Hussein Huraini's Work Permit Application

Hi all, this is an opportunity to show solidarity with a dedicated Palestinian human rights activist. The funds raised will help Hussein Huraini apply for a work permit so he can support his family.

From Hussein:

My name is Hussein Huraini and I am a human rights activist based in Masafer Yatta, one of the southernmost regions of the occupied West Bank.

Because of settlement growth and land confiscations by the Israeli army, Palestinians in rural areas have difficulty farming and raising livestock on our traditional lands. Additionally, the Israeli Occupation prevents Palestinians in the West Bank from building an economy, so jobs in the West Bank are hard to find and don’t pay as well as jobs on the other side of the Separation Barrier. But in order to cross the barrier and work—or simply visit the rest of historic Palestine—I need a permit.

A work permit would allow me to find a well-paying job that supports myself and my family. Without a permit, I risk getting arrested by Israeli police and wage theft from exploitative employers. I cannot risk another arrest. The Israeli occupation forces have targeted me many times for my activism. From 2011 to 2022, I was arrested 12 times as I was accompanying shepherds who were under threat from the army and settlers, and participating in other activist work as a human rights defender. In the spring of 2022, the army arrested me and I was thrown in the Israeli Ofer military prison for several days. Three months ago, I was summoned for an interrogation, during which the Israeli authorities confiscated my phone. They still haven’t returned it to me. An arrest inside ‘48 would further complicate my difficult legal situation. A permit would allow me to work for six months without fear of arrest while going to work.

Part of the oppressive system of the occupation is that just to get the permit, I need to pay six months worth of permit fees, before I even start working. Since I haven’t been able to work due to the arrests because of my activism, I don’t have this money that needs to be paid up front.

Please consider contributing today so that I can get the permit and work to support my family. Thank you.