Author: ELSC

Joint Public Statement in Response to Independent Inquiry into Antisemitism at Goldsmiths

Post author By ELSC
Post date 13 March 2025
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Joint Statement withdrawing engagement with the Independent Inquiry into Antisemitism at Goldsmiths

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, withdraw our engagement with the independent inquiry into antisemitism at Goldsmiths following our loss of confidence in the Inquiry. We refuse to engage with an Inquiry that marginalises Palestinians and adopts an approach which discriminates against them, and appears to target those who criticise Israeli policies and Zionism.

This decision follows:

The refusal of both the Inquiry Chair and the College to ensure that the Inquiry’s scope includes the impact of the College’s approach to inquiring into antisemitism on Palestinian students and staff and those standing in solidarity with them.

More than a year from its institution, the Inquiry’s refusal to confirm even what definition of antisemitism it is applying to inform its work, and in particular, whether it will adopt the widely discredited IHRA definition of antisemitism and its examples. This is a crucial question because criticism of Israeli government policies and actions, and anti-Zionism are frequently weaponised and misrepresented as antisemitism.

Incoherent and contradictory statements from the College and the Chair of the Inquiry, with the College assuring a member that the Inquiry is not investigating individuals, while the Chair’s position is that it is.

A lack of transparency as to who and what is being investigated by the Inquiry and a failure by the Inquiry to inform those it invites to interview what, if any, allegations have been made against them, or what general complaints or allegations there are.

A lack of engagement with the Student Union as an institution.

The Inquiry’s failure to indicate whether it intends to consider specific allegations against two individuals which have already been investigated and dismissed. Those allegations related to speech critical of Israeli government policies and Zionism.

We initially engaged with this Inquiry in good faith, despite our misgivings about the circumstances in which it was instituted, which involved unfair and unfounded attacks on a woman of colour. Our attempts to engage with the Inquiry have been met with responses which are both incoherent and apathetic to the international climate of rampant anti-Palestinian repression. Other groups such as the Institute of Race Relations who had initially engaged in good faith, have also since disengaged due to a loss of confidence in the Inquiry. It is a matter for the Inquiry whether it takes account of our initial written submissions. If it does so objectively, those submissions will weigh heavily on the conclusions and recommendations.

Both the College and the Chair of the Inquiry have refused to ensure that the Inquiry’s scope will include consideration of the impact of the College’s approach to investigating antisemitism on students and staff who (a) are Palestinian, Arab or Muslim (b) are from other minoritised groups (c) who hold anti-Zionist views and (d) who hold views which are critical of Israel and/or support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

This Inquiry takes place within a social and political context where unfounded accusations of antisemitism are used to silence Palestinian voices and those who stand with them. In addition to Palestinians, those most often targeted for standing up for Palestinian rights come from other marginalised groups. In ignoring this reality, the Inquiry’s approach perpetuates discrimination and represents a threat to freedom of expression and academic freedom.

We have highlighted the discriminatory impact of the Inquiry’s approach in correspondence. In response, the College has refused to amend the Terms of Reference. The Chair of the Inquiry has similarly refused to include the effect of the process on these groups within the scope, offering a non-committal and general assurance that consideration of the impact on Palestinians and others “may inform” his outcome and recommendations. This is insufficient and unacceptable.

Antisemitism is a scourge on our society, as are all forms of racism. Antisemitism is part of a larger context of this racism, and we should not fight one form of this oppression whilst also failing to see and understand another. The vital task of combating antisemitism in our community deserves a better custodian than this Inquiry.  

Goldsmiths Students Union 
Goldsmiths UCU Executive Committee 
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)  
British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) 
BRICUP – British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) 
Palestine Solidarity Campaign 
International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP)  
Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) 
Forensic Architecture 
Dr Ray Campbell, Teaching Fellow in Humanities at Royal Holloway

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Newsletter

February Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 7 March 2025
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Dear Friend,

In the past month, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of legal victories, which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter, along with some useful resources to continue mobilising for Palestine.

CASE UPDATES

Dutch court confirms: Expressing solidarity with the Palestinian resistance is protected under Dutch law

Palestinian employee Nouraldin Alsweirki has won a landmark legal victory over his former employer, Dutch software company Speakap B.V., which fired him in October 2023 over LinkedIn posts in which he supported the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Zionist settler-colonial occupation. In November 2024, the Court of Amsterdam affirmed that Speakap had discriminated against Nouraldin based on his political beliefs and ordered the company to pay a significant compensation to him. Now, three months later, Speakap officially let the deadline to appeal the Court’s decision expire, making the judgement final. This case was won in a collaboration with lawyer Seyma Arikan from Spuistraat 10 Advocaten. Read more

We call it a landmark because it shows that expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, including speaking out for the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Zionist settler-colonial occupation also through armed struggle, is a protected political belief on the basis of which you cannot be discriminated against under Dutch anti-discrimination law. The ELSC encourages employees to express any form of solidarity, keep records of the repression by your employer whenever it occurs, and reach out to the ELSC for legal support or advice as soon as possible.

This legal victory demonstrates that there can no longer be impunity for employers that repress anti-genocide, anti-apartheid, and anti-colonial voices, so let there be none. Speak out. Collect evidence. End the impunity.

Attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’. Hearing at the Tiergarten District Court suspiciously postponed

On Monday, 27 January 2025, another case in the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’ should have been heard at the Tiergarten District Court. The Berlin public prosecutor had opened an investigation against filmmaker Dror Dayan for the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations (§ 86a StGB), pressing charges. The case concerns a Twitter comment from November 2023, in which Dror Dayan denounced the criminalisation of the slogan in Germany. 

However, the judge postponed the ruling on spurious grounds, citing that an expert witness could not attend the trial for health reasons. The expert witness in question is a police officer in the Berlin State Criminal Police who had written and submitted an extensive report to clarify whether the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” constitutes a symbol of Hamas, highlighting that the slogan had been used by a large political spectrum for many decades, and concluding that there was no compelling evidence to claim the slogan was a Hamas symbol in particular. Check out Dror’s interview with left Berlin

SHARE THIS IMPORTANT UPDATE!

Vienna Administrative Court Declares Police Raid of Palestine Solidarity Encampment Vienna Unconstitutional 

ELSC’s Senior Legal Officer Kiran comments: “We welcome the ruling obtained by our partner lawyers in Austria as a legal victory against the increasingly authoritarian anti-Palestinian repression committed by European police authorities. The court made it abundantly clear that freedom of expression and assembly are constitutional rights which are not to be granted by the police but, rather, must be protected by the authorities. This ruling can serve as a legal precedent for similar unlawful police actions against the growing Palestine solidarity movement in Europe.”  Read More.

SUPPORT THE LEGAL AID FUND

Setting up a small monthly donation to our legal aid fund can go a long way to ensure ELSC’s stability and security at this critical time where we face an all-time-high number of repression cases. We cannot do this alone, and we need your help to continue supporting the movement!

JOIN THE ELSC COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

ELSC EVENTS

Last week, our Senior Communications Officer Abir spoke at a panel organised by Palinale 2025 in Berlin on “Manufacturing Consent in Germany: who’s (dis)informing the narrative on Palestine?”. The discussion addressed how public opinion is manufactured in Germany; how we are (dis)informed about wars abroad and at home; who’s arranging the facts and non-facts presented to us in film, news media, and academia; who determines the vocabularies and grammars used in German discussions on Palestine; and who decides which opinions are allowed and which views are prohibited in Germany.

CHECK OUT THE EVENT HERE

On February 12th, we held a special discussion on the occasion of the new submission of the Ziada case before the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the Netherlands’ decision to grant immunity to Israeli officials accused of war crimes. Joined by UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, and leading experts in the field of international justice and human rights advocacy, we discussed the challenges faced by legal activists, the role of the Netherlands in upholding international justice, and the broader implications for accountability for international crimes committed by Israel.

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

Nouraldin, Seyma, and ELSC’s Juul were interviewed by several Dutch media about the landmark legal victory of Nouraldin shared earlier in this newsletter. In a video of Left Laser, for example, they explained what the ruling means for employees in the Netherlands expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and resistance.

WATCH HERE

The national Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant focused on Nouraldin’s storyfeaturing an interview with him, with Seyma and Juul putting the case into a broader perspective.

Our Advocacy and Communication Officer in Britain, Tasnima, commented on the University of Birmingham’s targeting of two students over their support for Palestine. The ELSC has observed a growing trend of repression targeting speech in solidarity with Palestine across European universities over the past year.

We also support academics like Ray Campbell, who was wrongly accused of antisemitism for his criticism of Israel’s genocidal project. Goldsmiths University has now apologised and paid a settlement. Tasnima commented: “Universities need to uphold their commitment to free expression and resist the undue influence of Zionist lobby groups that seek to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism (…). The misuse of frameworks like the IHRA definition to retroactively punish lawful speech sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the principles of academic freedom.” Read More.

RESOURCES OF SUPPORT

Repression of Palestine Solidarity in Britain

Were you arrested at the London National Palestine Protest on January 18, 2025? We’re gathering information to build a clearer timeline and push back against the state’s false narrative.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM

British Military Collaboration with Israel

A new report from the British Palestinian Committee (BPC) lays bare the extent of the UK’s military involvement in the Israeli assault on Gaza. Cataloguing for the first time evidence of the many layers of collaboration between the UK and Israel in this genocidal project, the report details the UK’s active involvement in the Israeli arms industry, British provisions of logistical support and weapons transfers to the Israeli military, British protection of Israel’s military infrastructure, direct military intervention from the UK in Yemen to support Israel’s goals and repeated, ongoing intelligence provision from the UK to Israel via surveillance flights. Read the report

New case related to the ban of Palestine Solidarity Duisburg (PSDU)

On 16 May 2024, the NRW Ministry of the Interior not only searched the homes of four activists of Palästina Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU), but also the workplace of Ahmad Othman, one of the four targeted activists and plaintiffs against the ban on PSDU. In addition, the police confiscated several devices belonging to Ahmad’s employer, who works in IT.

Ahmad received his final notice of termination, effective 31 December 2024. The reasons given included: alleged unconstitutional attitude due to Ahmad’s membership of the PSDU.

FIND OUT MORE

On Friday, 29 November 2024, Ahmad filed a wrongful dismissal suit and will continue to use all legal means to get his job back. Let’s support him in this: Keep donating to the Committee against the ban on Palestine Solidarity Duisburg, so he can get the legal representation he deserves!

DONATE

OPEN VACANCIES

oin our team! We are looking for a Chief Legal Officer to lead our legal strategy across Europe. The deadline for applications is February 28th, 2025. Apply Now

We are proud to be in community with you. As you continue to organise and take action, make sure to visit our Know Your Rights resources and continue to report any form of repression. 

In solidarity,  

The ELSC 

Press Release

High Court rejects bid by the University of Cambridge for a long-term injunction on Palestine protests

Post author By ELSC
Post date 3 March 2025
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Joint Press Release

High Court rejects bid by the University of Cambridge for a long-term injunction on Palestine protests

On 27 February 2025, the High Court of Justice refused to make an injunction sought by the University of Cambridge on 12 February, which aimed to ban all Palestine-related protests at four university sites until 2030. A coalition of groups, including the European Legal Support Center, University and College Union, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, and Liberty declared the ruling a victory for student activists, affirming their right to protest and pushing back against the University’s attempts to suppress political expression on campus.

The University’s application came in response to a series of high-profile encampments and demonstrations led by Cambridge for Palestine (C4P) at Senate House Yard in May and November 2024. These actions were part of a broader movement demanding that Cambridge divest from companies and institutions linked to Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, particularly its violations in Gaza, which the International Court of Justice has ruled may plausibly amount to genocide—a conclusion reinforced by a large body of international law experts.

The protests saw students engaging in peaceful direct action after what they described as months of broken commitments and failed negotiations with university administrators. Despite the university’s legal efforts to impose a sweeping five-year protest ban, the court issued a narrow, two-day injunction that restricted entry to Senate House and Senate House Yard. However, it explicitly removed any references to Palestine or C4P, while preserving the right to protest in surrounding areas.

We welcome the court’s decision to reject the University’s attempt to criminalise protest, but this fight is far from over. The Judge has scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 2025 to decide whether a longer-term injunction will be imposed. We will continue to challenge this blatant attack on students’ fundamental rights and oppose any attempt to suppress political expression on campus.

Since October 2023, university managements across the UK have escalated a pattern of aggressive tactics aimed at suppressing student-led protests. Disciplinary measures have been weaponised against individual students, while universities have pursued costly legal action to remove protest organisers and dismantle encampments. In many cases, police have been called to forcibly remove demonstrators, leading to arrests and, in some instances, injuries. Reports have also emerged of security staff harassing and even physically assaulting student protesters.¹

Beyond direct crackdowns on demonstrations, universities have sought to stifle, censor, and monitor lawful political expression and peaceful activism. Events have been cancelled, excessive bureaucratic barriers imposed on organisers, and students and staff subjected to investigations for their participation in protests. In some cases, individuals have even been referred to the Prevent Programme and accused of supporting terrorism simply for their social media activity or other lawful expressions of solidarity. These actions represent a growing and dangerous trend, posing a direct threat to the student movement in Britain. The right to protest and freedom of speech on university campuses are being eroded, with consequences that extend far beyond higher education and into wider civil society.

Anna Ost, lawyer from the ELSC, stated: “This is a significant victory—one that sends a strong message to other universities attempting to impose such draconian restrictions on freedom of assembly and protest. The University of Cambridge’s efforts to undermine its students’ civil liberties—by seeking an injunction to effectively ban expressions of Palestine solidarity both on and off campus until 2030—represented the broadest restriction on university protests to date. Since October 2023, we have witnessed ongoing attempts to undermine students’ right to protest and to challenge their institutions’ complicity in violations of international law and genocide. It is our responsibility to fight this wider pattern of repression against our movement, on university campuses or otherwise, and against our civil liberties in the legal terrain.”

Ruth Ehrlich, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Liberty, said: “In an increasingly hostile space for protest rights, civil injunctions are being used by universities around the country to limit the way anyone can make their voices heard on campus. Students have long been at the forefront of movements for social change. Liberty will continue to defend their right to protest.” 

A UCU spokesperson stated: “The failure of Cambridge’s bid at the High Court to repress pro-Palestine protests for five years is an important victory for our democratic rights. Universities should be promoting our basic freedoms, not attempting to crush them. We now urge Cambridge’s Vice Chancellor to drop these cack-handed attempts at criminalising peaceful protest altogether.”

Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Director, said: “This is an important victory for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, both of which should be cornerstones of university life. The University of Cambridge tried to single out Palestinian staff and students and those speaking up for international law, and subject them to draconian restrictions not applied to protestors on any other issue. This decision should mark a watershed in defence of freedom of expression and the right to protest.”

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism

Statement

Vienna Administrative Court Declares Police Raid of Palestine Solidarity Encampment Vienna Unconstitutional 

Post author By ELSC
Post date 24 February 2025
No Comments on Vienna Administrative Court Declares Police Raid of Palestine Solidarity Encampment Vienna Unconstitutional

In November 2024, the Vienna Administrative Court ruled on a complaint against the Vienna Police concerning the dissolution of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment Vienna at the University of Vienna on 8 May 2024, and declared the measures taken by the police to be unlawful and unconstitutional. 

The Palestine Solidarity Encampment had been set up on the University of Vienna Campus for only three days when the Vienna Police special unit Wiener Einsatzgruppe Alarmabteilung (WEGA) stormed it in the middle of the night, attacking students present at the camp. Around 200 armed police officers violently evicted students and activists using drones, surveillance vans, police dogs, lorries, and a crane.  

At the time of the raid, the police gave no clear indication or consistent legal basis as to why the camp was being demolished. The Vienna Police Department later declared that after “a final assessment by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN) […] the purpose of this gathering was no longer compatible with the Austrian legal situation after extensive consideration.” According to the police department of Vienna “the prosecuting authority had to conclude that the true aim or purpose of the gathering […] was to show solidarity with the aims of HAMAS and to create a mental breeding ground for the approval of terrorist offences within the meaning of Section 282a (2) of the Criminal Code (StGB) [approval of terrorist offences].”  

The police substantiated these claims, citing that assembly participants had chanted the slogan “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” and that the word “Intifada’’ was displayed on banners.

No factual grounds

The court dismissed these claims, reaffirming that freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are protected even when opinions expressed are considered shocking or offensive, as per settled case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Moreover, the court highlighted that expressing sympathy for a designated terrorist organisation, as has been claimed by the Vienna Police Department, would only constitute a crime under Section 282a StGB “Approval of terrorist offences” where it is likely to induce the commission of actual terrorist offences. The court further acknowledged that the use of the expressions “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Intifada” does not constitute an incitement to commit a terrorist offence or an identification with Hamas specifically, unless further expressions suggest the opposite. Accordingly, it cannot be concluded a priori that these slogans would create a “mental breeding ground for the approval of terrorist crimes”. Ultimately, there are no factual grounds that could explain the dissolution of the assembly. 

The unlawful attack on the camp 

During the raid, four students refused to leave after the police stormed the camp to prevent eviction and protect it. Three were then physically removed from the camp, isolated, and detained. Another student resisted removal and potential arrest by climbing a nearby tree, remaining there for approximately eight hours. The students were denied legal assistance for hours, and only two individuals were allowed to enter the premises for merely a few minutes after protesters loudly advocated for the students’ legal rights.  

Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters spontaneously gathered outside the campus in solidarity, blocking trams and traffic at the intersection of Alser Straße and Spitalgasse in the 9th district of Vienna. Police reportedly made racist remarks against the protestors, telling one demonstrator that they should “go back to where they came from” after they requested an English translation of the police’s instructions.  

Students and supporters outside the campus continued to protest until the morning hours of May 9^th, occupying the tram lines and disrupting business as usual. Early in the morning, they continued their protests all the way to the police detention centre (PAZ) at Roßauer Lände, where they demanded the release of the arrested activists and chanted against the destruction of the camp, with a line of police vans tailing them. Once they arrived at the PAZ, they faced a line of seven police vans. Within minutes of their arrival, around 30 people were aggressively surrounded by the police and were not allowed to leave. Police officers physically assaulted protesters and threatened to arrest them in a form of intimidation. Eventually, all protesters were forced to show identification, some were also forced to have their faces photographed. They were later notified by the police that criminal charges were being investigated. 

Some of the students saw it as a necessity not to let this happen without taking a stand and took this case to court to draw attention to the repression of the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Austria.

ELSC lawyer Kiran Chaudhuri said: “We welcome the ruling obtained by our partner lawyers in Austria as a legal victory against the increasingly authoritarian anti-Palestinian repression committed by European police authorities. The court made it abundantly clear that freedom of expression and assembly are constitutional rights which are not to be granted by the police but, rather, must be protected by the authorities. This ruling can serve as a legal precedent for similar unlawful police actions against the growing Palestine solidarity movement in Europe.” 

Deutsch

Verwaltungsgericht Wien erklärt Räumung des Solidaritätscamps für Palästina Wien für verfassungswidrig

Im November 2024 entschied das Verwaltungsgericht Wien über eine Beschwerde gegen die Wiener Polizei bezüglich der Räumung des Solidaritätscamps für Palästina in Wien am 8. Mai 2024 und erklärte die von der Polizei ergriffenen Maßnahmen für rechtswidrig, sowie verfassungswidrig. 

Das Solidaritätscamp für Palästina war erst drei Tage zuvor auf dem Campus der Universität Wien errichtet worden, als die Wiener Einsatzgruppe Alarmabteilung (WEGA) der Wiener Polizei es mitten in der Nacht stürmte und die anwesenden Studierenden angriff. Rund 200 bewaffnete Polizeibeamte vertrieben die Studierenden und Aktivist:innen gewaltsam mit Drohnen, Observationsfahrzeugen, Polizeihunden, Lastwägen und einem Kran.  

Zum Zeitpunkt der Razzia gab die Polizei keine klare Angabe oder einheitliche Rechtsgrundlage dafür, warum das Camp geräumt wurde. Die Wiener Polizeidirektion erklärte später, dass nach „einer abschließenden Bewertung durch die Direktion für Staatssicherheit und Nachrichtendienst (DSN) […] der Zweck dieser Versammlung nach eingehender Prüfung nicht mehr mit der österreichischen Rechtslage vereinbar war”. Laut der Polizeidirektion Wien „musste die Staatsanwaltschaft zu dem Schluss kommen, dass das wahre Ziel oder der wahre Zweck der Versammlung […] darin bestand, Solidarität mit den Zielen von HAMAS zu zeigen und einen geistigen Nährboden für die Billigung terroristischer Straftaten im Sinne von § 282a Abs. 2 StGB (Billigung terroristischer Straftaten) zu schaffen.”

Die Polizei begründete diese Behauptungen damit, dass Versammlungsteilnehmer:innen den Slogan „From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free“ gerufen hätten und dass das Wort „Intifada“ auf Bannern zu sehen gewesen sei.

Keinerlei sachliche Begründung

Das Gericht wies diese Behauptungen mit der Begründung zurück, dass die Versammlungs- und Meinungsfreiheit auch dann geschützt sind, wenn die geäußerten Meinungen schockierend oder beleidigend sind. Dies ist in der ständigen Rechtsprechung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs für Menschenrechte festgelegt. Darüber hinaus würde das Bekunden von Sympathie für eine designierte terroristische Vereinigung, wie von der Wiener Polizei behauptet, nur dann eine Straftat nach § 282a StGB „Billigung terroristischer Straftaten“ darstellen, wenn dadurch die Begehung tatsächlicher terroristischer Straftaten verursacht werden könnte. Darüber hinaus erkannte das Gericht an, dass die bloße Verwendung der Ausdrücke „From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free“ und „Intifada“ keine Anstiftung zur Begehung einer terroristischen Straftat darstellt und nicht a priori eine eindeutige Identifikation mit der Hamas bedeutet, es sei denn, weitere Ausdrücke deuten auf das Gegenteil hin. Daher kann nicht von vornherein geschlussfolgert werden, dass diese Slogans einen „geistigen Nährboden für die Billigung terroristischer Verbrechen“ schaffen würden. Somit besteht keinerlei Sachlage, die die Auflösung der Versammlung rechtfertigen würde. 

Der rechtswidrige Überfall auf das Camp

Während der Räumung weigerten sich vier Studierende das Camp zu verlassen, nachdem die Polizei es gestürmt hatte. So wollten sie die Räumung verhindern und das Camp schützen. Drei der Studierenden wurden daraufhin gewaltsam aus dem Camp geschafft, isoliert und in Gewahrsam genommen. Eine weitere studierende Person widersetzte sich der Räumung und einer möglichen Verhaftung, indem sie auf einen nahen gelegenen Baum kletterte und dort etwa acht Stunden lang ausharrte. Stundenlang wurde ihnen Rechtsbeistand verweigert, und nur zwei Personen durften das Areal für lediglich ein paar Minuten betreten, nachdem Demonstrant:innen lautstark für die Rechte der Studierenden eingetreten waren.

Währenddessen versammelten sich spontan hunderteUnterstützer:innen vor dem Campus, um ihre Solidarität zu bekunden, und blockierten Straßenbahnen und den Verkehr an der Kreuzung Alser Straße und Spitalgasse im 9. Wiener Bezirk. Es wurde berichtet, dass die Polizei rassistische Bemerkungen gegenüber den Protestierenden machte und einer Person sagte, sie solle „dorthin zurückgehen, wo sie hergekommen ist”, nachdem eine englische Übersetzung der Anweisungen der Polizei erbeten wurde.

Die Studierenden und Unterstützer:innen vor dem Campus protestierten bis in die Morgenstunden des 9. Mai, besetzten die Straßenbahnlinien und verhinderten damit business as usual. Am frühen Morgen setzten sie ihren Protest bis zum Polizeianhaltezentrum (PAZ) in der Roßauer Lände fort, wo sie die Freilassung der verhafteten Aktivist:innen forderten und gegen die Zerstörung des Camps protestierten. Sie wurden dabei von einer Kolonne von Polizeifahrzeugen begleitet. Als sie im PAZ ankamen, wurden sie von einer Reihe von sieben Polizeifahrzeugen empfangen. Innerhalb weniger Minuten nach ihrer Ankunft wurden etwa 30 Personen von der Polizei aggressiv umzingelt und durften das Gelände nicht verlassen. Polizeibeamte griffen Demonstrierende körperlich an und drohten zur Einschüchterung mit Verhaftungen. Die Polizei zwang schließlich alle Demonstrierenden, sich auszuweisen. Mehrere Demonstrierende wurden gezwungen, sich fotografieren zu lassen. Diese erhielten später von der Polizei die Auskunft, dass strafrechtliche Ermittlungen gegen sie eingeleitet werden. 

Einige der Studierenden sahen es als unumgänglich an, dem nicht tatenlos zuzusehen. Sie brachten diesen Fall vor Gericht, um auf die Repression gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung in Österreich aufmerksam zu machen.

Kiran Chaudhuri, Senior Legal Officer des ELSC, erklärte: „Wir begrüßen dieses Urteil, das von unseren Partneranwält:innen in Österreich erstritten wurde, als einen juristischen Erfolg gegen die zunehmend autoritäre anti-palästinensische Repression durch europäische Polizeibehörden. Das Gericht hat unmissverständlich klargestellt, dass die Meinungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit verfassungsmäßige Rechte sind, die nicht von der Polizei gewährt werden, sondern vielmehr von den Behörden geschützt werden müssen. Das Urteil kann als Präzedenzfall für ähnliche rechtswidrige Polizeieinsätze gegen die wachsende palästinensische Solidaritätsbewegung in Europa dienen.“

تُعلنُ محكمة فيينا الإداريّة أنّ مداهمة الشّرطة للمخيّم الاحتجاجيّ “تضامنًا مع فلسطين” مداهمةٌ غير قانونيّة ومخالفة للدّستور

في شهر نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني 2024، أصدرت المحكمة الإداريّة في فيينا حكمها المتعلّق بشكوى ضدّ شرطة فيينا بسبب إزالتها وتدميرها لمخيّم التّضامن مع فلسطين، الذّي أقامه نشطاء بتاريخ 8 ماي/مايو 2024 في حرم الجامعة، وأعلنت المحكمة أنّ التّدابير والإجراءات التّي اتّخذتها الشّرطة تُعتبرُ غير قانونيّة ومخالفة لما ينصّ عليه الدّستور.

للتّذكير، نصب النّشطاء خيامًا لتنظيم مخيّم في حرم جامعة فيينا تعبيرًا عن تضامنهم مع القضيّة الفلسطينيّة. بعد ثلاثة أيام، تدخّلت الوحدة الخاصّة لشرطة فيينا (Wiener Einsatzgruppe Alarmabteilung) واقتحمت المكان في ساعات متأخّرة من اللّيل مهاجمةً الطّلاب المتواجدين هناك. قام حوالي 200 شرطيّ مسلّح بإخلاء المكان من الطّلاب والنّاشطين بطريقة عنيفة مستخدمين الدّرونز (طائرات التّجسّس دون طيّار)، عربات المراقبة، الكلاب البوليسيّة، الشّاحنات، وآلة رافعة.

أثناء المداهمة، لم تقدّم الشّرطة دواعي واضحة أو أسس قانونيّة بنّاءة لتبرير إزالة المخيّم وهدمه. لاحقًا، أعلنت إدارة شرطة فيينا أنّه إثر “تقييم نهائيّ قامت به كلّ من مديريّة أمن الدّولة وجهاز الاستخبارات (DSN) […] وبعد تدقيق النّظر بشكل واسع النّطاق، أُعتبرَ هدف هذا التّجمع غير مناسبٍ للوضع القانونيّ النّمساويّ.”

حسب إدارة شرطة فيينا، “كان على النّيابة العامّة أن تستنتج أنّ الهدف الحقيقيّ أو الغرض من التّجمّع هو التّعبير عن التّضامن مع أهداف حركة حماس وخلق بيئة خصبة نفسيًّا متسامحةٍ مع ارتكاب الجرائم الإرهابية بموجب المادّة 282 أ (2) من القانون الجنائيّ (StGB) [الموافقة على الجرائم الإرهابيّة].”

برّرت الشّرطة هذه المزاعم لأنّ المشاركين والمشاركات في التّجمّع ردّدوا شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” ولأنّ لافتات المتظاهرين احتوت على كلمة “انتفاضة”.

غياب أسس بنّاءة لتبرير تفريق التّجمّع

رفضت المحكمة هذه الادّعاءات مشيرة إلى ضرورة حماية حريّة التّجمّع وحريّة التّعبير حتّى ولو كانت الآراء المُعبّرُ عنها في مثل هذه التّجمّعات صادمةً أو ذات صبغة عدوانيّة، وذلك فقًا لقانون السّوابق والأحكام القضائيّة للمحكمة الأوروبيّة لحقوق الإنسان. ووضّحت المحكمة أنّ التّعبير عن التّعاطف مع منظمّة مصنّفة على أنها إرهابيّة، كما إدّعى قسم الشرطة في فيينا، يُشكّل جريمةً يعاقب عليها القانون بموجب المادّة 282 أ من القانون الجنائيّ “الموافقة على الجرائم الإرهابية”، فقط في حالة ما إذا كان من المرجح أن يؤدّي التّعبير عنها إلى ارتكاب جرائم إرهابيّة فعلية نتيجة لذلك.

وأقرّت المحكمة أيضًا بأنّ مجرّد استخدام شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” وكلمة “انتفاضة” لا يُشكّلُ تحريضًا على ارتكاب جريمة إرهابيّة ولا يشكّل مبدئيًّا تقمّصًا لمبادئ حركة حماس بشكل خاص، إلاّ في حالة ما إذا أشارت تعابير أخرى إلى خلاف ذلك. بناءً عليه، لا يمكن أن نستنتج دون إثبات وبشكل نظريّ أنّ مثل هذه الشّعارات من شأنها أن تخلق “تربة خصبةً نفسيًّا تشجّع على الموافقة على ارتكاب الجرائم الإرهابيّة”. وختامًا، لا توجد أيّ أسس بنّاءة لتبرير تفريق التّجمّع المتضامن مع فلسطين.

هجمة غير قانونيّة على المخيّم

خلال المداهمة، رفض أربعة طلّاب مغادرة المكان بعد اقتحام الشّرطة للمخيّم. وقد قاموا بذلك لمنع الإخلاء وحماية المخيّم. ثمّ قامت الشّرطة بإخراج ثلاثة من الطّلاب من المخيّم وعزلهم واحتجازهم. في نفس الآونة، قاوم طالب آخر محاولة إخراجه من المخيّم واعتقاله المحتمل، فتسلّق شجرة قريبة وظلّ هناك لمدة ثماني ساعات تقريبًا. إثر ذلك، حُرمَ الطّلاب من التّمتّع بحقّهم في الحصول على المساعدة القانونيّة لساعات ولم يُسمح إلاّ لشخصين فقط بدخول المبنى لبضع دقائق فقط بعد أن دافع المتظاهرون بصوت عالٍ عن حقوق الطّلاب بموجب القانون.

وفي نفس الوقت، تجمّع المئات من المؤيّدين عفويًّا خارج حرم الجامعة تضامنًا مع الطّلاب، فقاموا بتعطيل حركة مرور عربات التّرام وحركة المرور عمومًا عند تقاطع شارعيْ Alser Straße و Spitalgasse في الدّائرة التّاسعة لمدينة فيينا. حسب التّقارير، وجّهت الشّرطة تعاليق عنصريّة للمتظاهرين وقالت لأحدهم أنّه عليهم “العودة من حيث أتوا”، بعد أن طلب من الشرطة ترجمة تعليماتها إلى اللّغة الانجليزيّة.

واصل الطّلاب ومؤيّدوهم الاحتجاجَ خارج حرم الجامعة إلى صباح يوم 9 ماي/مايو على خطوط عربات التّرام وعطّلوا مجرى الأمور كالمعتاد. وفي وقت مبكّر من صباح ذلك اليوم، واصل المتظاهرون مسيرتهم الاحتجاجيّة إلى أن وصلوا إلى مركز الاحتجاز الأمنيّ (PAZ) في روساوير لاند، حيث طالبوا بالإفراج عن النّاشطين المعتقلين وهتفوا مندّدين بإجراء إزالة المخيّم وتدميره وقد لاحقتهم عربات الشّرطة خلال مسيرتهم.

وفي غضون دقائق قليلة من وصولهم، حاصرت الشّرطة حوالي 30 شخصًا بشكل عدوانيّ ولم تسمح لهم بالمغادرة. بعد ذلك، اعتدى أعوان الشّرطة جسديًّا عليهم وهدّدوا باعتقالهم، ممّا يعتبر شكلاً من أشكال التّرهيب. في نهاية المطاف، أجبرت الشّرطة جميع المتظاهرين على إظهار هويّاتهم وأجبرت أيضًا العديد من المتظاهرين على أخذ صور لوجوههم. لاحقًا، أعلمت الشّرطة المتظاهرون بأنّهم محلّ التّحقيق في تهم جنائيّة.

نتيجة لهذه الأحداث، اعتبر بعض الطّلاب أنّه من الضّروريّ عدم السّماح بحدوث مثل هذا الأمر وأنّه يجب اتّخاذ موقف، فقاموا بالتّالي برفع قضيّة في المحكمة لتسليط الضّوء على القمع الذّي تشهد حركة التّضامن في فلسطين في النّمسا.

حسب أقوال كيران شودوري، محامي في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC): “نحن نرحّب كلّ التّرحيب بالحكم الذّي تحصّل عليه شكاؤنا المحامون في النّمسا، فهو يعتبرُ انتصارًا قانونيًّا ضدّ القمع الاستبداديّ ضدّ فلسطين الذّي ما فتئ يتغلغلُ في مختلف أركان أقسام الشّرطة في أوروبا. لقد بيّنت المحكمة بكلّ وضوح أنّ حريّة التّعبير والتّجمّع حقوق دستوريّة لا يجب أنّ تمسّها الشّرطة: على العكس، يجب على السّلطات حماية هذه الحقوق. يُمكن اعتبار هذا الحكم سابقةً قانونيّةً تستهدفُ إجراءات غير قانونيّة مماثلة اتّخذتها الشّرطة ضدّ حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين التّي تنتشرُ أكثر فأكثر في أوروبا.”

Tags Academic freedom, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Case Update Press Release

Attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’. Hearing at the Tiergarten District Court suspiciously postponed

On Monday, 27 January 2025, another case in the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’ should have been heard at the Tiergarten District Court. The Berlin public prosecutor had opened an investigation against filmmaker Dror Dayan for the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations (§ 86a StGB), pressing charges. The case concerns a Twitter comment from November 2023, in which Dror Dayan denounced the criminalisation of the slogan in Germany. 

However, the judge postponed the ruling on spurious grounds, citing that an expert witness could not attend the trial for health reasons. The witness in question is a police officer in the Berlin State Criminal Police who had previously written and submitted an extensive report to clarify whether the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” constitutes a symbol of Hamas.

Importantly, the expert noted that the attempt to establish the use of the slogan as Hamas praxis would be reductive, highlighting that is had been used by a large political spectrum for many decades. Moreover, after reviewing a sizeable number of Hamas publications, including those dating back to 1988, the year of the group’s founding, the expert did not find a single publication which featured the slogan and thus concluded that there was no compelling evidence to claim that the slogan constituted a Hamas symbol.

