15 july 2018
Adalah: Proposed new Basic Law establishes a colonial regime and constitutionally anchors state discrimination against Palestinian citizens.
The Israeli Knesset is expected to vote in the coming days on the proposed Basic Law: Israel – The Nation State of the Jewish People that would constitutionally enshrine the identity of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel argues in a new position paper [PDF] that this Basic Law falls within the bounds of absolute prohibitions under international law and is therefore illegitimate as a colonial law with characteristics of apartheid.
Adalah General Director Hassan Jabareen responded today Sunday, 15 July 2018, to the impending legislation:
“The Nation-State Basic Law is illegitimate, as it establishes a colonial regime with distinct apartheid characteristics in that it seeks to maintain a regime in which one ethnic-national group controls an indigenous-national group living in the same territory while advancing ethnic superiority by promoting racist policies in the most basic aspects of life.”
Adalah issued today a new position paper that provides in-depth legal analysis of the proposed Nation-State Law. [CLICK HERE to read the paper][PDF]
Earlier this spring, in response to the proposed Nation-State Law, three Arab Knesset members proposed an alternative known as Basic Law: State of all its Citizens.
However, the Knesset Presidium disqualified the the proposed Basic Law: State of all its Citizens on the grounds that it “denies the existence of the state as the state of the Jewish People,” refusing to even bring it for discussion before the Knesset. Adalah, together with the three MKs, has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court against the Knesset’s decision. (HCJ 4552/18, MK Jamal Zahalka v. Knesset Speaker (case pending))
The Israeli Knesset is expected to vote in the coming days on the proposed Basic Law: Israel – The Nation State of the Jewish People that would constitutionally enshrine the identity of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel argues in a new position paper [PDF] that this Basic Law falls within the bounds of absolute prohibitions under international law and is therefore illegitimate as a colonial law with characteristics of apartheid.
Adalah General Director Hassan Jabareen responded today Sunday, 15 July 2018, to the impending legislation:
“The Nation-State Basic Law is illegitimate, as it establishes a colonial regime with distinct apartheid characteristics in that it seeks to maintain a regime in which one ethnic-national group controls an indigenous-national group living in the same territory while advancing ethnic superiority by promoting racist policies in the most basic aspects of life.”
Adalah issued today a new position paper that provides in-depth legal analysis of the proposed Nation-State Law. [CLICK HERE to read the paper][PDF]
Earlier this spring, in response to the proposed Nation-State Law, three Arab Knesset members proposed an alternative known as Basic Law: State of all its Citizens.
However, the Knesset Presidium disqualified the the proposed Basic Law: State of all its Citizens on the grounds that it “denies the existence of the state as the state of the Jewish People,” refusing to even bring it for discussion before the Knesset. Adalah, together with the three MKs, has petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court against the Knesset’s decision. (HCJ 4552/18, MK Jamal Zahalka v. Knesset Speaker (case pending))
10 july 2018
The Israeli government plans to make it easier for Israeli settlers, living near the Apartheid Wall which snakes through the Israeli-occupied West Bank, to obtain firearms, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
According to the newspaper, proposed legal changes would make all Israeli settlers with firearms training eligible for a gun permit.
Roughly 145,000 Israelis currently hold firearm permits, not including soldiers and police personnel, according to Haaretz.
Israeli settlers’ attacks are a weekly occurrence. In recent weeks, settlers have launched an onslaught on Palestinian villages, subjecting Palestinians to near-daily attacks.
According to Palestinian official sources, at least 100 armed attacks on Palestinians and their property -- by Israeli forces and/or Jewish settlers -- were recorded throughout the occupied West Bank during last year’s harvest season, including numerous attacks on farmers and olive groves.
According to the newspaper, proposed legal changes would make all Israeli settlers with firearms training eligible for a gun permit.
Roughly 145,000 Israelis currently hold firearm permits, not including soldiers and police personnel, according to Haaretz.
Israeli settlers’ attacks are a weekly occurrence. In recent weeks, settlers have launched an onslaught on Palestinian villages, subjecting Palestinians to near-daily attacks.
According to Palestinian official sources, at least 100 armed attacks on Palestinians and their property -- by Israeli forces and/or Jewish settlers -- were recorded throughout the occupied West Bank during last year’s harvest season, including numerous attacks on farmers and olive groves.
9 july 2018
Israeli media reported Sunday that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is considering a bill to expand the policy of demolishing homes of Palestinians involved in attacks against settlers and soldiers without exceptions.
