The conflict between Israel and Palestine has off and on drawn the attention of the international community. Within the last two years violence and terror dominated the life of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. The conflict intesnsified especially after the events of Septermber 11. "The United States gave the most viciously right wing Israeli government the freedom to do whatever it wants to," said Yoav Peled, a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The eruption of violent clashes between the Israelis and Palestinians in September 2000 has led to the deaths of over seven hundred Palestinians and more than two hundred Israelis by November 2001. In addition, some 16,000 Palestinians and about 1,700 Israelis have been injured in the conflict. Authorities on both sides have failed to take the necessary steps to stop the security forces under their control from committing abuses. Neither the Israeli government not the Palestinian Authority conducted adequate investigations of the perpetrators.