underlined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
To:
Jessica Montell, Executive Director, B’Tselem
Shawan Jabarin, Executive Director, Al-Haq
Dear friends,
On behalf of ACRI’s members, board, and staff, I would like to warmly congratulate you upon receiving the annual human rights award by the PL Foundation, in memory of Poul Lauritzen. Your dedicated activity to protect human rights in the Occupied Territories is often unappreciated and is being pursued in the face of silencing and defamation. Because of this, this award is not just well-deserved – it also offers you, hopefully, a moment of joy and an acknowledgment of the importance of your activities and of the universal principles that underlie them.
In a time when human rights organizations are exposed to assaults led by the Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, there is an even greater importance to this exciting recognition of your activities. In a time when the occupation is already in its 45th year, every action taken to highlight its injustices and the struggle against them holds a profound meaning. The struggle for human rights must continue, and in the Occupied Territories the necessary condition for the success of this struggle is the end of the occupation. We have no doubt that your committed and courageous activity will continue as long as would be necessary.
Your work is an inspiration to us. The award given to you empowers all of us.
Sincerely,
Hagai El-Ad
Executive Director