Makor Rishon website said that Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman had asked Mandelblit to examine the possibility to demolish the homes of Palestinians who carried out attacks in which Israelis were wounded.
The website added that the Israeli Supreme Court usually allows the demolition of homes of Palestinians involved in fatal attacks only.
Quoting an unnamed Israeli official, Makor Rishon said that Lieberman believes that destroying the homes of Palestinians who carried out attacks is an effective and proven means in the fight against "terrorism", and that there is no difference between an attack that ends in murder and one that ends in a serious injury.
The Israeli occupation forces have demolished hundreds of homes of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israeli soldiers or settlers as a punishment policy to deter those planning attacks.
Makor Rishon website said that Israel's War Minister Avigdor Lieberman had asked Mandelblit to examine the possibility to demolish the homes of Palestinians who carried out attacks in which Israelis were wounded.
The website added that the Israeli Supreme Court usually allows the demolition of homes of Palestinians involved in fatal attacks only.
Quoting an unnamed Israeli official, Makor Rishon said that Lieberman believes that destroying the homes of Palestinians who carried out attacks is an effective and proven means in the fight against "terrorism", and that there is no difference between an attack that ends in murder and one that ends in a serious injury.
The Israeli occupation forces have demolished hundreds of homes of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israeli soldiers or settlers as a punishment policy to deter those planning attacks.
8 july 2018
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation, on Sunday, was scheduled to consider a bill that would allow Jews to acquire land rights in the occupied West Bank.
The bill was proposed by Israeli Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home party, and seeks to strengthen Jewish property rights in “Judea and Samaria”, by allowing the right of land ownership to everyone.
The proposed bill aims to modify a 1953 law that entitles only Jordanian and Arab citizens to purchase property in the occupied West Bank territories.
The law remained in effect for 51 years, but in the 1970’s a loophole was found, in which Jewish citizens were allowed to purchase property through a company registered in the West Bank.
Smotrich’s bill would allow any non-Arab or foreign citizen to directly purchase property in Area C without having to acquire land rights through a company registered in the West Bank.
Ma’an reports that, according to Haaretz, Smotrich’s explanation for the bill states that it is “unacceptable” for Israeli citizens to be restricted from purchasing property in Judea and Samaria, just because of their citizenship.
The 1995 Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israeli authorities divided the West Bank into Area A, B, and C. Area A, comprising the populated Palestinian cities and making up 18 percent of the West Bank, would be controlled by the newly formed PA, while Area B remained under Israeli army control with the PA controlling civil affairs.
Area C, the majority of the West Bank, however, was placed under full Israeli military control and contains the majority of natural resources and open spaces in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli-controlled land was expected to be gradually transferred to the PA over a five-year period, according to the Oslo agreements. Yet, two decades later, the land has remained under Israeli control.
Area C, along with East Jerusalem, has been the site of rapid Israeli settlement expansions in contravention of international law, while Israel’s separation wall has further divided Palestinian communities and has restricted Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza from even visiting what was intended to be their capital.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
The bill was proposed by Israeli Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home party, and seeks to strengthen Jewish property rights in “Judea and Samaria”, by allowing the right of land ownership to everyone.
The proposed bill aims to modify a 1953 law that entitles only Jordanian and Arab citizens to purchase property in the occupied West Bank territories.
The law remained in effect for 51 years, but in the 1970’s a loophole was found, in which Jewish citizens were allowed to purchase property through a company registered in the West Bank.
Smotrich’s bill would allow any non-Arab or foreign citizen to directly purchase property in Area C without having to acquire land rights through a company registered in the West Bank.
Ma’an reports that, according to Haaretz, Smotrich’s explanation for the bill states that it is “unacceptable” for Israeli citizens to be restricted from purchasing property in Judea and Samaria, just because of their citizenship.
The 1995 Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israeli authorities divided the West Bank into Area A, B, and C. Area A, comprising the populated Palestinian cities and making up 18 percent of the West Bank, would be controlled by the newly formed PA, while Area B remained under Israeli army control with the PA controlling civil affairs.
Area C, the majority of the West Bank, however, was placed under full Israeli military control and contains the majority of natural resources and open spaces in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli-controlled land was expected to be gradually transferred to the PA over a five-year period, according to the Oslo agreements. Yet, two decades later, the land has remained under Israeli control.
Area C, along with East Jerusalem, has been the site of rapid Israeli settlement expansions in contravention of international law, while Israel’s separation wall has further divided Palestinian communities and has restricted Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza from even visiting what was intended to be their capital.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
2 july 2018
The Israeli Knesset voted on Monday into a bill to slash funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA) by the amount the PA pays out to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and the families of the martyrs who were killed by Israeli occupation forces.
