LAWE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECEIVES PERMIT TO LEAVE FOLLOWING PUBLICITY OF LAWE'S PETITION TO ISRAELI HIGH COURT

31 October, 1996

Within a few hours after a prominent Israeli newspaper reported on LAWE's petition to the High Court to obtain an exit permit for LAWE's executive director, Shawqi Al-Issa, the Israeli security authorities notified Al-Issa that they were issuing the permit immediately. The Israeli authorities noted that their decision was based solely on humanitarian grounds apparently to avoid any precedent for the rest of the Palestinian population under closure. Al-Issa boarded his plane to the United States earlier this morning.

Al-Issa was scheduled to leave the country on October 25, to attend his own wedding in Michigan on November 16, but the Israelis imposed a full closure on the occupied territories and suspended all permits. After three separate appeals to the Israeli security authorities without any success, Al-Issa petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice. Following press reports of the petition, the Israeli authorities notified Al-Issa that they could issue the permit immediately.

Despite the urgency of the matter, the High Court of Justice scheduled the hearing for November 10, 1996 - six days before the wedding. After Al-Issa's departure, LAWE's attorney submitted a request to the High Court to withdraw the petition and cancel the hearing.

Today, Palestinians entered their eighth day of total closure.

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.