PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Vol. 66

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

4 – 10 Apr 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 (3 minutes read)

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

• Palestinian MOFAE considers the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation a flagrant challenge to the ICC and its investigations. (Apr 4. 2021). For further details, click here
• Adviser to Palestinian President: Instead of demolishing homes, the Israeli occupation is now wiping out entire neighbourhoods and displacing their residents in Jerusalem. (Apr 4. 2021). For further details, click here
• PLO’s Member of the Executive Committee, Saleh Raafat: Palestinians in Jerusalem will not forego their right to vote and take part in elections. (Apr 4. 2021). For further details, click here
• On Palestinian Child’s Day: The Ministry of Education calls for protection of children’s rights under Israeli occupation and Covid-19. (Apr 5. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE calls for urgent international action to stop settlement building and expansion and ethnic cleansing in the Jordan Valley. (Apr 5. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki addresses the International Quartet to enable elections in Jerusalem. (Apr 5. 2021). For further details, click here
• Governor of Salfit informs ambassadors of seven South American countries on settlement violations in the city. (Apr 5. 2021). For further details, click here 
• The permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN in Geneva sends letters to UN officials about the execution of young man Osama Mansour, calling for Israel to be held accountable. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here 
• Acting Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Bahr condemns the Sudanese cabinet’s annulment of the Israel Boycott Law. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE: Israel is betting on the fading of Palestinian and international condemnation of settlement projects. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE condemns the occupation’s arrest of candidate Hassan Al-Wardian, and considers the move an interference in Palestinian elections. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE: The occupation’s closing of an elections meeting is a dangerous indication of its intention to prevent the holding of elections in Jerusalem. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian MOFAE calls on Lithuania and the EU to pressure Israel to allow Palestinian elections in Jerusalem. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian Supreme Ifta Council condemns ongoing Israeli crimes, calls on the international community and the United Nations specialized organizations to take urgently and effective action. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian PM Muhammad Shtayyeh calls for solidarity from pro-Palestine groups and individuals to confront the occupation, stresses the need to reinforce the Palestinian narrative. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs: The occupation continues to violate minor prisoners in violation of all international conventions that protect their right as children. (Apr 5. 2021). For further details, click here
• Refugee Affairs Department discusses with UNRWA the situation of Palestinian refugees in camps and the developments of the financial crisis. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• Permanent representative of the State of Palestine to the UN sends identical letters to UN officials about the escalation of the occupation’s human rights violations and its war crimes against Palestinian people. (Apr 9. 2021). For further details, click here 

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

• Israel considers ICC has no authority to initiate an investigation against it, affirms that it does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction over it. (Apr 8, 2021). For further details, click here
• Following a petition by human rights organizations, Israel Prison Service allows Palestinian prisoners to make phone calls in Ramadan. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here

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

• EU Communication and Information Officer in Jerusalem: We received no response from Israel to allow the European mission to enter Palestine and monitor the elections. (Apr 4. 2021). For further details, click here
• Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces a new donation to UNRWA. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• S. boosts aid to the Palestinians, amid protests by some members of Congress. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Khartoum repeals boycott of Israel law. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union condemns the establishment of a new settlement outpost in the Jordan Valley. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• The Arab Parliament warns against any attempts to target UNRWA or diminish its role. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• The Secretary-General of the Arab League welcomes the United States’ reaffirmation of its support of the two-State solution as a basis for resolving the conflict between Palestine and Israel. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs

• Amnesty International in its 2020 annual report: The Israeli occupation has used excessive force against Palestinians. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• Peace Now condemns the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to evacuate the Sumarin family. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Human Rights organizations in Israel call on the Israeli government to lift travel restrictions against a member of Amnesty International. (Apr 6. 2021). For further details, click here
• Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement calls on Israel to provide vaccines to the Palestinians amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the Gaza Strip. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• On World Health Day: Al-Haq issues a press release on systematic Israeli denial of Palestinians’ right to health. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here 
• On World Health Day: Al Mezan Center for Human Rights demands end to health inequality at the expense of Palestinians in Gaza. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• The Carter Center calls on Israel to respect Palestinian political rights. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor considers Israel’s lack of cooperation with ICC a passive admission of committing war crimes. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here
• J Street welcomes US President Joe Biden’s resumption of US aid to the Palestinian people and UNRWA. (Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq rights group welcomes U.S. decision to lift sanctions on ICC officials, recalls the need for ICC to investigate the situation in Palestine. (Apr 5. 2021). For  further details, click here
• Palestinian Prisoner’s Club: Ramon Prison administration continues to escalate its abuse measurements against prisoners, and imposes sanctions on them. The prisoners respond. (Apr 9. 2021). For further details, click here

Academic research and studies

• Researchers Pearce Clancy and Rania Muhareb publish a cross-post entitled “Putting the International Criminal Court’s Palestine Investigation into Context” (Apr. 7, 2021). For further details, click here

Human rights conferences and events

• Foundation for Middle East  Peace holds a webinar entitled: “Medical Apartheid: Covid Vaccinations Under Occupation.”(Apr 7. 2021). For further details, click here

Announcements regarding upcoming human rights activities and opportunities

• CEIRPP organizes a webinar entitled “Delivering Critical Assistance for Palestine Refugees: Challenges and Opportunities in a Complex Context.” (April 7. 2021). For further details, click here
• ICRC research competition for law students in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on international humanitarian law. (Apr1. 2021). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq Center for Applied International Law announces registration for courses in international law and methods for monitoring and documenting human rights violations. (Apr 8. 2021). For further details, click here