Nadija Samour, Senior Legal Officer at the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) representing the defendant comments: “This is highly suspicious. The expert had already delivered their report to the judge in a written form. The judge could have ruled that day. We suspect that the judge artificially prolonged the trial for political reasons, probably fearing repercussions. A ruling in our favour would constitute a legal precedent for other ongoing trials regarding the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’. The judges seem avoidant to take a clear stance even though the police itself came to a clear conclusion.’’

Earlier, German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann had declared that expressing the slogan constituted a crime. This came right after the administrative court Bremen had ruled it was lawful. This must be considered an interference of the government in the judiciary. The tweet was widely understood as a warning and criticism of the court’s judgment.

Not isolated cases: Germany’s systematic repression of Palestine solidarity

There are currently dozens of ongoing cases concerning the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’’, many of which have been artificially prolonged in similar ways. Furthermore, expressions of the slogan, are currently variously charged as three separate criminal offences, including as ‘incitement to hatred’ (§ 130 StGB), ‘displaying symbols of unconstitutional organisations’ (§ 86a StGB) or ‘endorsement of criminal acts’ (§ 140 StGB). This indicates that German authorities are politically motivated to criminalise the expression of the slogan, even if it does not clearly and conclusively meet any criminal offence defined in the German criminal code.

These are not isolated cases. German authorities have only been expanding their alarmingly violent measures to suppress the Palestine solidarity movement. The German Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser, for instance, declared the slogan illegal.

In May 2024, the German Federal Ministry of Justice reiterated Nancy Faeser’s decree and declared the slogan to be a “Hamas slogan’’ and therefore punishable. Merely days after this declaration, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia banned the Palestine Solidarity Duisburg group over alleged support for Hamas for the group’s use of the slogan. This resulted in several raids targeting the homes of the activists in May 2024.

While much of the repression against the Palestine solidarity movement is issued at the German Federal level, the ruling Government of Germany’s capital, Berlin, has been particularly eager to press for even more authoritarian measures. For instance, the push to remove students from universities in Berlin, specifically in relation to Palestine solidarity on campus, should be of utmost concern as it effectively denies the right to education based on political beliefs.

Nevertheless, attempts to criminalise the slogan have been successfully pushed back against in German courts. In June 2024, a court in Munich reaffirmed the right to express the slogan ‘From the River to the Sea’ at demonstrations.

The association Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V. had called for a rally in front of the courthouse to protest the trial and oppose German complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in Palestine. 

Deutsch:

Versuchte Kriminalisierung des Slogans ‘Palästina wird frei sein, vom Fluss bis zum Meer’ Anhörung vor dem Amtsgericht Tiergarten verdächtig verschoben

Am Montag, den 27. Januar 2025, sollte vor dem Amtsgericht Tiergarten ein weiterer Fall der versuchten Kriminalisierung des Slogans „Palästina wird frei sein, vom Fluss bis zum Meer“ verhandelt werden. Die Berliner Staatsanwaltschaft hatte ein Ermittlungsverfahren gegen den Filmemacher Dror Dayan wegen Verwendung von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger und terroristischer Organisationen (§ 86a StGB) eingeleitet und Anklage erhoben. Der Prozess dreht sich um einen Twitter-Kommentar vom November 2023, in dem Dror Dayan die Kriminalisierung des Slogans in Deutschland anprangerte. Die Richterin vertagte die Entscheidung jedoch mit fadenscheinigen Begründungen, da angeblich eine Sachverständige aus gesundheitlichen Gründen nicht an der Verhandlung teilnehmen könne.

Bei der besagten Zeugin handelt es sich um eine Polizeibeamtin des Landeskriminalamts Berlin, die zuvor einen ausführlichen Bericht verfasst und vorgelegt hatte. Dieser sollte klären, ob der Slogan „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ ein Symbol der Hamas darstellt.

Insbesondere merkte die Gutachterin an, es sei eine unzulässige Verkürzung, den Slogan als Hamas-Symbol zu werten, da er seit vielen Jahrzehnten von einem breiten politischen Spektrum verwendet werde. Nach Durchsicht einer beträchtlichen Anzahl von Hamas-Publikationen, die bis ins Gründungsjahr 1988 zurückreichen, fand die Gutachterin zudem keine einzige Veröffentlichung, in der der Slogan vorkam. Sie kam daher zu dem Schluss, dass es keine überzeugenden Belege dafür gibt, den Slogan als Hamas-Symbol einzuordnen.

Nadija Samour, Senior Legal Officer beim European Legal Support Center (ELSC), die den Angeklagten vertritt, kommentiert: „Das Ganze ist höchst suspekt. Die Sachverständige hatte dem Gericht ihren Bericht bereits in schriftlicher Form vorgelegt. Die Richterin hätte an diesem Tag urteilen können. Wir vermuten, dass die Richterin das Verfahren aus politischen Gründen künstlich in die Länge zieht, wahrscheinlich aus Angst vor Konsequenzen. Ein Urteil zu unseren Gunsten würde einen Präzedenzfall für andere laufende Verfahren zur versuchten Kriminalisierung des Slogans „Palestine will be free from the river to the sea“ schaffen. Die Gerichte scheinen eine Entscheidung zu vermeiden, obwohl sogar die Polizei selbst zu einem eindeutigen Schluss gekommen ist.“

Zuvor hatte der deutsche Justizminister Marco Buschmann erklärt, dass die Äußerung des Slogans eine Straftat darstelle. Dies geschah unmittelbar nachdem das Verwaltungsgericht Bremen entschieden hatte, dass die Verwendung des Slogans rechtmäßig sei. Dies muss als Eingriff der Regierung in die Justiz angesehen werden. Der Tweet wurde weithin als Warnung und Kritik am Urteil des Gerichts verstanden.

Keine Einzelfälle: Deutschlands systematische Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidarität

Derzeit gibt es Dutzende von laufenden Verfahren wegen dem Slogan „Palestine will be free from the river to the sea“, von denen viele auf ähnliche Weise unnötig in die Länge gezogen werden. Darüber hinaus werden Äußerungen des Slogans derzeit auf dreierlei Weise als Straftatbestände verfolgt, darunter als Volksverhetzung (Paragraf 130 StGB), als Verwenden von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger Organisationen (Paragraf 86a StGB) oder als Billigung von Straftaten (Paragraf 140 StGB). Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die deutschen Behörden politisch motiviert sind, die Äußerung des Slogans zu kriminalisieren, auch wenn er eindeutig und abschließend keiner im deutschen Strafgesetzbuch definierten Straftat entspricht.

Dies sind keine Einzelfälle. Die deutschen Behörden haben ihre alarmierend gewalttätigen Maßnahmen zur Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung nur ausgeweitet. So erklärte die deutsche Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser den Slogan für illegal.

Im Mai 2024 bekräftigte das Bundesjustizministerium Nancy Faesers Erlass und erklärte den Slogan zu einem „Hamas-Slogan“ und damit für strafbar. Nur wenige Tage nach dieser Erklärung verbot das Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen die Gruppe „Palästina Solidarität Duisburg“ wegen angeblicher Hamas-Unterstützung, weil die Gruppe den Slogan verwendet hatte. Dies führte im Mai 2024 zu mehreren Razzien in den Wohnungen der Aktivist*innen.

Während ein Großteil der repressiven Maßnahmen gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung auf Bundesebene erlassen wird, ist die Regierung der Hauptstadt Berlin besonders darauf erpicht, auf noch autoritärere Maßnahmen zu drängen. So sollte beispielsweise das Bestreben, Studierende von Berliner Universitäte im Zusammenhang mit Palästina-Solidarität auf dem Campus zu exmatrikulieren, Anlass zu größter Sorge geben. Denn damit würde das Recht auf Bildung aufgrund politischer Überzeugungen verwehrt.

Dennoch wurden Bestrebungen, den Slogan zu kriminalisieren, erfolgreich vor deutschen Gerichten abgewehrt. Im Juni 2024 bestätigte ein Gericht in München erneut das Recht, den Slogan „from the river to the sea“ bei Demonstrationen zu verwenden.

Der Verein Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V. hatte zu einer Kundgebung vor dem Gerichtsgebäude aufgerufen, um gegen den Prozess und die deutsche Mitschuld an Israels Völkermordkampagne in Palästina zu protestieren.

محاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر”: تأجيل محكمة منطقة تيرغارتن الألمانيّة لجلسة الاستماع للقضيّة في ظروف مريبة ومثيرة للشكّ.

بتاريخ 27 جانفي/يناير، كان من المتوقّع أن تبتّ محكمة منطقة تيرغارتن الألمانيّة في جلسة قضيّة أخرى متعلّقة بمحاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرة من النهر إلى البحر”. للتّذكير، فتحت النّيابة العامّة في برلين تحقيقًا ضدّ المخرج السّينمائيّ درور ديان ووجّهت له اتّهامات على خلفيّة استخدامه لرموز منظّماتٍ تُعتبرُ إرهابيّة ومخالفة للدّستور (المادّة 86 أ من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ). تتعلّق القضيّة بتغريدةٍ نشرها درور ديان على تويتر في شهر نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني 2023 للتّنديد بالتّجريم الذّي يستهدفُ هذا الشّعار في ألمانيا. بيْدَ أنّ القاضي أجّلَ النّظر في القضيّة متعلّلاً بأسباب غير شرعيّة، ألا وهي عدم قدرة شاهدٍ خبيرٍ على حضور جلسة المحاكمة لأسباب صحيّة. في هذه القضيّة، الشّاهد الخبير هو ضابط شرطة ينتمي إلى فرقة شرطة ولاية برلين، وهو نفس الشّخص الذّي حرّر وقدّم تقريرًا مفصّلاً للعدالة للتّقصّي فيما إذا كان شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” يمثّلُ رمزًا من رموز حركة حماس.

من المهمّ التّذكير بأنّ الشّرطيّ الخبير قد أشار إلى أنّه لا يجدر بنا قوقعة هذا الشّعار في شكل رمز من رموز حماس واعتباره مجرّد شعار لهذه الحركة، فقد شدّد هذا الأخير على أنّ مختلف الحركات السّياسيّة استخدمت هذا الشّعار خلال عقودٍ من الزّمن. علاوةً على ذلك، بعد الاطّلاع على العديد من منشورات حماس، بما في ذلك تلك التّي نُشرت في عام 1988، أيْ السّنة التّي رأت فيها الحركة النّور، لم يجدْ الخبير أيّ منشور كان يتضمّنُ أو يشيرُ إلى الشّعار المعنيّ. بالتّالي، يُبيّنُ استنتاج الخبير غيابَ أيّ دليل مقنعٍ وقاطعٍ لتحجّج بأنّ الشّعار يمثّلُ رمزًا من رموز حماس.

نادية سمور، مسؤولة عن الاستشارة القانونيّة في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC)، وممثّلة المدّعي عليه: “هذا الأمر مريبٌ للغاية. فقد سبقَ أن سلّم الخبير نسخة تقريره المكتوبة إلى القاضي الذّي كان بإمكانه إصدار حكم في ذلك اليوم. لذا، فنحن نشكّكُ في مصداقيّة سبب التّأجيل ونعتقد أنّ القاضي قام بتأجيل المحاكمة بشكل متصنّع لأسباب سياسيّة، ربّما خوفًا من العواقب. بعبارة أخرى، قد يمثّلُ الحكم لصالحنا سابقةً من نوعها في السّاحة القانونيّة، فيؤثّرُ بذلك على مجرى قضايا حاليّة أخرى تتعلّق بمحاولة تجريم شعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر”. يبدو أنّ القضاة يتجنّبون اتّخاذ مواقف واضحة وقرارات صارمة على الرّغم من أنّ الشّرطة بحدّ ذاتها قد توصّلت إلى استنتاج واضح.”

في وقت سابق، أعلن وزير العدل الألمانيّ، ماركو بوشمان، أنّ استخدام هذا الشّعار للتّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين يعتبرُ جريمة. جاء هذا الإعلان مباشرةً بعد أن أصدرت المحكمة الإداريّة في بريمن حكمًا ينصّ على أنّ هذا الأمر قانونيّ. بالتّالي، يُعتبرُ هذا الأمر تدخّلاً مباشرا في نطاق صلاحيّات السّلطة القضائيّة.

هذه القضايا ليست مجرّد قضايا معزولة: القمع المنهجيّ الذّي تمارسه ألمانيا ضدّ أيّ شكل من أشكال التّضامن مع فلسطين

في الوقت الرّاهن، هناك عشرات من القضايا الجارية المتعلّقة بشعار “فلسطين ستكون حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” التّي تمّ تأجيلها لتمديد تاريخ الحكم بشكل مفتعل من خلال تطبيق طرق واستراتيجيّات مماثلة. علاوةً على ذلك، يتمُّ تجريم استخدام هذا الشّعار اعتمادًا على اتّهامات تُصنّفُ وفق ثلاثة أنواع من الجرائم الجنائيّة التّي لا تتعلّق ببعضها البعض، بعبارة أخرى “التّحريض على الكراهيّة” (المادّة 130 من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، “عرض رموز منظّمات غير دستوريّة” (المادّة 86 أ من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، أو “تأييد أعمال إجراميّة” (المادّة 140 من القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ)، ممّا يعكسُ توجّه السّلطات الألمانيّة، أيْ دوافعها السّياسيّة الهادفة إلى تجريم استخدام الشّعار والتّعبير عن مضمونه الذّي لا يُمثّلُ بأيّ طريقة كانت وبشكل واضح وقطعيّ جريمةً جنائيّة بموجب القانون الجنائيّ الألمانيّ. في الواقع، لا تُعتبرُ هذه القضايا مجرّد حالات معزولة، فهي مرآة تعكسُ مدى انتشار الإجراءات العنيفة والقهريّة والمثيرة للقلق التّي تلجأ لها السّلطات الألمانيّة لقمع حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين. في هذا السّياق مثلاً، أعلنت وزيرة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة، نانسي فايسر، أنّ هذا الشّعار غير قانونيّ.

في شهر ماي/مايو 2024، تبنّت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة مرسومَ نانسي فايسر وأعلنت أنّ الشّعار يُعتبرُ من “شعارات حركة حماس” وبالتّالي يُعاقبُ عليه بموجب القانون. بعد أيّام قليلة من هذا الإعلان، قامت ولاية شمال الرّاين وستفاليا بحظر كيان مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ وأنشطتها بسبب دعمها المزعوم لحماس على خلفيّة استخدام هذه المجموعة المعنيّة للشّعار، ممّا أدّى إلى العديد من المداهمات التّي استهدفت منازل النّشطاء والنّاشطات في ماي/مايو 2024.

حتّى وإن كانت معظم الإجراءات القمعيّة المستهدفة لحركة التّضامن مع فلسطين إجراءات تتّخذها الحكومة الألمانيّة، أي على المستوى الوطنيّ، من الجدير بالذّكر أنّ مكتب الحكومة في العاصمة برلين كان حريصًا كلّ الحرص على تعزيز الضّغط من خلال اللّجوء إلى تدابير وإجراءات كانت ذات صبغة أكثر استبداديّة. على سبيل المثال، يُعتبرُ السّعي إلى إبعاد الطّلاب من الجامعات في برلين، على وجه الخصوص في إطار التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين في حرم الجامعات، أمرًا مثيرًا للقلق بشكل هامّ، فهو إجراء يغتصبُ الحقّ في التّعليم على أساس المعتقدات السّياسيّة الفرديّة.

غير أنّ محاولات تجريم الشّعار فشلت فشلاً ذريعًا في المحاكم الألمانيّة. في شهر جوان/يونيو 2024، أكّدت محكمة في مونيخ مجدّدًا على شرعيّة الحقّ في التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين في المظاهرات عبر شعار “من النّهر إلى البحر”.

دعت جمعيّة Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V. إلى تنظيم مظاهرة أمام المحكمة احتجاجًا على المحاكمة وللتّعبير عن معارضتها لتواطؤ ألمانيا المساندة لحملة الإبادة الجماعيّة التّي تشنّها إسرائيل على فلسطين

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Press Release

Dutch Labour Court confirms: Firing of Palestinian employee by Dutch company over solidarity with Palestinian resistance was discriminatory, large compensation is due

This press release is available in English, Dutch, and Arabic. Scroll down for different language versions.

AMSTERDAM, 12 FEBRUARY 2025 – Palestinian employee Nouraldin Alsweirki has won a landmark legal victory over his former employer, Dutch software company Speakap B.V., which fired him in October 2023 over LinkedIn posts in which he supported the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation. This dismissal had significant consequences not only for Nouraldin but also for his family in Gaza. The Court of Amsterdam affirmed on 1 November 2024 that Speakap had discriminated against Nouraldin based on his political beliefs and ordered the company to pay a significant amount of compensation to him. Now, three months later, Speakap has officially let the deadline to appeal the Court’s decision expire, making the judgement final.

On 30 August 2023, Nouraldin, who is from Gaza and lived as a refugee in Turkey at the time, signed an employment contract with Speakap accepting the role of Frontend Engineer. In the days following 7 October 2023, he wrote many LinkedIn posts expressing his support for the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation. At that time, several of his relatives and friends were killed in Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). On 17 October 2023, Speakap informed Nouraldin that he had been dismissed on the ground that some colleagues would experience discomfort at his “strong personal opinions”. Earlier, the company had asked Nouraldin whether he would be willing to remove his LinkedIn contributions whenever requested, which he agreed to comply with.

Significant consequences

The decision meant that Nouraldin’s visa and residence permit were no longer valid to travel to the Netherlands. Having already given up his place and belongings in Turkey, Nouraldin was forced to apply for asylum in the Netherlands. As a result, with its decision Speakap had ensured that the evacuation of Nouraldin’s wife and family from the Israeli genocidal onslaught on Gaza was made impossible since a person who has applied for asylum cannot apply for family reunification until they have their residency permit in the Netherlands.

No impunity for employers like Speakap

Nouraldin decided to fight back. He contacted the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and through the lawyer Seyma Arikan from Spuistraat 10 Advocaten he filed a claim for unlawful dismissal. Following the decision issued by the Dutch Human Rights Board (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) in June 2024, the Court of Amsterdam in November 2024 ruled that Speakap had discriminated against Nouraldin on the basis of his political beliefs. This is unlawful under Article 7:681 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) and under the Equal Treatment Act (Algemene wet gelijke behandeling). The Court ordered Speakap to pay Nouraldin a significant compensation not only for unlawful dismissal but also for emotional harm inflicted.

A landmark legal victory

The Court’s judgement demonstrates that expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and criticism of Israel, including speaking out for the right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation also through armed struggle, are protected political beliefs on the basis of which you cannot be discriminated against according to Dutch anti-discrimination law. Resisting the Israeli colonial occupation that has been committing crimes against humanity since at least 1948, the right of the Palestinian people to armed struggle is enshrined in international law in Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and reinforced in UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions such as 37/43 from 1982.

This legal victory arrives at a critical moment in the Dutch context, amidst growing anti-Palestinian repression and a racist Dutch government increasingly attacking fundamental rights. The ELSC has observed a rise in workplace censorship, including in the Netherlands, where employees expressing solidarity with Palestine face intensified silencing. Although generally lacking any legal grounds, (the mere threat of) disciplinary investigation, dismissal, online surveillance, and harassment can create a chilling effect deterring workers from expressing solidarity with Palestine and standing up against the grave human rights violations in which employers may even be complicit. Often these cases go unrecorded as workers are worried about their employment. This legal victory, however, demonstrates that there can no longer be impunity for employers that repress anti-genocide, anti-apartheid, and anti-colonial voices – and the ELSC encourages employees to speak out, to keep records of the repression by an employer wherever it occurs, and to reach out to the ELSC for legal support or advice.

Nouraldin Alsweirki commented: “Genocide is highly radioactive; no distance keeps you safe from it. People should never feel safe to commit or enable crimes as that creates a very dark and despicable world for all of us, a world where your same justifications to shed blood will be reused to shed yours and other innocent’s. Everybody has a duty to oppose genocide.”

Juul Seesing, from the ELSC, said: “Speakap is an employer like so many in the Netherlands; their business-as-usual will not be inconvenienced by people speaking out against a genocidal occupation. According to companies like Speakap, Palestinians are supposed to do their jobs silently amidst an ongoing genocide against their people because it might make a privileged person or two ‘uncomfortable’. Let this case be a message to all employers complicit in repressing dissent and discriminating against people experiencing and opposing genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism; your time of impunity is over.”

Lawyer Seyma Arikan, from Spuistraat 10 Advocaten, concluded: “First the verdict of the Human Rights Board and now the ruling of the Court emphasise that dismissal on the basis of one’s political views is unlawful, obviously also when those views oppose the Israeli apartheid regime. These rulings respect the constitutional right to equal treatment and underscore the prohibition of discrimination based on political beliefs.”

Dutch

Rechter bevestigt: Ontslag Palestijnse werknemer door Nederlands bedrijf wegens solidariteit met Palestijns verzet was discriminatie, hoge vergoeding verschuldigd

AMSTERDAM, 12 FEBRUARI 2025 – De Palestijnse werknemer Nouraldin Alsweirki heeft een historische juridische overwinning behaald op zijn voormalige werkgever, het Nederlandse softwarebedrijf Speakap B.V., dat hem in oktober 2023 ontsloeg vanwege LinkedIn-posts waarin hij zijn solidariteit toonde met het recht van het Palestijnse volk op verzet tegen de Israëlische bezetting. Dit ontslag had niet alleen grote gevolgen voor Nouraldin, maar ook voor zijn familie in Gaza. De rechtbank van Amsterdam oordeelde op 1 november 2024 dat Speakap Nouraldin gediscrimineerd had op basis van zijn politieke overtuiging en veroordeelde het bedrijf tot het betalen van een aanzienlijke vergoeding aan hem. Nu, drie maanden later, heeft Speakap de termijn om in beroep te gaan tegen de uitspraak officieel laten verstrijken, waardoor de uitspraak definitief is.

Op 30 augustus 2023 tekent Nouraldin, afkomstig uit Gaza en op dat moment als vluchteling woonachtig in Turkije, een contract bij Speakap voor de functie van Frontend Engineer. In de dagen na 7 oktober 2023 schrijft hij verschillende LinkedIn-posts waarin hij zijn steun uitspreekt voor het recht van het Palestijnse volk om zich te verzetten tegen de Israëlische bezetting. In deze periode vermoordt het Israëlische bezettingsleger verschillende familieleden en vrienden van hem in Gaza. Op 17 oktober 2023 deelt Speakap Nouraldin mee dat hij is ontslagen omdat sommige collega’s zich ongemakkelijk zouden voelen bij zijn “sterke persoonlijke meningen”. Eerder had het bedrijf Nouraldin gevraagd of hij bereid zou zijn om zijn LinkedIn-posts te verwijderen wanneer dit verzocht zou worden, waar hij mee instemde.

Ingrijpende gevolgen

De beslissing van Speakap betekent dat Nouraldins visum en verblijfsvergunning niet langer geldig zijn om naar Nederland te reizen. Nouraldin, die zijn woonplek en bezittingen in Turkije al heeft opgegeven, is genoodzaakt om asiel aan te vragen in Nederland. Hiermee is de evacuatie van Nouraldins vrouw en familie uit de Israëlische genocidale aanval op Gaza onmogelijk gemaakt aangezien een persoon die asiel heeft aangevraagd in Nederland geen gezinshereniging kan aanvragen totdat die diens verblijfsvergunning heeft.

Geen straffeloosheid voor werkgevers zoals Speakap

Nouraldin besluit terug te vechten. Hij neemt contact op met het European Legal Support Center (ELSC) en via advocaat Seyma Arikan van Spuistraat 10 Advocaten spant hij een zaak aan wegens onrechtmatig ontslag. In navolging van de uitspraak van het College voor de Rechten van de Mens in juni 2024 oordeelt ook de rechtbank van Amsterdam in november 2024 dat Speakap Nouraldin gediscrimineerd heeft op grond van zijn politieke overtuiging. Dit is onrechtmatig op grond van Artikel 7:681 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek en op grond van de Algemene wet gelijke behandeling. Speakap is gedwongen om Nouraldin een aanzienlijke schadevergoeding te betalen voor naast onrechtmatig ontslag ook voor geleden emotionele schade.

Een historische juridische overwinning

De uitspraak van de rechter toont aan dat het uiten van solidariteit met het Palestijnse volk en kritiek op Israël, inclusief het uitspreken voor het recht van het Palestijnse volk op verzet tegen de Israëlische bezetting ook door middel van gewapend verzet, beschermde politieke overtuigingen zijn op basis waarvan je niet gediscrimineerd mag worden onder de Nederlandse wet. Bovendien is het recht van het Palestijnse volk op gewapend

verzet tegen de Israëlische koloniale bezetting die misdaden tegen de mensheid pleegt sinds ten minste 1948 vastgelegd in het internationaal recht in Aanvullend Protocol I bij de Verdragen van Genève van 1949, verder gespecificeerd in resoluties van de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties zoals 37/43 uit 1982.

Deze juridische overwinning komt op een kritiek moment in de Nederlandse context, te midden van toenemende anti-Palestijnse repressie en een racistische Nederlandse regering die in toenemende mate fundamentele rechten aanvalt. Het ELSC signaleert een toename van censuur op de werkplek, ook in Nederland, waar werknemers die hun solidariteit met Palestina betuigen steeds meer het zwijgen worden opgelegd. Hoewel er over het algemeen geen wettelijke gronden voor zijn, kan (de dreiging van) disciplinair onderzoek, ontslag, online surveillance en intimidatie een effect hebben dat werknemers ervan weerhoudt hun solidariteit met Palestina te betuigen en op te staan tegen de ernstige mensenrechtenschendingen waaraan werkgevers in sommige gevallen zelfs medeplichtig zijn. Vaak worden deze zaken niet geregistreerd omdat werknemers zich zorgen maken over hun baan(kansen). Deze juridische overwinning laat echter zien dat werkgevers die anti-genocide, anti-apartheid en anti-koloniale stemmen onderdrukken niet langer ongestraft kunnen blijven – en het ELSC moedigt werknemers aan om zich uit te spreken, administratie bij te houden van repressie van een werkgever mocht dit gebeuren en contact op te nemen met het ELSC voor juridische ondersteuning of advies.

Nouraldin Alsweirki: “Genocide is zeer radioactief waar geen enkele afstand je veilig van houdt. Mensen moeten zich nooit veilig voelen om misdaden te plegen of mogelijk te maken, want dat creëert een zeer donkere en verachtelijke wereld voor ons allemaal, een wereld waarin dezelfde rechtvaardigingen om bloed te vergieten opnieuw zullen worden gebruikt om bloed van jou en andere onschuldigen te vergieten. Iedereen heeft de plicht om zich te verzetten tegen genocide.”

Juul Seesing van het ELSC zegt: “Speakap is een werkgever zoals zovelen in Nederland; hun business-as-usual moet en zal geen hinder ondervinden van mensen die zich uitspreken tegen een genocidale bezetting. Bedrijven zoals Speakap vinden dat Palestijnen hun werk in stilte moeten doen te midden van een voortdurende genocide op hun volk omdat anders een geprivilegieerd persoon of twee zich ‘ongemakkelijk’ kan voelen. Laat deze overwinning een boodschap zijn aan alle werkgevers die besluiten werknemers die zich verzetten tegen genocide, apartheid en kolonialisme te onderdrukken en/of te discrimineren: jullie tijd van straffeloosheid is voorbij.”

Advocaat Seyma Arikan van Spuistraat 10 Advocaten concludeert: “Eerst het oordeel van het College en nu de uitspraak van de Rechtbank benadrukken dat ontslag op basis van iemands politieke opvattingen onrechtmatig is, natuurlijk óók wanneer die opvattingen zich verzetten tegen het Israëlische apartheidsregime. Met deze uitspraken wordt het grondwettelijke recht op gelijke behandeling gerespecteerd en wordt het verbod op onderscheid op grond van politieke gezindheid onderstreept.”

Arabic

قرار محكمة العمل الهولنديّة:

يُعتبرُ طرد موظّف فلسطينيّ من قبل شركة هولنديّة على خلفيّة تضامنه مع المقاومة الفلسطينية ممارسة ذات صبغة تمييزيّة وسيحظى هذا الأخير بتعويضٍ ماليّ هامّ لجبر الضّرر

مؤرّخ في 12 فبراير/شبّاط 2025، مدينة أمستردام

في سابقة من نوعها، ربحَ نور الدّين السويركي قضيّةً عدليّةً تمثّلُ نقطة تحوّل وعلامة مرجعيّة في السّاحة القضائيّة، وهي دعوى رفعها نور الدّين ضدّ مُشغّله السّابق، شركة البرمجيات الهولنديّة Speakap B.V، التّي طردتهُ من عمله، في شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، على خلفيّة منشورات شاركها على منصّة لينكدن يُعبّرُ من خلالها على مناصرته لحقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ، أيْ شعبه، في مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الصّهيونيّ. كان لهذا الطّرد نتائج وخيمة على نور الدّين وعلى عائلته في غزّة. ولكن في غرّة نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني، أكّدت محكمة أمستردام ما يلي: نور الدّين كان ضحيّة للتّمييز الذّي مارسته شركة Speakap ضدّهُ بناءً على معتقداته السّياسيّة وأمرت المحكمة بدفع مبلغ ماليّ كتعويض للضّرر. الآن، وبعد مرور ثلاثة أشهر من الحكم، بلغت شركة Speakap تاريخ انتهاء المهلة المحدّدة للطّعن في قرار المحكمة، ممّا يجعلُ الحكم نهائيًّا بشكل رسميّ.

في 30 أغسطس/أوت 2023، وقّع نور الدّين، أصيل قطاع غزّة والذّي كان يعيش في تركيا في ذلك الوقت، عقْدَ عملٍ مع شركة Speakap ليشغل منصب مهندس الواجهة الأماميّة لتطوير الويب. خلال الفترة التّي تلت تاريخ 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، دوّنَ نور الدّين عددًا من المنشورات على منصّة لينكدن يُعبّرُ فيها عن مناصرته لحقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الصّهيونيّ. وكان ذلك في ذات الفترة التي استشهد فيها الكثير من أقاربه وأصدقائه في غزّة على يد قوّات الاحتلال الإسرائيليّة. في يوم 17 من نفس الشّهر، أعلمتهُ شركة Speakap بقرار طردها له على خلفيّة احتمال شعور البعض من زملائه وزميلاته بعدم الارتياح والانزعاج بسبب “آرائه الشّخصيّة المتطرّفة” على حدّ وصفهم. من الجدير بالذّكر أنّ الشّركة طلبت من نور الدّين في وقت سابق ما إذا كان على استعداد لإزالة منشوراته على لينكدن عندما يُطلبُ منه ذلك، وقد وافق على الامتثال لذلك.

نتائج وخيمة

قرار الطّرد هذا يعني أنّ تأشيرة سفر نور الدّين وتصريح إقامته لم تعُدْ صالحةً للسّفر إلى هولندا والبقاء فيها. نظرًا لترك نور الدّين مكان إقامته وممتلكاته في تركيا، أٌجبرَ هذا الأخير على تقديم طلب لجوءٍ في هولندا. كنتيجة لذلك، وبسبب قرار شركة Speakap، أصبح من المستحيل إجلاء زوجته وعائلته من مخالب هجوم الإبادة الإسرائيليّ التّي كانت غزّة ضحيّته: ففي هذه الحالة، الشّخص المتقدّمُ بطلب لجوء لا يمكنه قانونيًّا تقديم طلب لِلمِّ شمل العائلة إلى أنّ يتحصّل على تصريح إقامة يسمح له بالعيش في هولندا.

من الآن فصاعدًا لن يُفلت المُشغلّون والشّركات مثل Speakap من العقاب

قرّر نور الدّين تحدّي قرار طرده، فتواصل معنا في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) وقام برفع دعوى قضائية على خلفيّة طردٍ غير قانونيّ بمساعدة المحامية سيماء أريكان من Spuistraat 10 Advocaten . إثر القرار الصّادر عن المجلس الهولنديّ لحقوق الإنسان في شهر جوان/يونيو 2024، أصدرت محكمة أمستردام حكمًا في شهر نوفمبر/تشرين الثّاني 2024 ينصّ على كون نور الدّين ضحيّة للتّمييز الذّي مارسته شركة Speakap ضدّه بناءً على معتقداته السّياسيّة. تُعتبرُ مثل هذه الممارسات ممارسات غير قانونيّة بموجب المادّة 7:681 من القانون المدنيّ الهولنديّ (Burgerlijk Wetboek) وبموجب قانون المساواة في المعاملة (Algemene Wet Gelijke Behandeling). كما أمرت المحكمة شركة Speakap بدفع تعويض ماليّ هامّ لجبْرِ كلٍّ من الطّرد غير القانونيّ من العمل والضّرر العاطفيّ الذّي لحقَ به كذلك.

انتصار قانونيّ تاريخيّ في سابقة هي الأولى من نوعها

حكمُ المحكمة دليلٌ على أنّ التّعبير عن التّضامن مع الشّعب الفلسطينيّ وانتقاد إسرائيل، بما في ذلك التّحدّث علنًا عن حقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في مقاومة الاحتلال من خلال النّضال المسلّح، هي معتقدات سياسيّة محميّة لا يُمكنُ لأيّ كان استغلالها لاضطهادك بموجب قانون مناهضة التّمييز الهولنديّ. بعبارة أخرى، يُعتبرُ حقّ الشّعب الفلسطينيّ في النّضال المسلّح وفي مقاومة الاحتلال الاستيطانيّ الإسرائيليّ، الذّي ما فتئ يرتكب جرائمًا ضدّ الإنسانيّة منذ عام 1948 على الأقّل، حقًّا مقدّسًا ينصّ عليه القانون الدّوليّ في البروتوكول الإضافيّ الأوّل لاتّفاقيّة جنيف لعام 1949، وهو حقّ تمّ ترسيخه في القرارات الصّادرة عن الجمعيّة العامّة للأمم المتّحدّة (UNGA)، نذكرُ على سبيل المثال القرار رقم 37/43 لعام 1982.

يتصادفُ هذا الانتصار القانونيّ مع وقت حرج تعيشهُ هولندا، أي القمع المتزايد ضدّ الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات وممارسات الحكومة الهولنديّة العنصريّة التّي ما انفكّت تصعّدُ هجماتها التّي تستهدفُ حقوق الإنسان الأساسيّة. لقد لاحظ المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) ارتفاع نسبة الرّقابة في أماكن العمل، بما في ذلك في هولندا، حيث يواجه الموظّفون والموظّفات الذّي يعبّرون عن تضامنهم مع فلسطين إخمادًا وإسكاتًا حادًّا لأصواتهم. عمومًا، رغم أنّ هذه الحالات تفتقرُ لأيّ أساس قانونيّ بنّاءٍ، فإنّ (مجرّد التّهديد بـ) إجراءات التّحقيق التّأديبيّ، الطّرد من العمل، المراقبة على الإنترنت، والمضايقة يمكنُ أن تخلق بيئة مرهبةً تردعُ العمّال عن التّعبير عن تضامنهم مع فلسطين والصّمود أمام أيّ شكل من أشكال الانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان التّي قد يكون أرباب العمل متواطئين فيها. في غالب الأحيان، تمرّ هذه الحالات مرور الكرام بسبب خوف العمّال من فقدان عملهم. بَيْدَ أنّ هذا الانتصار القانونيّ يُبيّنُ بكلّ وضوح أنّهُ، من الآن فصاعدًا، لن يستطيع المُشغّلون الإفلات من العقاب في حالة قمعهم للأصوات التّي تعلُو لمناهضة الإبادة الجماعيّة ومناهضة الفصل العنصريّ ومناهضة الاستعمار كذلك. وبناءً عليه، يُشجّعُ المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) كلّ التّشجيع الموظّفين والموظّفات لإعلاء أصواتهم، تسجيل وتوثيق الممارسات القمعيّة التّي يرتكبها المُشغّلون أينما حدثت، والاتّصال بالمركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (ELSC) للحصول على الدّعم القانونيّ أو المشورة القانونيّة.

