PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.166

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

5 – 11 March 2023

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Translation: Sabrin Alsheikh Ahmed 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 (3 minutes read)

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

• In light of Israeli settlers’ assault against Hawara, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PFM) called on the international community to stop Israel’s unlawful activities and impose serious measures on the Israeli government.(March 7, 2023). For further details, click here
• On International Women’s Day, the Palestinian National Council urged all international bodies and human rights organizations to put pressure on the occupying power to stop its violations of Palestinian women’s rights.(March 7, 2023). For further details, click here
• The PFM welcomes the decision of the Republic of South Africa to downgrade its embassy in Israel to a liaison office. (March 8, 2023). For further details, click here

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

• Israeli National Security Minister Itmar Ben-Gvir authorized the continued destruction of Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem during Ramadan despite the decision years ago to end this practice during the month.(March 7, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Knesset Plenum approved on extending the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law for another year, which restricts the Minister of Interior’s authority to grant citizenship and residence permits for West Bank residents in family reunification cases. (March 6, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Israeli government rebuked the South African Parliament for voting to downgrade its ties with Israel and described their decision as “shameful and disgraceful”.(March 8, 2023). For further details, click here
• In its preliminary hearing, the Knesset Plenum approved a bill that would allow those affected by “terror attack” to receive compensation from the Palestinian Authority without harming their right to receive benefits from the National Insurance Institute. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here and here
• Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, apologized Wednesday for calling for a Palestinian village to be “wiped out” by Israel, claiming he didn’t realize that the remarks, which sparked a severe protest by dozens of Israeli Air Force pilots, would be interpreted as a military order. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here

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

• The US Ambassador at the United Nations stated, “We don’t let any opportunity that we can show our support for Israel pass, and I will continue to do that until my last day.” Reaffirming the Biden administration’s commitment to stand with Israel and combat anti-Israel bias within the U.N. system. The Ambassador noted that the US “successfully” reduced the UN Commission of Inquiry’s budget by 25% as well as its staff. She also condemned “statements” made by Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Palestine, and called for action against her and other United Nations officials “whose public statements have suggested bias against Israel.” Finally, she reaffirmed the United States’ strong opposition to the General Assembly’s decision to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel. (March 2, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Jordanian Parliament’s Committee on Palestine condemned the Israeli extremists’ and settlers’ intrusions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque with the support of Israeli occupation police. (March 5, 2023). For further details, click here
• UNRWA issued an urgent appeal for 16.2 million dollars to assist the humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake. (March 6, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Human Rights Council discusses the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. (March 6, 2023). For further details, click here
• The South African Parliament voted a resolution to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel “in direct response to the brutal and oppressive treatment of Palestinians by the State of Israel.” (March 7, 2023). For further details, click here
• Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia condemned the increasing Israeli acts of violence against Palestinian cities, including the recent attack on Jenin that killed seven Palestinians (March 7/8, 2023).
• The Arab Parliament, GCC, and LAS strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ storming of Jenin, which resulted in more than six deaths and dozens of injuries. They also called on the international community to help immediately halt the daily Israeli attacks. (March 7/8, 2023).
• The European Union said that, “Israel must stop settlement expansion, prevent settler violence, and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable. Military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law. There must be an immediate end to terror attacks, which should be condemned by everyone, and to practices that support them. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires further easing of restrictions”. (March 8, 2023). For further details, click here
•   UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said that he is “deeply disturbed by the continuing violence and appalled by the attacks of Israeli settlers against Palestinians two days ago in Huwwara, near Nablus. Israel, as the occupying power, must ensure that the civilian population is protected, and perpetrators are held to account”.(March 8, 2023). For further details, click here

• The International Court of Justice authorized the League of Arab States to participate in the proceedings for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. (March 10, 2023). For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• Human rights organizations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories issued a warning about a dangerous escalation in violations of Palestinian prisoners’ rights due to the radical policies of the new Israeli government. (March 3, 2023). For further details, click here
• Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is calling on the Park West School and the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) to immediately issue an apology for their racist ban on the Palestinian traditional scarf, the Kufiyah, during a cultural event.(March 3, 2023). For further details, click here
• In its 98th session, the Board of Directors of the Arab Labor Organization condemned the Israeli occupation authorities’ transferring of Palestinian workers’ pension allocations to an Israeli investment company in order to steal these funds and deprive Palestinian workers of their rights. They further called for this issue to be included on the agenda of the organization’s board of directors this month and to be presented to the International Labor Conference at its next session. (March 5, 2023). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq and other Palestinian organizations sent a submission to a UN Special Rapporteur about Israel’s systematic persecution of Palestinians under arbitrary ‘Counter-Terrorism’ measures. (March 6, 2023).For further details, click here
• Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) categorically rejected the false accusations made by the Israeli occupation forces’ spokesman about the use of a PRCS ambulance by armed groups in Jenin. This false accusation constitutes deliberate and dangerous incitement against PRCS medical teams and vehicles and invites settlers and occupation forces to continue targeting them. (March 8, 2023). For further details, click here
• In response to the Israeli police’s release of six suspects connected with the Huwara attack, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef, stated, “Under Israel’s apartheid system, impunity reigns.” She further noted that the Israeli authorities have consistently allowed and incited settler attacks against Palestinians, including, in some cases, soldiers taking direct part in these crimes. The organization reiterated its call to the Israeli authorities to remove all settlements, which are considered war crimes, and to dismantle the apartheid regime, which is a crime against humanity. (March 8, 2023). For further details, click here
• Al Mezan Center for Human Rights stated on International Women’s Day, “We call on the international community to protect Palestinian women from racial and gender oppression and pressure Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.” (March 8, 2023). For further details, click here
• B’Tselem said, “Israel Police detain five Palestinian minors without notifying parents for over 6 hours, and interrogate them without an adult on their behalf present”. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here
• Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) sent a letter to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, urging her office to impose sanctions against Israeli officials in response to their attempted annexation of the occupied West Bank (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here
• Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority in Israel, issued a position paper on the legality of the Palestinian flag, amid governmental decision to advance a bill that criminalizes raising It. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here

Opinion Pieces and features:

• AL-Shabaka published an article by analyst Walid Habbas titled “Shrinking the Conflict: Debunking Israel’s New Strategy”. For further details, click here
• Vito Todeschini published an article in OpinioJuris titled “The (il)Legality of Israel’s Prolonged Occupation of the Palestinian Territory: Perspectives From the UN Special Rapporteur and Commission of Inquiry’s September 2022 Reports”. (March 7, 2023). For further details, click here
• Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, published an article titled “Honesty Can Advance the Middle East Peace Process”. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here
• Natalie Jean Douti, Head of Research and Advocacy for the Middle East and North Africa region at the Nation Center for Development Cooperation in Brussels, published an article in French entitled “In the European Parliament, Wandering Agents in Favor of Israel”. (March 9, 2023). For further details, click here

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• Researcher Marton Seider published a research article titled: “Is There a Role for the International Community in Palestinian State-building?”. To read more, click

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events:

• The Institute for Palestine Studies researchers to submit their papers for its annual conference entitled: “75 Years of an Ongoing Nakba: The Question of Knowledge Production.” The conference will be held simultaneously in Ramallah and Beirut, with the option of virtual participation at the end of November 2023. For further details, click here
• The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People announces a virtual event called “Memories of the Nakba and its impact on Palestinians”. On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. New York time. For further details, click here