Israeli Channel Two stated that the law passed by 87 to 15 voters.
The bill stipulated that welfare payments paid out by the PA to Palestinian prisoners and their relatives as well as the families of the martyrs must be deducted from tax revenues Israel transfers annually to the PA.
Last week, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee gave its approval for a final plenary vote on the bill in both second and third readings.
Two weeks ago, the committee approved the law, which was introduced under the law of deduction of financial funds transferred by the Palestinian Authority to the families of detainees and martyrs from the tax allocations that Israel transfers to the PA in accordance with Oslo accords.
Israeli Channel Two stated that the law passed by 87 to 15 voters.
The bill stipulated that welfare payments paid out by the PA to Palestinian prisoners and their relatives as well as the families of the martyrs must be deducted from tax revenues Israel transfers annually to the PA.
Last week, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee gave its approval for a final plenary vote on the bill in both second and third readings.
Two weeks ago, the committee approved the law, which was introduced under the law of deduction of financial funds transferred by the Palestinian Authority to the families of detainees and martyrs from the tax allocations that Israel transfers to the PA in accordance with Oslo accords.
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Israeli media reports that, after receiving approval from Israel’s High Court, Israeli security forces have reportedly begun preparing for the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar village, in the occupied West Bank, according to the village’s residents, human rights activists, and Palestinian officials.
972mag, on Sunday, posted video footage from Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, showing Israeli police officers and military officials walking through the village and inspecting homes, that morning. Residents said that one police officer told them they would be better off if they left “voluntarily,” though he declined to provide any more |
information. B’Tselem has warned that the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and the forcible transfer of its residents would constitute a war crime.
1 july 2018
Israel is in the process of enacting laws that would allow it to formally annex parts of the occupied West Bank, in serious violation of international law, a United Nations expert said on Friday, according to WAFA.
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Michael Lynk, said, after a fact-finding tour of the region, that he was gravely alarmed about the deterioration of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), saying that reports received during his visit to the region, this week, painted the most dispiriting picture yet, of the situation on the ground.
“After years of creeping Israeli de facto annexation of the large swathes of the West Bank through settlement expansion, the creation of closed military zones and other measures, Israel appears to be getting closer to enacting legislation that will formally annex parts of the West Bank,” he said. “This would amount to a profound violation of international law, and the impact of ongoing settlement expansion on human rights must not be ignored.”
Lynk travelled to Amman, Jordan, this week, where he met with Palestinian civil society, government officials and UN representatives, after Israel prevented him from entering the OPT. His mission was to collect information for his next report, to be presented to the 73rd session of the General Assembly, in October of 2018.
“This is my third mission to the region since I assumed the mandate in May 2016, and the reports I received this week have painted the bleakest picture yet of the human rights situation in the OPT,” he said.
“Palestinians in the West Bank face daily indignities, as they pass through Israeli checkpoints, face night raids of their homes, and are unable to build or expand their homes or work to develop their communities due to the complex system which makes building permits nearly impossible to obtain from the Israeli authorities,” the Special Rapporteur said.
Lynk cited the situation of Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin community near Jerusalem, which is at imminent risk of forcible transfer after the Israeli High Court of Justice upheld a demolition order for all structures in the community. “Its residents are living in a coercive environment that may lead to forcible transfer, not knowing where they may find themselves in the coming months and not knowing if they will be living in a place where they are able to continue their traditional way of life,” he said.
Lynk further stated that the situation in Gaza has continued to worsen, highlighting that the electricity crisis, for example, which became acute last June, had not been alleviated. “Residents are deprived of their most basic rights, including the rights to health, to education, and most recently, in attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they were deprived of the right to life,” Lynk said, in reference to the recent demonstrations along the fence during which Israeli security forces killed more than 140 and wounded thousands of Palestinian protesters.
He also expressed concern about the impact of significant cuts to the funding of UNRWA, the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, noting its crucial role in providing health, protection and education services as well as employment in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Special Rapporteur heard eloquent testimony of the challenges facing the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, and expressed concern at information he received, recently, stating that the Israeli government and the West Jerusalem municipality have been advancing plans which risk denial of the residency rights of 120,000 Palestinians in the municipality, as part of a larger policy to maintain an Israeli Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
The Rapporteur was particularly concerned at information he received, this week, which indicated that many human rights organizations and human rights defenders – Israeli, Palestinian, and international – are facing increasing attacks aimed not only at their delegitimization, but at their ability to operate.