يُعلّقُ نور الدّين السويركي قائلاً: “الإبادة الجماعيّة ذات مفعول شبيهٍ بالإشعاع الذريّ، فلا توجد مسافة أمانٍ تحميك منها. يجب علينا نفعل كلّ ما بوسعنا كي لا يشعر النّاس بحصانة تحميهم عند ارتكابهم للجرائم أو تمكينهم من ارتكابها، فهذا بحدّ ذاته يخلقُ عالمًا ظالمًا لنا جميعًا، عالم سيُلجأ فيه إلى استخدام نفس مبرّراتك لسفك دم الشّعب الفلسطينيّ لتبرير سفك دمكَ أنتَ ودماء أبرياء آخرين لاحقًا. واجب معارضة الإبادة الجماعيّة فرضٌ على كلّ فرد منّا.”

يضيفُ جُول سيسنغ (Juul Seesing) من المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانون (ELSC): ” Speakapشركة كالعديد من الشّركات الأخرى في هولندا لن تتضرّر أعمالها التّجاريّة بسبب تحدّث النّاس عن معارضتهم للإبادة التّي تشنّها قوّات الاحتلال. تعتقدُ شركات مثل Speakap أنّهُ يجب على الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات القيام بعملهم بكلّ صمت دون إحداث ضجّة بينما يعيشُ شعبهم تحت وطأة الإبادة الجماعيّة المستمرّة، لأنّ التّنديد بذلك قد “يخدشُ راحة” شخص أو شخصين من أصحاب الامتيازات، فيشعرُون “بالانزعاج”. بالتّالي، فلتكُنْ هذه القضيّة درسًا ورسالةً إلى جميع أرباب الأعمال المتواطئين العاملين على قمع المعارضة، والمرتكبين للتّمييز ضدّ الأشخاص المضطهدين والذّين يستهدفون المعارضين للإبادة الجماعيّة والفصل العنصريّ والاستعمار الاستيطانيّ: لقد دقّتْ السّاعة معلنةً عن نهاية إفلاتكم من العقاب.”

تقول المحامية سيماء أريكان من مكتب Spuistraat 10 Advocaten خاتمةً:” يُسلّطُ كلّ من قرار مجلس حقوق الإنسان والحكم الصّادر عن المحكمة الضّوء على أنّ الطّرد على أساس الآراء السّياسيّة أمر غير قانونيّ، ومن البديهيّ أنّ هذا الأمر ينطبقُ كذلك على الآراء التّي تعارضُ نظام الفصل العنصريّ الذّي تمارسه إسرائيل. تحترمُ هذه الأحكام الحقّ في المعاملة المتساوية بموجب الدّستور وتؤكّدُ على حظر التّمييز على خلفيّة المعتقدات السّياسيّة”. 

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Press Release

Palestinian from Gaza Challenges the Netherlands at European Human Rights Court for Shielding Israeli Officials from War Crimes Accountability

Joint Press Release
The Hague, 7 February 2025

On 12 February, Ismail Ziada, a Dutch-Palestinian citizen, will submit a response to the Dutch government at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), challenging the Netherlands’ decision to grant immunity to Israeli officials accused of war crimes. Ziada contends that this ruling denied his fundamental right to justice by shielding those responsible for the bombing of his family home in the Bureij refugee camp, Gaza, on 20 July 2014, killing his 70-year-old mother, three brothers, sister-in-law, and 12-year-old nephew.

Ziada pursued a civil case in Dutch Courts because, like countless Palestinians, he and his family are barred from seeking justice in Israel due to the systematic discrimination practiced against Palestinians. His case was heard before The Hague’s District and Appeal Courts (2019–2021) and later by the Dutch Supreme Court (August 2023). However, all three courts refused to hear the case claiming that the defendants—Benny Gantz (former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces) and Amir Eshel (former commander of the Israeli Air Force) were entitled to absolute immunity for war crimes in civil cases. Ziada strongly rejects this claim, arguing that war criminals cannot be shielded from accountability, especially for grave violation of human rights principles and international humanitarian law. Nearly 11 years later, there has been no justice or accountability.

Following the Dutch Supreme Court’s 2023 decision, which left him no legal recourse, Ziada had exhausted all avenues in the Dutch legal system and took his fight to the the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). In a brief presented in December 2023, he argued that the Netherlands had violated his right to access justice under the European Convention on Human Rights. In 2024, the ECtHR accepted the case and designated it as an “impact case”, recognising its far reaching legal and human rights implications. In November 2024, the Dutch government responded to Ziada’s claim, defending the grant of immunities in his case, irrespective of the nature of the crimes alleged (systematic war crimes) or the fact that there is no alternative forum for Palestinian victims to pursue justice.

Ziada’s response to the government and final submissions before the European Court of Human Rights will be presented on 10 February 2025. On this occasion, on 12 February prominent international lawyer Helen Duffy, Ziada’s legal representative, will present the case to press and public in the Hague, outlining the legal and human rights implications of the case, and other guests will discuss the significance of the case in the context of mounting violations in Gaza today.

In connection with this milestone, we are honored to be joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, alongside leading experts in international justice and human rights advocacy, for this discussion. The event will examine the challenges faced by legal activists, the role of the Netherlands in upholding international justice, and the broader implications for accountability for international crimes committed by Israel. We would be delighted to have you join us.

Please follow this link to sign up.

Newsletter

January Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe sent

Post author By ELSC
Post date 10 February 2025
No Comments on January Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe sent

Dear Friend,

CASE UPDATES

Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2’s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine

Five Palestinian plaintiffs, along with the villages of Iskaka, Marda, and Taybeh in the occupied Palestinian territory, represented by the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC), have filed a landmark legal complaint against major German media publishing group Axel Springer S.E., alleging violations of German law on corporate due diligence obligations. The complaint accuses Axel Springer of contributing to land grabbing and human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) through their Israeli subsidiary that operates the classified ads platform Yad2. According to JLAC, Yad2 facilitates the majority of real estate transactions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, at a time when forced displacement, annexation, and Israeli settler violence have dramatically intensified.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

The legal action, which is supported by Law for Palestine (L4P), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, signals a significant step toward holding international corporations accountable for their involvement in Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

BDS Austria against Municipality of Vienna recognised as Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation by Coalition Against SLAPPs In Europe

The legal action initiated by the Municipality of Vienna against an activist member of BDS Austria has now been officially recognised as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) by CASE, a coalition of non-governmental organisations across Europe united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by SLAPPs.

To add to its shameful affront to democracy and rights, the Municipality of Vienna had proposed a settlement requesting the activist to pay 17.000 euros – the total amount of damages previously asked, including legal fees. Additionally, the Municipality demands that the activist refrain from claiming it had brought “SLAPP suits” against BDS. Against this backdrop, this official recognition by CASE is an important success for the activists who have been facing legal challenges since 2021 and are still in legal proceedings as the Municipality of Vienna refuses to give up on their unreasonable claims. The case is currently pending before the Austrian Supreme Court.

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Additional Evidence Filed Against Booking.com for Profiting from Illegal Settlements

On 18 December 2024, a consortium of civil society organisations submitted new evidence to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in support of their original criminal complaint against Booking.com B.V. The complaint, filed on 8 November 2023, accuses the company of laundering profits from activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). With no substantive response from the Dutch authorities to date, this filing underscores how Booking.com has not only continued its operations in these settlements but has significantly expanded them.Evidence collected reveals that the number of listings in illegal settlements has risen sharply since the original complaint, particularly in East Jerusalem, where the number has risen from 13 to 39 within a year, from 9 November 2023 to 9 November 2024.

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Milan Court once again confirms ruling in favor of Karem Rohana vs. Maurizio Molinari

The Court of Milan upheld the ruling in favor of Karem Rohana against former La Repubblica editor-in-chief Maurizio Molinari. The latter had filed a complaint requesting the removal of Rohana’s social media posts and videos, which were deemed defamatory, a penalty for non-compliance, and publication of the order in the media. The court rejected the complaint, recognising Rohana’s statements as a legitimate exercise of the right to criticism and pointing out that there is no causal link between her posts and the alleged consequences complained of by Molinari. In addition, Molinari was ordered to pay 3,500 euros in court costs. The ruling represents an important victory for the protection of freedom of expression and a curb on legal actions aimed at censoring activists and civil society voices, especially in support of Palestinian solidarity.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

Court Ruling Leaves Dutch Arms Export Policy Intact

On 13 December 2024, the District Court of The Hague dismissed a case brought by Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations urging the Dutch State to align its arms export policies and trade relations with international law. Despite acknowledging the State’s legal obligations under international law, the court upheld the current practice of individually assessing arms export licenses, rejecting calls for a blanket ban on military and dual-use goods exports. This ruling leaves a critical gap, as it allows for the possibility that exported goods could indirectly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law. The court also accepted the State’s so-called “discouragement policy” toward trade with illegal Israeli settlements but failed to evaluate its actual effectiveness. This decision contrasts with the July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion, which called on all nations, to take active measures to end trade and investment relations that sustain illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

The coalition is reviewing the decision and considering an appeal, warning that the current approach risks perpetuating international crimes, including forced displacement, annexation, and apartheid.

VOLUNTEER TO MONITOR REPRESSION IN ITALY

Throughout 2024, ELSC has worked tirelessly to protect the solidarity movement with Palestine through hundreds of legal cases, advocacy campaigns, and critical monitoring efforts. Our work goes beyond legal support; it also involves documenting forms of repression in the countries where we operate to uncover and highlight the patterns behind them.

In 2025, we aim to expand our efforts and record even more cases of repression targeting the solidarity movement with Palestine, as well as activists, academics, and journalists facing censorship, defamation, and silencing for standing with the Palestinian cause. To achieve this, we are looking for new volunteers to help monitor the situation in Italy.

Do you speak Italian and want to help us record forms of repression in your country? Send an e-mail to our colleague Laila (laila@elsc.support) and she will give you all the information you need to become a volunteer with the ELSC monitor team!

SUPPORT THE LEGAL AID FUND

JOIN THE ELSC COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

ELSC EVENTS

On 14 December 2024
Know Your Rights Workshop Anti-Palestinain Repression In Schools
The ELSC in partnership with Team Eye4Palestine and the association 4Neukoelln+Berlin organised a Know Your Rights event in Berlin, this time focusing on repression in German schools. Lawyer Yalçın Tekinoğlu delivered a 45-minute lecture on repressive policies and ways to recognise and counter them, followed by an engaging Q&A with the audience. The event also provided a space to share experiences and strengthen networks within the community.

December 2024
Our team in Germany, Jasmin, Nadija, Tobias, and Alexander, spoke at a number of events in December 2024, sharing insights and reflections about the new German resolution against antisemitism, the criminalisation of the movement in solidarity with Palestine and legal repercussions of silencing and disinformation, developments leading to a German Mc Carthy era, and Know Your Rights resources and practices.

2nd February
Our Senior Legal Officer Nadija will be holding a lecture in Frankfurt am Main, examining the complex intersections between international law, Germanys’ reason of state, and legal questions concerning Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza.

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

Journalist Hannah El-Hitami spoke to ELSC lawyer Alexander for Amnesty International about Germany’s weaponisation of racist policy, surveillance, and law enforcement to repress solidarity with Palestine.

Job Opportunity: Chief Legal Officer

Post author By ELSC
Post date 31 January 2025
No Comments on Job Opportunity: Chief Legal Officer

Location: Europe
Reports to: Executive Director
Line Management: Senior Legal Officers – currently five in various locations across Europe
Contract: Full-time, with flexible working available
Salary Package:

€57,894 – €60,000 per year, depending on experience
€2,000 End of Year Bonus
€750 Staff Support Fund and support with home working equipment
Start Date: 1 April 2025, or as soon as possible

How to Apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Chief Legal Officer.”

Deadline: February 28, 2025

About the European Legal Support Centre

The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) is an initiative of the Palestinian NGO Network, comprising 200 Palestinian civil society organisations, developed in response to the widespread repression in Europe of advocacy for Palestinian rights. Founded in January 2019, we provide free legal advice and assistance to individuals who face unjust smears, disciplinary investigations, criminal sanctions, and other repressive measures aimed at shrinking the space for Palestinian rights advocacy in mainland Europe and Britain.

We are movement lawyers. In every case we take on, we are accountable not only to the individual client but also to our civil society partners; and we work hand in hand with local stakeholders in the movement, from trade unions to civil liberties groups. We aim to defend and empower the movement to organise for justice without fear of repression.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, or social class. We particularly welcome applications from Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora. ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.

Main Purpose of the Role

As the Chief Legal Officer, you will coordinate and oversee the legal strategy, caseload, and be the Department Head of the ELSC Legal Department. The role is a senior management level role and will join the Executive Management Committee. You will line-manage the Senior Legal Officers who coordinate the ELSC work teams: Germany, The Netherlands, Britain, Europe, and Crimes and Complicity Work Teams.

You will convene and lead the Senior Legal Committee and Legal Department meetings. The role will supervise and drive the implementation of an ambitious 2025 Sectors of Repression Strategy for each work team. You will maintain legal strategy alignment and connection across work teams by attending work team meetings where necessary, identifying gaps in resources, and connecting legal officers with external partners and legal networks.

Required Experience and Skills

Three years executive management and line-management experience of legal staff.
Four years experience as a practicing lawyer/solicitor/barrister in a relevant jurisdiction (The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, England and Wales).
Law degree (LLB) and/or Master’s (LLM) in a relevant jurisdiction.
Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions, and counsel, preferably within a law firm or an NGO specialising in strategic litigation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.
An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives.
Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics, and civil society organisations.
Highly organised with strong attention to detail, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.

Other Requirements

Willingness to travel and work occasional out-of-business hours as needed.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities.
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to the well-being of the staff.
Excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft packages.
Knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian solidarity movement and of movement lawyering.

Desirable Experience and Skills

Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.

Job Description

Oversee and lead the ELSC Legal Department.
Line-manage Senior Legal Officers.
Member of the Executive Management Committee.
Supervise the implementation of the Sectors of Repression Strategy for each work team.
Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal networks, partners, and experts.
Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.
Attend online work team meetings where necessary.
Maintain legal strategy alignment and connection across work teams by identifying understaffed areas and providing them with the appropriate resources.
Where necessary, meet in-person with team members in Amsterdam, London, and Berlin offices.
Facilitate a yearly in-person departmental retreat for the ELSC Legal Department.
Convene and lead the Senior Legal Committee and Legal Department Meetings.
Support Senior Legal Officers to undertake comprehensive risk assessment of campaigns and cases.
Maintain a comprehensive overview of the legal work using the ELSC Case Management System (CMS) and prepare reports for the ELSC Board where necessary.
Facilitate exchanges between work teams on similar legal matters.
Review legal opinions, notes, memos, and summaries in coordination with the Senior Legal Officers.
Maintain effective communication with each work team.

Application Process

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Chief Legal Officer.”

Deadline: February 28, 2025.

This position presents an opportunity to lead legal strategies at a pivotal time. We look forward to receiving your application.

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Call for Applications: Junior Legal Officer for the Netherlands

Post author By ELSC
Post date 22 January 2025
No Comments on Call for Applications: Junior Legal Officer for the Netherlands

[DUTCH BELOW]

Job Title
Junior Officer – NL Legal Officer

Location
Amsterdam

Reports to
Chief Legal Officer

Line Management
None

Full-time

Salary Package

9.3 – 9.5 Junior Officer Roles
30,000 – 34,890 EURO
750 EURO available to support staff well-being
Assistance with home office equipment

Start date
1 March 2025

Deadline to apply
Applications are due by 10 February 2025

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are seeking motivated candidates to join our team as Junior Legal Officers for an initial period of one year. This role provides a unique opportunity to gain practical experience and contribute to our legal strategy under the guidance of experienced professionals.

At the conclusion of the first year of employment (March 2026), successful candidates must be available and willing to undertake a legal traineeship with an ELSC partner law firm in the Netherlands. This traineeship is a vital step towards meeting the qualifications required to become a fully licensed lawyer. The traineeship will span two years, culminating in a three-year pathway to full professional qualification.

This structured program is designed to provide candidates with comprehensive exposure to legal practice, equipping them with the skills and experience needed for a successful legal career.

Overall purpose for this role

To undertake a wide variety of paralegal tasks.
Coordinate incoming cases with the Advocacy and Communications Officer and the Monitoring Officer of the Netherlands work team.

Main duties and responsibilities

Case Management & Legal Research

Effectively manage the intake and referral of cases in coordination with the ELSC staff members in The Netherlands work team.
Ensure accurate information and instructions are obtained from clients and accurate records are maintained in the ELSC Case Management System.
Ensure documents and copies of correspondence are kept up to date and filed.
Case intake and closure.
Conduct legal research on relevant areas of law such as:
- Employment law
- Administrative law
- Articles 10, 11, and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Draft legal documents and case summaries.
Liaise with Dutch lawyers in our network and coordinate referral of cases.
Ensure that urgent matters are escalated and referred to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
Communicate with clients/other parties as and when necessary, in a professional, respectful, and efficient manner.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS 

Genuine interest in working with European Legal Support Centre and passionate about defending Palestinian solidarity and providing access to justice to all.
Good academic background with legal qualifications (recognised degree from a law school at an accredited Dutch University (WO) or an equivalent academic qualification acquired outside the Netherlands that has been recognised by the Dutch Orde van Advocaten); the candidate has the necessary requirements for starting a legal traineeship in a law firm, i.e. including civiele effect). For more information, see more here (in Dutch).
Previous experience in a legal firm, chambers and/or legal clinic or law centre.
Ability to manage own workload in a busy environment to a consistently high standard and timely manner.
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to client care.
Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders.
Experience with dealing with clients sensitively and managing difficult conversations.
Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
Proficient user of Microsoft Office Teams.
Proficiency in English and Dutch with excellent written and spoken communication skills in Dutch. English is the working language of the ELSC and fluency in Dutch is required by the Dutch Bar Association (Orde van Advocaten).

Desirable

Candidates who have completed a thesis on topics related to our work such as freedom of expression and principle of anti-discrimination under national/international law, data protection law, counter-terrorism legislations are encouraged to apply.
Previous professional/practical experience in a law firm/moot court experience or legal clinic would represent a strong asset.
Experience of being involved with campaigns, in grassroots or non-profit organizations.
Familiar with the Palestine solidarity network in the Netherlands.
Arabic speaking.
Understanding of movement lawyering.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter (max 2 pages) to application@elsc.support with the subject line:
“Junior Legal Officer – NL”

Deadline: 10 February 2025

Vacature: Junior Legal Officer voor Nederland

Functie
Junior Officer – NL Legal Officer

Locatie
Amsterdam

Lijnmanager
Chief Legal Officer

Fulltime

Salaris

9.3 – 9.5 Junior functies
€30,000 – €34,890 jaarlijks
€750 extra beschikbaar voor ondersteuning welzijn personeel
Assistentie voor benodigdheden om thuis te werken

Begindatum
1 maart 2025

Deadline om te solliciteren
Uiterlijk 10 februari 2025

Belangrijkste doel van de functie

Wij zijn op zoek naar gemotiveerde kandidaten om ons team te versterken als Junior Legal Officer voor eerst een periode van één jaar. Deze functie biedt een unieke kans om praktische ervaring op te doen en bij te dragen aan onze juridische strategie onder begeleiding van ervaren professionals.

Na afloop van het eerste jaar (maart 2026) ben je beschikbaar en bereid om een legal traineeship te doen bij een advocatenkantoor en ELSC-partner in Nederland. Deze stage is een belangrijke stap op weg naar de kwalificaties die nodig zijn om advocaat te worden. De traineeship duurt twee jaar en dus zal je rol als Junior Legal Officer bij het ELSC een driejarig traject naar volledige beroepskwalificatie beslaan.

Dit gestructureerde programma is ontworpen om kandidaten uitgebreid kennis te laten maken met de juridische praktijk en hen uit te rusten met de vaardigheden en ervaring die nodig zijn voor een succesvolle juridische carrière.

Algemeen doel voor deze functie

Een grote verscheidenheid aan paralegal taken uitvoeren.
Inkomende zaken coördineren met de Advocacy and Communications Officer en de Monitoring Officer van het Nederlandse werkteam.

Belangrijkste taken en verantwoordelijkheden

Case-management & juridisch onderzoek

Effectief beheren van de intake en doorverwijzing van zaken in coördinatie met de ELSC-medewerkers van het Nederlandse werkteam.
Nauwkeurige informatie en instructies ophalen bij cliënten en het nauwkeurig bijhouden van dossiers in het ELSC Case Management System.
Ervoor zorgen dat documenten en kopieën van correspondentie worden bijgehouden en gearchiveerd.
Intake en afsluiting van zaken.
Juridisch onderzoek doen naar relevante rechtsgebieden zoals:
- Arbeidsrecht
- Bestuursrecht
- Artikelen 10, 11 en 14 van het Europees Verdrag voor de Rechten van de Mens
Juridische documenten en zaaksamenvattingen opstellen.
Contact onderhouden met Nederlandse advocaten in ons netwerk en het doorverwijzen van zaken coördineren.
Ervoor zorgen dat urgente zaken tijdig worden geëscaleerd en doorverwezen naar de juiste persoon.
Communiceren met cliënten/andere partijen waar en wanneer nodig, op een professionele, respectvolle en efficiënte manier.

Vereiste ervaring en vaardigheden

Oprechte interesse in het werken met het European Legal Support Centre en een passie voor het verdedigen van solidariteit met Palestina en strijden voor rechtvaardigheid.
Goede academische achtergrond met juridische kwalificaties (erkend diploma van een rechtenfaculteit aan een geaccrediteerde Nederlandse universiteit (WO) of een buiten Nederland verworven gelijkwaardige academische kwalificatie die is erkend door de Orde van Advocaten; de kandidaat beschikt over de noodzakelijke vereisten voor het starten van een juridische stage bij een advocatenkantoor, d.w.z. inclusief civiel effect). Zie voor meer informatie hier.
Eerdere ervaring in een advocatenkantoor, advocatenkamer en/of juridische kliniek of rechtencentrum.
Het vermogen om de eigen werklast in een drukke omgeving te beheren en werk te leveren volgens een consistent hoge, tijdige standaard.
Aantoonbaar begrip en betrokkenheid bij de zorg voor cliënten.
Bewezen vermogen om nauwkeurig, duidelijk en beknopt te communiceren, zowel mondeling als schriftelijk met een breed scala aan cliënten en diverse belanghebbenden.
Ervaring met het omgaan met cliënten op een empathische, integere manier inclusief het voeren van moeilijke gesprekken.
Bewezen vermogen om te werken en bij te dragen in een teamomgeving.
Bekwame gebruiker van Microsoft Office Teams.
Goede beheersing van het Engels en Nederlands met uitstekende schriftelijke en mondelinge communicatievaardigheden in het Nederlands. Engels is de werktaal van het ELSC en beheersing van de Nederlandse taal wordt vereist door de Orde van Advocaten.

Gewenst

Kandidaten die een scriptie hebben afgerond over onderwerpen die verband houden met ons werk, zoals de vrijheid van meningsuiting en de beginselen van anti-discriminatie onder nationaal/internationaal recht, gegevensbeschermingswetgeving en antiterrorismewetgeving, worden aangemoedigd te solliciteren.
Eerdere professionele/praktische ervaring in een advocatenkantoor/rechtbank of juridische kliniek is een sterke troef.
Ervaring met campagnes in grassroots- of non-profitorganisaties.
Actief in de solidariteitsbeweging met Palestina in Nederland.
Beheersing van het Arabisch.
Begrip van movement lawyering.

Solliciteren

Stuur je CV en motivatiebrief (max 2 pagina’s) naar application@elsc.support met als onderwerpregel: “Junior Legal Officer – NL”

Deadline: 10 februari 2025

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Press Release

Additional Evidence Filed Against Booking.com for Profiting from Illegal Settlements

Post author By ELSC
Post date 15 January 2025
No Comments on Additional Evidence Filed Against Booking.com for Profiting from Illegal Settlements

On 18 December 2024, a consortium of civil society organisations submitted new evidence to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in support of their original criminal complaint against Booking.com B.V. The complaint, filed on 8 November 2023, accuses the company of laundering profits from activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). With no substantive response from the Dutch authorities to date, this filing underscores how Booking.com has not only continued its operations in these settlements but has significantly expanded them. Evidence collected reveals that the number of listings in illegal settlements has risen sharply since the original complaint, particularly in East Jerusalem, where the number has risen from 13 to 39 within a year, from 9 November 2023 to 9 November 2024.

In 2024, Israel has declared state ownership of at least 24,248 dunams (5994 acres) of West Bank land, marking the largest annual land seizure by Israel in the OPT ever recorded.¹ On 25 June 2024, over 3,000 acres in the Jordan Valley were designated as state land, representing the largest single land grab in three decades.² Between the filing of the original complaint and before the submission of the additional filing on December 18, 2024, Israeli authorities demolished 2,031 Palestinian-owned structures, including 149 inhabited residential buildings and 103 donor-funded structures, the highest numbers recorded since 2009.³ Plans for the establishment of eight new settlements in East Jerusalem with over 12,000 housing units have been advanced, reflecting an 86% increase in settlement construction approvals.⁴ These advancements are coupled with a 120% increase in home demolitions, which reports indicate constitute collective punishment against Palestinians.⁵

In our complaint, we argue that by promoting and listing properties in illegal settlements, Booking.com directly supports the normalisation and economic sustainability of these unlawful practices. The company provides financial backing to settlers and their enterprises, furthering the displacement of Palestinians and solidifying settlement expansion. This conduct sustains Israel’s settler-colonial regime and violations of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits population transfer into occupied territories. We have substantiated our claims thoroughly. For instance, the additional evidence builds on the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements and underscored the responsibility of states to prevent economic activities that perpetuate them.

These violations demand urgent action. Booking.com’s response to our accusations confirms the urgency for intervention. The company has stated its intent to continue operations in the settlements unless explicitly prohibit§ed by domestic laws, asserting: “[…] we will permit listings anywhere in the world unless legally prohibited by the domestic laws […].” Failure to act risks sending a dangerous signal that profiting from and laundering the proceeds of war crimes will be tolerated, undermining international legal standards and justice for affected communities. Decisive action is long overdue.

[1] Peace Now. Settlements data: Lands. Available at: https://peacenow.org.il/en/settlements-watch/settlements-data/lands

[2] CNN (2024). ‘Israel approves largest West Bank land seizure in three decades, rights group says’, 4 July.

[3] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Breakdown of data on demolition and displacement in the West Bank. Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/data/demolition

[4] Ir Amim (2024). East Jerusalem in the Shadow of the War: Acceleration of New Settlements Juxtaposed with a Stark Rise in Home Demolitions, April.

[5] United Nations (2024). Report of the Secretary-General A/79/347: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan.

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Monitor Officer for Germany

Post author By ELSC
Post date 13 January 2025
No Comments on Monitor Officer for Germany

Job Title
Monitor Officer

Location
Germany

Reports to
Monitoring Project Manager

Line Management
Junior Monitor Officers

Employment Terms
Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant

Salary Package

€36,000 – €38,000, depending on experience
€1,000 End of Year Bonus
€750 Staff Support (including assistance with home working equipment)

Start Date
1 March 2025

How to Apply
Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support, with the subject line ‘Germany Monitor Officer’.
Applications are due by 5 PM CET, Friday, 31 January 2024.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This role supports the ELSC Monitoring & Research Department by:

Conducting mapping, outreach, and networking with relevant movement partners and stakeholders in Germany (NGOs, activists, lawyers, and academics).
Collaborating with the Monitoring Project Manager to oversee and coordinate data collection and storage for the Database of Repression.
Ensuring high-quality and coherent data collection and research.

The Monitoring and Research department documents and analyzes restrictive measures that create a “shrinking space” for civil society defending Palestinian Rights across Europe.

We are seeking a professional who can:

Ensure accuracy and detail in all collected information, reviewing data for errors.
Effectively supervise and line-manage volunteers and junior monitoring officers.
Assess specific research needs, demonstrate excellent networking skills, and work efficiently within a remote, pan-European team.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Proven ability to manage one’s own workload and time.
Experience managing collaborative research relationships with partner organizations.
Commitment to the Palestinian solidarity movement.
Strong administrative skills to manage projects.
Project management and leadership skills to oversee junior monitor officers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation abilities.
Language proficiency: Fluent in German, Arabic, and English.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Understanding of ELSC’s role and mission.
Experience in political campaigns, grassroots initiatives, or non-profit organizations.
Legal education background or familiarity with repressive policies.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated commitment to ELSC’s aims and objectives.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities.
Willingness to travel and occasionally work unsocial hours.
Flexibility to adapt within the broad remit of the post.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Monitor Officer, Germany

MANAGEMENT

Line-manage Junior Monitor Officers to ensure efficient data collection, storage, and management of the incident reporting process for Germany.
Oversee the coordination of volunteers in Germany to conduct fieldwork and monitor social and mass media.

RESEARCH

Deliver monitoring and research objectives aligned with the broader goals of the ELSC Database Project.
Execute projects and research proposals tailored to the needs of the ELSC German Work Team (Legal, Advocacy, and Research).
Apply academic knowledge to research and external activities.
Write or contribute to research requests and publications, disseminating findings through appropriate media.
Assess, interpret, and evaluate research outcomes.
Communicate complex ideas to various audiences, from peers to those unfamiliar with the Palestinian solidarity movement.
Ensure the delivery of German research goals as agreed with the Monitoring Project Manager.

LIAISON AND NETWORKING

Actively collaborate within and outside the ELSC to deliver monitoring and research projects.
Develop connections with partner organizations, trade unions, activist groups, faith-based groups, and research bodies.

d cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Junior Officer – DE Monitoring Officer.”
Deadline: 24 January 2025

Tags Call for Application

Press Release

Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2’s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine

Post author By ELSC
Post date 28 November 2024
No Comments on Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2’s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine
Sticky post

+ DEUTSCHE VERSION UNTEN

Berlin – November 27, 2024

Five Palestinian plaintiffs, along with the villages of Iskaka, Marda, and Taybeh in the occupied Palestinian territory, represented by the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC), have filed a landmark legal complaint against major German media publishing group Axel Springer S.E., alleging violations of German law on corporate due diligence obligations. The complaint accuses Axel Springer of contributing to land grabbing and human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territory through their Israeli subsidiary that operates the classified ads platform Yad2. According to JLAC, Yad2 facilitates the majority of real estate transactions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, at a time when forced displacement, annexation, and Israeli settler violence have dramatically escalated.

Allegations Against Axel Springer

Drawing on investigative research first published by The Intercept in February 2024, the complaint alleges that Axel Springer failed to comply with German law on business due diligence. Specifically, the company is accused of facilitating the sale and rental of properties in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, through Yad2. Currently, Yad2 provides more than 5,000 offers of properties and plots of land in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, which is occupied and populated by Israel in violation of international law. This practice exacerbates and solidifies the forced displacement of Palestinians while reinforcing the unlawful annexation of their land. These activities must be viewed within the broader context of severe human rights violations against Palestinians.

The filing is made on behalf of Palestinian plaintiffs whose lands and lives have been profoundly affected by the Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise, deemed unlawful, inter alia, by the International Court of Justice in July 2024.

“Holding illegal settlements and all entities who facilitate their developments and expansion accountable, is essential for justice and peace. The Palestinian communities we represent in this case continue to suffer the dire consequences of Israel’s decades-long colonial expansion on their land, which amounts to racial discrimination and apartheid as the ICJ ruled in July 2024.”

Issam Aruri, JLAC’s General Director.

Legal Context

This complaint aligns with this year’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory. The ICJ explicitly reaffirmed the obligation of states to prohibit business activities that sustain Israel’s illegal occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory. The complaint against Axel Springer is seen as a first step to call on Germany, a UN member state, to fulfil these obligations.

Corporate Responsibility

The complaint accuses Axel Springer of violating the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which since 2023 has required large German companies to address human rights risks in their supply chains and controlled subsidiaries. Public records suggest Springer actively manages its Israeli subsidiary that operates the Yad2 platform, failing to prevent its listings from facilitating land grabs that contribute to severe human rights violations, including violence, habitat destruction, restricted movement, as well as environmental harm. Some Palestinian complainants have already lost land, while others face imminent risk. They urge Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) to impose interim measures halting Yad2’s real estate listings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and to fine Springer up to 2% of its annual revenue, citing a recent Yad2 advertisement explicitly supporting Israeli control of the entirety of the West Bank. This legal action demands Axel Springer takes care that its subsidiary removes the listings and ceases business activities perpetuating these violations.

“Palestinians are seeking to protect their land, the homes they live in, their existence with this very complaint,” says Robert Grabosch, one of the German lawyers supporting the case. “If BAFA establishes that Springer exercises decisive influence on the Yad2 business, I expect BAFA to order illegal listings of Palestinian land to be suspended or deleted from Yad2 within days. The German government has repeatedly stated that Palestinians’ sovereignty over their territory must be respected.”

About

Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC), is an organisation that has formed a specialised niche by providing legal aid to vulnerable communities confronting human rights violations. JLAC has established itself as a key player in addressing critical issues, handling pro-bono legal cases related to house demolitions, forced displacement, land confiscation, and settler violence amongst other cases.

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative is a Palestinian-led initiative composed of international legal practitioners and lawyers pursuing legal action against individuals and entities complicit in the crimes in Palestine and against the Palestinian people, including the genocide in Gaza. It is coordinated by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine (L4P), and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD).

Press inquiries

For general inquiries about the case [ EN/DE ] : The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative communication@accountabilitypalestine.org

For the plaintiffs and situation in Palestine [ EN/AR] : Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) info@jlac.ps

Beschwerde in Deutschland gegen Axel Springer wegen Förderung illegaler Landnahme in Palästina durch Yad2 eingereicht

Berlin – 27. November 2024

Fünf palästinensische Beschwerdeführer sowie die Dörfer Iskaka, Tabyeh und Marda in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten – vertreten durch das Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) – haben eine richtungsweisende Beschwerde gegen die große deutsche Medienverlagsgruppe Axel Springer S.E. eingereicht. Darin werden Verstöße gegen die Sorgfaltspflichten des Unternehmens nach deutschem Recht dargelegt. Axel Springer wird vorgeworfen, über eine israelische Tochtergesellschaft, die die Kleinanzeigenplattform Yad2 betreibt, zu Landraub und andauernden Menschenrechtsverletzungen in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten beizutragen. Laut JLAC vermittelt Yad2 einen Großteil der Immobilientransaktionen im besetzten Westjordanland und in Ost-Jerusalem, während Zwangsräumungen, Aneignungen und Siedlergewalt dort weiter zunehmen.

