PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.180

Your weekly survey of the most important publications and activities related to Palestine and law, from local and international sources

11 – 17 June 2023

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

Prepared by: Razwan Issa, Nour Kharouf, Nermin Allawh, Sophia Alisaa

Translation: Asma Louzon and Ahmad Staitia
Editing: Rachel Marandett

This weekly report reviews the legal dynamics of the Palestine question, and everything related to international law and Palestine. The report includes an account of the most important publications, activities and conferences related to Palestine at the local, regional, international levels. The report further covers decisions, decrees, and judicial orders affecting the Palestinian cause, whether made at the official, academic or public levels. The report aims to be a reference for monitoring, documenting and archiving the latest human rights developments related to Palestine, and to present them to individuals, researchers, study centers, and official, academic and legal institutions concerned.

To view this Volume of Palestine’s Legal Scene, please click here (5 minutes read)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Palestinian bodies:

• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOFAE condemns the occupying army and organized, armed settler militia for their actions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which involve escalating violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the clear intention of expediting the official Israeli annexation of the West Bank. (June 11, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE strongly condemns the proposed “Implementation Law” by an Israeli Knesset member. This law aims to impose further restrictions on Palestinian activities in East Jerusalem, including those related to Palestinian educational curricula and daily life in the occupied city.(June 11, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Prime Minister has issued a warning to the Israeli occupation authorities regarding the proposed “Amit Halevy” bill in the Israeli Knesset. This bill aims to impose temporal and spatial divisions within Al-Aqsa Mosque. (June 12, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation, including the burning of agricultural crops in Asira al-Qibliya, south of Nablus, the demolition of a street and a well in Hizma, Jerusalem, and other acts of aggression. The Ministry also denounces the closure of the Israeli Military Prosecution’s investigation into the murder of 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Asaad, and demands that the US administration investigate this crime.(June 14, 2023).For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE said that the occupation army’s contentment with reprimanding the murderer of the child martyr Tamimi is conclusive evidence of the lack of seriousness of the Israeli investigations (June 14, 2023), For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Israeli Knesset’s intention to discuss a bill that would allow the imposition of prison sentences on Palestinian children aged 12 or older is an extension of crimes of persecution, discrimination, and the deepening of the apartheid system.(June 16, 2023).For further details, click here

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Israeli bodies:

• The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the draft “implementation law” submitted by MK Zvi Sukkot. The law provides for the imprisonment of officials of the Palestinian National Authority who are active in occupied Jerusalem, claiming that this “violates Israel’s sovereignty in East Jerusalem”.(June 11, 2023). For further details, click here
• An Israeli official told AXIOS that the Planning and Zoning Committee of the Israeli Civil Administration intends to announce later this month the building and planning of at least 4,000 housing units in several existing West Bank settlements (June 12, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Israeli Foreign Affairs and Security Committee begins discussing the proposal for the Compensation Law for Victims of Terrorism. This allows for the release of compensation for those affected by Palestinian attacks, from the frozen funds of the Palestinian Authority (PA).(June 13, 2023). For further details, click here
• A Jerusalem court ruled that the Palestinian Authority (PA) must compensate dozens of Israeli tour guides for financial damage incurred during the Second Intifada. The compensation for the plaintiffs amounted to a total of NIS 5.5 million ($1.5 million). (June 13, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Israeli Military Prosecution closed the investigation file with occupation soldiers regarding the murder of the Palestinian-American Omar Asaad (80 years old) from the village of Jaljalia, north of Ramallah, without issuing criminal charges and limiting itself to issuing disciplinary measures (June 13, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Israeli army announced the completion of its investigation into the murder of the Palestinian toddler, Muhammad al-Tamimi, and decided not to take disciplinary action against the soldier involved. The army added that the investigation had revealed gaps in the command and control of the incident, as well as in the reports and dialogue between forces, which led to wrong decisions in the field. (June 14, 2023). For further details, click here
• Spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The United States seeks answers after the IDF closes the investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American Omar Asaad. (June 15, 2023).For further details, click here

