PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.169

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

26 March-1 April 2023

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

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

Translation: Sabrin Alsheikh Ahmed and Ferdous Abdul Hamid
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:

• The Palestinian Foreign Ministry (PFM) condemned the Israel’s occupation authorities’ decisions to move 218 dunams of land in the Ginsafout, Fundk, and Hajjah regions east of the city of Qalqiliya. The PFM said that this act should be seen as a clear challenge to rising international and American anti-settlement sentiments.(March 26, 2023). For further details, click here
• The PFM condemned the settlers storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of the occupation authorities, in a provocative and aggressive incursion after the occupation forces assaulted and forcibly removed worshipers. (March 26, 2023). For further details, click here
• The PFM denounced the agreement between the radical, so-called al-Hakel groups and the occupation police to extend the hours of their incursions into the Al-Aqsa mosque. The PFM views this agreement as a dangerous escalation and yet another step toward physically splitting the mosque.(March 28, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian representative to the UN sent letters to several UN officials, asking them to take urgent action to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing attacks on Palestinians and settlement activities. (March 28, 2023). For further details, click here
• The PFM stated that after the colonial decisions of the “Cabinet”, the legalization of many random outposts, and the cancellation of the so-called “disengagement plan,” Netanyahu agreed with Ben Gvir to form a militia under his command called the “National Guard,” and gave him full powers to issue instructions. (March 28, 2023). For further details, click here

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

• In a joint letter to the US Foreign Minister, the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the statements of Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, calling for the destruction of the Palestinian village Hawara and denying the existence of the Palestinian people. The letter expressly affirmed the Ministers’ position towards the Palestinian cause as the first cause of Arabs and Muslims. (March 26, 2023). For further details, click here
• Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the recent invasion of the Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan is a violation of one of Islam’s holiest places and an insult to more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. They further said, “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take urgent action to put an end to the Israeli transgressions that have been particularly ascendant since the beginning of this year.” (March 27, 2023). For further details, click here
• Following the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a law allowing settlers to return to four settlements in the West Bank that had been demolished in 2005, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates denounced the Israeli government’s decision to publish tenders for the construction of new settlement units inside the occupied Palestinian territory.
• During a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights affirmed that the current Israeli plan to double the settler population in the occupied Syrian Golan by 2027 was unprecedented, and that 700,000 Israeli settlers are living illegally in the occupied West Bank. (March 28, 2023).For further details, click here
• FIFA removed Indonesia as host for the upcoming under-20 World Cup and postponed the tournament after the island of Bali refused to host the Israeli national team in the draw that was scheduled for March 13.(March 26, 2023). For further details, click here 
• The Australian government raised concerns with the Israeli government over “inflammatory and irresponsible” remarks by Israel’s Finance Minister Smotrich, who said there is “no such thing as a Palestinian people.” Australia urged the Israeli occupation to refrain from taking any unilateral actions. (March 28, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Muslim World League, Gulf Cooperation Council, and OIC strongly condemned the settlers’ storming of the  courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, as it stirs Muslims’ sentiments and flagrantly violates international laws and conventions. (March 29, 2023).
• The Luxembourg Mission to the UN in Geneva voiced that the Israeli government’s actions “represent a dangerous acceleration in the de facto and legal annexation of the OPT”. (March 29, 2023). For further details, click here
• Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, stated that member states must abide by the Charter of the United Nations and provide protection in the Occupied Palestinian territory. She stressed that this is especially important as the new Israeli government continues to threaten increased annexation. (March 30, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Asian Football Confederation strongly condemned the unprovoked and horrific attack launched by Israeli forces, using tear gas and rubber encased bullets, on players and spectators during the Abu Ammar Cup Final match at the Faisal Al Husseini International Stadium in al-Ram. (April 1, 2023).For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs:

• The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions handed a dossier to a fact-finding committee from the International Labor Organization that highlights the exploitation of Palestinian workers in Israel. (March 27, 2023). For further details, click here
• The Israeli Law Professors’ Forum for Democracy – comprising 120 of Israel’s most prominent law professors – warned that recent moves by the Israeli government, such as revoking the independence of the judiciary, “validate allegations that Israel practices apartheid”. (March 29, 2023). For further details, click here
• The newly appointed Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, Tirana Hassan, said that Israel’s government is “on a rampage” against human rights, and urged the United States and other allies to do more to hold it accountable for alleged abuses and persuade it to change course. (March 30, 2023). For further details, click here
• The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called for an immediate end to Israel’s war crimes and other unlawful acts against the Palestinian people during the 52^nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that took place on March 29, 2023. For further details, here

Opinion Pieces and features:

• The National University of Singapore published an article by Dr. ArdiImseis entitled “Reflections on the Ukraine Moment and Western Selectivity: A Response to Ingrid (Wuerth) Brunk and Monica Hakimi,”. (March 27, 2023). For further details, click here

Research and academic studies (in Arabic and English):

• Brill publishes a new landmark Al-Haq book on “Prolonged Occupation and International Law”. For further details, click here
• NouraErakat , Darryl Li and John Reynolds published an article titled “Race, Palestine, and International Law” in the American Journal of International Law, vol.117. For further details, click here

Legal Achievements/Impacts for Palestine:

• NYU withdrew false accusations of anti-semitism against Pro-Palestine graduate student worker Rehires Idriss after she wrote “Free Palestine” on an Israeli mail bag that had been discarded in the recycling at Bobst Library. (March 30, 2023). For further details, click here
• An independent probe commissioned by George Washington University has cleared psychology professor Lara Sheehi of the anti-Semitism accusations brought against her by a pro-Israel group. (March 28, 2023). For further details, click here

Upcoming human rights opportunities and events:

• The BADIL Center calls for applications for the International Mobilization Course 2023, which aims to improve advocacy skills and take action for Palestinian human rights. For further details, here
• The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development organization published a call to apply for a legal trainee position within its programme on the Question of Palestine. For further details, click here
• Al-Haq Center for Applied International Law announced the opening of the application for the Summer School Programme 2023. For further details, click here