Die Beschwerde, die von Law for Palestine (L4P), dem European Legal Support Center (ELSC) und dem Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) mitunterstützt wird, ist ein wichtiger Schritt, um internationale Unternehmen für ihre Beteiligung an israelischen Verbrechen gegen Palästinenser zur Verantwortung zu ziehen.

Vorwürfe gegen Axel Springer

Auf der Grundlage investigativer Recherchen, die The Intercept im Februar 2024 erstmals veröffentlicht hat, wird Axel Springer vorgeworfen, gegen deutsche Gesetze zur Sorgfaltspflicht in Auslandsgeschäften zu verstoßen. Konkret wird dem Unternehmen angelastet, über Yad2, der israelischen Online-Plattform zum Verkauf und zur Vermietung von Immobilien im Westjordanland, einschließlich Ost-Jerusalem, beizutragen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt sind über diese Plattform über 5000 Angebote von Immobilien und Grundstücken in dem von Israel völkerrechtswidrig besetzten und besiedelten Westjordanland einschließlich Ost-Jerusalem eingestellt. Diese Praxis verschärft und verfestigt die Zwangsvertreibung von Palästinensern erheblich und verstärkt darüber hinaus die illegale Annexion ihres Landes. Diese Aktivitäten müssen vor dem Hintergrund schwerer Menschenrechtsverletzungen gegen Palästinenser verstanden werden.

Die Beschwerde wird im Namen palästinensischer Beschwerdeführer eingereicht, deren Land und Leben durch die israelische Besatzung und Siedlungspolitik, die vom IGH im Juli 2024 als prinzipiell rechtswidrig eingestuft wurde, stark beeinträchtigt wurden.

„Illegale Siedlungen und alle Einrichtungen, die ihre Entwicklung und Ausdehnung fördern, zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen, ist für Gerechtigkeit und Frieden in der Region unerlässlich. Die palästinensischen Gemeinschaften, die wir in diesem Fall vertreten, leiden weiterhin unter den schrecklichen Folgen der jahrzehntelangen kolonialen Expansion Israels auf ihrem Land, die Rassendiskriminierung und Apartheid gleichkommt, wie der IGH im Juli 2024 entschieden hat.”

Issam Aruri, Generaldirektor von JLAC.

Rechtlicher Kontext

Diese Beschwerde steht im Einklang mit dem diesjährigen Gutachten des Internationalen Gerichtshofs (IGH) zu den rechtlichen Folgen der Politik und der Praktiken Israels in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten. Der IGH hat ausdrücklich die Verpflichtung der Staaten bekräftigt, Geschäftstätigkeiten zu verbieten, die die illegale israelische Besatzung der palästinensischen Gebiete unterstützen. Die Beschwerde gegen Axel Springer versteht sich als erster Schritt, Deutschland als UN-Mitgliedstaat dazu aufzufordern, diesen Verpflichtungen nachzukommen.

Die Beschwerde wirft Axel Springer vor, gegen das Lieferkettengesetz (LkSG) zu verstoßen, das seit 2023 von größeren deutschen Unternehmen verlangt, Menschenrechtsrisiken in Lieferketten und Tochtergesellschaften zu vermeiden. Öffentliche Unterlagen deuten darauf hin, dass Springer einen bestimmenden Einfluss auf seine israelische Tochtergesellschaft Yad2 ausübt und nicht verhindert, dass Inserate auf Yad2 zur Zwangsräumung und zum Entzug von Land beitragen, womit auch weitere Menschenrechtsverletzungen, Gewaltanwendung, Bewegungseinschränkungen und Umweltschäden einhergehen.

Einige palästinensische Beschwerdeführer haben bereits Land verloren, andere sind unmittelbar von Landraub gefährdet. Sie fordern das Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA) dazu auf, einstweilige Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Immobilienangebote von Yad2 im Westjordanland und Ostjerusalem zu stoppen. Sie fordern zudem, ein Bußgeld von bis zu 2 Prozent des Springer-Jahresumsatzes zu verhängen, zumal eine kürzlich geschaltete Yad2-Anzeige die israelische Kontrolle über das gesamte Westjordanland ausdrücklich unterstützt. Mit dieser Beschwerde wird Axel Springer aufgefordert, dafür zu sorgen, dass sein Tochterunternehmen diese Inserate entfernt und die Geschäftsaktivitäten einstellt, die den Landraub befördern.

„Palästinenser versuchen mit dieser Beschwerde, ihr Land, ihre Häuser und ihre Existenz zu schützen“, sagt Robert Grabosch, einer der deutschen Juristen, die den Fall unterstützen. „Wenn das BAFA feststellt, dass Springer entscheidenden Einfluss auf die Geschäfte von Yad2 ausübt, rechne ich damit, dass es innerhalb weniger Tage anordnet, dass illegale Einträge palästinensischen Landes bei Yad2 deaktiviert oder gelöscht werden. Die Bundesregierung hat wiederholt erklärt, dass die Souveränität der Palästinenser über ihr Gebiet respektiert werden muss.“

Über

Das Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) ist eine Organisation, die sich auf Rechtshilfe für gefährdete Gruppen spezialisiert hat, die gegen Menschenrechtsverletzungen ankämpfen. JLAC hat sich als wichtiger Akteur bei der Bewältigung kritischer Fälle etabliert und bearbeitet unter anderem Pro-Bono-Rechtsfälle im Zusammenhang mit Hauszerstörungen, Zwangsumsiedlungen, Landenteignungen und Gewalt durch Siedler.

Die „Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative“ ist eine palästinensisch geführte Initiative, die sich aus internationalen Rechtspraktikern und Anwälten zusammensetzt. Sie leiten rechtliche Schritte gegen Einzelpersonen und Organisationen ein, die sich an den Verbrechen in Palästina und gegen das palästinensische Volk mitschuldig gemacht haben, einschließlich des Völkermords in Gaza. Sie wird vom European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine (L4P) und dem Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) koordiniert.

Presseanfragen

Für allgemeine Anfragen zum Fall [EN/DE] : The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative communication@accountabilitypalestine.org

Für die Kläger und die Situation in Palästina [EN/AR] : Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC) info@jlac.ps

Tags Defunding

Event

Know Your Rights: Anti-Palestinian Repression in Schools

Post author By ELSC
Post date 27 November 2024
Sticky post

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP

ANTI-PALESTINIAN REPRESSION IN SCHOOLS
with lawyer Yalçın Tekinoğlu

On Saturday, December 14, 2024, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), in partnership with Team Eye4Palestine and the association 4Neukoelln+Berlin, will host a Know Your Rights workshop with lawyer Yalçın Tekinoğlu at the House of Democracy and Human Rights (Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin). The workshop will focus on the increasing anti-Palestinian repression and discrimination in German schools.

Yalçın Tekinoğlu is an expert on legal matters in school contexts. A 45-minute lecture featuring a general legal overview and a discussion of specific cases will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

The event begins at 4:00 p.m. and will be held in German. Translation into Arabic and English can be provided ad hoc.

NOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP

ANTI-PALÄSTINENSISCHE REPRESSION AN SCHULEN

mit Rechtsanwalt Yalçın Tekinoğlu

Am Samstag, den 14. Dezember 2024, veranstaltet das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) in Kooperation mit Team Eye4Palestine und dem Verein 4Neukoelln+Berlin einen Know Your Rights Workshop mit Rechtsanwalt Yalçın Tekinoğlu im Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte (Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin). Thema des Workshops ist die zunehmende anti-palästinensische Repression und Diskriminierung an deutschen Schulen.

Yalçın Tekinoğlu ist Experte für die rechtliche Situation im schulischen Kontext und wird nach einem 45-minütigen Vortrag über die allgemeine Rechtslage und konkrete Fälle auch Fragen aus dem Publikum beantworten.

Die Veranstaltung beginnt um 16:00 Uhr und wird auf Deutsch abgehalten. Eine Übersetzung ins Arabische und Englische kann ad hoc bereitgestellt werden.

ندوة “اعرف حقوقك”

ضد القمع المناهض للطلاب الفلسطينيين في المدارس
مع المحامي يالتشين تكين أوغلو

يوم السبت، 14 ديسمبر 2024، ينظم المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني (csle) بالاشتراك مع مجموعة ( عين على فلسطين ) و جمعية ( من اجل نويكولن و برلين )ندوة عمل بعنوان “اعرف حقوقك” مع المحامي يالتشين تكين أوغلو في بيت الديمقراطية وحقوق الإنسان

Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin

موضوع الندوة هو تزايد القمع والتمييز المناهض للطلاب الفلسطينيين في المدارس الألمانية.

المحامي يالتشين تكين أوغلو، الخبير في الوضع القانوني في السياق المدرسي، سيقدم محاضرة لمدة 45 دقيقة حول الوضع القانوني العام ولبعض الحالات العنصرية التي عايشها طلاب وطالبات فلسطينين في المدارس الالمانية، يليها فقرة للإجابة عن أسئلة الجمهور.

تبدأ الندوة الساعة 00:61.

ستُعقد الفعالية باللغة الألمانية، لكن يمكن توفير ترجمة فورية إلى العربية والإنجليزية حسب الحاجة.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Expression

Statement

Solidarity with Amsterdammers Standing Up Against Genocide and State Repression

Post author By ELSC
Post date 18 November 2024
Sticky post

Solidarity with Amsterdammers Against Genocide & Repression

DUTCH AND ARABIC BELOW.

We at the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) stand in solidarity with the people in Amsterdam standing up against the genocide perpetrators, supporters, and vicious police force unleashed on our streets over the past weeks.

While Israel, with full impunity and full support from the Dutch government, is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, the racist Dutch government and the Amsterdam municipality collude with the Israeli government against their own population. Mainstream media outlets engaged in a disinformation campaign and Dutch authorities pre-emptively banned demonstrations to suppress those who speak out against the glorification and justification of genocide. The demonstration ban issued on 8 November led to massive police deployment and extreme violence against protesters, as well as arbitrary arrests and forcible removal outside of Amsterdam where police were shown to assault demonstrators in the night. This is a worrying precedent under an alarming pattern of restrictions.

These acts constitute an outrageous attack against the fundamental right to assembly and association and are in direct breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In a joint statement published in February 2024, nine UN Special Rapporteurs stressed that “protests and rights movements should be facilitated rather than restricted or criminalised” and that “enabling and protecting human rights defenders and fundamental freedoms is also vital to give effect to the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice.” Instead, the Dutch government is emboldening Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on Palestinians by cracking down on protest rights and jeopardising freedom of expression and assembly. This is happening in a context already marked by anti-Palestinian repression. Individuals in the Netherlands have been fired from their jobs for voicing opinions on social media or have reported facing hate speech, censorship and self-censoring fearing reprisals, including discrimination and criminalisation, for voicing their opinions online and offline.

While the Netherlands further descends into fascism, we keep each other safe.

As ELSC, our team in the Netherlands is devoting all their capacities to monitoring all forms of repression against protesters and activists and connecting those in need of legal support to our network of lawyers. If you have faced police violence or any other form of repression for protesting or advocating for Palestinian rights, we strongly encourage you to fill out the ELSC report form. Sending your report is crucial as it helps us gather evidence and create a database to expose and challenge the systematic forms of anti-Palestinian repression.

In summary, allow us to remind you to:

Report all incidents of repression and request support by filling out this form, available in Dutch, Arabic, English, and several other languages.
Consult our Know Your Rights Toolkit for Protesters in the Netherlands. It provides an overview of protest law in the Netherlands and pays attention to specific questions and themes that affect our movement. It is available in Dutch, Arabic, and English.

Read these tips on what to do before, during, and after house searches.
Look at this guide for support and recovery after experiencing or witnessing police violence.
Consider this guide on prevention and aftercare of doxing.

In solidarity with our movement.

Solidariteit met de Amsterdammers die opstaan tegen genocide en staatrepressie

Wij van het European Legal Support Center (ELSC) zijn solidair met de mensen in Amsterdam die opstaan tegen genocideplegers, hun aanhangers en de wrede politiemacht die de afgelopen weken op onze straten zijn losgelaten.

Terwijl Israël – met volledige straffeloosheid en met volledige steun van de Nederlandse regering – genocide pleegt op Palestijnen in Gaza, spannen de racistische Nederlandse regering en de gemeente Amsterdam samen met de Israëlische regering tegen hun eigen bevolking. De mainstream media ondersteunden hen met een desinformatiecampagne, en de Nederlandse autoriteiten verboden preventief demonstraties om mensen die opstaan tegen genocide te criminaliseren. Het demonstratieverbod dat op 8 november werd uitgevaardigd leidde tot massale politie-inzet, willekeurige arrestaties, en extreem geweld tegen demonstranten. Demonstranten werden bijvoorbeeld buiten Amsterdam gereden, waar politie hen in het holst van de nacht aanviel. Dit is een zorgwekkend precedent.

Deze daden vormen een schandelijke aanval op het fundamentele recht op vergadering en vereniging en zijn een directe schending van Artikel 11 van het Europees Verdrag voor de Rechten van de Mens. In een gezamenlijke verklaring uit februari 2024 benadrukten negen Speciale VN-Rapporteurs dat “protesten en bewegingen voor rechten moeten worden gefaciliteerd in plaats van beperkt of gecriminaliseerd” en dat “het faciliteren en beschermen van mensenrechtenverdedigers en fundamentele vrijheden ook van vitaal belang is om uitvoering te geven aan de recente uitspraak van het Internationaal Gerechtshof.”

In plaats van te handelen volgens het internationaal recht moedigt de Nederlandse regering Israëls aanvallen op Palestijnen aan door het protestrecht met harde hand aan te pakken en de vrijheid van meningsuiting en vergadering in gevaar te brengen. Dit gebeurt in een context die al wordt gekenmerkt door anti-Palestijnse repressie. Individuen in Nederland zijn ontslagen omdat ze hun mening gaven op sociale media of hebben te maken met haatzaaierij, censuur of zelfcensuur uit angst voor represailles, waaronder discriminatie en criminalisering, voor het geven van hun mening online en offline.

Terwijl Nederland verder afglijdt in het facisme, houden wij elkaar veilig.

Ons team in Nederland zet al diens capaciteiten in om alle vormen van repressie tegen demonstranten en activisten te monitoren en om degenen die juridische ondersteuning nodig hebben in contact te brengen met ons netwerk van advocaten. Als je te maken hebt gehad met politiegeweld en/of enige andere vorm van onderdrukking omdat je protesteerde of opkwam voor Palestijnse rechten, dan raden we je sterk aan om dit bij ons te melden via dit formulier. Dit is cruciaal omdat het ons helpt bewijs te verzamelen en een database aan te leggen om de systematische vormen van anti-Palestijnse onderdrukking aan de kaak te stellen en aan te vechten.

Ter afsluiting willen we je eraan herinneren om:

Alle incidenten van repressie en vragen voor ondersteuning aan ons te laten weten door dit formulier in te vullen, beschikbaar in het Nederlands, Arabisch, Engels, en verschillende andere talen.
Onze Know Your Rights-toolkit voor demonstranten in Nederland te raadplegen. Deze geeft een overzicht van de wetgeving met betrekking tot protesteren in Nederland en besteedt aandacht aan specifieke vragen en thema’s die van invloed zijn op onze beweging. De toolkit is beschikbaar in het Nederlands, Arabisch en Engels.
Deze tips te lezen over wat te doen voor, tijdens, en na huiszoekingen.
Naar deze pagina te gaan mocht steun en herstel nodig zijn na het meemaken van of getuige zijn van politiegeweld.
Deze gids te raadplegen over het voorkomen van en de nazorg van doxing.

In solidariteit met onze beweging.

تضامناً مع سكان أمستردام في مواجهة الإبادة الجماعية والقمع الحكومي.

نحنُ، المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE)، نعبّر عن تضامننا الكامل مع سكّان مدينة أمستردام، الذين يقاومون مرتكبي الإبادة الجماعية وداعميهم والقوة البوليسية الشرسة التي اجتاحت شوارعنا خلال الأسابيع الماضية.

في الوقت الذي ترتكب فيه إسرائيل الإبادة الجماعية ضد الفلسطينيين في غزة بدعم كامل ومن دون محاسبة من الحكومة الهولندية، تتواطأ الحكومة الهولندية العنصرية وبلدية أمستردام مع الحكومة الإسرائيلية ضد سكانها.

لقد شاركت وسائل الإعلام الرّئيسيّة في حملات إعلاميّة تضليليّة واسعة النّطاق وقامت السّلطات الهولنديّة بحظر المظاهرات بشكل استباقيّ الغية قمع الأصوات التّي تعلُو مُندّدةً بتمجيد وتبرير الإبادة الجماعيّة. أدّى حظر المظاهرات بتاريخ 8 نوفمبر إلى انتشار مُكثّفٍ لقوّات الشّرطة ولجوءٍ إلى عنف شديدٍ ضدّ المتظاهرين والمتظاهرات. كما نتجَتْ عن هذا الحظر مجموعةٌ من الاعتقالات ذات الصّبغة التّعسفيّة وطردٌ قسريّ خارج نطاق أمستردام حيثُ تَبيّنَ للعِيان اعتداءُ الشّرطة على المتظاهرين ليلاً. يشكل هذا سابقة خطيرة في نمط مقلق من القيود المفروضة .

تشكل مِثْلُ هذه الإجراءات اعتداءً صارخاً على الحق الأساسي التّجمّع وتكوين الجمعيّات، ممّا يُشكّلُ انتهاكًا مباشرًا للمادّة 11 من الاتّفاقيّة الأوروبيّة لحقوق الإنسان. في بيان مشترك نُشرَ في شهر فبراير 4202، أكدت تسعة من المقرّرين الخاصّين الأمم المتّحدة على أنّ “يجب تسهيل الاحتجاجات والحركات الحقوقية بدلاً من تقييدها أو تجريمها”، كما أن “تمكين المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان وحماية الحريات الأساسية أمران حيويان لتنفيذ حكم محكمة العدل الدولية الأخير.”

لكنْ بدلاً من ذلك، تعمل الحكومة الهولنديّة على تشجيع الهجمات العشوائيّة التّي تشنّها إسرائيل على الشّعب الفلسطينيّ من خلال قمع حقّ الاحتجاج والتّظاهر وتعريض حريّة التّعبير والتّجمّع للخطر، وهذا ليس بالأمر الجديد، فكلّها أمور تحدثُ في سياق يتّسمُ، مُنذ فترة من الزّمن، بقمع يستهدفُ الفلسطينيّين: ففي هولندا، فُصلَ أشخاص من وظائفهم بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على وسائل التّواصل الاجتماعيّ وأفاد آخرون كونهم كانوا ضحايا لخطاب الكراهيّة، وللرّقابة، والرّقابة الذّاتيّة كذلك خوفًا من أيّ شكل من أشكال الانتقام، بعبارة أخرى تعرّضهم للتّمييز والتّجريم مثلاً بسبب التّعبير عن آرائهم عبر شبكة الإنترنت وخارج نطاقها.

في الوقت الذي تنحدر فيه هولندا أكثر نحو الفاشية، نبقى معاً لنحمي بعضنا البعض.

يُكرّسُ فريقنا في المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE) في هولندا كلّ جهوده لرصدِ جميع أشكال القمع ضدّ المتظاهرين والنّاشطين ولنكونَ همزة وصل تربطُ بين الأشخاص المحتاجين إلى الدّعم القانونيّ والمحامين في شبكتنا. إذا كنت ضحيّة من ضحايا عنف قوّات الشّرطة أو أيّ شكل آخر من أشكال القمع في إطار احتجاج، أو مظاهرة ما، أو مناصرة لحقوق الفلسطينيّين، نُشجّعُكَ كلّ التّشجيع على تعمير نموذج استمارة الإبلاغ الخاصّة بالمركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ. إنّ إرسال بلاغك أمرٌ في غاية الأهميّة، فهو يساعدُنا على جمع الأدلّة وإنشاء قاعدة بيانات لتسليط الضّوء على مختلف الأشكال المنهجيّة لقمع الفلسطينيّين والعمل معًا على مواجهتها.

:باختصار: تذكير بما يمكنكم فعله

يرجى الإبلاغ عن أيّ حادثةٍ ذات صبغة قمعيّة وطلب المساعدة والدّعم من خلال ملء هذه الاستمارة المتوفّرة باللّغة الهولنديّة، والعربيّة، والانجليزيّة، وغيرها من اللّغات.

الاطّلاع على الدّليل تحت عنوان “تعرّف/ي على حقوقك: مجموعة أدوات للمتظاهرين/ات في هولندا“. يوفّرُ هذا الدّليل نبذةً عامّةً عن قانون الاحتجاج والتّظاهر في هولندا ويسلّط الضّوء على أسئلة ومواضيع معيّنة تُأثّر على حركتنا. الوثيقة متوفّرة باللّغة الهولنديّة، والعربيّة، والانجليزيّة.

يرجى قراءة هذه النّصائح حول ما يجب فعله قبل، وأثناء، وبَعْدَ عمليّات تفتيش المنازل.

يرجى الأخذ بعين الاعتبار محتوى هذا الدّليل المتعلّق بتفادي عمليّة استقاء المعلومات الشّخصيّة وطريقة التّداول معها إثر حدوثها.

معاًَ في تضامن مع حركاتنا.

Tags Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Call

Call for Applications: Legal Researcher – Digital Rights

Post author By ELSC
Post date 7 November 2024

Job Title
Legal Researcher – Digital Rights (European Work Team)

Location
Europe

Reports to
Senior Legal Officer – European Work Team

Line Management
None

Contract
Fixed-term contract for 6 months, with the possibility of extension for an additional 6 months

Salary
€37,000 – €41,000, depending on experience

Start Date
January 2025

How to Apply
Applications (CV and cover letter) should be sent to application@elsc.support with the subject line “Legal Researcher: EU Team.”

Applications are due by 27 Nov 2024.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will be working within the European Work Team, which includes dedicated legal officers, advocacy and communication officers, and data researchers. Our legal efforts are conducted in partnership with lawyers and NGOs across European countries, providing legal advice and support. This role will enhance our capacity to integrate digital rights into our work and may involve litigation based on digital rights violations in Europe.

The role involves conducting research on legal avenues to hold digital platforms and social media companies accountable for discriminatory policies that censor Palestinian voices or advocates for Palestinian rights. The position requires knowledge of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its application in specific European jurisdictions, and a solid understanding of EU law. We seek a candidate with a Master’s Degree in Law from a European country or in EU Law, who possesses strong teamwork skills, flexibility, and experience in devising legal strategies.

Required Experience and Skills

Experience

• Master’s degree in Law from a European country (preferably the Netherlands, Ireland, or Italy) or in EU law.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar role, preferably within a law firm.

• Background in digital rights and a solid understanding of EU law.

• Proven experience in devising legal strategies and providing legal advice.

• Teamwork experience and ability to work independently to achieve results.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong teamwork skills and flexibility, including time management and prioritization.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.

• Ability to conduct interviews with affected individuals or groups.

• Excellent research and analytical skills.

• Proficient in developing legal strategies and drafting legal documents.

• Demonstrable initiative and determination.

• Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritize tasks effectively.

• Capacity to engage with partners and coordinate work.

• Knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian solidarity movement.

• Fluency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills.

Desirable Experience and Skills

• Completion of a thesis on topics relevant to the position, such as digital rights, business and human rights, or European human rights law.

• Experience in areas related to the Digital Services Act (DSA), EU Consumer law, and the Representative Actions Directive.

• Experience working across jurisdictions.

• Thorough understanding of the workings of EU institutions.

• Familiarity with the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.

• Involvement with campaigns, grassroots, or non-profit organizations.

• Knowledge of ELSC’s role and objectives.

• Language skills: working knowledge of French, Spanish, Dutch, or Italian.

Other Requirements

• Commitment to the aims and objectives of ELSC.

• Dedication to anti-racism, anti-discrimination practices, and equal opportunities.

• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours.

• Flexibility within the scope of the role.

Job Description

• Conduct analysis and research on relevant legislation and jurisprudence under EU law and selected domestic jurisdictions.

• Collect, organize, and analyze patterns and incidents of repression.

• Conduct interviews with affected individuals and subject matter experts.

• Maintain relationships with current partners and expand our network.

• Work with the EU work team to devise legal strategies.

• Support advocacy-related tasks.

• Carry out other duties related to the daily work of the broader ELSC team.

How to Apply
Applications (CV and cover letter) should be sent to application@elsc.support with the subject line “Legal Researcher: EU Team.”

Applications are due by 27 Nov 2024.

Press Release

ELSC Warns Aachen University in Germany About Direct Involvement in Crimes Against Humanity in Palestine

Post author By ELSC
Post date 6 November 2024
Sticky post

On 30^th September, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has warned the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH) in an open letter to comply with its obligations to prohibit genocide and apartheid and cut its cooperation agreements with the Israeli Technion University, which is directly involved in crimes against humanity in Palestine.

Technion is known for its historically close ties with the Israeli military industries. It conducts research and development in fields such as robotics, drones, and cybersecurity, which are then deployed by the Israeli military. Moreover, many of the technological innovations emerging from Technion are “dual-use,” meaning they have both civilian and military applications, and they are also integrated into military strategies and equipment of the army.

The RWTH Aachen University and the Technion are connected on multiple levels. They have a partnership agreement that provides an exchange platform for study and research visits for Bachelor, Master as well as Doctoral students in many areas that can be defined as “dual-use”, such as: Energy Materials and Energy Conversion, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Image Processing as well as Biological- and Chemical Engineering.

At no time did the RWTH Aachen University take a position on the genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. Instead, it publicly expressed its solidarity with Israel after the 7^th October, despite Israel’s clear violations of international law. This stands in clear contrast to the university’s handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, the University suspended all academic and scientific cooperation with the Russian Federation.

In the face of such blatant complicity, students at the university, organised as Students for Palestine Aachen, set up a protest camp against genocide on campus in May 2024, demanding an end to the cooperation with the Israeli Technion University. Since then, they have organised numerous well-attended events such as lectures, workshops and demonstrations. Dozens of activists stay at the camp every night.

Their demonstrations have been subjected to repeated physical attacks and vandalism by Zionists, as well as authoritarian repression by the university and the German police. In May 2024, two masked assailants attacked the camp, pouring white and blue paint right next to the tents of the sleeping students. In another incident, the University took thermal images of the students’ tents during their sleep to monitor the students’ activities, violating direct instructions by the Police not to do so. These thermal images were published during a court proceeding, in which the RWTH had unsuccessfully attempted to close the camp and deny the students of their constitutional right to assemble freely.

Recently, police authorities have threatened to clear the camp after the university had repeatedly threatened to revoke the students’ right to hold a protest camp. The case is now pending and awaits judgement from the Higher Administrative Court in Münster.

You can support the students by signing and amplifying their petition. Please consider donating to their fundraiser.

ELSC warnt die RWTH Aachen wegen direkter Beteiligung an Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit in Palästina

Am 30^. September forderte das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) die Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH) in einem offenen Brief auf, ihren Verpflichtungen zum Unterbinden von Völkermord und Apartheid nachzukommen und ihre Kooperationsvereinbarungen mit der israelischen Technion-Universität aufzuheben, da diese direkt an Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit in Palästina beteiligt ist.

Seit jeher ist die Technion für ihre engen Verbindungen zur israelischen Militärindustrie bekannt. Sie betreibt Forschung und Entwicklung in Bereichen wie Robotik, Drohnen und Cybersicherheit, welche wiederum vom israelischen Militär eingesetzt werden. Darüber hinaus sind viele der technologischen Innovationen, die aus der Technion hervorgehen, „dual-use“, d. h., sie können sowohl zivil als auch militärisch eingesetzt werden und sind auch in militärische Strategien und Ausrüstung der Armee integriert.

Die RWTH Aachen und die Technion sind auf vielfältige Weise miteinander verbunden. Sie haben ein Partnerschaftsabkommen, das eine Austauschplattform für Studien- und Forschungsaufenthalte für Bachelor- und Masterstudierende sowie für Doktorand:innen in vielen Bereichen bietet, die einen potenziellen ”dual-use” haben. So etwa: Energiematerialien und Energieumwandlung, Künstliche Intelligenz, Data Analytics, Bildverarbeitung sowie Bio- und Chemieingenieurwesen.

Die RWTH Aachen hat sich zu keinem Zeitpunkt zum Völkermord Israels in Gaza positioniert. Stattdessen hat sie sich nach dem 7. Oktober lediglich mit Israel solidarisiert, obwohl Israel eindeutig gegen das Völkerrecht verstößt. Im Umgang mit Russlands Einmarsch in die Ukraine hat sich die RWTH Aachen deutlich kritischer positioniert. Im Jahr 2022 setzte die Universität jegliche akademische und wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit mit der Russischen Föderation aus.

Angesichts der mittäterschaftlichen Beihilfe organisierten sich Studierende der Universität als „Students for Palestine Aachen“. Seit Mai 2024 haben sie auf dem Campus ein Protestcamp gegen Völkermord errichtet, um ein Ende der Zusammenarbeit mit der Technion zu fordern. Inzwischen haben sie zahlreiche gut besuchte Veranstaltungen wie Vorträge, Workshops und Demonstrationen organisiert. Dutzende Aktivist*Innen übernachten jede Nacht im Camp.

Ihre Demonstrationen waren Grund genug für wiederholte Angriffe durch zionistisch-motovierten Vandalismus sowie für autoritäre Repression durch die Universität und die Polizei. Im Mai 2024 griffen zwei maskierte Angreifer das Camp an und gossen weiße und blaue Farbe direkt neben den Zelten der schlafenden Studierenden. In einem anderen Fall nahm die Universitätsleitung Wärmebildaufnahmen der Zelte der Studierenden während ihres Schlafs auf, um ihre Aktivitäten zu überwachen; trotz direkter Anweisung der Polizei dies zu unterlassen. Diese Aufnahmen wurden während eines Gerichtsverfahrens veröffentlicht, in dem die RWTH vergeblich versuchte das Camp zu schließen und den Studierenden ihr Grundrecht auf Versammlungsfreiheit zu verwehren.

Vor kurzem drohte die Polizei damit, das Camp zu räumen, nachdem die Universität wiederholt drohte, den Studierenden das Recht auf ein Protestcamp zu entziehen. Der Fall ist nun anhängig und wartet auf das Urteil des Oberverwaltungsgerichts Münster.

Sie können die Studierenden unterstützen, indem Sie ihre Petition unterschreiben und verbreiten, aber auch durch Spenden finanziell unterstützen.

ARABIC:

وجّه المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني تحذيرًا إلى جامعة آخن في ألمانيا بسبب تورّطها المباشر في انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان في فلسطين.

في 03 سبتمبر الماضي، وجّه المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني تحذيرًا لجامعة آخن التقنية في ولاية شمال الراين-فيستفاليا (HTWR) عبر رسالة مفتوحة، داعيًا الجامعة إلى الالتزام بواجباتها في منع الفصل العنصري والإبادة الجماعية، وإلغاء اتفاقيات التعاون مع التخنيون (معهد إسرائيل للتكنولوجيا) بسبب تورطه في انتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان في فلسطين.

يُعرف التخنيون تاريخيًا بعلاقاته الوثيقة مع الصناعات العسكرية الإسرائيلية، حيث يقوم بإجراء أبحاث علمية وتطوير تقنيات في مجالات الروبوتات، والطائرات المسيّرة، والأمن الرقمي، وهي تقنيات يستخدمها الجيش الإسرائيلي. إضافة إلى ذلك، فإن العديد من الابتكارات الصادرة عن التخنيون تُعتبر ذات استخدام مزدوج، إذ لها تطبيقات مدنية وعسكرية. كما يشارك التخنيون في تطوير استراتيجيات عسكرية ومعدات حربية.

ترتبط جامعة(nehcaA HTWR) ومعهد التخنيون بعدة مستويات. لديهما اتفاقية شراكة توفر منصة للتبادل للزيارات الدراسية والبحثية لطلاب البكالوريوس والماجستير والدكتوراه في العديد من المجالات التي يمكن تصنيفها كمجالات “ذات استخدام مزدوج”، مثل: مواد الطاقة وتحويل الطاقة، الذكاء الإصطناعي، تحليل البيانات، معالجة الصور، بالإضافة إلى الهندسة البيولوجية والكيميائية.

لم تتخذ كلية آخن التقنية أي موقف تجاه الإبادة الجماعية التي تنفذها إسرائيل في غزة؛ بل أبدت دعمها لإسرائيل بعد 7 أكتوبر، رغم انتهاكاتها الواضحة للقانون الدولي. ويمكن ملاحظة التناقض في سلوك الجامعة عند مقارنة موقفها من الصراع الأوكراني-الروسي؛ حيث علّقت الجامعة كل العلاقات الأكاديمية والتعاون العلمي مع روسيا الاتحادية في عام 2202.

في مواجهة هذا التواطؤ، أسس طلاب من الجامعة حركة طلاب لأجل فلسطين – آخن وأنشأوا مخيمًا داخل الحرم الجامعي للاعتصام ضد الإبادة الجماعية. منذ أبريل 4202، يطالب المشاركون بإنهاء التعاون مع التخنيون، وينظمون فعاليات شعبية متنوعة من محاضرات وورش عمل ومظاهرات. يبيت عشرات الناشطين في المخيم كل ليلة.

كانت مظاهراتهم السلمية ذريعة كافية لقيام مخربين صهاينة بالاعتداء على المخيم، إضافة إلى القمع السلطوي من الجامعة والشرطة الألمانية. ففي إحدى ليالي أبريل 4202، هاجم شخصان مقنعان المخيم وسكبا طلاءً أبيض وأزرق أمام خيم الطلبة النائمين. وفي حادثة أخرى، التقطت إدارة الجامعة صورًا حرارية لخيم الطلاب أثناء نومهم بغرض مراقبة أنشطتهم، منتهكة بذلك توجيهات الشرطة بعدم القيام بذلك. وقد عرضت هذه الصور أثناء إجراءات المحكمة، حيث حاولت الجامعة دون جدوى إغلاق المخيم وحرمان الطلاب من حقهم الدستوري في حرية التجمع.

مؤخرًا، هددت الشرطة بإخلاء المخيم بعد تكرار مطالبة الجامعة بسحب حق الطلاب في إقامة مخيم للاعتصام. ما زالت القضية قيد النظر، وننتظر الحكم من المحكمة الإدارية العليا في مونستر

يمكنكم دعم الطلبة من خلال توقيع العريضة والمساهمة في نشرها، كما ندعوكم للتبرع لحملتهم.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Call Job

Chief of Advocacy & Communications – Job Opening

Post author By ELSC
Post date 1 November 2024
Sticky post

Call for Applications- Chief of Advocacy & Communications

Job Title: Chief of Advocacy & Communications
Department: Lead of the A&C Department
Location: Europe or Britain
Start Date: As soon as possible
Reports to: Executive Management Committee

Line Management
• A&C Officers for Germany, Britain, The Netherlands, Strategic Litigation
• A&C Officer for the EU Team (starting 2025)
• Senior Communication Officer (starting 2025)

Contract
Full-time, with flexible working arrangements

How to Apply
Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support, using the subject line ‘Chief of Advocacy & Communications’.

Application Deadline
Applications are due by 09:00 CET on 22 Nov 2024.

