Press Release

November 26, 2000
Press Release Index
Al- Haq Urges States not to Abandon International Law
Al-Haq Calls Upon the International Community of States to Enforce International Law and International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Urges them to Take Immediate and Effective Measures Against the Government of Israel to Ensure Compliance.
Al-Haq is deeply disturbed by the inaction of the international community of States as regards Israel's ongoing violations of international humanitarian, customary and treaty law, and Israel's flagrant and continued disregard for UN Resolutions.  Al-Haq's concern stems from the deafening silence of States in the face of Israel's continued use of excessive and indiscriminate force and collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population of the Occupied Territories. 

The Israeli Forces continue to enforce complete closures on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, bomb civilian areas, carry out willful killings and use excessive force against Palestinian civilians.  All of these policies and practices constitute gross violations of numerous international instruments that Israel has ratified including the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Covenant on the Rights of the Child, the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and the Hague Regulations of 1907.  Evidence of these violations has been communicated on a regular basis to the International Community and relevant UN bodies.    

The military closure imposed on the Occupied Territories has now entered into its third month. Placing a nation under siege and cutting villages and towns off from one another and the outside world is a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.  The closure severely disrupts the economic, social, religious and cultural life of the Palestinian community.  The denial of Palestinians’ right to freedom of movement violates Article 13(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  As an occupying power, Israel has failed to perform its duty under international customary law to balance its security measures against the welfare of the occupied population (Hague Regulations Article 43).  The Israeli military is permitted under International Law to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement of a local population, but only to the degree that the restrictions limit military actions.  Blanket restrictions that restrict all movement for extended period of time and that are implemented to punish the population are illegal.  Israeli leaders have openly stated that they are using these measures as a form of collective punishment against the Palestinian population in response to acts of resistance against the occupation.    
    
Israel continues to refuse to abide by its obligations under international law.  By its consistent disregard for the will of the international community, including UN Security Council resolutions, Israel has become a legal renegade, placing itself above international responsibility.  The failure of the international community of States to act decisively and effectively to halt Israel’s violations of international treaties, customs and humanitarian and human rights law threatens to undermine the very basis and credibility of these laws and treaties, which must be applied impartially and non-selectively.  Unless this trend is reversed, the Occupied Territories, and indeed, international peace and security, will continue to be held hostage to Israel’s unilateral action, and to international inaction.  Al-Haq therefore urges the international community to fulfill its international legal responsibilities.  Al-Haq also calls upon the UN and its member states to work to restore respect by Israel for the Provisions of the UN Charter, UN Security Council Resolutions and international human rights and humanitarian law. 
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