PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE – Vol. 71

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

9-15 May 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 (6 minutes read)

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

• Palestinian MOFAE warns against Israel’s attempts to falsely present Jerusalem’s popular uprising against its military occupation as a ‘religious conflict’ (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian Foreign Minister: joint action by ambassadors of Palestine and Jordan in host countries to support Jerusalem and its religious sites. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Representative of Palestine to the UN speaks of ongoing consultations to hold a Human Rights Council meeting to discuss Israel’s grave violations in occupied Jerusalem. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Palestinian presidency condemns occupation’s crimes in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the entire Palestinian territories. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Palestine Mission to Geneva sends letters and makes contact with international officials on the latest developments in Jerusalem. (10 May, 2021). For further details, click here.
• The Palestinian Presidency condemns the Israeli massacre against an entire family in Gaza. (May 15, 2021). For further details, click here

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

• Israeli Court hearing regarding the expulsion of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood adjourned. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Israel rejects US concerns over violence in Jerusalem. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here
• Israeli Defense Minister: “Gaza operation aims to ‘strike Hamas hard,’ make it ‘regret’ rockets. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Israel declares a state of emergency in the city of Lod after ‘riots’ it accused Palestinians of committing. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here

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

• Jordanian MOFA summons Israel’s Charge d’Affaires, demanding respect for international law. (9 May, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Switzerland: Forced Evictions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah run contrary to International Humanitarian Law and further fuel tensions. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Turkey calls for effective action against Israel in Jerusalem. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Syria condemns the violations of Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people and affirms the right of Palestinians to their independent state. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Pakistan condemns Israeli occupation’s attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling on the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here 
• The UN Secretary-General urges Israel to respect the right to freedom of assembly. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here.
• A member of the Egyptian Parliament calls on the Security Council to provide protection for Palestinians. (May 9, 2021).  For further details, click here.
• The Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly calls on holding an emergency meeting of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss the situation in Jerusalem. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Egyptian MOFA calls for protection of worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here
• Joint statement of the Middle East Quartet envoys on the situation in East Jerusalem. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here 
• UNICEF urges de-escalation, calls for protection of all children in East Jerusalem. (May 9, 2021). For further details, click here 
• EU spokesman issues statement on recent escalation in Palestine, calls for immediate de-escalation. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here
• UNRWA joins other UN entities in raising alarm over Sheikh Jarrah’s families at risk of forced eviction. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here
• The Human Rights Committee of the Arab League condemns the occupation actions in the occupied Jerusalem, and calls on the international community to uphold their responsibility towards the occupation crimes. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• A British parliament member describes the forced eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah as shocking and a violation of international law. (10 May, 2021). For further details, click here.
• A US Representative describes the displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem as illegal and calls on the US administration to exert pressure on Israel to end its operations. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• The USA expresses its deep concern over the recent events in Jerusalem, particularly the plans to displace Palestinian families from their homes. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Algeria condemns the attacks in Jerusalem and calls on the international community to take action by providing protection for the Palestinians. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Belgian Federal Representative Simon Mutcan: The Israeli occupation and its illegal aggression must be met with sanctions. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• Ireland’s Foreign Minister describes the displacement and repression of citizens in Al-Aqsa Mosque, occupied Jerusalem as unacceptable. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here.
• CEIRPP expresses concern over the dangerous deterioration of the situation in Palestine. (May 10, 2021). For further details, click here 
• Secretary General of the Arab League condemns Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, considers it a deplorable show of force (May,11. 2021). For further details, click here.
• OIC renews its commitment to defend the rights of the Palestinian people as it continues to work towards ending the Israeli occupation. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• LSA decides to form a ministerial committee to follow up on Arab league action against illegal Israeli policies and measures in occupied Jerusalem. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Afghanistan condemns Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Italy expresses concern over the escalation of attacks in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and appeals for an immediate halt to the escalation by all parties. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• New Zealand calls for an end to the demolitions and evictions and an end to all things that undermine the two-state solution. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here 
• The African Union strongly condemns the Israeli aggression against Gaza and the violent attacks in Al-Aqsa. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Arab countries condemn continued Israeli attacks on Jerusalem and the deadly attacks on civilians in Gaza, demand urgent international action. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• UN officials express their grave concern over the events in the OPT and call for restraint. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Venezuela condemns Israeli attacks on Palestinians, demands an end to violence (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• France calls for avoiding another deadly conflict in the Middle East. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• US Secretary of State: Israel has the right to defend itself. (May 12 – 13, 2021). For further details, click here
• UN Women expresses concern over continued violence on women in the occupied Palestinian territories. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• S. delayed a statement by the Security Council on the Israeli aggression on the occupied Palestinian territories. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• 25 U.S. Lawmakers demand Blinken to condemn Sheikh Jarrah evictions (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• ICC’s Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, expresses her great concern about the escalation of violence in the West Bank, Jerusalem, as well as in Gaza, and the possible commission of crimes. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• The Council of Arab League Ambassadors in Canada calls for pressure on Israel to end its aggression against Palestinians and hold it accountable for its human rights violations in Palestine. (May 13, 2021). For further details, click here
• Presidents of Arab parliaments affirm their support for the Palestinian cause and demand the international community to intervene urgently to end the Israeli occupation’s crimes. (May 13, 2021). For further details, click here
• European members of the Security Council call on Israel to cease settlement building, home demolitions and evictions, to abide by international humanitarian law. (May 13, 2021). For further details, click here
• European Court of Justice annuls a decision rejecting the registration of an initiative to prevent settlement products from entering the European Union market. (May 13, 2021). For further details, click here
• Cuban President: The Israeli attacks and flagrant violations must stop immediately. (May 14, 2021). For further details, click here 

Publications of human rights NGOs

• PPSMO holds Israel fully responsible for the life of hunger-striking prisoner Imad Sweirka (9 May, 2021). For further details, click here.
• The Scandinavian Council of Relations condemns the occupation attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Euro-Mediterranean Monitor: Israel’s targeting of homes and civilian properties is a collective punishment of the population in Gaza. (May 11, 2021). For further details, click here
• Amnesty International calls for a “firm stand” against Israeli repression. (May 15, 2021). For further details, click here 

Academic research and studies

• Law for Palestine issues a fact sheet on the issue of “Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood”. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here

Human rights conferences and events

• American Institutions launch a huge campaign in solidarity with Palestinians in Jerusalem (May,9. 2021). For further details, click here
• At the initiative of Law for Palestine, more than 80 human rights organizations launch a joint statement and call for a global stand of solidarity with Jerusalem and rule Israel accountable for its violence against civilians in the Gaza Strip. (May 12, 2021). For further details, click here
• Amnesty International launches a campaign to support the Palestinian people. (May 15, 2021). For further details, click here