Salary

• Scale: Level 11 – 11.2
• Range: €49,000 – €54,000 (dependent on experience)
• Annual progression on the scale after each performance review
• End-of-year bonus
• Generous annual and additional leave policies
• €750 well-being allowance
• Assistance with home office equipment

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Chief of Advocacy and Communications (COA) is the department lead, responsible for implementing the ELSC Advocacy and Communications strategy. This role oversees the development and execution of advocacy and communications strategies across relevant work teams (Germany, Britain, Netherlands, Strategic Litigation, EU). The COA line-manages the A&C officers, provides strategic guidance, and is responsible for approving ELSC advocacy and communication materials. The COA reports to and is part of the Executive Management Committee, which includes each Department Lead (Legal, Operations, Development, Research & Monitor, Advocacy & Communications) and the Executive Director.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with line management
• Experience in campaigning, working with activist groups, grassroots or non-profit organisations, and Palestine solidarity or anti-colonial and anti-racist groups
• Experience in convening coalitions and networks, building relationships
• Public speaking experience
• Commitment to social justice and human rights, particularly regarding Palestinian rights and related intersectional struggles

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Proven skills in communications and advocacy work management and delivery
• Strong line-management experience with large, remote teams and excellent interpersonal communication
• Executive management experience
• Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken skills (ELSC’s working language)
• Solid understanding of the political and human rights situation in Palestine
• Strong teamwork skills, flexibility, time management, and ability to handle competing priorities
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage a heavy workload
• Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities
• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as needed
• Flexibility within the role’s broad remit

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Graduate in International Relations, Political Science, Communications, Journalism, Law, Sociology, or related fields
• Master’s Degree in a related field
• Basic knowledge of International and European law
• Proficiency in Arabic
• Budget allocation experience
• Skills in web development, graphic design, social media management, or other digital communications

MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS

• Line-manage Advocacy & Communications Officers and the Senior Communications Officer
• Schedule 1:1 meetings with A&C Officers, guide task division, and monitor workload
• Lead ELSC’s A&C strategy implementation within work teams
• Review team strategies and publications, providing advice and support
• Ensure ELSC branding and content consistency with the Senior Communications Officer
• Convene weekly A&C team meetings and yearly in-person gatherings
• Attend Executive Management Committee meetings and communicate updates as needed
• Manage A&C budget, liaising with the finance committee for departmental needs
• Oversee A&C activities and publication schedules with the Senior Communications Officer
• Participate in outreach, fundraising, panels, and seminars in coordination with work teams
• Ensure timely handling of media requests
• Coordinate recruitment for A&C staff, in conjunction with the Chief of Operations (COO)
• Update the ELSC A&C Onboarding Guide
• Conduct annual reviews and quarterly check-ins with A&C officers
• Provide pastoral care and monitor the mental health of A&C officers with COO and HR

Apply now
Send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support, using the subject line ‘Chief of Advocacy & Communications’.

Spread the word!
Know someone who would be the ideal fit? Share this opportunity with them!

Tags Call for Application

Press Release

Supporting Palestinians’ Right to Resistance is protected under Free Speech: Dana Abu Qamar Wins Landmark Tribunal Victory to Overturn Home Office’s Visa Cancellation

Post author By ELSC
Post date 31 October 2024
Sticky post

Immigration Tribunal Affirms Palestinians’ Right to Resistance Under International Humanitarian Law, Ruling Support Does Not Constitute Extremism; Upholds Right to Free Speech and Declares Visa Revocation a Violation of Human Rights Under Article 10 of the ECHR.

LONDON, 30 October 2024: In a significant legal victory, Palestinian student Dana Abu Qamar has won her appeal at the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) against the Home Office’s attempt to cancel her student visa in December 2023. This decision comes after court documents showed that then-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick personally intervened in the matter, enquiring with the Home Office whether it would be “possible to revoke her student visa”.

The Tribunal’s decision is a landmark ruling, rebuffing the British government’s relentless attempts to conflate solidarity with Palestine with ‘terrorism’ or ‘antisemitism’ and reaffirming the right to support Palestinian resistance under International Humanitarian Law. The decision was upheld despite a change in government, with the new Labour-appointed Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, refusing to reverse the initial punitive decision – illustrating how Labour has continued Tory policies that stifle advocacy and solidarity for Palestinian rights.

The decision to cancel Abu Qamar’s visa came in the midst of a major crackdown by the previous government against the growing mobilisation in solidarity with Palestine in the wake of Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza.

Significantly, the Tribunal declared that Abu Qamar was ‘not an extremist’ and ruled that the Home Office had failed to demonstrate that Abu Qamar’s statements in support of Palestinian resistance made her presence in Britain ‘not conducive to the public good’ – the test at the heart of Britain’s sweeping powers to deport individuals and deprive them of British citizenship.

The Tribunal also recognised that Abu Qamar’s description of Israel as an “apartheid state,” aligned with the views of numerous human rights organisations and that references to Palestinians “actively resisting” and as “breaking free” are widely understood to relate to lawful acts of resistance. Subsequently, ruling that support for Palestinian resistance does not constitute extremism and falls within protected free speech pursuant to Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and thus attempts at revocating Dana’s visa under these grounds violates her fundamental rights.

Dana Abu Qamar’s win is a boost for the Palestine solidarity movement and a blow to the British government’s shameless attempts to criminalise protestors and bully them into silence. The decision raises questions about the deeply politicised use of security and counter-terrorism powers against the Palestine movement and increasingly against those engaging in political activism and protest against the state. The ELSC calls for an end to the punitive use of counter-terrorism measures to suppress critical dissent and urges the UK government to uphold international human rights standards, protecting the rights of all communities to advocate for justice and lawful resistance against settler colonialism freely.

Dana Abu Qamar, commented: “After a year-long legal battle against state repression and disregard of human rights, specifically targeted against pro-Palestinians, justice has prevailed.

This case has reinforced Palestinians’ right to resist occupation in the domestic context; that the expression in support of that right cannot be conflated with support for terrorism; that there is no room for abuse of power by ministers and arbitrary decision-making to undermine the rule of law. I hope that this ruling inspires and strengthens supporters of the Palestinian movement to continue advocating against Israel’s flagrant violations of international law.

I am grateful to the ELSC, my legal team, comrades, friends and family for their support throughout the whole process.”

Tasnima Uddin, from ELSC, stated: “Dana Abu Qamar’s landmark legal victory is a powerful reminder that government measures are often wielded to criminalise dissent, particularly within Palestinian, Muslim, and other minority communities.

This decision underscores the misuse of vague security terms—like ‘non-conducive to the public good’—to stifle expressions of solidarity with Palestine, particularly in an atmosphere increasingly charged by racist political agendas, such as those spearheaded by figures like Robert Jenrick. Abu Qamar’s victory is a crucial step against the erosion of civil liberties and sends a clear message: solidarity with Palestine is not a crime. Supporting Palestinian resistance is internationally recognised and is not extremism.”

Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory said: “In concluding that the decision to cancel our client’s visa was incompatible with her right to free speech, the Tribunal has made plain that expressions of solidarity with lawful Palestinian resistance which deeply reflect the deeply felt sense of historical injustice shared by many Palestinians must not and can not be equated with support for terrorism.”

Mr R Hussain KC, Mr D Seddon KC and Mr R Fakhoury, instructed by Leigh Day, with support from the European Legal Support Center.

To access the full judgement, please email tasnima@elsc.support

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Expression

Press Release

Emergency motion against the delivery of explosives carried by the German ship MV Kathrin to Israel

Post author By ELSC
Post date 30 October 2024
Sticky post

Emergency motion against the delivery of explosives from the German ship MV Kathrin to Israel

Berlin, 29 October 2024 – The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has filed an emergency motion with the Berlin Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgericht Berlin), requesting that the court mandate the German government to stop the delivery of military RDX explosives to Israel, which are currently being transported on the German cargo ship MV Kathrin. Berlin-based lawyer Ahmed Abed, part of the ELSC’s network of lawyers in Germany, filed the urgent appeal on behalf of three Palestinians in Gaza, asking the German government to protect their right to life.

The MV Kathrin is carrying 150,000 kg (8 shipping containers) of RDX explosives bound for Israeli Military Industries, the munitions production arm of Israel’s largest military company Elbit Systems. Elbit Systems uses the RDX explosive to manufacture weapons of war such as aerial bombs, mortars and rockets, which are used in violation of international law to commit crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The petitioners demand that the delivery be stopped and that action be taken against the owner and the manager of the ship.

On 23 August 2024, Namibian authorities found evidence of the military cargo on the MV Kathrin and prohibited the ship from docking, highlighting the urgency to ‘comply with its obligation not to assist or become complicit in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the unlawful occupation of Palestine’. Since then, the ELSC has worked closely with the global BDS movement and various legal experts to alert state authorities to their obligations not to participate in the supply of weapons that facilitate Israeli violations of international law, and to stop the shipment. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, and Amnesty International have called for the MV Kathrin’s shipment of RDX explosives to be stopped, underlining obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The MS Kathrin was unable to call at any ports in Africa and the Mediterranean, although attempts were made in at least Angola, Slovenia, Montenegro and Malta. In mid-October 2024, the Portuguese government demanded the removal of the Portuguese flag from the ship.

Since then, the MV Kathrin has been sailing under the German flag. As of October 24, 2024, shortly after departing from a port area outside Malta’s territorial waters, the MV Kathrin has been operating in stealth mode, deactivating all GPS satellite signals. The ship was sighted by journalists in the Albanian port of Porto Romano on Thursday evening, where it was unloaded, with the exception of ten containers, possibly including the eight containers of RDX intended for the Israeli genocide. The ship has subsequently departed from the port.

Ahmed Abed explains:

‘Germany is obliged to take action against the German freighter MV Kathrin because the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law require active intervention. The ICJ and the Chief Investigator of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, have provided detailed evidence that Israel is committing not only systematic war crimes but also crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.’

According to an open letter from American doctors, Israel’s military operation has killed at least 119,000 people since October 2023; approximately 5.4% of the 2.1 million population of the Gaza Strip. The danger of genocide has already been clearly exceeded. On 26 February 2024, a Dutch court of appeal had also ruled that the delivery of F-35 spare parts to Israel must be stopped. The aim of this urgent appeal is therefore to immediately stop future licences for the delivery of weapons of war to Israel and to revoke licences that have already been granted.

Contact for press enquiries:

ELSC

Karim Bohnhoff
Mail: karim@elsc.support

Lawyer Ahmed Abed
Mail: kontakt@kanzlei-abed.de

Background information:

The owner of the cargo ship MV Kathrin, IMO 9570620, is MS ‘Peng Chau’ Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH & Co. KG. Behind the GmbH & Co. KG are Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH and the limited partners Kai Ramming and Comfort Treuhand GmbH, Große Burgstraße 55-57, 23552 Lübeck. Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH consists of Jan-Peter Boehe, Jonas Boehe and Max Gottwald (see also ).

According to the commercial register, the shareholders are Anchor Martax Steuerberatungs mbH from Oldenburg, whose shareholders include, among others, various limited liability companies (GmbH) from the city of Oldenburg’s Green Party chairman Mr Hermann Neemann, Ms Anne Neehoff, Mr Carsten Husen and Mr Julian Heidfeld.

According to vesselfinder.com, the management of the cargo ship MV Kathrin is handled by Lubeca Marine (Germany) GmbH & Co. KG. Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH is also behind the GmbH & Co. KG.

Dringlichkeitsantrag gegen die Lieferung von Sprengstoff vom deutschen Schiff MV Kathrin nach Israel

Oktober 2024 – Das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) hat heute einen Eilantrag beim Verwaltungsgericht Berlin eingereicht, in dem das Gericht die Bundesregierung auffordert, die Lieferung von militärischem RDX-Sprengstoff nach Israel zu stoppen, der sich derzeit an Bord des deutschen Frachtschiffs MV Kathrin befindet. Der Berliner Anwalt Ahmed Abed reichte den Eilantrag im Namen von drei Palästinenser*innen in Gaza ein, die von der deutschen Regierung verlangen, ihr Recht auf Leben zu schützen.

Die MV Kathrin hat 150.000 kg (8 Schiffscontainer) RDX-Sprengstoff an Bord, der an Israeli Military Industries, der Munitionsproduktion von Israels größtem Militärunternehmen Elbit Systems, nach Israel geliefert werden soll. Elbit Systems verwendet den RDX-Sprengstoff zur Herstellung von Kriegswaffen wie Fliegerbomben, Mörsern und Raketen, die für Verstöße gegen das Völkerrecht wie Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, Völkermord und Kriegsverbrechen im Gazastreifen eingesetzt werden. Die Antragstellenden fordern, dass die Lieferung gestoppt und Maßnahmen gegen den Eigentümer und den Manager des Schiffes ergriffen werden.

Am 23. August 2024 fanden die namibischen Behörden Beweise für die militärische Fracht auf der MV Kathrin und untersagten das Anlegen des Schiffes, um ihrer „Verpflichtung nachzukommen, israelische Kriegsverbrechen, Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, Völkermord sowie die unrechtmäßige Besetzung Palästinas nicht zu unterstützen oder sich daran zu beteiligen“. Seitdem arbeitet das ELSC mit der weltweiten BDS-Bewegung und diversen Rechtsexperten zusammen, um die staatlichen Behörden auf ihre Verpflichtungen hinzuweisen, sich nicht mit der Lieferung von Waffen an israelische Völkerrechtsverstöße zu beteiligen und die Ladung zu stoppen. Die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin für die besetzten palästinensischen Gebiete, Francesca Albanese, sowie Amnesty International, haben mit Blick auf die Verpflichtungen aus der Völkermordkonvention und dem Vertrag über den Waffenhandel (ATT) dazu aufgerufen, die Lieferung von RDX-Sprengstoff durch die MV Kathrin zu stoppen. 

Die MV Kathrin konnte keinen Hafen in Afrika und im Mittelmeerraum anlaufen, obwohl zumindest in Angola, Slowenien, Montenegro und Malta Versuche unternommen wurden.  Die portugiesische Regierung zwang den Kapitän des Schiffes Mitte Oktober 2024 die Flagge des Schiffes zu wechseln. 

Seitdem fährt die MV Kathrin unter deutscher Flagge. Seit dem 24. Oktober 2024, kurz nach dem Verlassen eines Hafengebiets außerhalb der Hoheitsgewässer Maltas, fährt die MS Kathrin im Stealth-Modus und schaltet alle GPS-Satellitensignale ab. Das Schiff wurde am Donnerstagabend von Journalist:innen im albanischen Hafen von Porto Romano gesichtet, wo die MV Kathrin mit Ausnahme von zehn Containern entladen wurde, darunter möglicherweise die acht Container mit RDX für den israelischen Völkermord. Seit Freitag hat das Schiff den Hafen verlassen.

Ahmed Abed erklärt: 

„Deutschland ist verpflichtet, gegen den deutschen Frachter MV Kathrin einzuschreiten, weil die Völkermordkonvention und das humanitäre Völkerrecht ein aktives Eingreifen erfordern. Der IGH und der Chefermittler des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs, Karim Khan, haben detailliert nachgewiesen, dass Israel im Gazastreifen nicht nur systematische Kriegsverbrechen, sondern auch Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit begeht.“

Die israelische Militäroperation seit Oktober 2023 hat laut einem offenen Brief amerikanischer Ärzte zu mindestens 119.000 Ermordeten geführt, das sind 5,4% der 2,1 Millionen Bevölkerung in Gaza. Die Gefahr eines Völkermordes wurde bereits deutlich überschritten. Ein niederländisches Berufungsgericht hatte bereits am 26. Februar 2024 entschieden, dass die Lieferung von F-35-Ersatzteilen an Israel gestoppt werden muss, da Israel Kriegsverbrechen in Gaza verübt. Ziel dieses Dringlichkeitsantrags ist es daher, künftige Genehmigungen für die Lieferung von Kriegswaffen an Israel unverzüglich zu stoppen und bereits erteilte Genehmigungen zu widerrufen.

Pressemitteilung von

ELSC (European Legal Support Center)

Kontakt für Presseanfragen:

ELSC

Karim Bohnhoff
Mail: karim@elsc.support

Rechtsanwalt Ahmed Abed
Mail: kontakt@kanzlei-abed.de

Hintergrundinformationen:

Eigentümerin des Frachtschiffes MV Kathrin, IMO 9570620, ist die MS „Peng Chau“ Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH & Co. KG. Hinter der GmbH & Co. KG stehen die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH und die Kommanditisten Kai Ramming und die Comfort Treuhand GmbH, Große Burgstraße 55-57, 23552 Lübeck. Die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH besteht aus Jan-Peter Boehe, Jonas Boehe und Max Gottwald (siehe auch https://lubeca-marine.de ).

Anteilseigner bestehen laut Handelsregister aus der Anchor Martax Steuerberatungs mbH aus Oldenburg, deren Anteilseigner u.a. hinter diversen GmbH aus dem Grünen-Vorsitzenden der Stadt Oldenburg Herr Hermann Neemann, Frau Anne Neehoff, Herr Carsten Husen und Julian Heidfeld bestehen.

Das Management des Frachtschiffes MV Kathrin wird laut vesselfinder.com von der Lubeca Marine (Germany) GmbH & Co. KG verwaltet. Hinter der GmbH & Co. KG steht ebenfalls die Boehe Schiffahrt GmbH.

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October Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 29 October 2024
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Dear Friend,

CASE UPDATES

We are suing the Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza

On 10th October, we announced that we, together with a coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations, are suing the Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and other Israeli violations of international law long before October 2023.

READ OUR FULL STATEMENT HERE (EN/AR/NL)

We are calling on supporters like you to join us in this fight for justice. Your donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in supporting our efforts to hold the Dutch state accountable for violating its Genocide Convention obligations and for failing to take effective measures to bring an end to Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain Israel’s ongoing colonisation of Palestinian land.

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LEGAL VICTORY for Dr. Shahd Abusalama

Palestinian academic, activist, and artist Dr Shahd Abusalama has secured a major settlement against Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), which suspended and investigated her! After Zionist lobby groups led a smear campaign against her.

Find out more here

Shahd’s victory stands as a powerful testament against the unjust repression of advocates for Palestine in Europe initiated by our institutions. Liana Wood represented Dr. Abusalama at Leigh Day, who instructed Michael Sprack. The European Legal Support Center also supported her.

Solidarity Demonstrations and Legal Support for the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Italy

On October 5th, demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people were held across Europe. However, Italy stood out as the only country where the national demonstration organised by the Palestinian Youth Movement was banned by the government. Police carried out several arrests, issued travel warrants, and conducted searches. Dozens of buses en route to the demonstration were stopped, preventing many from attending.

At the demonstration site, the situation was no less tense. The area was heavily fortified by police, who restricted access to the square and subjected the majority of attendees to intense scrutiny. Despite these attempts to suppress the protest, more than 10,000 people gathered in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

At ELSC, we have been closely monitoring the situation and providing legal assistance. We remain committed to ensuring the protection of the Palestine Solidarity Movement and will continue our efforts in this regard. We also encourage everyone to consult our “Know Your Rights” toolkit, which offers crucial advice for those participating in street demonstrations and beyond.

Toolkit per manifestanti

#BlockTheBoat: MV Kathrin

In collaboration with BDS, we worked on delaying the arrival of military explosives to Israel through the Kathrin ship. We have sent letters to different governments including Portugal, Malta, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Croatia to remind them of their international and domestic legal obligations to not aid the genocide in Gaza. Successfully, Portugal has de-registered Kathrin from using its flag, and the the remaining countries rejected Kathrin from docking at their ports.

University of Milan Suspends Ties with Israeli Institutions Amid Student-Led Boycott Calls

In response to growing student demands for an academic boycott, the University of Milan has announced it will suspend its relations with Reichman University. This decision follows a meeting between the university’s rector, Marina Brambilla, and a delegation of Giovani Palestinesi d’Italia who had protested against continued ties with Israeli universities. Earlier this year, the University of Milan also ended its agreement with Ariel University, another Israeli institution. As ELSC we supported the students with legal research about the nature of the agreement between the University of Milan and Reichman University.

BREAKING – Dutch and Palestinian NGOs sue Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and to ensure Israel respects international law

Post author By ELSC
Post date 10 October 2024
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A coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations are suing the Dutch state for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and other Israeli violations of international law. The coalition’s main requests to the Dutch civil court include a ban on the export and transit of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel as well as a ban on all Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory. The coalition, consisting of Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Groningen Jabalya, SOMO, Stichting Kifaia, Nederlands Palestina Komitee, and Stichting Palestina is represented by lawyers from Global Justice Association in their proceeding before the court. The case is supported by Erev Rav and Plant een Olijfboom.

The Genocide Convention, to which the Netherlands is a party, obliges signatories to prevent the crime of genocide from taking place. However, the Netherlands, consistently positioning itself as a political ally of Israel, has failed to act to prevent genocide in Gaza, even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found, in January 2024, that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In addition to the Genocide Convention, the Geneva Conventions bind states to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

In February 2024, the Dutch Court of Appeal ruled that there is a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law being committed by Israeli forces in Gaza. In the same month, UN experts warned that any transfer of weapons to Israel that would be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law and should cease. Despite this, the Netherlands continues to be involved in the supply of weapon parts and dual-use items to Israel. In addition, even though the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested the issuance of arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Netherlands has sent top-level military delegations to meet with the Israeli army and invited Israel’s president to the Netherlands while many of his inciting statements were used in South Africa’s application to the ICJ. The filing argues that the Netherlands must ban all export and transfer of arms (parts) and dual-use goods to Israel – and push other states to do the same.

The confirmed death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is nearly 42,000 while over 200,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of injuries, preventable or treatable diseases and a lack of food, water, and medical treatment.

Structural violations of international law

The case filed today is not limited to the Dutch state’s inaction in light of Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza. The legal filing also challenges the woefully inadequate policy of the Netherlands when it comes to Israel’s structural violations of international law – since long before October 2023 – in both Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, through its military occupation and settlements, is unlawful and must end according to the ICJ.

In July 2024, the ICJ determined that all States have the obligation to prevent and abstain from economic dealings that assist Israel’s unlawful policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The court case filed today seeks to bring an end to Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain the illegal occupation, racial segregation, and colonisation through settlements. The Netherlands must take effective measures to that effect and push other states to do the same.

No indication of taking measures

There is no indication that the Dutch state plans to take measures aimed at preventing genocide in Gaza or addressing Dutch economic ties to Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The new Dutch government has positioned itself even closer to Israel, as the latter continues to bombard, starve, and forcibly displace Palestinians with no end in sight.

This is why the coalition of civil society organisations has decided to take the Dutch state to court. It is incumbent upon the Dutch judicial system to enforce legal obligations to which the state is committed.

Issam Younis from Al Mezan said,

The Palestinian people have been suffering from Israel’s violations of international law since long before 7 October 2023. However, our oppression has reached unprecedented levels in the past year. People in Gaza have been the victim of a genocidal assault that does not appear to end anytime soon while, in the rest of Palestine, Israel is doubling down on its policies of colonisation, apartheid, and subjugation. The Netherlands is aware of this, but it continues to support Israel politically, economically, and militarily, at the cost of the rights of Palestinians.

Daan de Grefte from the ELSC added,

The ICJ has confirmed that Israel’s assault on Gaza since 7 October could amount to genocide, triggering the legal obligation of all states to do whatever is in their power to prevent it. The ICJ has also held that states should take steps to prevent trade or investment where it could support the unlawful occupation of Palestine. It is now up to domestic courts to give practical meaning to these determinations and to ensure that international law is applied equally to all states.

Lydia de Leeuw from SOMO said,

There can be no business as usual with Israel. Dutch investors, supermarkets, suppliers of military products, and other actors have been enabling the occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians for decades. The Netherlands, host of the ICC and ICJ, must adhere to its own obligations under international law and take measures for accountability. Now.

Wout Albers, attorney of the coalition, concluded,

The common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions is clear that states should stop breaches of international humanitarian law. The very minimum is not to deal with the oppressing regime. The rulings in the Genocide case and the Advisory Opinion have only emphasised what we already knew: genocidal acts are being committed and the occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal. All states, including the Netherlands, have the obligation to not cooperate and be complicit in violations, but also should do everything to stop future grave breaches and prevent further genocidal acts from happening.

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[Dutch]

BREAKING – Nederlandse en Palestijnse organisaties klagen Nederlandse staat aan vanwege diens falen in voorkomen van genocide in Gaza

Een coalitie van Palestijnse en Nederlandse maatschappelijke organisaties klaagt de Nederlandse staat aan voor het niet voorkomen van genocide in Gaza en van andere Israëlische schendingen van het internationaal recht. De belangrijkste eisen van de coalitie aan de Nederlandse civiele rechter zijn een verbod op de export en doorvoer van wapens, wapenonderdelen en dual-use artikelen naar Israël en een verbod op alle Nederlandse handels- en investeringsrelaties die Israëls illegale bezetting van en nederzettingen in Palestijns gebied in stand helpen houden. De coalitie, bestaande uit Al-Haq, Al Mezan, Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), het European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Groningen Jabalya, SOMO, Stichting Kifaia, Nederlands Palestina Komitee en Stichting Palestina, wordt in hun procedure voor de rechtbank vertegenwoordigd door advocaten van Global Justice Association. De zaak wordt ondersteund door Erev Rav en Plant een Olijfboom.

Het Genocideverdrag, dat door Nederland ondertekend is, verplicht ondertekenaars te voorkomen dat genocide plaatsvindt. Desondanks heeft Nederland, dat zich consequent opstelt als politieke bondgenoot van Israël, nagelaten actie te ondernemen om genocide in Gaza te voorkomen, zelfs nadat het Internationaal Gerechtshof (ICJ) in januari 2024 oordeelde dat het aannemelijk is dat Israël genocide pleegt tegen Palestijnen in Gaza. Behalve het Genocideverdrag verplichten ook de Geneefse Conventies staten om het internationaal humanitair recht te respecteren en te doen respecteren.

In februari 2024 oordeelde het Gerechtshof in Den Haag dat er een duidelijk risico bestaat op ernstige schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht door Israëlische troepen in Gaza. In dezelfde maand waarschuwden VN-deskundigen dat elke levering van wapens aan Israël die in Gaza zouden kunnen worden gebruikt, waarschijnlijk in strijd is met het internationaal humanitair recht en moet worden stopgezet. Desondanks blijft Nederland betrokken bij de levering van wapenonderdelen en dual use goederen aan Israël. En bovendien heeft Nederland, ondanks het feit dat de aanklager van het Internationaal Strafhof (ICC) heeft verzocht om arrestatiebevelen uit te vaardigen tegen de premier en minister van Defensie van Israël, een militaire delegatie op topniveau gestuurd om het Israëlische leger te ontmoeten en de president van Israël uitgenodigd naar Nederland te komen. Veel van zijn ophitsende uitspraken stonden toen al in de aanklacht van Zuid-Afrika bij het ICJ. Eén van de eisen van de coalitie is dat Nederland alle export en doorvoer van wapenonderdelen en dual use goederen naar Israël moet verbieden – en andere landen moet aansporen hetzelfde te doen.
Het bevestigde dodental in Gaza sinds oktober 2023 is bijna 42.000, terwijl naar schatting meer dan 200.000 mensen zijn gestorven als gevolg van verwondingen, te voorkomen of behandelbare ziekten en een gebrek aan voedsel, water en medische behandeling.

Structurele schendingen van het internationaal recht
De zaak die vandaag is ingediend beperkt zich niet tot de passiviteit van de Nederlandse staat in het licht van de brute aanval van Israël op Gaza. De aanklacht gaat ook in tegen het tekortschietende beleid van Nederland als het gaat om Israëls structurele schendingen van het internationaal recht – sinds lang voor oktober 2023 – in zowel Gaza als de Westelijke Jordaanoever, inclusief Jeruzalem. Israëls aanwezigheid in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden, inclusief de militaire bezetting en nederzettingen, is onrechtmatig en moet volgens het ICJ eindigen.

In juli 2024 bepaalde het ICJ dat alle staten verplicht zijn om economische transacties die het illegale beleid en de illegale praktijken van Israël in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden ondersteunen, te voorkomen en zich hiervan te onthouden. De rechtszaak die vandaag is aangespannen wil een einde maken aan Nederlandse handels- en investeringsrelaties die de illegale bezetting, segregatie en kolonisatie door middel van nederzettingen in stand helpen houden. Nederland moet hiertoe effectieve maatregelen nemen en andere staten aansporen hetzelfde te doen.

Geen aanwijzingen voor het nemen van maatregelen
Er zijn geen aanwijzingen dat de Nederlandse staat van plan is maatregelen te nemen om de genocide in Gaza te voorkomen of de Nederlandse economische banden met Israëls illegale aanwezigheid in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden aan te pakken. De nieuwe Nederlandse regering heeft zich nog dichter naast Israël gepositioneerd, terwijl dat land doorgaat met het bombarderen, uithongeren en het gedwongen verplaatsen van Palestijnen zonder dat het einde daarvan in zicht is.

Daarom heeft de coalitie besloten de Nederlandse staat voor de rechter te dagen. Het is aan de Nederlandse rechter om de wettelijke verplichtingen waaraan de staat zich heeft gecommitteerd af te dwingen.

Issam Younis (Al Mezan) zegt:

Het Palestijnse volk heeft al veel langer dan oktober 2023 te lijden onder Israëls schendingen van het internationaal recht. Het afgelopen jaar heeft onze onderdrukking echter een ongekend niveau bereikt. Mensen in Gaza zijn het slachtoffer geworden van een genocidale aanval die niet lijkt te stoppen, terwijl Israël in de rest van Palestina diens beleid van kolonisatie, apartheid en onderwerping versterkt. Nederland is zich hiervan bewust, maar blijft Israël politiek, economisch en militair steunen, ten koste van de rechten van Palestijnen.

Lydia de Leeuw (SOMO) zegt:

Er kan geen sprake zijn van ‘business as usual’ met Israël. Nederlandse investeerders, supermarkten, leveranciers van militaire producten en andere spelers maken de bezetting en etnische zuivering van de Palestijnen al tientallen jaren mogelijk. Nederland, gastheer van het ICC en het ICJ, moet zich houden aan diens eigen verplichtingen onder internationaal recht en maatregelen nemen om de misdrijven te stoppen. Nu.

Wout Albers, advocaat van de coalitie, besluit:

Artikel 1 van de Geneefse Conventies stelt duidelijk dat staten een einde moeten maken aan schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht. Geen zaken meer doen met het onderdrukkende regime is dan het minimale. De uitspraken in de Genocidezaak en de Advisory Opinion van het ICJ hebben alleen maar benadrukt wat we al wisten: er worden genocidale daden gepleegd en de bezetting van Palestijns gebied is illegaal. Alle staten, ook Nederland, hebben de plicht om niet mee te werken en medeplichtig te zijn aan schendingen en moeten ook alles doen om toekomstige ernstige schendingen en verdere genocidale daden te voorkomen.

العربية

عاجل: ترفعُ المنظّمات غير الحكوميّة الهولنديّة والفلسطينيّة دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الدّولة الهولنديّة بتهمة فشلها في التّصدّي للإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وضمان احترام إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ

بتَّ اِئتلافُ متكوّنٌ من منظّمات المجتمع المدنيّ الفلسطينيّة والهولنديّة في شنّ دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الدّولة الهولنديّة لفشلها في التّصدّي للإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وبسبب مختلف انتهاكات إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ كذلك. تتضمّنُ طلبات الائتلاف الرّئيسيّة المطروحة على المحكمة المدنيّة الهولنديّة حظر تصدير ومرور الأسلحة، وأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة، والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج إلى إسرائيل، إضافةً إلى حظر كلّ العلاقات التّجاريّة والاستثماريّة الهولنديّة التّي تمكّنُ من استمرار احتلال إسرائيل غير الشّرعيّ للأراضي الفلسطينيّة. يتكوّنُ الائتلافُ من مؤسّسة الحقّ، مركز الميزان لحقوق الإنسان، منظّمة diuleG sdooJ rednA neE (بالهولنديّة “صوت يهوديّ مختلف”)، المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE)، منظّمة negninorG aylabaJ (جرونينجن جباليا)، مركز OMOS(مركز أبحاث الشّركات المتعدّدة الجنسيّات)، حركة كفاية (ayafiK)، اللّجنة الهولنديّة الفلسطينيّة (sdnalredeN anitselaP eetimmoK)، حركة anitsalaP. ويمثّل محامون من جمعيّة العدالة العالميّة (noitaicossA ecitsuJ labolG) ائتلاف الجمعيّات السّالف ذكرها أمام القضاء وتدعمُ كلٌّ من مجموعة “إيريف راف” ( vaR verE) اليهوديّة المناهضة للصّهيونيّة ومؤسّسة moobfjilO nee tnalP (ازرعْ شجرة زيتون) الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة.

تُلزمُ اتّفاقيّة منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة والمعاقبة عليها، وهي اتّفاقيّة وقّعت عليها هولندا، الدّولَ الأطراف على منع حدوث جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة. بيد أنّ الدّولة الهولنديّة التّي ما فتئت تلعبُ دور الحليف السياسيّ لإسرائيل فشلت فشلاً ذريعًا لتحول دون حصول إبادة جماعيّة في غزّة، حتّى بعد أن بيّنت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة، في جانفي/يناير 2024، أنّ إسرائيل ترتكب إبادةً جماعيّةً واضحةً ضدّ الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات. علاوةً على ما تنصّ عليه اتّفاقيّة منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعيّة والمعاقبة عليها، تُلزمُ اتّفاقيّة جنيف الدّول بضمان احترام القانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ.

في فبراير/شبّاط 2024، قضتْ محكمة الاستئناف الهولنديّة بوجود خطر جليٍّ يتعلّق بانتهاكات جسيمة للقانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ ارتكبتها القوّات الإسرائيليّة في غزّة. في نفس الشّهر، أطلق خبراء الأمم المتّحدّة تحذيرًا ينصُّ على أنّ أيّ نقلٍ للأسلحة إلى إسرائيل لاستخدامها في غزّة قد يُشكّلُ انتهاكًا للقانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ، لذا فهو أمرٌ يجب إيقافه. ولكنْ، وعلى الرّغم من كلّ ما سلف ذكره، تواصل الدّولة الهولنديّة انخراطها في عمليّة تزويد إسرائيل بأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج.

إضافةً إلى ذلك، رغم طلبات المدّعي العامّ للمحكمة الجنائيّة الدّوليّة بإصدار مذكّرة اعتقال بحقّ كلٍّ من رئيس الوزراء الإسرائيليّ ووزير الدّفاع، أرسلت الحكومة الهولنديّة ثلّةً مختارةً من الوفود العسكريّة السّامية للقاء الجيش الإسرائيليّ وأرسلت دعوةً للرّئيس الإسرائيليّ للقدوم إلى هولندا وهو للتّذكير نفس الرّئيس الذّي استخدمت جنوب أفريقيا تصريحاته التّحريضيّة لتقديم طلبها الرّسميّ إلى محكمة العدل الدّوليّة. ينصّ فحوى الطّلب على أنّه يجب على هولندا منع تصدير ومرور الأسلحة، وأجزاء ومكوّنات الأسلحة، والمواد ذات الاستخدام المزدوج إلى إسرائيل، كما يجب عليها أن تسعى جاهدةً إلى تشجيع دول أخرى للقيام بنفس الشيء.