He is particularly concerned that these attacks are gaining traction with members of the international community. “The incredible, and extremely difficult work that these human rights organizations do is essential to preventing a further deterioration of the human rights situation in the OPT, and any effort to undermine this work only serves to weaken human rights in the OPT, and in the broader world.”
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Michael Lynk, said, after a fact-finding tour of the region, that he was gravely alarmed about the deterioration of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), saying that reports received during his visit to the region, this week, painted the most dispiriting picture yet, of the situation on the ground.
“After years of creeping Israeli de facto annexation of the large swathes of the West Bank through settlement expansion, the creation of closed military zones and other measures, Israel appears to be getting closer to enacting legislation that will formally annex parts of the West Bank,” he said. “This would amount to a profound violation of international law, and the impact of ongoing settlement expansion on human rights must not be ignored.”
Lynk travelled to Amman, Jordan, this week, where he met with Palestinian civil society, government officials and UN representatives, after Israel prevented him from entering the OPT. His mission was to collect information for his next report, to be presented to the 73rd session of the General Assembly, in October of 2018.
“This is my third mission to the region since I assumed the mandate in May 2016, and the reports I received this week have painted the bleakest picture yet of the human rights situation in the OPT,” he said.
“Palestinians in the West Bank face daily indignities, as they pass through Israeli checkpoints, face night raids of their homes, and are unable to build or expand their homes or work to develop their communities due to the complex system which makes building permits nearly impossible to obtain from the Israeli authorities,” the Special Rapporteur said.
Lynk cited the situation of Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin community near Jerusalem, which is at imminent risk of forcible transfer after the Israeli High Court of Justice upheld a demolition order for all structures in the community. “Its residents are living in a coercive environment that may lead to forcible transfer, not knowing where they may find themselves in the coming months and not knowing if they will be living in a place where they are able to continue their traditional way of life,” he said.
Lynk further stated that the situation in Gaza has continued to worsen, highlighting that the electricity crisis, for example, which became acute last June, had not been alleviated. “Residents are deprived of their most basic rights, including the rights to health, to education, and most recently, in attempting to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, they were deprived of the right to life,” Lynk said, in reference to the recent demonstrations along the fence during which Israeli security forces killed more than 140 and wounded thousands of Palestinian protesters.
He also expressed concern about the impact of significant cuts to the funding of UNRWA, the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, noting its crucial role in providing health, protection and education services as well as employment in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Special Rapporteur heard eloquent testimony of the challenges facing the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, and expressed concern at information he received, recently, stating that the Israeli government and the West Jerusalem municipality have been advancing plans which risk denial of the residency rights of 120,000 Palestinians in the municipality, as part of a larger policy to maintain an Israeli Jewish majority in Jerusalem.
The Rapporteur was particularly concerned at information he received, this week, which indicated that many human rights organizations and human rights defenders – Israeli, Palestinian, and international – are facing increasing attacks aimed not only at their delegitimization, but at their ability to operate.
He is particularly concerned that these attacks are gaining traction with members of the international community. “The incredible, and extremely difficult work that these human rights organizations do is essential to preventing a further deterioration of the human rights situation in the OPT, and any effort to undermine this work only serves to weaken human rights in the OPT, and in the broader world.”
30 june 2018
A former employee of Israel's Civil Administration declared a plot of land in the occupied West Bank to be state land and then, after leaving his job, set up an illegal outpost on it, Haaretz reported on Saturday.
The settlement outpost, located in Gush Etzion bloc and named Tzurei Ye'elim, now contains a farm and a guesthouse owned by the Israeli official Yossi Levitt and his partner, the Hebrew newspaper said.
Tzurei Ye'elim, which covers an area of 250 dunums, was built entirely without permits. A demolition order was issued against the buildings but has never been carried out.
According to Haaretz, the Civil Administration declared the site state land on 24th November 2013, and the outpost was illegally established in 2014. Aerial photographs show that Levitt began building the outpost immediately after he resigned from the Civil Administration.
The settlement outpost, located in Gush Etzion bloc and named Tzurei Ye'elim, now contains a farm and a guesthouse owned by the Israeli official Yossi Levitt and his partner, the Hebrew newspaper said.
Tzurei Ye'elim, which covers an area of 250 dunums, was built entirely without permits. A demolition order was issued against the buildings but has never been carried out.
According to Haaretz, the Civil Administration declared the site state land on 24th November 2013, and the outpost was illegally established in 2014. Aerial photographs show that Levitt began building the outpost immediately after he resigned from the Civil Administration.
