PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.140

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

4 – 10 Sept 2022

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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 (3 minutes read)

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

• Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission warns of the consequences of approving the Planning Committee’s new settlement plans, as their implementation will lead to the separation of the north and south sides of the West Bank as well as the complete closure of the eastern area of Jerusalem and the besieging of areas (Anata, Al-Tur, Hizma) from settlement construction. (September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFA condemns the crime of execution of 19-year-old Taher Muhammad Zakarneh who was shot by Israeli forces during their storm of Qabatiya town, south of Jenin. (September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFA condemns the ongoing crime of home demolition committed by the Israeli occupation authorities accross the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem in particular, the latest of which was forcing a Jerusalemite family to self-demolish their home in Silwan on the pretext of non-licensing. (September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFA condemns the settlers’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque led by extremist Yehudah Joshua Glick, who blew the trumpet while he stormed the mosque and published provocative pictures on several Israeli platforms. (September 5, 2022). For furtherdetails, click here
• The Palestinian Prime Minister declares that the Israeli restrictions concerning foreigners visiting the occupied West Bank are racist. Since they aim to harass Palestinians, he calls on the United States to pressure Israel to reverse its decision. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Presidential Spokesperson said that the Israeli report on the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is a new attempt to evade responsibility for her murder. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestine Foreign Ministry condemns the execution of 29-year-old Mohammed Sabaaneh, from Jenin.(September 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Islamic-Christian Committee for the Support of Jerusalem and the Holy Sites called on the world community to intervene to halt the “brutal killings done in cold blood by the Israeli army without any deterrent, moral or legal constraints.” (September 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Human Rights Department of the PLO launches a national popular campaign to demand the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to carry out their legal responsibilities to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their legal rights with international legitimacy, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of their state on their national soil. (September 7, 2022). For further details, click here

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

• The Planning and Building Committee is considering approving more than 3,400 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem. (September 4, 2022). For furtherdetails, click here
• The Israeli government imposes new restrictions on foreigners visiting the West Bank. These measures state that they should report romantic links with Palestinians residing in the West Bank within 30 days, just to allegedly drop these demands the next day. (September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• Though the initial findings of the investigation showed that journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was mistakenly killed by an Israeli soldier, the Israeli occupation decided not to open a criminal investigation. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Jerusalem Municipal Planning and Building Committee has approved the construction of a new settlement near the Givat HaShaked neighborhood South East of Jerusalem. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• Israeli PM Lapid and Defense Minister Gantz responded to the US, “No one will dictate’ the IDF’s open-fire rules after the army’s investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.” (September 8, 2022). For further details, click here

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

• The Secretary-General of the Arab League stresses the critical importance of UNRWA’s work and calls to intensify its support.(September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• In response to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) report about the circumstances surrounding Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, the United States Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes Israel’s review of this tragic incident and again underscores the importance of accountability in this case. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• US Senator Chris Van Hollen said that the Israeli army’s report on Shireen Abu Akleh’s death emphasizes the necessity for an impartial US probe. (September 6, 2022). For furtherdetails, click here
• Following the Israeli investigation on the Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh; UN Secretary-General renews demand for the killers to be held accountable, reaffirming that journalists must never be a target of violence and must be able to carry out their work without fear of being killed. (September 8, 2022). For further details, clickhere

Publications of human rights NGOs

• The Palestinian National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science launches the first version of the observatory focusing on the Israeli violations against Palestinian education and culture. (September 4, 2022). For further details, click here
• B’Tselem, in reaction to the Israeli army’s report on Shireen Abu Akleh’s death, says that this is not an “investigation,” but rather a misrepresentation of the facts. It is also not “accidental” killing, but an intentional policy. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) calls on the international community to treat Israelis with the principle of reciprocity in response to restrictions on entry of foreigners and demands the imposition of sanctions on the occupying power. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemns the use of excessive force by the occupation forces against the demonstrators, which led to the killing of a civilian and the injury of 17 people, including 6 children and a paramedic in Jenin. (September 6, 2022). For further details, click here
• Amnesty International criticizes the Israeli government’s decision to require foreigners to reveal their romantic relationships with Palestinians to the Israeli Defense Ministry, stating that, “These laws further entrench a cruel system of apartheid against Palestinians and isolate them from the outside world.” (September 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights holds the occupation authorities responsible for the death of the patient Muhammad al-Ledawi after he was denied access to the hospital for treatment, which is the fifth case this year. (September 7, 2022). For further details, click here
• BNC says energy deals with Israel violate EU policies and obligations under international law. (September 8, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Foreign Press Association (FPA) confirms that the Israeli army’s investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh raises serious questions about the IDF’s actions that day and its commitment to protecting journalists. They demand the army to publish its full investigation into the assassination. (September 8, 2022). For further details, click here

Human rights conferences and events

• Employees from the American companies “Google” and “Amazon” organize three actions in front of the companies’ headquarters in protest against the contract signed by the two companies’ management with the Israeli occupation government to transfer the database of the occupation army and police to the cloud technology owned by the two companies. (September 4, 2022). For further entails, click here
• Al Jazeera condemns the findings of the Israeli report into Shireen Abu Akleh’s death and the Israeli occupation army’s failure to accept responsibility for the journalist’s assassination. They also call out its attempt to avoid prosecution of the perpetrators and demand that an independent international body investigate the murder. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here
• Ben and Jerry’s plans to sue Unilever for the second time to cease selling ice cream in Israeli settlements. (September 6, 2022). For further details, clickhere

Announcements regarding upcoming human rights activities and opportunities

• The Diakonia IHL Center announces a new webinar titled “International Law, Colonialism, and the prospects of decolonization in Palestine”. (September 5, 2022). For further details, click here