حسب الأرقام الرّسميّة، يرتفع عدد القتلى في غزّة منذ شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل ليصل إلى حواليْ 42 ألف قتيل وتشيرُ التّقديرات إلى أنّ أكثر من 200 ألف شخص لقوا حتفهم بشكل غير مباشر، أيْ نتيجةً للإصابات، لأمراض كان من الممكن الوقاية منها أو علاجها، ولنقص الغذاء والماء والعلاج الطّبيّ.^[1]

انتهاكات بنيويّة للقانون الدّوليّ

لا تقتصرُ الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة اليوم على تقاعس الدّولة الهولنديّة فيما يتعلّق بعدوان إسرائيل الوحشيّ على غزّة فقط، بل هي تتحدّى أيضًا سياسة هولندا غير الملائمة بشكل مؤسف في إطار انتهاكات إسرائيل البنيويّة للقانون الدّوليّ وهو ليس بالأمر الجديد، فهي انتهاكات ترجعُ إلى زمن بعيد يتعدّى شهر أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل من سنة 2023، وذلك في كلّ من غزّة والضّفّة الغربيّة والقدس أيضًا. يُعتبرُ وجود الكيان الإسرائيليّ في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة بفضل آليّة الاحتلال العسكريّ والاستيطان وجودًا غير قانونيّ ويجب أن يتوقّف بموجب ما نصّت عليه محكمة العدل الدّوليّة.

في شهر جويلية/يوليو 2024، نصّت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة على أنّ جميع الدّول ملزمة بالامتناع وحظر المعاملات الاقتصاديّة التّي تدعم سياسات إسرائيل وممارساتها غير القانونيّة في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة. تسعى الدّعوى القضائيّة المرفوعة اليوم إلى إنهاء العلاقات التّجاريّة والاستثماريّة التّي تساهم في ترسيخ وجود الاحتلال غير القانونيّ والتّمييز العنصريّ والاستعمار من خلال المستوطنات. يجب على هولندا اتّخاذ تدابير لتحقيق هذا الغرض ولتكون مثالاً تقتدي به الدّول الأخرى.

غياب أيّ إشارات تنوّه باتّخاذ أيّ تدبير كان

لا توجد أيّ إشارة واضحة أو دليل ما ينوّه بأنّ الحكومة الهولنديّة ستتخّذ إجراءات تهدف إلى منع الإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة أو تحليل نوعيّة روابطها الاقتصاديّة مع الكيان الإسرائيليّ غير القانونيّ في الأراضي الفلسطينيّة المحتلّة. إنّ الحكومة الهولنديّة الجديدة ذات صلة وطيدة أكثر بإسرائيل التّي تواصل قصف وتجويع وتهجير الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات القسريّ في دوّامة من العنف تنعدمُ فيها رؤية أيّ مخرج كان.

هذا هو السّياق الذّي جعل ائتلاف منظّمات المجتمع المدنيّ يتّخذ قرار رفع دعوى قضائيّة ضدّ الحكومة الهولنديّة لأنّه تقع على عاتق القضاء الهولنديّ مسؤوليّة إنفاذ الالتزامات القانونيّة التّي التزمت بها الدّولة مسبقًا.

يقول عصام يونس من مركز الميزان لحقوق الإنسان:

“إنّ معاناة الشّعب الفلسطينيّ من انتهاكات إسرائيل للقانون الدّوليّ لم تبدأ في 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل 2023، بل قبل هذا التّاريخ بكثير. لكنّنا أصبحنا ضحايا قمع لا سابق له منذ العام الماضي. سكّان غزّة ضحايا هجومات تكتسي بكلّ وضوح حلّة إبادةٍ جماعيّةٍ لا يبدو أنّها ستنتهي في أيّ وقت قريب من الآن. وفي أراضي فلسطين الأخرى، تواصل إسرائيل مضاعفة سياساتها الاستعماريّة وسياسة الفصل العنصريّ والقهر. هولندا واعية كلّ الوعي بكلّ هذا، ولكنّها تواصل دعم إسرائيل سياسيًّا، اقتصاديًّا، وعسكريًّا على حساب حقوق الفلسطينيّين والفلسطينيّات.”

يُضيف دان دو جريفت من المركز الأوروبيّ للدّعم القانونيّ (CSLE):

“ أكّدت محكمة العدل الدّوليّة أنّ الهجمات التّي ما فتئت تشنّها إسرائيل على غزّة منذ 7 أكتوبر/تشرين الأوّل يمكن أن تصل إلى مستوى تصنيف الإبادة الجماعيّة، وهو أمر يؤدّي إلى إلزام جميع الدّول قانونًا بالقيام بكلّ ما في وسعها لمنع ذلك. كما رأت المحكمة أنّه يتوجّب على الدّول اتّخاذ خطوات لمنع التّجارة أو الاستثمار كلّما كان الأمر داعمًا للاحتلال غير القانونيّ لفلسطين. في الوقت الرّاهن، يُعتبرُ الأمر متروكًا للمحاكم المحليّة حتّى تتجسّد وتتبلور هذه الالتزامات ولضمان تطبيق القانون الدّولي على قدم مساواة لكلّ الدّول.”

حسب أقوال ليديا دي لايو من مركز OMOS (مركز أبحاث الشّركات المتعدّدة الجنسيّات):

“لا يمكن مواصلة التّجارة مع إسرائيل مثل السّابق. لقد مكّن المستثمرون الهولنديّون والمتاجر الكبرى ومورّدو المنتجات العسكريّة وجهات فاعلة أخرى في هولندا من جعل الاحتلال الإسرائيليّ ممكنًا ومن ترسيخ التّطهير العرقيّ لفلسطين منذ عقود من الزّمن. يجب على هولندا التّي تحتضنُ في كيانها المحكمة الجنائيّة الدّوليّة ومحكمة العدل الدّوليّة أنْ تحترم التزاماتها بموجب القانون الدّوليّ وأن تتّخذ التّدابير اللاّزمة المتعلّقة بمحاسبة ومساءلة نفسها. الآن.”

يختمُ وُوت ألبارس، محامي الائتلاف، قائلاً:

“بموجب المادّة الأولى المشتركة لاتّفاقيّة جنيف، من الواضح أنّه يجب على الدّول أن تتوقّف عن انتهاك القانون الإنسانيّ الدّوليّ. والحدّ الأدنى هو عدم التّعامل مع نظام حكومة قمعيّ. لم تؤّكدْ كلٌّ من الأحكام الصّادرة في قضيّة الإبادة الجماعيّة والرّأي القانونيّ إلاّ على أمورٍ كنّا نعرفها سابقًا: تمّ ارتكاب إبادة جماعيّة واحتلال الأراضي الفلسطينيّة أمر غير قانونيّ. يجب على كلّ الدّول، بما في ذلك هولندا، الالتزام بعدم التّعاون وعدم التّواطؤ في مثل هذه الانتهاكات ويجب عليها أيضًا بذل قصار جهدها لوضع حدٍّ في المستقبل لمثل هذه الانتهاكات الوخيمة ولمنع حدوث أيّ عمل تنجم عنه إبادة جماعيّة لاحقًا.”

^[1] “إحصاء القتلى في غزّة: صعبٌ لكنّه ضروريٌّ” في مجلّة لانسيت

Tags complicity

Media Coverage

September Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 20 September 2024
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Dear Friend,

CASE UPDATES

BDS Austria: we’re going to the Supreme Court!

Do you remember our case supporting BDS Austria against the Municipality of Vienna that began in 2021? Our legal battle with the Municipality has taken a crucial turn. Here is where we are at now:

The activists, with the ELSC’s support, are now challenging the Regional Court’s decision before the Austrian Supreme Court. Your support is urgent! Find out more about the case here. For more about how to identify a SLAPP and the scale and nature of SLAPPs in Europe, see here.

SUPPORT THE CASE HERE

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Dana Abu Qamar fighting the racist decision from the British Home Office to cancel her student visa

After Dana’s appearance on Sky News in October 2023, where she spoke out in solidarity with Palestine, the Home Office cancelled her student visa, leaving her facing deportation. Last month, shocking disclosed emails revealed that MP Robert Jenrick personally intervened to enquire about Ms Abu Qamar, leading to the cancellation of her visa on 1 December 2023. The Home Office claimed her presence was not ‘conducive to the public good’. Read More.

Dana is currently appealing this decision. The ELSC and partner organisations in Britain have requested the new Labour Government to overturn this decision to cancel Dana’s visa. It has until Friday 20th September to decide.

We remain undeterred and continue to stand with Dana and activists like her exercising their fundamental rights and speaking out for justice and accountability without having their right of residence being threatened! Join us in supporting her case.

SUPPORT DANA’S CASE

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“From the River to the Sea”: towards less anti-Palestinian censorship online

On 4 September 2024, Meta’s Oversight Board established that the phrase “From the River to the Sea” does not constitute hate speech, violence and incitement, as many Zionist groups argued in their requests to Meta to moderate the use of the slogan on the platform. The Board therefore advised Meta not to limit or moderate its use, highlighting that ‘it is also often used as a political call for solidarity (…) and self-determination of the Palestinian people’. Access Now, together with the ELSC, contributed to this outcome by submitting a public comment to the Board. Our submission recalled relevant case law issued by European domestic courts and the applicable international law framework

For more analyses and action against Meta’s targeted and systematic censorship of Palestine-related content, see here and here

ONGOING CASES YOU CAN SUPPORT

Shocking levels of state violence and repression in Germany: Palästina Solidarität Duisburg and Samidoun

In the early morning hours of the 16th of May 2024, over 50 police officers raided the homes and workplaces of alleged members of the Palestine solidarity group Palästina Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU). This resulted in the confiscation of the association’s assets, the ban of all their internet presence and the criminalisation of the public display of symbols related to the association.

While this is an outrageously shocking display of German state repression and authoritarianism, it is not an isolated case. The ministry of Interior of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia explicitly mentioned the German chapter of the Palestine Prisoner solidarity network Samidoun, which was criminalised in Germany in November 2023 by decree by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

READ OUR FULL STATEMENT (AR/EN/DE)

We call for solidarity with PSDU and Samidoun, and urge to support the ‘’Komitee Gegen das Verbot von Palästina Solidarität Duisburg’’ which fights the ban of the group through legal and political means and collects donations to cover the legal costs.

Sign the statement in support of Samidoun and the International Campaign Against Anti-Palestinian Repression in Germany here. For details on how to support Samidoun, see here.

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#BlockTheBoat: let’s stop the MV Kathrin, a vessel illegally carrying military supplies for Israel’s ongoing genocide

On the 6th of September, our director sent a legal notice to the Portuguese government demanding the removal of its flag from the MV Kathrin, a vessel carrying explosives destined to Israel, “in compliance with the erga omnes obligations to prevent the crime of Genocide.” Read more in this articlepublished by Portuguese media Público.

SHARE ON INSTAGRAM

Follow and join the global mobilisation to stop the MV Kathrin here. Together we can stop the deadly cargo!

HELP US BUILD OUR MONITOR DATABASE

Let’s expose those responsible for our repression and hold them accountable together!

REPORT REPRESSION

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

Gaza has shown European universities are no longer places of free inquiry

‘The crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech and activism on European campuses does not differ in essence from the repression students face in undemocratic settings’, write ELSC Officer Tasnima and British Academic Misbah in an op-ed published by Al-Jazeera. Read More.

EVENTS

On the 14th of September, our Chief of Advocacy and Communications Alice spoke at a panel at the Amnesty International Belgium (francophone) summer camp. Responding to the theme on the right to protest, Alice spoke about the growing repression of critical dissent and Palestine solidarity in Europe, and the implications for protests against Israel’s ongoing genocidal onslaught on Gaza and advocacy for accountability and the liberation of Palestine.

Our Senior Legal Officer managing impact litigation work at ELSC Daan will be speaking at a Palestine Lawfare webinar organised by Justice48. Join us to collectively explore how legal action can challenge government’s complicity and discover ways to get involved.

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

Explore the Interactive Accountability Map, launched by the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), which shows measures and sanctions taken since October 2023 by states, parliaments, courts, businesses, civil society groups, and organisations in reponse to the ongoing genocide and Nakba in Palestine.

Most of these actions follow tireless mobilisation and efforts by activists, Palestinians and their allies across the globe who continue to mobilise for justice, accountability, and the liberation of Palestine.

EXPLORE PIPD’S ACCOUNTABILITY MAP HERE

OPEN VACANCIES

This month, we are recruiting for two new positions in our team of movement lawyers and advocates!

We are seeking an Advocacy Officer – Strategic litigation. The deadline for applications is October 1st, 2024. For more details about the position and how to apply, please follow the link below! 
APPLY HERE

Fellowship Junior Data Researcher: Join our team to support the launch of the Monitoring Database project in Britain. Applications are due by 11 October 2024.
APPLY HERE

We are proud to be in community with you. As you continue to organise and take action, make sure to visit our Know Your Rights resources and continue to report any form of repression. 

In solidarity,  
The ELSC

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

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If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

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Job

Call for Applications: Senior Lawyer for the Netherlands

Post author By ELSC
Post date 20 September 2024
Sticky post

Job Title
Senior Lawyer (Senior Legal Officer – NL)

Location
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Reports to
Executive Director

Line Management
No direct line management

Contract
Dedicated external counsel / vaste externe advocaat

Salary
€49,000 – €54,000 (depending on experience)
Predetermined fixed fee

Start Date
Nov 2024, or as soon as possible

How to Apply
Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support, including the subject line ‘Senior Legal: NL’
Applications are due by 09:00 CET, 7 Oct 2024

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN LEGAL SUPPORT CENTRE (ELSC)
ELSC is an initiative of the Palestinian NGO Network, comprising 200 Palestinian civil society organisations, developed in response to the widespread repression in Europe of advocacy for Palestinian rights and nonviolent campaigns aimed at ending Israel’s occupation. Founded in January 2019, ELSC provides free legal advice and assistance to individuals who face unjust smears, disciplinary investigations, criminal sanctions, and other repressive measures aimed at shrinking the space for Palestinian rights advocacy across Europe. We are “movement lawyers,” accountable to both individual clients and civil society partners in the Netherlands. We work hand in hand with local stakeholders, from trade unions to civil liberties groups, to defend and empower the movement to organise for justice without fear of repression.

ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As ELSC’s dedicated external counsel in the Netherlands, you will work with the Legal Department to develop and execute legal strategies while providing legal advice to the Dutch Palestine solidarity movement, often in collaboration with PILP Foundation. Many clients are employees, students, or activists facing repression. You will advise them on their rights, actions, and campaigns. ELSC has a network of expert Dutch lawyers with whom you will closely collaborate. We are looking for a qualified lawyer with specialisation in labour or administrative law or a combination of these, ideally with experience in freedom of expression, protest rights, and/or the protection of political expression.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Experience
L.L.M. in Dutch law or relevant European law specialisation
At least 3 years in a similar role, preferably in a law firm
Experience and understanding of Dutch and ECHR law, especially in fundamental freedoms and civic space protection
Experience in labour and/or administrative law
Proven legal strategy development and advice experience
Experience working within a team and independently to achieve success
Skills & Abilities
Excellent teamwork skills with flexibility to manage competing priorities
Excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft packages
Ability to conduct interviews with affected persons or groups and to work with activists
Excellent research and analytical skills
Strong legal strategy development and legal document drafting skills
Demonstrable initiative and determination
Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise tasks
Knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian solidarity movement
Proficiency in Dutch and English, with excellent written and spoken communication skills

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Experience or specialisation in freedom of expression, protest rights, political expression protection, criminal law, international criminal law, corporate criminal responsibility, or civil tort litigation
Experience working with labour unions, Juridisch Loket, or social advocatuur law practices
Involvement in grassroots campaigns or non-profit organisations
Understanding of the role of ELSC

OTHER ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualified to practice or able to qualify as a lawyer in the Netherlands (Dutch Bar Association – Orde van Advocaten)
Demonstrated commitment to ELSC’s aims and objectives
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities
Willingness to travel and work occasionally outside of regular office hours
Flexibility within the broad remit of the post

JOB DESCRIPTION: Senior Legal Officer – NL

Analyse and research Dutch, ECHR, EU, and public international law concerning:
(i) Fundamental rights, especially freedom of expression and assembly
(ii) Political and racial discrimination
(iii) Protest rights
Develop legal strategies, draft legal opinions, notes, memos, and summaries to assist and defend individuals and organisations supporting Palestine
Provide legal advice to ELSC clients on Dutch and European law
Conduct interviews with affected persons and groups
Attend meetings with clients, partners, and lawyers
Collaborate with the Advocacy and Communications Officer to develop and execute political and legal strategies
Work with the Empower team to build and implement litigation strategies in the Netherlands
Support the Development (Fundraising) Team with research and reporting
Any other task related to the daily work of the wider ELSC team

Job

Call for Applications: Barry Amiel & Norman Melburn Trust Fellowship – Junior Researcher

Post author By ELSC
Post date 19 September 2024
Sticky post

Job Title
Barry Amiel & Norman Melburn Trust Fellowship – Junior Researcher

Location
Britain Work Team

Reports to
Monitoring Officer

Line Management
None

Contract
This is a one-year, full-time post paid through a tax-free monthly stipend from the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust, with an additional salary supplemented by the ELSC. The fellowship post holder will work as part of the ELSC Team.

Fellowship Package

9.1 – 9.2 Junior Officer Scale
£26,500 – £28,500 GBP
€750 available to support staff well-being
Assistance with home office equipment

How to Apply
Applications (CV and cover letter) should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘Fellowship Researcher’.
Applications are due by 17:00 BST, 11 Oct 2024.
Interviews are scheduled for 21 / 22 Oct 2024.
Start date: Nov 2024 or as soon as possible.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The main purpose of this role is to support the ELSC British Work Team by conducting data collection, relevant research, and completing case summaries. Case summaries are legal statements of facts and are the central dataset of the Legal Team and the Monitoring Database Project. The Database Project is due to launch in Britain in early 2025 with a qualitative and quantitative dataset.

We are looking for someone who is able to determine the accuracy and detail of all information, review data for errors and consistency, and draft case summaries to a high standard. The post-holder will also need to demonstrate a high level of research skill, be confident in networking, and work well within a remote team across Europe.

ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfill every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.

PERSON SPECIFICATION: Fellowship Junior Researcher

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Experience in managing one’s own workload and time
Experience in research projects
Commitment to the Palestinian solidarity movement
Sufficient administrative skills to manage projects
Experience with administration processes and data management
Excellent communication skills: written and verbal presentation
Ability to adapt to different audiences and engage with diverse groups

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Understanding of the role of ELSC
Graduate-level legal education
Experience in political campaigns, grassroots, or non-profit organisations
Experience in conducting semi-structured interviews
Quantitative and qualitative research skills

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC’s aims and objectives
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities
Willingness to travel and work occasional out-of-hours as required
Flexibility within the broad remit of the post

JOB DESCRIPTION: Fellowship Junior Data Researcher

RESEARCH

Draft, edit, and finalize case summaries for the Database of Repression Britain launch
Manage data storage, research, and data collection for the British Work Team
Deliver research objectives in conjunction with the wider goals of the ELSC Database Project
Contribute to research goals that meet the needs of the British Work Team (work teams are cross-departmental spaces that include Legal, Advocacy, and Research officers)
Contribute to publications or disseminate research findings using other appropriate media
Assess, interpret, and evaluate outcomes of research

LIAISON AND NETWORKING

Collaborate actively within and outside the ELSC to complete research projects and advance thinking

Job

Call for Applications: Advocacy Officer – Strategic Litigation

Post author By ELSC
Post date 16 September 2024
Sticky post

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer – Strategic Litigation.

Title: Advocacy Officer – Strategic litigation
Location: Europe
Reports to: Chief of Advocacy and Communications
Contract Type: Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer to be negotiated
Deadline to apply: 1 October 2024

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE  

As the Advocacy & Communications Officer for our strategic litigation teams – EMPOWER and DEF/DER, you will be part of the Advocacy & Communication Team and develop public outreach on strategic litigation cases pertaining to our de-funding and de-risking work (Palestinian and European organisations or individuals facing the suspension or cutting of funding, and facing bank de-risking, i.e. the restrictions on their bank accounts, transfers etc.), and develop advocacy campaigns for cases aiming to hold private and public actors accountable for their complicity with international law violations in Palestine (for instance our case against Booking.com). You will engage in public outreach; build campaigns to boost specific legal cases; get media coverage to achieve visibility and narrative change; make sure our victories are visible; grow and mobilise our network of supporters; build coalitions and establish relationships with relevant organisations.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE   & QUALIFICATIONS

Experience with campaigning, involvement in activist groups, grassroots or non-profit organisations, in particular with Palestine solidarity groups and / or other anti-colonial and anti-racist groups
Experience in convening and driving coalitions and networks and building relationships.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and human rights, in particular the rights of the Palestinian people and the intersectional struggles connected to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES  

Basic knowledge of legal systems
Demonstrated skills in communications and advocacy work.
Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills. English is the working language of the ELSC.
Good understanding and knowledge of the political and human rights situation in Palestine.
Teamwork skills and flexibility, ability to manage time and competing priorities, according to the current demands of the organisation.
Highly organised, strong attention to detail, driven, can work independently without direction.
Ability to prioritise tasks and manage a busy workload. 
Commitment to anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. 
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required. 
To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Graduate in International Relations, Political Science, Communications, Journalism, Law, Sociology or other relevant fields.
Master’s Degree in a related field.
Proficiency in Arabic.
Experience with web development, graphic design, social media management or other digital communications experience and skills.

MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS – Advocacy & Communication Officer – Strategic litigation

In coordination with the Advocacy and Communication Team, develop and implement public outreach campaigns strategies, social media and media outreach, building and coordinating partners coalition, coordinating with the legal team etc.
Maintain and expand our network of support around our Strategic Litigation cases through maintaining effective communication with activists and partner organisations.
Organise and facilitate in-person events and/or workshops with activists, academics, students and lawyers.
Draft and publish case summaries/updates on the ELSC website, in coordination with the relevant legal officers for De-funding/ De-risking and Empower.
Support the Digital Communications Officer to design and monitor relevant social media content: text, visuals and potential videos/reels.
Represent the ELSC in public events and interviews.
Maintain and expand the ELSC network of journalists and media outlets.
Maintain contact lists.
Assist with content production for the ELSC monthly Newsletter.

Salary

€36,000 – 38,000 with progression up the scale after each annual review
750 EURO available to support staff well-being
Assistance with home office equipment

How to Apply:

Applications (CV and cover letter) should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘Advocacy Officer Strategic Litigation’. Applications are due by 09:00 CET 1 Oct 2024.

Press Release

Shocking levels of state violence and repression in Germany: Palästina Solidarität Duisburg and Samidoun

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 September 2024
Sticky post

GERMAN AND ARABIC BELOW

In the early morning hours of the 16^th of May 2024, over 50 police officers raided the homes and workplaces of alleged members of the Palestine solidarity group Palästina Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU).

The Ministry of Interior of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia had outlawed the group just shortly before the raids. Minister Herbert Reul declared: “In many cases, solidarity with Palestine hides nothing other than hatred of Jews – as is the case with the organization that is now banned. We use all legal means at our disposal to dry up anti-Semitism and ideological support for terror.”

Among its baseless accusations, the ministry declared the group’s call for a ‘‘Free Palestine from the river to the sea’’ would “de facto’’ be a call for the ‘‘annihilation’’ of the State of Israel.

The shallow reasoning resulted in the confiscation of the association’s assets, the ban of all their internet presence and the criminalisation of the public display of symbols related to the association (§ 11 Absatz 3 des Strafgesetzbuches). While this is an outrageously shocking display of German state repression and authoritarianism, it is not an isolated case. The ministry of Interior of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia explicitly mentioned the German chapter of the Palestine Prisoner solidarity network Samidoun, which was criminalised in Germany in November 2023 by decree by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

Members of the groups have been subjected to shocking levels of authoritarian state violence and repression. As such, they have repeatedly been threatened with financial penalties to prevent them from attending demonstrations “related to Palestine” following the raids during which members of PSDU and their families have been denied rights guaranteed under the German Penal Procedure code. They have been subjected to threatening intimidation, including threats to residency and citizenship status, lies and gross mockery by the police officers violating their intimate spheres.

The police confiscated: flyers, stickers, buttons, pins, several flags and flagpoles, books and brochures, self-painted signs and posters, kuffiyehs, a loudspeaker system and a microphone, a megaphone, a pavilion, laptops and computers, cell phones, USB sticks and MP3 players as well as a few thousand euros in cash – including a large portion of private assets.

Ahmad from PSDU states: “The police raids were accompanied by the Axel Springer press. Press teams were on site at the same time as the officials. In my opinion, this was a big show by the authorities to serve certain political interests. At a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify German involvement in the genocide and support for the IOF’s terrorist actions, politicians need scapegoats to justify the repression and oppression of the Palestinian movement in Germany in order to continue trying to silence the Palestinian movement and voices against genocide and the barbaric violence of the Zionist occupation.”

Germany’s descent into blatant authoritarianism

The ban of the groups and the related raids are part of a larger ruthless state campaign to repress dissent and criminalise mobilisation against Israel’s ongoing genocidal onslaught on Gaza and Germany’s complicity. There are legal cases pending admission by the court against the ban itself, and against all raids as well.

We are observing a worrying trend in Germany. Authorities are taking extra-legal, in many cases clearly illegal, measures to further repression against the Palestine solidarity movement and attempts to increase the criminalisation, fragmentation, and isolation of activists and activist groups.

This seems to happen in collusion with German media. Right wing tabloids are now routinely publishing target lists and smear articles with names and employers of Palestine solidarity activists in Germany. These activists are then exposed to surveillance, raids, extreme police brutality and legal persecution.

Politicians from Germany’s ruling coalition representing the social democrats (SPD), The Greens and the Liberal party (FDP) are constantly overbidding themselves in shockingly authoritarian and racist statements and moves competing with the largest opposition parties, the Christian democrats (CDU&CSU) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Attempts to criminalise the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea”, with several instances dating back to as early as 2022, are ever-growing. At the time, the conference of interior ministers had declared that it would test and use all legal measures that allow a criminalisation of the use of the slogan to express Palestine solidarity.

This political climate leads to almost completely unchecked escalation of state repression by the German authorities. While in many cases, the authoritarian instructions informing the executive are successfully challenged in court, the damage is usually already done. German politicians and German authorities and law enforcement units have not been held accountable for their unconstitutional decisions which continue and increase the violations of fundamental civic and human rights, often times with corporate complicity. There are next to no consequences. The German ministry of Interior is now pushing to allow the German Federal Police to raid homes in secret.

Leon from PSDU commented: “An important aim of the repression is of course to intimidate us. And all I can say is they didn’t succeed! We both took legal action against the ban, and we use every opportunity and travel all over Germany to talk about the repression, about Palestine, about the genocide in Gaza and about the legitimate resistance of the Palestinian people. And we are pleased that other former PSDU comrades continue to be active and that other groups in Germany are not intimidated, continue and invite us to join them.

The repression is also clearly calculated: it seeks to bleed us dry financially. The confiscations caused €25,000 in damages to a comrade and me alone, and we are required to pay around €8,000 in advance for the first instances. But this strategy isn’t working either: we are prepared to give our last penny for this fight. And we are experiencing great solidarity, and I am optimistic that we will be able to cover the costs and fight this battle.”

We call for solidarity with PSDU and Samidoun, and urge to support the ‘’Komitee Gegen das Verbot von Palästina Solidarität D uisburg’’ which fights the ban of the group through legal and political means and collects donations to cover the legal costs.

Sign this statement in support of Samidoun and the International Campaign Against Anti-Palestinian Repression in Germany here. For details on how to support Samidoun, see here.

Schockierendes Ausmaß an staatlicher Gewalt und Repression in Deutschland: Palästina Solidarität Duisburg und Samidoun

In den frühen Morgenstunden des 16. Mai 2024 durchsuchten über 50 Polizeibeamte die Wohnungen und Arbeitsplätze von mutmaßlichen Mitgliedern der Gruppe Palästina-Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU).

Das nordrhein-westfälische Innenministerium hatte die Gruppe erst kurz vor den Razzien verboten. Minister Herbert Reul erklärte dazu: „Hinter der Solidarität mit Palästina verbirgt sich in vielen Fällen nichts anderes als Judenhass – so auch bei der jetzt verbotenen Organisation. Wir setzen alle rechtlichen Mittel ein, um Antisemitismus und ideologische Unterstützung des Terrors auszutrocknen’’.

Eine haltlose Anschuldigung des Ministeriums: die Forderung der Gruppe nach einem „freien Palästina vom Fluss bis zum Meer’’ sei „de facto’’ ein Aufruf zur „Vernichtung’’ des Staates Israel.

Diese schwache Argumentation führte zur Beschlagnahmung des Vermögens der Gruppe, zum Verbot ihrer gesamten Internetpräsenz und zur Kriminalisierung der öffentlichen Zurschaustellung von Symbolen der Vereinigung (§ 11 Absatz 3 des Strafgesetzbuches). Dies ist zwar ein schockierendes Beispiel für die Repression und den Autoritarismus des deutschen Staates, stellt aber in keinster Weise einen Einzelfall dar. Das nordrhein-westfälische Innenministerium erwähnte ausdrücklich die deutsche Sektion des Solidaritätsnetzwerks für palästinensische Gefangene Samidoun, welche in Deutschland im November 2023 per Dekret von Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser kriminalisiert wurde.

Die Mitglieder der Gruppen sind in erschreckendem Maße autoritärer staatlicher Gewalt und Repression ausgesetzt. So wurden ihnen wiederholt Geldstrafen angedroht, um sie daran zu hindern, an Demonstrationen „mit Bezug zu Palästina“ teilzunehmen. Bei den Razzien wurden Mitgliedern von PSDU und ihren Familien die in der deutschen Strafprozessordnung garantierten Rechte verweigert. Sie waren Einschüchterungen, einschließlich der Bedrohung des Aufenthaltsstatus und der Staatsbürgerschaft, Lügen und groben Verhöhnungen durch die Polizeibeamten ausgesetzt, die in ihre tiefste Intimsphäre eindrangen.

Die Polizei beschlagnahmte: Flugblätter, Aufkleber, Buttons und Anstecker, mehrere Fahnen und Fahnenmasten, Bücher und Broschüren, selbstgemalte Schilder und Plakate, Kuffiyehs, eine Lautsprecheranlage und ein Mikrofon, ein Megaphon, einen Pavillon, Laptops und Computer, Handys, USB-Sticks und MP3-Player sowie einige tausend Euro Bargeld – darunter ein großer Teil Privatvermögen.

Ahmad von PSDU erklärt: „Die Polizeirazzien wurden von der Axel Springer Presse begleitet. Presseteams waren zur gleichen Zeit vor Ort wie die Beamten. Meiner Meinung nach war dies eine große Show der Behörden, um bestimmte politische Interessen zu bedienen. In einer Zeit, in der es immer schwieriger wird, die deutsche Beteiligung am Völkermord und die Unterstützung der terroristischen Aktionen der IOF zu rechtfertigen, brauchen Politiker Sündenböcke, um die Repression und Unterdrückung der palästinensischen Bewegung in Deutschland zu rechtfertigen und um weiterhin zu versuchen, die palästinensische Bewegung und die Stimmen gegen den Völkermord und die barbarische Gewalt der zionistischen Besatzung zum Schweigen zu bringen.”

Deutschlands Abgleiten in eklatanten Autoritarismus

Das Verbot der Gruppen und die damit verbundenen Razzien sind Teil einer größeren, schonungslosen staatlichen Kampagne zur Unterdrückung abweichender Meinungen und zur Kriminalisierung der Mobilisierung gegen Israel’s anhaltenden völkermörderischen Angriff auf Gaza und die deutsche Mitschuld daran. Gegen das Verbot selbst, aber auch gegen alle Razzien sind Klagen anhängig, die auf Zulassung von den Gerichten warten.

Wir beobachten in Deutschland einen besorgniserregenden Trend. Behörden ergreifen extralegale, in vielen Fällen eindeutig illegale Maßnahmen zur weiteren Repression gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung und versuchen, die Kriminalisierung, Zersplitterung und Isolierung von Aktivist:innen und Aktivist:innengruppen zu verschärfen.

Dies scheint in Zusammenarbeit mit deutschen Medien zu geschehen. Rechtsgerichtete Boulevardzeitungen veröffentlichen nun routinemäßig Ziellisten und Hetzartikel mit Namen und Arbeitgeber:innen von Palästina-Solidaritätsaktivist:innen in Deutschland. Diese Aktivist:innen sind dann Überwachung, Razzien, extremer Polizeibrutalität und rechtlicher Verfolgung ausgesetzt.

Politiker der deutschen Regierungskoalition aus Sozialdemokraten (SPD), Grünen und den Liberalen (FDP) überbieten sich ständig mit schockierend autoritären Äußerungen und Maßnahmen im Wettbewerb mit den größten Oppositionsparteien, den Christdemokraten (CDU&CSU) und der rechtsextremen Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).

Gleichzeitig nehmen die Versuche zu, die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” zu kriminalisieren, wobei mehrere Fälle bereits in das Jahr 2022 zurückreichen. Zu dem Zeitpunkt hatte die Innenministerkonferenz erklärt, sie werde alle rechtlichen Maßnahmen prüfen und anwenden, die eine Kriminalisierung der Verwendung der Parole als Ausdruck der Palästina-Solidarität ermöglichen.

Dieses politische Klima führt zu einer fast völlig unkontrollierten Eskalation der staatlichen Repression durch die deutschen Behörden. Zwar werden die autoritären Weisungen der Exekutive in vielen Fällen erfolgreich vor Gericht angefochten, doch der Schaden ist in der Regel bereits angerichtet. Deutsche Politiker:innen und deutsche (Strafverfolgungs-)behörden werden nicht für ihre verfassungswidrigen Entscheidungen zur Rechenschaft gezogen. Die Verletzung grundlegender Bürger- und Menschenrechte wird fortgesetzt und verstärkt, oft mit der Komplizenschaft deutscher Unternehmen. Es gibt so gut wie keine Konsequenzen. Das deutsche Innenministerium drängt nun darauf, der deutschen Bundespolizei heimliche Hausdurchsuchungen zu erlauben.

Leon von PSDU kommentiert: „Ein wichtiges Ziel der Repression ist es natürlich, uns einzuschüchtern. Und ich kann nur sagen: Das ist ihnen nicht gelungen! Wir haben beide rechtliche Schritte gegen das Verbot eingeleitet und wir nutzen jede Gelegenheit und reisen durch ganz Deutschland, um über die Repression, über Palästina, über den Völkermord in Gaza und über den Widerstand des palästinensischen Volkes zu sprechen. Und wir freuen uns, dass andere ehemalige PSDU-Genoss:innen weiterhin aktiv sind und dass andere Gruppen in Deutschland sich nicht einschüchtern lassen, weitermachen und uns einladen, sich ihnen anzuschließen.

Die Repression ist auch klar kalkuliert: Sie zielt darauf ab, uns finanziell auszubluten. Die Beschlagnahmungen haben allein bei einem Genossen und mir einen Schaden von 25.000 Euro verursacht, und für die ersten Instanzen müssen wir rund 8.000 Euro vorstrecken. Aber auch diese Strategie geht nicht auf: Wir sind bereit, unseren letzten Pfennig für diesen Kampf zu geben. Wir erleben eine große Solidarität. Ich bin optimistisch, dass wir die Kosten decken und diesen Kampf ausfechten können.”

