PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE Vol. 53

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

3 – 9 January 2021

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 (4 minutes read)

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

• Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, Shaher Saad, says: that the Israeli occupation refuses to compensate the Palestinian workers affected by its measures following the COVID-19 pandemic and calls on international institutions to shoulder their responsibilities towards them. (Jan 3, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Member of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Saleh Raafat: Efforts are made to put an end to the settlement policy through the Security Council session at the end of this month, and we stress the continuation of the popular movement on the ground and the formation of protection committees to counter attacks by settler gangs. (Jan 4, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Palestinian PM Muhammad Shtayyeh: The Israeli occupation soldiers’ storming of Thabit Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm raises our need to provide international protection for the Palestinian people, so we submit a request to the ICC to open an investigation into the shooting crime of a Palestinian citizen. (Jan 4, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Tayseer Khaled, the Member of the PLO’s Executive Committee: We call on the international community to protect Palestinians from settlers attacks, and the ICC should work immediately. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The permanent representative of the State of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour, sends three identical letters to UN officials on the violations of the Israeli occupation towards the Palestinian people and the absence of accountability for Israel for its crimes. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Judge of Palestine and President’s advisor on religious affairs Mahmoud al-Habbash condemns the Israeli occupation’s decision to close the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, considering it a war crime. (Jan 7, 2020). To check the news, click here

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

• The Israeli authorities approve plans to seize tens of dunums of Bethlehem in the West Bank. (Jan 3, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Israeli government decides to provide settlers with drones to monitor Palestinian construction in Area “C” in the West Bank. (Jan 3, 2021). To check the news, click here

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

• In a meeting with the governor of Hebron Jibrin al-Bakri, the Italian Consul-General affirms his awareness of Israeli violations against the city is exposed to and the Italian government’s support for it. (Jan 3, 2021). To check the news, click here
• A New York State appellate court supports Fordham University in its decision to deny a Palestinian rights group from establishing a student club. (Jan 4, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Security Council will present at the end of this month the most important Israeli developments and violations at the Palestinian level. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• In his meeting with the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi says that the Palestinian cause is the core of the Middle East causes and resolving its settlement will change the reality of the region for the better. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Gulf Cooperation Council: The Palestinian issue is the fundamental issue of Arabs and Muslims, and we must intensify international efforts to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and reject all annexation plans in the West Bank. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The United States and Sudan formally sign agreements to normalize Khartoum’s ties with Israel. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Egyptian Foreign Minister discusses with his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts means to hold a meeting advancing peace efforts in the Middle East. (Jan 7, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Iranian Parliament debates a bill calling for the destruction of Israel by 2041. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Algerian deputies present a bill for the presidency of the Algerian parliament to criminalize normalization with Israel. (Jan 7, 2021). To check the news, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs

• Amnesty International issues a report on the illegal Israeli institutional discrimination against Palestinians and their denial of providing COVID-19 vaccines and considers it a violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law. (Jan 3, 2021). To check the news, click here
• B’Tselem publishes a report entitled: “2020 in the Occupied Territories: Heinous killings, settler violence and home demolitions spike.” (Jan 4, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Al-Haq publishes a report entitled: “Special Focus: Yitzhar Settler Violence is on the Rise,” reviewing settlers’ violations of Palestinian rights from July to October 2020. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Palestinian Center for Human Rights issues a press release on the deterioration of the health conditions of children in the Gaza Strip due to the Shortage of the PKU test material, which is responsible for early detection of cognitive development in newborns. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Center for Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “Shams” issues a report for last December, documenting the Israeli demolitions and violations against Palestinian homes and facilities. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• J Street Organization: Israel is obligated to coordinate with the Palestinian Authority to vaccinate the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories against COVID-19. (Jan 5, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Palestinian human rights organizations call for a review of a report on preliminary examination activities 2020, calling on the ICC’s Prosecutor to open an immediate investigation into international crimes in the OPT. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement issues a press release addressing Israel’s obligation to Gaza in a pandemic and post-pandemic reality. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here
• Peace Now Organisation denounces Israel’s approval to allocate 14 million shekels for the construction of a road that would allow construction in the E1 area in the West Bank. (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here

Academic research and studies:

• Researcher Marco Longobardo publishes a research paper in the Asian Journal of International Law entitled “The Legality of Closure on Land and Safe Passage between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.” (Jan 6, 2021). To check the news, click here

Announcements regarding upcoming human rights opportunities or activities:

• Law for Palestine Organization announces holding a panel discussion as part of the monthly meetings organized by the Jurists for Palestine Forum on “the effectiveness of international law in the Palestinian struggle to end the occupation.” (Jan 8, 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Foundation For Middle East Peace announces a webinar entitled: “Raided and Razed: West Bank Education Under Attack.” (Jan 2021). To check the news, click here
• The Palestine Academic Group is organising a public event discussing “The end of Oslo: A New European Strategy on Israel-Palestine. (14 Jan 2021). To check the news, click here