PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Vol. 63

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

14 – 20 March 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 (2 minutes read)

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

• Palestinian MOFAE warns against impact of international silence on achieving peace. (Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Palestinian MOFAE condemns visit by Israeli PM to Masafer Yatta, calling it an Israeli attempt to seize more Palestinian lands. (Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Palestinian Jerusalem Minister Fadi Al-Hidmi calls on international community to stop Israeli displacement of Palestinians in Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods in occupied Jerusalem. (Mar. 15, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE condemns Israeli election campaign’s focus on West Bank, considering it an attempt to legitimize settlements. (Mar. 15, 2021). For further details, click here 
• The Palestinian National Council: Kosovo’s and Czech Republic’s opening of embassy offices in Jerusalem is an illegal act and a step towards illegal annexation of occupied Jerusalem. (Mar. 15, 2021). For further details, click here
• Islamic-Christian Association for Jerusalem and Holy Sites calls for international intervention to stop the “massacre” that Israel plans to commit against the people of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied Jerusalem. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• Member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, Taysir Khalid, calls on European countries to cease from hindering the course of international justice. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• PLO’s Dept. of Jerusalem Affairs warns of new settler-colonial scheme in Jerusalem, calls for international intervention. (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, here
• The spokesman of the Palestinian presidency condemns Israel’s unilateral measures, calls on the Quartet and the Security Council to take actions to stop these violations. (Mar. 17,2021). For further details, click here 
• Palestinian MOFAE condemns the establishment of a Biblical garden for settlers on the roofs of historic markets in Jerusalem.(Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here 
• The Arab Group at the United Nations requests the activation of the International Quartet and Resolution No. 2334. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
• Advisor to the French PM affirms her country’s position in support of the two-state solution in accordance with international legitimacy. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with the ICC Prosecutor, stresses the importance of expediting the investigation of crimes to ensure justice for the victims and their families. (Mar. 18, 2021) . For further details, click here 
• Palestinian PM Muhammad Shtayyeh: Israel’s actions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem is a crime that will be pursued in international fora. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Palestine’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, sends identical letters to UN officials about the Israeli occupation’s human rights violations. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Jerusalem Conference concludes its work, stresses the centrality of Jerusalem to Arabs and Muslims and the need to protect the Palestinian narrative. (Mar. 18, 2021).” For further details, click here 
• Jerusalem governorate calls on the international community to take urgent action against occupation measures in East Jerusalem. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here

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

• Israeli authorities approve a settlement scheme to seize dozens of dunums in Bethlehem. (Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here 
• The Israeli Supreme Court approves the decision to demolish Khirbet al-Maita in the northern Jordan Valley. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Head of Yesha Council calls for vaccinating Palestinians in exchange for deducting the cost of vaccinations from tax revenues sent to the Palestinian Authority. (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, click here

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

• Turkish Foreign Ministry: The Czech Republic’s opening of embassy office in Jerusalem undermines historical and legal status of the City. (Mar. 14, 2021)For further details, click here
• Arab Parliament and Organization of Islamic Cooperation: The Czech Republic’s opening of an office for its embassy in Jerusalem is an attack on the rights of the Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of international law. (Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here
• Head of Mali’s National Transitional Council affirms strengthened parliamentary cooperation with Palestine. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• Irish Foreign Minister announces that his country will provide a package of support and assistance to UNRWA for three years. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• European Union expresses concern over Israel’s decision to evacuate Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied Jerusalem. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• Russian Foreign Minister affirms his country’s position in support of the two-state solution. (Mar. 18, 2021).” For further details, click here
• Arab Ambassadors Council in the Netherlands affirms continued support for the Palestinian issue. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Dutch Foreign Minister affirms his country’s respect for the independence of the ICC in its work and its terms of reference. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Tunisia’s ambassador to Palestine affirms his country’s position in favor of a just settlement to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Turkish Foreign Ministry: The recent Israeli decisions against Jerusalem’s people confirm its violation of international law. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here 
• ICC sends a letter to Israel regarding its alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Gulf Ministerial Council condemns the continuation of building settlement units, affirming its firm support for the Palestinian cause. (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, click here 
• A member of the Virginia House of Representatives and a candidate for Governor of Virginia, USA, supports BDS and rejects violations against the Palestinian people. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
• Kuwait calls on the UNHRC to activate legal mechanisms to ensure accountability of the Israeli occupation (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here 
• UNHRC discusses the High Commissioner’s reports on settlements and the situation in Palestine (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
• Russian Foreign Ministry stresses the need for Jerusalem to be the capital of the Palestinian and Israeli states. (Mar. 19, 2021). For further details, click here
  

Publications of human rights NGOs

• European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine publishes a report entitled: “EU  Mechanism of Ethical Screening in  EU Research Programs: Why does it not work?”(Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here
• Center for the Defense of the Individual “HaMoked”: Residents and citizens of Israel have the right to live with their families in the Gaza Strip (Mar. 14, 2021). For further details, click here
• Israeli Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement issues its position on the recent decision of the ICC. (Mar. 15, 2021).” For further details, click here
• Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies submits five written statements on Palestine to the UNHRC. (Mar. 15, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian and regional organizations send a joint appeal to UN Special procedures on forced evictions in East Jerusalem. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• ActionAid launches campaign calling on Israel to provide Palestinians with COVID-19 vaccine. (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• Physicians for Human Rights in Israel issues a press release entitled: “Israel’s Vaccine Discrimination against Palestinians Must End.” (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian human rights organizations and networks call for fair provision of COVID-19 vaccines in the occupied Palestinian territory. (Mar. 17, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Fourteen Palestinian human rights organizations call for holding Israel accountable in the Human Rights Council for its violations. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
• Over 550 human rights NGOs call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to end Israeli impunity and achieve justice. (Mar. 18, 2021). For further details, click here
  

Human rights conferences and events

• Institute for Palestine Studies holds a webinar on the Implications of the ICC’s Jurisdiction over the West Bank and Gaza. (Mar. 15, 2021). For  further details, click here

Announcements regarding upcoming human rights activities and opportunities: 

• Al-Haq announces an online international law orientation course in April 2021 (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here
• The Law and Justice Centre at the Faculty of Law at the University of Nottingham announces online discussion titled: “The March to Justice: Palestine, Israel, and the International Criminal Court.” (Mar. 16, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development announces a webinar entitled: “A Jewish Case for Equality in Israel-Palestine” on March 31st. (March 19, 2021). For further details, click here