Wir rufen zur Solidarität mit PSDU und Samidoun auf und bitten um Unterstützung des „Komitee Gegen das Verbot von Palästina Solidarität Duisburg“, das mit juristischen und politischen Mitteln gegen das Verbot der Gruppe kämpft und Spenden zur Deckung der Prozesskosten sammelt.

Unterzeichnet außerdem diese Erklärung zur Unterstützung von Samidoun und der Internationalen Kampagne gegen antipalästinensische Unterdrückung in Deutschland. Details zur finanziellen Unterstützung des Falls findet ihr hier.

حملات عنف وقمع مروّعة ومفزعة من قبل الحكومة الألمانيّة: مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ وشبكة صامدون

في السّاعات الأولى من صباح يوم 61 مايو 4202، قام أكثر من 05 شرطيّ بمداهمة منازل وأماكن عمل أعضاء مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) على خلفيّة اشتباه الدّولة الألمانيّة فيهم.

قبل شنِّ هذه المداهمات بوقت قصير، قامت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة في ولاية شمال الراين – وستفاليا بحظر كينونة وأنشطة المجموعة المذكورة، وقد أعلنَ الوزير هربرت رويل ما يلي: “في العديد من الحالات، لا يخفي التّضامنُ مع فلسطين في طيّاته إلاّ كراهيّةً تستهدفُ اليهود، كما هو حال المنظّمة التّي حُظرتْ أنشطتها في الوقت الحاليّ. نحن نلجأ إلى كلّ الوسائل القانونيّة المتاحة لنا للقضاء على أيّ شكل من أشكال دعم المعاداة الساميّة وإيديولوجيا الإرهاب”.

تستندُ الوزارة على اتّهامات بلا أساس وغير مبرّرة، من بينها إعلان أنّ دعوة مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ التّي تنصّ على “تحرير فلسطين من النّهر إلى البحر” ليست في الواقع العمليّ إلاّ دعوة إلى “إبادة” دولة إسرائيل.

بسبب هذا المنطق العدميّ والتّحليل السّطحيّ، تمّت مصادرة أصول الجمعيّة وحظر وجودها حظرًا تامًّا على شبكة الإنترنت، إضافةً إلى تجريم عرض رموزها في المساحات العامّة واعتبار أيّ مخالفة لذلك جرمًا (المادّة 11 من القانون الجنائيّ). رغم أنّ هذه الأمثلة تعتبرُ مرآةً تعكسُ بوضوح قمعَ واستبداد الحكومة الألمانيّة الشّنيع والمفزع، فهي ليست في حقيقة الأمر مجرّد حالة معزولة. لقد أشارت وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة في ولاية شمال الراين – وستفاليا بكلّ وضوح إلى الفرع الألمانيّ التّابع لشبكة التّضامن مع الأسرى الفلسطينيّين صامدون الذّي أصبح كيانًا غير قانونيّ في ألمانيا منذ شهر نوفمبر 3202 بموجب مرسوم صادرٍ عن وزيرة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة، نانسي فيزر.

لقد كان أعضاء المجموعة عرضةً لمختلف أشكال العنف والقمع ذي الصّبغة الاستبداديّة المُروّعة التّي مارستها الحكومة الألمانيّة. على سبيل المثال، تعرّض هؤلاء مرارًا وتكرارً لتهديدات تنصّ على عقوبات ماليّة لمنعهم من حضور المظاهرات “المتعلّقة بفلسطين” وذلك في أعقاب المداهمات التّي حُرمَ خلالها أعضاء مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) وأفراد عائلاتهم من حقوقهم، رغم أنّها حقوق يضمنها قانون الإجراءات الجنائيّة الألمانيّ. علاوةً على ذلك، كانوا ضحيّة التّهديداتِ والتّرهيبِ، كالتّهديدات المتعلّقة بحقّ الإقامة والتّمتّع بالجنسيّة، كما استهدفتهم الأكاذيب والسّخريّة الفظّة من قبل أعوان الشّرطة الذّين انتهكوا خصوصيّتهم.

في هذا السّياق، قامت الشّرطة بمصادرة ما يلي: منشورات، ملصقات، أزرار، دبابيس، العديد من الأعلام وساريات الأعلام، كتب وكتيّبات، لافتات وملصقات مُخصّصة، كوفيّات، نظام تكبير الصّوت وميكروفون، مكبّر صوت، خيمة، حواسيب محمولة وأجهزة كمبيوتر، هواتف محمولة، وحدات ذاكرة (BSU)، مشغّلات 3PM، إضافةً إلى بضعة آلاف من اليورو نقدًا، وهي تتضمّن جُزْءًا كبيرًا من الأصول الخاصّة للمجموعة.

حسب أقوال أحمد من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP): رافق صحافيّو جريدة أكسل سبرينغر فرقة الشّرطة التّي شنّت المداهمات. لقد كانت فريق الصّحفيّين موجودًا على عين المكان في نفس وقت تواجد المسؤولين. في اعتقادي، يمثّل هذا السّيناريو استعراضًا واسع النّطاق من قبل السّلطات بغية خدمة مصالح سياسيّة معيّنة. خلال هذه الفترة الزّمنيّة التّي أصبح فيها من الصّعب أكثر فأكثر تبرير تورّط ألمانيا في الإبادة الجماعيّة ودعم الأعمال الإرهابيّة التّي ترتكبها قوّات الاحتلال الإسرائيليّ، يحتاج رجال السّياسة إلى كبش فداءٍ لتبرير التّضييق والقمع الذّي يستهدف الحركة الفلسطينيّة في ألمانيا لتمكينهم من مواصلة كتم صوت الحركة الفلسطينيّة والأصوات المناهضة للإبادة الجماعيّة وعنف الاحتلال الصّهيونيّ الهمجيّ”.

سقوط ألمانيا الذّاتيّ في الاستبداد الفاحش والمتمادي

إنّ حظر المجموعات والمداهمات المنظّمة في نفس السّياق هي جزْء لا يتجزّأ من حملة حكوميّة شرسةٍ ذات نطاق أوسع تسعى إلى قمع الرّأي المعارض وتجريم أنشطة التّعبئة التّي تندّدُ بالإبادة الجماعيّة المتواصلة على يد إسرائيل وبتواطؤ ألمانيا كذلك. وُجّهت دعاوى قانونيّة تنظر فتح تحقيقٍ من قبل الادّعاء العامّ الألمانيّ وهي شكاوى ضدّ الحظر و المداهمات المنظّمة أيضًا.

من الواضح أنّ ألمانيا تسلكُ اتّجاهًا مقلقًا ومحيّرًا، فالسّلطات تتّخذُ إجراءات وتدابير تتجاوز نطاق القانون. وفي الكثير من الحالات، تُعتبرُ هذه الإجراءات غير القانونيّة بتاتًا وسيلةً لتشديد القمع ضدّ حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين وزيادة محاولات تجريم وتفتيت شمل النّشطاء والنّاشطات والمجموعات النّاشطة وعزلهم.

يبدو أنّ كلّ هذه الأمور تحدثُ بتواطؤ من وسائل الإعلام الألمانيّة، فالصّحف الشّعبيّة ذات التّوجّه السّياسيّ اليمينيّ تنشرُ يوميًّا قوائمًا ذات أهداف معيّنة ومقالات تشهيريّة تتضمّن أسماء المسؤولين في حركة التّضامن مع فلسطين في ألمانيا والنّاشطين والنّاشطات فيها، ممّا يجعل هؤلاء عرضة لمراقبة الشّرطة، للمداهمات شديدة الوحشيّة، وللاضطهاد القانونيّ.

ما فتئ السّياسيّون من الائتلاف الحاكم في ألمانيا، أيْ الحزب الدّيمقراطيّ الاجتماعيّ (DPS) وحزب الخضر والحزب اللّيبيراليّ (PDF)، يبالغون بشكل مستمرّ في تصريحاتهم وتحرّكاتهم الاستبداديّة والعنصريّة مبالغةً صادمةً ويتنافسون مع أهمّ أحزاب المعارضة، أيْ حزب الدّيمقراطيّين المسيحيّين (USC&UDC) وحزب البديل اليمينيّ المتطرّف لألمانيا (DfA).

تشهدُ محاولات تجريم شعار “فلسطين حرّة من النّهر إلى البحر” المتعدّدة تفاقمًا واضحًا منذ بداية عام 2202، حيث أعلن مؤتمر وزراء الدّاخليّة حينها أنّه سيختبرُ ويلجأ إلى جميع التّدابير القانونيّة التّي تسمحُ بتجريم استخدام هذا الشّعار في أيّ سياق يسعى إلى التّعبير عن التّضامن مع فلسطين.

يؤدّي هذا المناخ السّياسيّ إلى تصعيد القمع الحكوميّ الذّي تمارسه السّلطات الألمانيّة وهو قمعٌ لا رقابة عليه إطلاقًا. في كثير من الحالات، يتكلّلُ الطّعن في الأوامر الاستبداديّة من قبل السّلطة التّنفيذيّة في جلسات المحاكم بالنّجاح، ولكنّه يأتي متأخّرًا، فهو في أغلب الأحيان نجاح لا ينفي حصول ضرر فعليّ مسبقًا. تظلّ القرارات غير الدّستوريّة لرجال السّياسة الألمان والسّلطات الألمانيّة ووحدات تنفيذ القانون دون محاسبةٍ ومتواصلةً، ممّا يزيد من انتهاكات الحقوق المدنيّة والإنسانيّة الأساسيّة. غالبًا ما تكون هذه الانتهاكات، التّي تكاد تكون دون عواقب، ممكنة بفضل تورّط وتواطؤ الشّركات والمؤسّسات. في الوقت الرّاهن، وزارة الدّاخليّة الألمانيّة تسعى جاهدةً إلى السّماح للشّرطة الفيدراليّة الألمانيّة بمداهمة المنازل سرًّا.

حسب شهادة ليون من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP): ” بطبيعة الحال، يُعتبرُ جوهر القمع وهدفه الرّئيسيّ ترهيبنا. كلّ ما أستطيع قوله هو أنّهم لم ينجحوا! لقد اتّخذ كلّ منّا إجراءات قانونيّة ضدّ الحظر، كمّا أنّنا نستغلّ كلّ فرصة ونتنقّل في جميع أنحاء ألمانيا للتّنديد بالقمع وللتّحدّث عن فلسطين وعن الإبادة الجماعيّة في غزّة وكذلك عن شرعيّة مقاومة الشّعب الفلسطينيّ. يُسعدنا أنّ رفاقًا سابقين من مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) يواصلون أنشطتهم كناشطين وناشطات وأنّ مجموعات أخرى في ألمانيا لا تستسلم للتّرهيب وتستمرّ في نشاطها وتدعونا إلى الانضمام إليها.

من البديهيّ أنّ اللّجوء إلى القمع استراتيجيّةٌ مدروسةٌ بشكل محنّك، بعبارة أخرى: استنزافنا ماليًّا. فقد تسبّبت عمليّات مصادرة ممتلكاتي وممتلكات رفيقي فقط في أضرار ماليّة تبلغ 52 ألف يورو. كما أنّنا مطالبون بدفع حوالي 8 آلاف يورو مسبقًا قبل حضور جلسات المحكمة الابتدائيّة. بيد أنّ هذه الاستراتيجيّة لم تنجح كذلك: إنّنا مستعدّون للتّضحية بآخر فلس في حوزتنا للكفاح. نحن نتمتّع بتضامن عظيم، لذا فأنا متفائل بأنّنا سنكون قادرين على تدبّر أمر التّكاليف وعلى خوض هذه المعركة”.

أمّا بعد، نحن ندعو إلى التّضامن مع مجموعة التّضامن مع فلسطين في دويسبورغ (UDSP) وشبكة صامدون ونحثّ على دعم لجنة مناهضة حظر مجموعة التضامن مع فلسطين – ديوسبورغ التّي تعمل على مكافحة حظر المجموعة من خلال وسائل وآليّات قانونيّة وسياسيّة وتجمعُ التّبرّعات لتغطية التّكاليف القضائيّة.

يرجى التّوقيع هنا على هذا البيان الدّاعم لشبكة صامدون و الحملة الدّوليّة المناهضة للقمع ضدّ الفلسطينيّين في ألمانيا. لمزيد من التّفاصيل حول كيفيّة مساندة صامدون، اطّلع على هذا الرّابط.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Newsletter

August Updates on the Defence of Palestine Solidarity in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 11 September 2024
Sticky post

AUGUST 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friend,

CASE UPDATES

ATTEMPTED CRIMINALISATION OF THE SLOGAN ‘PALESTINE WILL BE FREE, FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA’ IN GERMANY:

On the 22nd of August 2024, activist Daria was supposed to be facing her first hearing at the Berlin court Amtsgericht Tiergarten. She is accused of ‘circulation of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations’ (§ 86 StGB) for chanting the slogan ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’ at a demonstration in early March 2024. Her case does not stand in isolation.Rather, it is one of many that are challenging the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’ by German authorities. This attempt clearly constitutes a political move to control and repress the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany as a whole.

Read more about Daria’s case and the wider context of Germany’s state repression and criminalisation of political dissent, and the movement’s mobilisation against Israel’s ongoing genocidal onslaught on Gaza and German complicity here in English and in German.

The Berlin court cancelled Daria’s trial at the last minute. Hundreds of people had gathered in front of the courthouse in solidarity. After addressing the crowd with a speech, Daria was brutally arrested by the Berlin police. There were approximately a dozen arrests in total.

The hearing has now been postponed to November 11th. We stand undeterred and hope that many will join the hearing again in support.Read more about it in Nadija’s interview with Left Berlin

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COURT VICTORY AGAINST CORPORATE COMPLICITY IN GERMANY’S AUTHORITARIANISM

In June 2024, the Berlin Appellate Court ruled that the freezing and cancellation of the association Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost – EJJP Deutschland e. V. / Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East – EJJP‘s bank account by the partly state-owned bank Berliner Sparkasse was illegal

Read our statement in English, Arabic, and German here. Berliner Sparkasse has challenged the court desicion. We will update you on further developments on this case.

DIRECTOR OF AL-HAQ SHAWAN JABARIN HOLDS ITALIAN NEWSPAPER CORRIERE DELLA SERA ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEFAMING HIM

Shawan Jabarin, General Director of Al-Haq, with the support of the ELSC, was able to hold Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera accountable for defaming him three years ago, following Israel’s targeted designation of six Plaestinian NGOs as ‘terror organisations’, a tactic Israel systematically applies to silence, control, and oppress Palestinian voices. The newspaper has now retracted its racist statement and paid around 15,000 euros in compensation to Mr. Jabarin. #StandWithThe6 READ OUR STATEMENT HERE

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PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE DISMISSAL OF RECTOR STELLA MARIS BY ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY:

‘It is clear that I have been removed from university court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologise for doing so’, Stella Maris said following her dismissal by St Andrews University

FIND OUT MORE HERE

We are proud to support Ms Maris and have appealed the decision.

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ALL CHARGES AGAINST AMIRA ABDELHAMID, AN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH, DROPPED

Her employer had suspended Abdelhamid, referring her to Prevent for a series of posts on X related to October 7th, which led to counterterrorism police arresting her and raiding her home, confiscating all her devices, a protest sign that had ‘Palestine’ written in Arabic, any notebook with ‘foreign writing’ and ‘my powder eyeliner to test it in the lab because they thought it was gun powder’, said Amira.

The ELSC has been supporting Abdelhamid. Read more about it here

ONGOING CASES YOU CAN SUPPORT

7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST BOOKING.COM

It’s been a few months since we filed our criminal complaint against Booking.com. In the meantime, the International Court of Justice issued an Advisory Opinion finding that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory is ‘unlawful’. This authoritative opinion underscores our legal argument against Booking.com and makes it ever more difficult for companies to escape responsibility and accountability for their business activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Do you want to know where we are with the case? See and share our posts in English, Arabic, and Dutch

FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE CASE HERE

NO MORE WEAPONS FOR GENOCIDE: FURTHER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GERMANY’S WAR WEAPONS DELIVERIES TO ISRAEL

In June 2024, the Administrative Court of Berlin dismissed our urgent appeal and concluded that no ban on exports of war weapons would be necessary, assuming that the German government is acting in accordance with international law. But we will not stop here and are planning further legal action!

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL ACTION

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HELP US BUILD OUR MONITOR DATABASE

Let’s expose those responsible for our repression and hold them accountable together

REPORT REPRESSION

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

Alongside other members of the movement, our senior legal officer in Germany Nadija spoke to the New Arab about Germany’s intensifying crackdown on Palestine Solidarity following its decision to label the BDS movement as ‘extremist’. READ MORE

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Our Monitor Project Officer Tara speaks about the repression of Palestine solidarity and the work of the ELSC in Britain.

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One of our Germany lawyers and expert on migration law, Alexander Gorski, talks about the most recent developments in Germany’s racist legislation and their implications with regards to residency, surveillance and attacks on freedom of expression.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

GERMANY: RESOURCES OF SUPPORT AGAINST FINES & TRIALS

If you are facing fines or trials for speaking out and mobilising for Palestine, here are some organisations that you can reach out to for support! Resources include free legal advice, open consultation hours for people experiencing racial profiling and racist police violence, contacts with lawyers in solidarity, trial support or financial aid. You are not alone in this!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

For more recourses of support, get in touch with Palestine at the Forefront: Fighting Repression in Germany.

BRITAIN: Are you facing disciplinary action for protest-related activity at your university? Here’s what you need to know.

We are proud to be in community with you. As you continue to organise and take action, make sure to visit our Know Your Rights resources and continue to report any form of repression. 

In solidarity,  
The ELSC

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

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If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

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Tags newsletter

Press Release

Disclosed emails reveal Tory Minister’s secret personal request to cancel a Palestinian student’s visa

Post author By ELSC
Post date 4 September 2024
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LONDON, 04 SEPTEMBER 2024: Disclosed emails reveal that the Government’s decision to cancel the visa of a 20-year-old Palestinian student from the UK was instigated personally by Robert Jenrick MP, the then Immigration Minister and a current Conservative leadership candidate.

Following an interview Dana Abu Qamar gave to Sky News on 8 October 2023, in which she expressed support for the right of Palestinians to resist the illegal Israeli occupation in accordance with international law, Jenrick’s private secretary wrote to Home Office officials to indicate that “the Minister is interested in finding out about Dana Abu Qamar” and to enquire whether it would be “possible to revoke her student visa”. The failure to follow any established referral process raises serious concerns about political influence in individual immigration decisions.

On 1 December 2023, the Home Office cancelled Ms Abu Qamar’s student visa on the grounds that her presence in the UK was not ‘conducive to the public good’. Ms Abu Qamar is challenging that decision by way of a Human Rights Appeal in the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), with a substantive hearing listed for 26 – 30 September 2024. As part of the proceedings, the new Labour Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, must now review the decision by 13 September 2024.

The cancellation decision shows the remarkable lengths to which the Conservative Government used their powers to suppress Pro- Palestinian free speech, including describing ceasefire protests as ‘hate marches’ and calling on universities to refer student activists to Prevent. Widespread repression of Palestine advocacy has further intensified in recent months with the systematic targeting of students, health care professionals and most recently of journalists.

Since October 2023, Ms Abu Qamar has lost 22 members of her family in Gaza in the course of Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Her public statements during this time reflected the broader struggle of Palestinians under occupation. Since 2006, Israel has imposed a siege on Gaza, which has widely been recognised as unlawful under international law. Gaza has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967, with approximately 80% of Palestinians in Gaza, including Ms. Abu Qamar’s paternal grandparents, being refugees or descendants of those expelled during the Nakba of 1948.

Ms Abu Qamar is being supported by the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC).

Tasnima Uddin of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) said:

“For a government minister to personally and arbitrarily intervene to remove a Palestinian student from the country and suppress her speech while her family is being killed in Gaza is truly unconscionable.

Despite Jenrick’s previous statements about the importance of protecting freedom of expression, he seems perfectly comfortable suppressing speech when it comes to Palestine solidarity, seemingly for ideological purposes and political gains.

Dana Abu Qamar said:

The media portrayal of Palestinians and their supporters, often encouraged by the rhetoric of the British government, has too often been influenced by wilful misinformation and misunderstanding of the context of the conflict. This has led to unfair perceptions and mischaracterisations of support for Palestinian resistance. At no point, nor would I ever, condone or advocate for violence committed against civilians. In such challenging times, it is even more important to uphold the principles of lawful freedom of expression to ensure the voices of the Palestinian people, who are living under an illegal occupation, can be heard and understood within the bounds of legality and respect for international humanitarian law.

To be targeted by a Government minister, outside of the established process, for speaking on behalf of a people subjected to such atrocities feels not only unjust – but an attempt to suppress and silence my rights for political reasons and gains.

Support Dana Abu Qamar and Defend Free Speech in our Universities!
We Must Act Now!

Tags Academic freedom, Defunding, Freedom of Expression

Press Release

Next trial in the attempted criminalisation of the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” in Germany

Post author By ELSC
Post date 20 August 2024
Sticky post

The case of Daria

On 22^nd August 2024, activist Daria will face her first hearing at the Berlin court Amtsgericht Tiergarten. She is accused of ‘circulation of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations’ (§ 86 StGB) for chanting the slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” at a demonstration on the 9^th of March 2024.

Her case does not stand in isolation. Rather, it is one of many that are challenging the attempted criminalisation of the slogan ‘’Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’’ by German authorities. This attempt clearly constitutes a political move to control and repress the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany as a whole.

ELSC Lawyer Nadija Samour is representing Daria at the trial. Nadija Samour comments:

‘’This is an attack on the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and stands on a shaky legal basis. However, this is a highly political case, the court might seek to forward the case to a higher court by imposing a financial penalty on Daria in this first instance. We will then definitely appeal and expect to win at a higher tribunal.”

A similar trial had recently raised international attention. Here, a Berlin court sentenced an activist to a fine for chanting ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’ at a demonstration against racism in German schools. The court argued that because the demonstration happened on October 11th, using this slogan would constitute a criminal offence, referring to the ‘endorsement of criminal acts’.

‘’Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea’’ is a call for Palestinian liberation and an end to genocidal settler-colonialism, apartheid, land grabbing and other forms of systematic oppression of the Palestinian people since at least 1948. Israeli officials regularly reiterate the colonial logic to annihilate Palestinian existence on the land between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, the historic Palestine.

In the past, German authorities have protected far right Israeli activists using the slogan “From the river to the sea” as a call for Israeli supremacy and the annihilation of Palestine on multiple occasions.

At the same time, attempts to criminalise the slogan “Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea”, with several instances dating back to as early as 2022, are ever-growing. At the time, the conference of interior ministers had declared that it would test and use all legal measures that allow a criminalisation of the use of the slogan to express Palestine solidarity.

This led to shocking levels of authoritarian state repression, as Daria explains:

”The risk of a penalty fine is obviously not the most relevant consequence here. Police are using the quite severe offence charges to justify brutal violence against protestors. In the past few months, dozens of people have been beaten to a state of unconsciousness during police crackdowns and had to be hospitalized with severe injuries; some have had their homes raided just for saying “From the river to the sea”.

The criminalisation of the slogan is clearly an attempt to generate consent for the persecution of the Palestine solidarity movement and ultimately for the genocide in Palestine. More broadly, it is used to cement racist stereotypes and white supremacist mentality in the German societal consciousness. This is meant to pave the way for more fascistic politics, like the practical annulment of human rights for refugees, the police occupation of non-white neighbourhoods and

the overall militarisation of police at the cost of defunding education and social services, just to name a few examples.

The persecution of the Palestine solidarity movement is not an isolated phenomenon but is part of a large-scale fascisation of this country and Europe as a whole, which will be affecting everybody soon enough. Very telling that the German public, of all countries, doesn’t care to recognise where this leads to.”

German authorities have only been expanding their alarmingly violent measures to suppress the Palestine solidarity movement. German Federal Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser, for instance, has declared the slogan illegal and punishable as a crime with a prison sentence of up to three years by decree in November 2023, but it is usually punished with a fine upon conviction.

In May 2024, the German Federal Ministry of Justice reiterated Nancy Faeser’s decree and declared the slogan to be a ‘’Hamas slogan’’ and therefore punishable. Merely days after this declaration, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia banned the group Palestine Solidarity Duisburg over alleged support for Hamas for the group’s use of the slogan. This resulted in several raids of the homes of activists in May 2024.

The German ministry of Interior is further preparing a draconian migration law, which would effectively end free speech for nationals in Germany who do not carry the citizenship and pave the way for extensive online surveillance of migrants.

The German parliament seems unwilling to prevent these developments and is preparing a declaration which calls for extensive state repression of anyone vaguely expressing Palestine solidarity through criminalisation, but also through cutting cultural funding and interfering in academic research.

While much of the repression against the Palestine solidarity movement is issued on a German Federal level, the ruling Government of Germany’s capital Berlin has been particularly eager to press for even more authoritarian measures. The absurd and ineffectual ban of red triangles has raised eyebrows recently. Of outmost concern should be the push to remove students from universities in Berlin, effectively denying the right to education based on political grounds, specifically with relation to Palestine solidarity.

Nevertheless, attempts to criminalise the slogan have been pushed back against successfully at German courts before. In June 2024, a court in Munich granted a demonstration the right to express the slogan.

Activists will now accompany Daria’s trial with a rally in front of the courthouse on Thursday August 22 starting at 9:00 am. At a previous hearing in a different case on August 6, a huge group had gathered in support When the defendant left the court, dozens shouted in solidarity: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

For press inquieries, please contact Karim Bohnhoff karim@elsc.support

Der Fall von Daria:

Nächster Prozess zur versuchten Kriminalisierung der Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ in Deutschland

Am 22. August 2024 findet die erste Verhandlung gegen die Aktivistin Daria vor dem Berliner Amtsgericht Tiergarten statt. Ihr wird die „Verbreitung von Kennzeichen verfassungswidriger und terroristischer Organisationen“ (§ 86 StGB) vorgeworfen, weil sie bei einer Demonstration am 9. März 2024 die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ skandiert hat.

Das ist kein Einzelfall. Vielmehr steht der Fall in einer Reihe ähnlicher Versuche deutscher Behörden zur Kriminalisierung der Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“. Diese Versuche sind ein eindeutig politisch-motiviertes Manöver zur Kontrolle und Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung in Deutschland.

Die ELSC-Anwältin Nadija Samour vertritt Daria in dem Prozess. Nadija Samour kommentiert:

“Dies ist ein Angriff auf die Meinungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit und steht auf einer wankenden Rechtsgrundlage. Da es sich jedoch um einen hochpolitischen Fall handelt, könnte das Gericht versuchen, den Fall an ein höheres Gericht weiterzuleiten, indem es Daria in erster Instanz eine Geldstrafe auferlegt. Wir werden dann auf jeden Fall in Berufung gehen und erwarten, dass wir vor einem höheren Gericht gewinnen werden. ”

Ein ähnlicher Prozess hat vor kurzem internationales Aufsehen erregt. Ein Berliner Gericht verurteilte hierbei einen Aktivisten zu einer Geldstrafe, weil er bei einer Demonstration gegen Rassismus an deutschen Schulen „ Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ skandierte. Das Gericht argumentierte, dass die Verwendung dieses Slogans eine Straftat darstelle. Da die Demonstration am 11. Oktober stattfand, kurz auf den 7. Oktober, wäre die Verwendung des Slogans als „Befürwortung von Straftaten“ zu verstehen.

“Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea” ist ein Aufruf zur Befreiung Palästinas und zur Beendigung des völkermörderischen Siedlerkolonialismus, der Apartheid, des Landraubs und anderer Formen der systematischen Unterdrückung des palästinensischen Volkes seit mindestens 1948. Israelische Beamte bekräftigen regelmäßig die koloniale Absicht, die palästinensische Existenz im gesamten Land zwischen Jordan und Mittelmeer, dem historischen Palästina, zu vernichten.

In der Vergangenheit haben deutsche Behörden mehrfach rechtsextreme israelische Aktivist:innen geschützt, die den Slogan „Vom Fluss zum Meer“ als Aufruf zur israelischen Vorherrschaft und zur Vernichtung Palästinas verwendeten.

Gleichzeitig nehmen die Versuche zu, die Parole „Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea“ zu kriminalisieren, wobei mehrere Fälle bereits in das Jahr 2022 zurückreichen. Zu dem Zeitpunkt hatte die Innenministerkonferenz erklärt, sie werde alle rechtlichen Maßnahmen prüfen und anwenden, die eine Kriminalisierung der Verwendung der Parole als Ausdruck der Palästina-Solidarität ermöglichen.

Dies führte zu einem schockierenden Ausmaß an autoritärer staatlicher Repression, wie Daria erklärt:

”Das Risiko eines Bußgeldes ist hier offensichtlich nicht die härteste Konsequenz. Die Polizei rechtfertigt mit den Strafanzeigen brutale Gewalt gegen Demonstrant:innen. In den letzten Monaten wurden Dutzende bei Polizeirazzien bis zur Bewusstlosigkeit geprügelt und mussten mit schweren Verletzungen ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert werden. Bei einigen wurden Hausdurchsuchungen durchgeführt, nur weil sie „Vom Fluss zum Meer“ gesagt hatten.

Die Kriminalisierung des Slogans ist eindeutig ein Versuch, Zustimmung zur Verfolgung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung und letztlich zum Völkermord in Palästina zu mobilisieren. Im weiteren Sinne dient sie dazu, rassistische Stereotypen und White Supremacy-Denkweisen im deutschen gesellschaftlichen Bewusstsein zu zementieren. Damit soll der Weg für weitere faschistische Politik geebnet werden, wie die praktische Aufhebung der Menschenrechte für Geflüchtete, die polizeiliche Belagerung nicht-weißer Stadtviertel und die allgemeine Militarisierung der Polizei auf Kosten von Bildungs- und Sozialleistungen zeigen, um nur einige Beispiele zu nennen.

Die Verfolgung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung ist kein Einzelphänomen, sondern Teil einer großflächigen Faschisierung dieses Landes und Europas insgesamt, die schon bald alle betreffen wird. Es ist sehr bezeichnend, dass ausgerechnet die deutsche Öffentlichkeit nicht erkennen will, wohin das führt.“

Die deutschen Behörden haben ihre erschreckend gewalttätigen Maßnahmen zur Unterdrückung der Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung nur noch ausgeweitet. So hat Bundesinnenministerin Nancy Faeser die Parole im November 2023 per Erlass für illegal erklärt, die als Straftat mit einer Freiheitsstrafe von bis zu drei Jahren geahndet werden soll, wobei es bei einer Verurteilung jedoch in der Regel zu einer Geldstrafe kommt.

Im Mai 2024 bekräftigte das deutsche Bundesjustizministerium den Erlass von Nancy Faeser und erklärte die Parole zu einer „Hamas-Parole“ und damit zu einer strafbaren Handlung. Nur wenige Tage nach dieser Erklärung verkündete das Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen das Verbot der Gruppe Palästina-Solidarität Duisburg wegen angeblicher Unterstützung der Hamas vor dem Hintergrund ihrer Verwendung der Parole. Dies führte im Mai 2024 zu mehreren Hausdurchsuchungen bei den Aktivist:innen.

Zudem bereitet das deutsche Innenministerium ein drakonisches Migrationsgesetz vor, welches die freie Meinungsäußerung für nicht-deutsche Staatsangehörige in Deutschland effektiv beendet und den Weg für eine umfassende Online-Überwachung von Migrant*innen ebnet.

Das deutsche Parlament scheint nicht gewillt zu sein, diese Entwicklungen zu verhindern. Stattdessen bereitet es eine Erklärung vor, in der umfassende staatliche Repressionen gegen jede Person gefordert werden, die auch nur vage Palästina-Solidarität zum Ausdruck bringt. Diese beinhaltet Kriminalisierung, sowie auch die Streichung von Kulturförderung und Einschnitte in akademische Freiheiten.

Während ein Großteil der Repressionen gegen die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung auf bundesdeutscher Ebene erfolgt, hat die Berliner Landesregierung Berlin besonders eifrig auf noch autoritärere Maßnahmen gedrängt. Das absurde und nicht umsetzbare Verbot der roten Dreiecke hat etwa in letzter Zeit für Stirnrunzeln gesorgt. Besonders besorgniserregend ist das Gesetz, welches es erlaubt Student:innen von Berliner Universitäten zu exmatrikulieren und ihnen das Recht auf Bildung aus politischen Gründen, insbesondere im Hinblick auf Palästina-Solidarität, zu verweigern.

Einige Versuche die Parole zu kriminalisieren, wurden jedoch in der Vergangenheit vor deutschen Gerichten erfolgreich abgewehrt. Im Juni 2024 sprach ein Gericht in München einer Demonstration das Recht zu, die Parole zu rufen.

Aktivist:innen werden Darias Prozess mit einer Kundgebung vor dem Gerichtsgebäude am Donnerstag, den 22. August ab 9:00 Uhr begleiten. Bei der Anhörung in einem anderen Fall am 6. August hatte sich eine große Gruppe zur Unterstützung versammelt. Als die Angeklagte den Gerichtssaal verließ, wurde sie von Dutzenden solidarisch begrüßt, und es erklang der laute Sprechchor: Palestine will be free from, the river to the sea.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Case Update

Court Victory against corporate complicity in Germany’s authoritarianism

Post author By ELSC
Post date 14 August 2024

In June 2024 Berlin Appellate Court ruled that the freezing and cancellation of the association Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost – EJJP Deutschland e. V. / Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East – EJJP Deutschland e. V.‘s bank account by the partly state-owned bank Berliner Sparkasse was illegal. Jüdische Stimme is a non-profit, independent Jewish association acting as the German branch of the umbrella organisation “European Jews for a Just Peace” (EJJP).

Ahmed Abed, the lawyer representing Jüdische Stimme stated:

“In a gross violation of the terms of agreement and general civil law, the bank had frozen the association’s account on short-notice and cancelled their contract in March 2024. The bank argued that the business relationship with Jüdische Stimme could harm its reputation and a cancellation was necessary due to money laundering and terror-financing laws, to which the court found no basis whatsoever.”

The decision of the bank to move against the human rights activist group needs to be understood in the context of the unprecedented authoritarian crack-down against the Palästina Kongress in Berlin. Palästina Kongress was planned as an assembly of Palestinian, Jewish, German and international voices calling for an end of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and denouncing Germany’s complicity. It was ultimately prevented from taking place in an illegal attack by German authorities with heavy police presence. Jüdische Stimme had previously administered donations for the Palästina Kongress via their bank account. In a statement following the bank’s cancellation of its account, Jüdische Stimme hinted at pressure by the German police that had repeatedly harassed the group, after the bank demanded a complete list of all the group’s members.

Moreover, German security agencies evidently used a range of extralegal measures to repress and shut down the congress. Their shameful actions include intimidating venues to pressure them not to host the event, preventing speakers from attending, including through issuing travel bans such as in the case of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, and not least the raid that ultimately stopped the congress.

German authorities are clearly acting outside of the law and are actively encouraged by increasingly authoritarian politicians. For instance, Germany’s minister of interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) had openly pressured the Berlin police to ”crack down hard” on the Kongress, and Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegener (CDU) declared: ”It is intolerable that a so-called Palestine Congress will take place in Berlin”.