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by Arab, European, and international bodies:

• The Arab League holds a joint meeting with the legal experts nominated by several Arab countries to provide legal consultations necessary for supporting the Palestinian efforts and endeavours which aim to bring justice to the Palestinian people. (June 12, 2023). For further details, click here
• The UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian Territories warned of the imminent risk of forced eviction in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the OCHA, at least 970 Palestinians are at risk of forced eviction in East Jerusalem. (June 12, 2023). For further details, click here
• United Nations postpones meeting with Jewish leaders and global antisemitism envoys that was supposed to take place next week in Spain, amid stark disagreement over the contents of the draft plan on defining anti-Semitism and a plan to combat it. (June 12, 2023). For further details, click here
• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill mandating the Biden administration to appoint a new special envoy position in the State Department dedicated to the Abraham Accords and Israel’s ongoing integration in the greater Middle East. The special envoy will be tasked with encouraging additional countries to follow the lead of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. (June 13, 2023). For further details, click here (Session briefing here)
• S State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the United States is seeking information from the Israeli government over the decision made regarding the death of the Palestinian-American Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad, 80 years. (June 14, 2023). For further details, click here
• Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn urges Gulf states to increase their support to UNRWA, considering the organization’s accumulated debts over the years.(June 15, 2023). For further details, click here
• A UN commission of inquiry presents its strongest evidence to date, revealing Israeli policies that systematically violate the human rights of the Palestinian people. Many consider these actions to be equivalent to apartheid.(June 16, 2023). For further details, click here
• The New York Times: Biden Administration Engages in aggressive diplomatic effort to conclude a Saudi-Israeli deal leading to normalization between the two countries.(June 16, 2023).For further details, click here
• The Jerusalem City Hall, led by Mayor Moshe Lion, has agreed with the Russian Foreign Ministry to set up a branch office for the Russian Embassy in the Maalot Parking lot compound in the center of Jerusalem. (June 16, 2023).For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights updated the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the recent Israeli military operation against the Strip, which resulted the killing of 33 Palestinians, including 15 civilians. (June 13, 2023). For further details, click here
• Amnesty International publishes a new report titled “Israel/OPT: Civilian deaths and extensive destruction in latest Gaza offensive highlight human toll of apartheid.” The report sheds light on Israel’s illegal destruction of Palestinian homes, emphasizing that these operations amount to collective punishment against civilians, a clear violation of international law.(June 13, 2023). For further details, click here
• B’Tselem releases a report on the Israeli attack launched last June against Islamic Jihad activists in the Gaza Strip. The report refutes Israel’s justifications for the killing of civilians, including children, during the operation. It also asserts that senior officials in Israel bear responsibility. (June 14, 2023).For further details, click here
• Human Rights Watch issues a report on the fifteenth anniversary of the blockade on the Gaza Strip titled “Gaza: Israel’s ‘Open-Air Prison’ at 15.” The report highlights the restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt on movement, which have severely impacted the lives of Palestinians. (June 14, 2023).For further details, clickhere
• BADIL Resource Center for Citizenship and Refugee Rights announces the release of the first working paper in a series of five papers on decolonization, titled “The Case of Palestine”. For further details, click here
• CNN reports that the Israeli occupation forces not only failed to quell the riots in Hawara but also neglected to protect the residents as settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and businesses, while also obstructing emergency services from responding.(June 16, 2023).For further details, click here

Opinion Pieces and features:

• The Institute for Palestine Studies publishes an article in Issue 134, Spring 2023, titled “Digital Warfare: Israeli Censorship of Palestinian Content”.(June 15, 2023). For more details, click here.

Human rights conferences and events:

• The Foundation for Middle East Peace hosts a panel discussion titled “How IHRA Antisemitism Definition Suppresses Palestinian Rights Advocacy in EU/UK: Insight from ELSC”.(June 2023).For further details, click here