Corporate complicity

German officials don’t necessarily need to resort to openly announcing illegal orders, they can often rely on corporate complicity. This is not the first time an unhinged misinformation campaign by German media and German authorities led to a cancellation of Jüdische Stimme’s bank account.

This is part of a broader phenomenon known as derisking, where financial institutions limit or terminate business relationships to avoid perceived risks. This practice has notably increased in cases involving Palestinians and Palestinian organisations, reflecting a wider pattern of financial exclusion. Beyond account closures and freezing, derisking often includes blocking transactions and other financial services, all with the ultimate goal of hindering the flow of funds towards the Palestinian cause and Palestinian civil society. Such actions are part of a concerted effort to economically isolate and disempower entities associated with Palestinian advocacy. Jüdische Stimme’s experience is a vivid example of this larger context, where financial strategies are used to marginalise and stifle support for Palestinian rights.

Berliner Sparkasse, the bank that has now been ordered by the court to reopen Jüdische Stimme’s bank account, has repeatedly demonstrated and continues to demonstrate their anti-Palestinian commitment. While it claims to celebrate and foster ”ethnic diversity in Berlin”, it hosts bank accounts of the far right Alternative für Deutschland Party as well as the Neo-Nazi Party Die HEIMAT and the Israeli lobby group ELNET.

Furthermore, the state of Israel has recently thanked the bank for posting an Israeli propaganda message through all their ATMs. Berliner Sparkasse also collected donations for the organisation Jüdisches Forum für Demokratie und gegen Antisemitismus e.V. (Jewish Forum for Democracy and against anti-Semitism), which surveils Palestinians in Germany, targets them with smearing and regularly engages in racist, anti-Palestinian incitement such as Nakba denial.

Article VI of the Genocide Convention specifies that legal “persons” (including corporations) may be held liable for genocidal acts. Dr. Irene Pietropaoli, expert in Business and Human Rights at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law recently stated: “These companies and their managers risk charges of complicity in genocide and other international crimes in their home States or international courts. Banks and other financial institutions that finance companies selling arms or other military supplies to the Israeli military or that provide funds directly to the Israeli State may also be contributing to the commission of genocide in Gaza.”

We will continue to call out and take legal action against corporate complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Germany’s authoritarianism.

DEUTSCH

Sieg gegen die Komplizenschaft deutscher Unternehmen und dem Autoritarismus des deutschen Staates

Im Juni 2024 entschied das Kammergericht Berlin, dass die Sperrung und Löschung des Kontos des Vereins Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost – EJJP Deutschland e. V. durch die teilstaatliche Berliner Sparkasse rechtswidrig war. Die Jüdische Stimme ist ein gemeinnütziger, unabhängiger jüdischer Verein, der als deutscher Zweig der Dachorganisation “European Jews for a Just Peace” (EJJP) agiert.

Ahmed Abed, der Anwalt der Jüdischen Stimme, erklärte:

“Unter grobem Verstoß gegen die Vertragsbedingungen und das allgemeine Zivilrecht hatte die Bank das Konto des Vereins kurzfristig gesperrt und den Vertrag zum März 2024 gekündigt. Die Bank argumentierte, dass die Geschäftsbeziehung mit der Jüdischen Stimme ihrem Ruf schaden könnte und eine Kündigung aufgrund von Geldwäsche- und Terrorfinanzierungsgesetzen notwendig sei, wofür das Gericht keinerlei Grundlage fand.”

Die Entscheidung der Bank, gegen die Menschenrechtsgruppe vorzugehen, ist im Zusammenhang mit dem beispiellosen autoritären Vorgehen gegen den Palästina Kongress in Berlin zu verstehen. Der Palästina Kongress war als eine Versammlung palästinensischer, jüdischer, deutscher und internationaler Stimmen geplant, die ein Ende des israelischen Völkermordes in Gaza forderten und die Mitschuld Deutschlands anprangerten. Er wurde schließlich durch einen illegalen Angriff der deutschen Behörden unter einem enormen Polizeieinsatz verhindert. Die Jüdische Stimme hatte zuvor über ihr Bankkonto Spenden für den Palästina-Kongress verwaltet. In einer Erklärung nach der Kündigung des Kontos durch die Bank deutete die Jüdische Stimme an, dass die Bank von der deutschen Polizei unter Druck gesetzt worden sei, nachdem die Bank eine vollständige Liste aller Mitglieder der Gruppe verlangt hatte. Die Gruppe wurde wiederholt von der deutschen Polizei schikaniert.

Darüber hinaus haben die deutschen Sicherheitsbehörden offensichtlich eine Reihe von extralegalen Maßnahmen ergriffen, um den Kongress zu unterdrücken und zu beenden. Zu ihren beschämenden Maßnahmen gehören die Einschüchterung von Betreibern von Veranstaltungsräumen, um sie unter Druck zur Ausladung der Veranstaltung zu treiben, das Verhindern der Teilnahme von Redner*innen, auch durch die Verhängung von Reiseverboten wie im Fall von Ghassan Abu-Sittah, und nicht zuletzt die Razzia, die den Kongress schließlich beendete.

Die deutschen Behörden handeln eindeutig außerhalb des Gesetzes und werden von zunehmend autoritären Politikern aktiv ermutigt. So hatte die deutsche Innenministerin Nancy Faeser (SPD) die Berliner Polizei offen gedrängt, “hart gegen den Kongress vorzugehen”, und der Berliner Bürgermeister Kai Wegener (CDU) erklärte: “Es ist unerträglich, dass in Berlin ein so genannter Palästina-Kongress stattfindet”.

Komplizenschaft der Unternehmen

Deutsche Beamte müssen nicht unbedingt offen illegale Anordnungen verkünden, sie können sich oft auf die Komplizenschaft von Unternehmen verlassen. Es ist nicht das erste Mal, dass eine gezielte Desinformationsskampagne deutscher Medien und deutscher Behörden zur Streichung des Bankkontos der Jüdischen Stimme geführt hat.

Dies ist Teil einer größeren Entwicklung, die als “Derisking” bekannt ist und bei der Finanzinstitute Geschäftsbeziehungen einschränken oder beenden, um vermeintliche Risiken zu vermeiden. Diese Praxis hat insbesondere in Fällen zugenommen, in denen Palästinenser*innen und palästinensische Organisationen betroffen sind, was ein systematisches Phänomen der finanziellen Ausgrenzung darstellt. Neben der Schließung und dem Einfrieren von Konten umfasst das Derisking häufig auch die Sperrung von Transaktionen und anderen Finanzdienstleistungen mit dem Ziel, den Fluss von Geldern für die palästinensische Sache und die palästinensische Zivilgesellschaft zu behindern. Solche Maßnahmen sind Teil einer konzertierten Aktion zur wirtschaftlichen Isolierung und Entmachtung von Organisationen, die sich für die palästinensische Sache einsetzen. Die Vorgänge rund um die Jüdischen Stimme sind ein eindringliches Beispiel für dieses Phänomen, dem Einsatz finanzieller Unterdrückung, um die Unterstützung für die Rechte der Palästinenser*innen an den Rand zu drängen und zu behindern.

Die Berliner Sparkasse, welche nun vom Gericht angewiesen wurde, das Konto der Jüdischen Stimme wieder zu öffnen, hat wiederholt ihr antipalästinensisches Engagement unter Beweis gestellt und tut dies auch weiterhin. Während sie behauptet, die “ethnische Vielfalt in Berlin” zu zelebrieren und zu fördern, führt sie Bankkonten der rechtsextremen Partei Alternative für Deutschland sowie der Neonazi-Partei Die HEIMAT und der israelischen Lobbygruppe ELNET.

Außerdem hat sich der Staat Israel kürzlich bei der Bank dafür bedankt, dass sie an allen Geldautomaten eine israelische Propagandabotschaft ausgestrahlt hat. Die Berliner Sparkasse sammelte auch Spenden für die Organisation Jüdisches Forum für Demokratie und gegen Antisemitismus e.V., die Palästinenser*innen in Deutschland überwacht, sie gezielt verleumdet und regelmäßig rassistische, antipalästinensische Hetze wie die Leugnung der Nakba betreibt.

Artikel VI der Völkermordkonvention legt fest, dass juristische “Personen” (einschließlich Unternehmen) für völkermörderische Handlungen haftbar gemacht werden können. Dr. Irene Pietropaoli, Expertin für Wirtschaft und Menschenrechte am Britischen Institut für internationales und vergleichendes Recht , erklärte kürzlich: “Diese Unternehmen und ihre Manager riskieren, in ihren Heimatstaaten oder vor internationalen Gerichten der Komplizenschaft bei Völkermord und anderen internationalen Verbrechen angeklagt zu werden. Banken und andere Finanzinstitute, die Unternehmen finanzieren, die Waffen oder andere militärische Güter an das israelische Militär verkaufen, oder die dem israelischen Staat direkt Gelder zur Verfügung stellen, tragen möglicherweise ebenfalls zum Völkermord in Gaza bei.”

Wir werden auch weiterhin die Komplizenschaft von Unternehmen mit dem anhaltenden Völkermord in Palästina und dem deutschen Autoritarismus anprangern und rechtliche Schritte dagegen einleiten.

.العربية

انتصار قضائي في مواجهة التواطؤ المؤسسي مع الاستبداد الألماني

في يونيو 2024، أصدرت محكمة برلين حكمًا يُبطل قرار بنك شباركاسه (المملوك جزئيًا من الدولة) تجميد وإلغاء حساب منظمة “الصوت اليهودي من أجل السلام العادل في الشرق الأوسط” – “يوديشه شتيمه” EJJP ألمانيا. تُعد “يوديشه شتيمه” منظمة يهودية مستقلة غير ربحية، وهي الفرع الألماني للمنظمة الأم “يهود أوروبيون من أجل سلام عادل”.

صرّح المحامي أحمد عابد، الذي يمثل “يوديشه شتيمه”:

“في انتهاك صارخ للقانون المدني وشروط الاتفاق، جمد البنك حساب المنظمة بشكل فوري وألغى عقدها في مارس 2024. برر البنك هذا الإجراء بأن العلاقات التجارية مع “يوديشه شتيمه” قد تضر بسمعته، وأن الإلغاء كان ضروريًا بموجب قوانين مكافحة غسل الأموال وتمويل الإرهاب، وهي ادعاءات لم تجد المحكمة لها أي أساس على الإطلاق.”

قرار البنك بالتحرك ضد مجموعة حقوقية ناشطة يجب أن يُفهم في سياق الحملة القمعية الشرسة التي استهدفت مؤتمر فلسطين في برلين. كان من المفترض أن يكون هذا المؤتمر منبرًا للأصوات الفلسطينية واليهودية والألمانية والدولية التي تطالب بوقف الإبادة الجماعية الإسرائيلية في غزة وتدين التواطؤ الألماني. إلا أن السلطات الألمانية، في هجوم غير قانوني مترافق مع حضور مكثف للشرطة، منعت انعقاد المؤتمر. كانت “يوديشه شتيمه” تدير التبرعات لصالح المؤتمر عبر حسابها البنكي، وبعد إلغاء الحساب، أشارت المنظمة إلى ضغوط من الشرطة الألمانية التي كانت قد طالبت بالقائمة الكاملة لأعضاء المجموعة.

علاوة على ذلك، استخدمت وكالات الأمن الألمانية إجراءات قمعية غير قانونية لإغلاق المؤتمر. تضمنت هذه الإجراءات ترهيب الأماكن المحتملة لاستضافة المؤتمر للضغط عليها لمنع الحدث، ومنع المتحدثين من الحضور، بما في ذلك إصدار حظر سفر كما حدث مع الطبيب غسان أبو ستة، وأخيراً المداهمة التي أوقفت المؤتمر.

تصاعد النزعة الاستبدادية في المشهد السياسي الألماني يشجع السلطات على التصرف خارج إطار القانون. على سبيل المثال، مارست نانسي فيزر (SPD)، وزيرة الداخلية الألمانية، ضغوطًا علنية على شرطة برلين “لتتصرف بصرامة” تجاه المؤتمر، بينما صرّح عمدة برلين، كاي فيجنر (CDU)، قائلاً: “من غير المقبول أن يُعقد ما يسمى بمؤتمر فلسطين في برلين.”

التواطؤ المؤسسي

المسؤولون الألمان لا يحتاجون للإعلان عن الأوامر غير القانونية علنًا، بل يعتمدون في كثير من الأحيان على التواطؤ المؤسسي لتنفيذها. وليست هذه المرة الأولى التي تؤدي فيها حملة التضليل المنظمة من الإعلام والسلطات الألمانية إلى إغلاق حساب “يوديشه شتيمه”، بل إنها جزء من ظاهرة أوسع تعرف باسم “تقليل المخاطر” (derisking)، حيث تقوم المؤسسات المالية بإنهاء أو تقليص العلاقات التجارية لتجنب المخاطر المحتملة. وقد تفاقمت هذه الظاهرة بشكل ملحوظ في الحالات المتعلقة بالفلسطينيين والمنظمات الفلسطينية، مما يعكس نمطًا واسعًا من الإقصاء المالي.

تشمل إجراءات “تقليل المخاطر” تجميد الحسابات وحجب المعاملات والخدمات المالية الأخرى بهدف عرقلة تدفق الأموال إلى القضية الفلسطينية والمجتمع المدني الفلسطيني. هذه الإجراءات جزء من جهد منسق لعزل وإضعاف الكيانات التي تدافع عن الحقوق الفلسطينية. تجربة “يوديشه شتيمه” هي مثال حي لهذا السياق الأوسع، حيث تُستخدم الاستراتيجيات المالية لتهميش ودحر دعم الحقوق الفلسطينية.

بنك برلينر شباركاسه، الذي أُمر الآن بإعادة فتح حساب “يوديشه شتيمه”، قد أظهر مراراً التزامه بسياسات مناهضة للفلسطينيين. في الوقت الذي يدّعي فيه شباركاسه تعزيز “التنوع العرقي في برلين”، يحتفظ بحسابات بنكية لحزب “البديل من أجل ألمانيا” اليميني المتطرف وحزب النازيين الجدد ”دي هايمات” ومجموعة الضغط الإسرائيلية “إلنِت”. علاوة على ذلك، شكرته دولة إسرائيل مؤخرًا على نشره رسائل دعائية عبر أجهزة الصراف الآلي الخاصة به، كما جمع تبرعات لمنظمة “المنتدى اليهودي للديمقراطية ومكافحة معاداة السامية”، التي تستهدف الفلسطينيين في ألمانيا بـ التشهير والتحريض العنصري وإنكار النكبة.

تنص المادة السادسة من اتفاقية منع جريمة الإبادة الجماعية والمعاقبة عليها على أن “الأشخاص” القانونيين (بما في ذلك الشركات) قد يتحملون المسؤولية عن أعمال الإبادة الجماعية. وقد صرحت مؤخرًا الدكتورة إيرين بيتروبولي، خبيرة في مجال الأعمال وحقوق الإنسان في المعهد البريطاني للقانون الدولي والمقارن، بأن “هذه الشركات ومديريها يخاطرون بتلقي تهم التواطؤ في الإبادة الجماعية وجرائم دولية أخرى سواء في دولهم الأصلية أو أمام المحاكم الدولية. البنوك والمؤسسات المالية التي تمول الشركات التي تبيع الأسلحة أو المعدات العسكرية الأخرى للجيش الإسرائيلي أو التي توفر أموالًا مباشرة للدولة الإسرائيلية قد تكون شريكة في ارتكاب الإبادة الجماعية في غزة.”

سوف نستمر في فضح ومقاضاة التواطؤ المؤسساتي في الإبادة الجماعية الجارية في فلسطين والاستبداد الألماني.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Defunding, repression

Press Release

Director of Al-Haq Shawan Jabarin Holds Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera accountable

Post author By ELSC
Post date 7 August 2024
Sticky post

Joint statement by Al-Haq and ELSC available in English, Arabic, and Italian.

7 August 2024

Il Corriere Della Sera, one of Italy’s most prominent newspapers, has paid around 15,000 Euros in damages to Shawan Jabarin, the General Director of Al-Haq, for falsely accusing him in 2021 of being a terrorist and murderer, an unfounded allegation based on Israeli propaganda and smear campaigns.

What Happened?

On 20 December 2021, Laura Boldrini, an Italian Member of Parliament (MP), invited two representatives from human rights organisations; Al-Haq and Addameer, to a video-conference hearing at the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament. This hearing was organised in response to Israel’s unlawful criminalization of six Palestinian NGOs, including Al-Haq and Addameer in October 2021. This designation of NGOs as ‘terrorist organisations’ was widely rejected and condemned by EU states and institutions, including Italy, as well as by the United Nations and various international organisations.

However, two days after the hearing, Il Corriere della Sera, Libero Quotidiano, and Il Tempo published articles containing false and defamatory statements about Addameer, Al-Haq, and its General Director, Shawan Jabarin, labelling him a ‘terrorist’. Additionally, the newspapers omitted essential contextual information around Israel’s targeted designation of six Palestinian civil society organisations as ‘terror organisations’, thereby infringing on the readers’ right to access free and impartial information. We believe that the newspaper based its information on unreliable sources and existing smear tactics frequently used by Israel to criminalise, silence, and control Palestinian rights voices, including the circulation of false accusations by Israeli officials.

Further to this, the lawyer of Mr. Jabarin has been attacked and smeared. We fully reject these accusations and consider them intimidation tactics and character assassination. We stand by our representatives and their right to freedom of expression, and reject the smearing campaigns used by Israel and its allies in weaponizing antisemitism to suppress dissent.

Accountability

After being summoned to Court, Il Corriere Della Sera accepted a settlement agreement, which included compensating Shawan Jabarin for ‘reputational’ damage suffered and publishing an article retracting the defamatory claims. Despite reporting on the incident and retracting the terrorist claim, the newspaper failed to acknowledge that it was their own publication that had defamed Mr. Jabarin.

This case highlights the critical need for responsible journalism, not only on the situation in Palestine and the violations the Palestinian people are subjected to, but also concerning racist discourse and misinformation. Already in December 2022, ELSC sent a complaint to the Order of Journalists of Lazio and Lombardy, pointing out violations of the deontological obligations of truthfulness and accuracy to which professional journalists are bound. In November 2022, the former condemned the actions of Il Tempo and requested the rectification of the article concerning the case of Shawan Jabarin. Two years later, and considering the two decisions in place, the Order of Journalists of Lombardy has still not issued a ruling, an act indicative of the lack of attention paid by the Italian media to their disclosure responsibilities.

What we want

This legal battle aims to hold media outlets accountable and to support Palestinian voices. Not only have some media outlets been defaming Palestinians, but the Italian mainstream press has also been accused of reporting inaccurate information about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Israel’s settler-colonial apartheid regime and its commission of international crimes against the Palestinian people as a whole. There is a pressing need to expose and discuss the quality of information in Italy and the right to access impartial information through verified, reliable and unbiased sources.

This legal battle exposes the various tactics used by Israel to smear human rights defenders and is a testament to our collective will and efforts to challenge the suppression of Palestinian voices. It also highlights the complicity of Italian media outlets, which should respect the Italian public’s right to access accurate and credible information about the atrocities committed in Palestine.

Al-Haq’s General Director, Shawan Jabarin will donate the entire sum of the court-ordered compensation to Al-Haq and UNRWA.

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العربية

صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا” تدفع تعويضات لمدير الحق وتتراجع عن موقفها وحملات التشويه.

دفعت صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا”، إحدى أبرز الصحف الإيطالية، حوالي 15,000 يورو كتعويضات لشعوان جبارين، المدير العام لمؤسسة “الحق”، وذلك بعد دعوى قضائية رفعها جبارين ضد الصحيفة بسبب حملات تشويه قادتها عام 2021 واتهمت خلالها جبارين بأنه إرهابي وقاتل. واستندت الصحيفة خلال حملة التشويه لمعلومات كاذبة وبروباجندا إسرائيلية بعضها من الجهات الرسمية.

كانت قد دعت لورا بولدريني، عضو البرلمان الإيطالي، ممثلين عن مؤسسات حقوق الإنسان، الحق والضمير في 20 ديسمبر/كانون الأول 2021، لحضور جلسة استماع عبر الفيديو في مجلس النواب بالبرلمان الإيطالي. تم تنظيم هذه الجلسة استجابة لتجريم إسرائيل غير القانوني لست مؤسسات مجتمع مدني وحقوق إنسان فلسطينية، ومنها الحق والضمير لرعاية الأسير وحقوق الإنسان، وذلك في أكتوبر/تشرين الأول 2021، حيث صنفت دولة الإحتلال مؤسسات المجتمع المدني كـ”منظمات إرهابية”، الأمر الذي لاقى رفضاً وإدانة من قبل الدول والمؤسسات الأوروبية، بما في ذلك إيطاليا، وكذلك من قبل الأمم المتحدة والعديد من المنظمات الدولية.

ومع ذلك، وبعد يومين من الجلسة، نشرت صحف “كوريري ديلا سيرا” و”ليبيرو كوتيديانو” و”إل تيمبو” مقالات ذات مضمون كاذب ويهدف لتشويه سمعة المؤسسات وبالتحديد مدير مؤسسة الحق، شعوان جبارين، واصفة إياه بـ”الإرهابي”، وأغفلت الصحف معلومات أساسية حول استهداف إسرائيل للمؤسسات المجتمع المدني الفلسطينية وملاحقتها المدافعات والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان في فلسطين، وهو ما ينتهك حق القراء في الوصول إلى معلومات حرة ومحايدة. استندت الصحيفة في معلوماتها إلى مصادر غير موثوقة وأساليب التشويه المتكررة التي تستخدمها إسرائيل لتجريم وإسكات ومراقبة الأصوات المنادية بحقوق الشعب الفلسطيني، بما في ذلك نشر اتهامات كاذبة من قبل المسؤولين الإسرائيليين.

تعرض مؤخراً محامي السيد جبارين للهجوم والتشويه، الأمر الذي نرفضه تماما ونعتبره أسلوب لتكميم الأفواه وتشويه السمعة، ونعبر عن تضامننا مع ممثلينا وحقهم في حرية التعبير، ونرفض حملات التشويه التي تستخدمها إسرائيل وحلفاؤها واستخدامهم الاتهامات غير صحيحة كمعاداة السامية كوسيلة لقمع الأصوات المنادية بحق الشعب الفلسطيني وتفضح الاستعمار الاستيطاني الاسرائيلي وممارساته القائمة على الفصل العنصري والجرائم الدولية.

تباعا لفتح دعوى قضائية بحق الصحيفة واستدعائها من المحكمة قبلت صحيفة “كوريري ديلا سيرا” اتفاق تسوية تضمن دفع تعويضات للسيد شعوان جبارين وذلك للأضرار التي تسببت بها الصحيفة ولحقها نشر مقال تصحيحي للادعاءات التشهيرية التي نشرت عام 2021. بالرغم المقال التصحيحي، إلا أن الصحفية لم تعترف بأنها هي نفسها التي شوهت سمعة السيد جبارين.

تسلط هذه القضية الضوء على الحاجة الملحة لوجود صحافة مسؤولة وذات بعد نقدي في إيطاليا ودول العالم، وليس فقط حول الوضع في فلسطين والانتهاكات التي يتعرض لها الشعب الفلسطيني، وإنما فيما يتعلق بالخطاب العنصري والمعلومات المضللة حول مواضيع عدة. في ديسمبر 2022، أرسلت “ELSC” شكوى إلى نقابة الصحفيين في لاتسيو ولومباردي، مشيرة إلى انتهاك الصحف التزاماتها الأخلاقية بنشر معلومات صادقة ودقيقة. وفي نوفمبر 2022، أدانت النقابة تصرفات صحيفة “إل تيمبو” وطالبت بتصحيح المقالة المتعلقة بقضية شعوان جبارين. وبعد مرور عامين، وبالرغم من كافة التطورات إلا أن نقابة الصحفيين في لومباردي لم تصدر حكمًا بعد، وهو ما يشير إلى عدم الاهتمام الذي توليه وسائل الإعلام الإيطالية نحو مسؤولياتها.

تهدف هذه الملاحقة القانونية إلى محاسبة وسائل الإعلام ودعم الأصوات الفلسطينية، حيث لم يقتصر الأمر على تشويه وسائل الإعلام للأصوات الفلسطينية فقط، بل إن الصحافة الإيطالية السائدة تستمر في عدم توفير تغطية صحفية كافية ودقيقة حول الإبادة الجماعية المستمرة في قطاع غزة، ونظام الفصل العنصري الاستيطاني الإسرائيلي وارتكابه جرائم دولية ضد الشعب الفلسطيني ككل.

هناك حاجة ملحة للكشف ومناقشة جودة المعلومات في إيطاليا وحق الوصول إلى معلومات محايدة ومهنية ومن مصادر موثوقة ودقيقة. إن هذه القضية تسلط الضوء على الأساليب المختلفة التي تستخدمها إسرائيل لتشويه سمعة المدافعات والمدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان، كما تسلط الضوء على تواطؤ وسائل الإعلام الإيطالية، التي يجب أن تحترم حق الجمهور الإيطالي في الوصول إلى معلومات دقيقة وموثوقة حول الفظائع التي تُرتكب في فلسطين.

سيقوم المدير العام لمنظمة الحق،شعوان جبارين ، بالتبرع بكامل مبلغ التعويض الذي أمرت به المحكمة لمنظمة الحق والأونروا.

***

ادعمونا في الدعوة إلى حق الفلسطينيين في الوصول إلى الأماكن العامة وشاركوا هذه الرسالة على إنستغرام وتويتر.

[ITA]

Il Corriere della Sera paga 15.000 euro di risarcimento a Shawan Jabarin, direttore di Al-Haq, nota organizzazione per i diritti umani palestinese.

Il Corriere Della Sera, uno dei più importanti quotidiani italiani, ha pagato circa 15.000 euro di danni a Shawan Jabarin, il direttore generale di Al-Haq, per averlo diffamato nel 2021 accusandolo falsamente di essere un terrorista e un assassino, cosa che ha gravemente danneggiato la sua reputazione.

Cosa è successo?

Il 20 dicembre 2021, la deputata Laura Boldrini ha invitato i rappresentanti di due organizzazioni palestinesi, Al-Haq e Addameer, a un’audizione in videoconferenza presso la Camera dei Deputati del Parlamento italiano. L’audizione è stata organizzata in risposta alla designazione da parte di Israele di sei ONG palestinesi, tra cui Al-Haq e Addameer, come “organizzazioni terroristiche” nell’ottobre 2021. Questa designazione è stata ampiamente respinta e condannata dagli Stati e dalle istituzioni dell’UE, tra cui l’Italia, nonché dalle Nazioni Unite e da varie organizzazioni internazionali.

Tuttavia, due giorni dopo l’udienza, Il Corriere della Sera, Libero Quotidiano e Il Tempo hanno pubblicato articoli contenenti dichiarazioni inattendibili, imprecise, false e diffamatorie nei confronti di Addameer, Al-Haq e del suo Direttore Generale, Shawan Jabarin, etichettandolo come “terrorista”. Inoltre, i giornali hanno omesso informazioni contestuali essenziali riguardo alla pretestuosa designazione di ad Al Haq e Addameer come organizzazioni terroristiche, violando così il diritto dei lettori di accedere a un’informazione libera e imparziale.

Il nostro risultato:

In seguito alla citazione a giudizio, Il Corriere Della Sera ha accettato un accordo transattivo che prevede il risarcimento dei danni subiti da Shawan Jabarin e la pubblicazione di un articolo che ritrattava le affermazioni diffamatorie. Nell’articolo di rettifica, pur descrivendo la vicenda, il giornale non ha riconosciuto che erano state le sue stesse pagine a diffamare Jabarin. Questo caso evidenzia la necessità cruciale di un giornalismo responsabile, non solo per quanto riguarda il caso palestinese, ma anche per quanto riguarda i pregiudizi razzisti e la sottorappresentazione delle minoranze in Italia.
Già a dicembre 2022, come ELSC, avevamo inviato un esposto all’Ordine dei Giornalisti del Lazio e della Lombardia, segnalando le violazioni agli obblighi deontologici di verità e accuratezza a cui sono tenuti i giornalisti professionisti. Il primo si è espresso a novembre 2022 condannando l’operato de Il Tempo e chiedendo la rettifica dell’articolo che riguardava proprio il caso di Shawan Jabarin. Il fatto che, a distanza di due anni, e di due precedenti decisioni, l’Ordine dei Giornalisti della Lombardia non abbia ancora emesso una deliberazione è indicativo della scarsa attenzione dei media italiani rispetto alle proprie responsabilità divulgative.

Inoltre, qualche settimana fa, gli stessi media hanno lanciato un altro attacco a Shawan Jabarin e all’avvocato che lo rappresenta, citando erroneamente le parole dell’avvocato e accusandolo di antisemitismo. Respingiamo pienamente queste accuse, utilizzate come tattica diffamatoria. Siamo al fianco dei nostri rappresentanti e del loro diritto alla libertà di espressione e rifiutiamo le tattiche usate da Israele e dai suoi alleati per strumentalizzare l’antisemitismo e reprimere il dissenso.

Questo caso è molto importante perché mette in luce le problematiche del giornalismo italiano. Da diversi mesi la stampa mainstream italiana è accusata di non riportare informazioni corrette rispetto al genocidio in corso in Palestina. Questa battaglia legale ha l’obiettivo di rendere i giornali italiani responsabili per il loro lavoro di disinformazione e sottolinea il nostro impegno nel ritenere i media responsabili e nel sostenere le voci palestinesi.

Il direttore generale di Al-Haq, Shawan Jabarin donerà ad Al-Haq e a UNRWA l’intera somma del risarcimento ordinato dal tribunale.
***

Sosteneteci nel difendere il diritto dei palestinesi ad accedere allo spazio pubblico e condividete questo messaggio su , Instagram e Twitter.

Tags Al-Haq, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Expression, repression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: July 2024

Post author By ELSC
Post date 1 August 2024
Sticky post

Dear friend,

In the past month, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of victories, which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter, along with some useful resources to continue mobilising for Palestine.

VICTORIES

NETHERLANDS: A VICTORY AGAINST ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM IN THE WORKPLACE

The Dutch Human Rights Board (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) ruled that software company Speakap discriminated against N. A., an IT specialist from Gaza, when it fired him for condemning Israel’s crimes on LinkedIn. N. A. reached out to the ELSC, and we connected him with lawyer Şeyma Arikan. The Human Rights Board found that Speakap directly discriminated against N. A. based on political affiliation. This decision is an important step towardsholding companies accountable that silence and deploy punitive measures against employees speaking out for Palestine.

BRITAIN UPDATE: KAMNA PATEL RESIGNS FROM UKRI

ELSC proudly supported Dr Kate Sang of Heriot-Watt University, and Kamna Patel of UCL, throughout the UKRI’s shameful suspension and investigation procedure, which was concluded in March 2024.

👏🏽A victory for freedom of expression!
UK Minister fully withdraws false allegations against academic members of the @UKRI_News’s newly established advisory board on equality, diversity and inclusion and pays damages! /1
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) March 7, 2024

Last month, in June 2024, Dr Patel resigned as Chair of UKRI’s Expert Advisory Group on equality, diversity and inclusion, taking a firm stance against the UK government’s authoritarian attacks on academic freedom and shameful attempts to silence dissenting voices. She writes:

I’m mindful that in all this what is lost are my original words (misquoted by the Secretary of State), which I said from a deep sense of civic responsibility and rooted in postcolonial scholarship – there is an ongoing genocide and practice of apartheid against Palestinians, a reference to a 76-year project of elimination by the Israeli state, now taking a most deadly turn. Since the Secretary of State’s claim these words constitute “extreme views”, the International Court of Justice concluded genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is a plausible risk, a view supported by renowned scholars of genocide, including Israelis. To this I add, it is emboldened by disgraceful efforts by the UK government to silence all dissent, including those rooted in scholarship and evidence. Over the past few months, we have seen the playbook of lobbing unfounded allegations and stoking an investigation into anybody critical of the Israeli state’s policies as a sufficient action to malign and silence them, irrespective of any evidence underpinning the charge or the outcome of any investigation. It is to this playbook that you have (been) played.
Dr Patel resigned

Together with BRISMES Campaigns and London Region UCU Reps, we put together a toolkit for higher education employees in Britain. If you work at a university in Britain and have questions about your rights, or concerns when advocating for Palestine, this guide will offer some helpful answers!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TOOLKIT

STUDENTS IN AMSTERDAM GOT THEIR SANCTIONS WITHDRAWN

In February 2024, Amsterdam University College (AUC) imposed sanctions (including suspension and formal warnings) on six students for their involvement in Palestine student protests on campus. The Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP) and ELSC assisted these students with sending objections to the university’s management. AUC has now informed the students that all sanctions have been withdrawn. This is an important move for the broader student movement. Freedom to demonstrate and freedom of expression do not stop at the entrance to the university building!

ONGOING CASES YOU CAN SUPPORT

LLOYDS CASE UPDATE: EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL

We are proud to have supported prominent activist Michel Legrand (President of ECCP and treasurer of CPJPO) in his case creating a promising precedent for the freedom of speech of Palestinian rights defenders in Luxembourg.

🚨 Remember our case against @LloydsBank? We are now at court, representing Afra Sohail and Aunngbeen Khalid, alongside @FranckMagennis of Garden Court Chambers, after they have been silenced & sanctioned for speaking out on Palestine. https://t.co/lqaQT4E4vW /1
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) July 13, 2024

We are proud to be supporting Afra Sohail and Aunngbeen Khalid, who are now standing their ground at the Employment Tribunal. The hearings will continue until 17 July. Follow us for more updates on the hearings soon

SUPPORT THEIR IMPORTANT BATTLE

OUR COLLECTIVE PUSH BACK AGAINST THE DEFUNDING OF PALESTINIAN ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR ALLIES

One of our missions at ELSC is to support organisations whose funding is cut or restricted. Together with EuroMed Rights we provide an insight into the European context in a new FAQ published on our website

The defunding of Palestinian organisations is a deliberate tactic to suppress Palestinian voices and shield Israel from accountability for its genocidal onslaught on Gaza and continuous attacks against Palestinian life and land. We at ELSC are committed to monitoring the working of this tactic and supporting defunded Palestinian organisations. If you’ve faced similar issues, contact us elsc.support/intake

BOOKING: MAJOR ORGANISATION TERMINATES ITS BOOKING.COM SPONSOR DEAL

Last month, the COC, the oldest interest group for the LGBTI+ community in the world, has officially terminated its Booking.com sponsor deal, due to Booking.com’s continued profiteering from illegal Israeli settlements.

Amplify on X & Instagram

Your support of our legal action, along with other recent initiatives to raise awareness against Booking.com’s illegal practices, has had a notable impact, and the pressure on Booking.com is mounting. Together we can end the corporate impunity and complicity with Israel’s colonial enterprise

SUPPORT OUR CASE AGAINST BOOKING.COM

NO MORE WEAPONS FOR GENOCIDE: FURTHER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GERMANY’S WAR WEAPONS DELIVERIES TO ISRAEL

The Lawyers Collective (Anwält:innenkollektiv) supported by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) and Forensis (Forensic Architecture Berlin) has paved the way for further legal action against Germany’s deliveries of war weapons to Israel. We will now dedicate our resources to prevent Germany from illegally selling weapons to Israel.

Using legal avenues implies huge financial costs for the solidarity movement. Legal fees are unfortunately infamously sky high; we ask you to please consider putting aside whatever amount you’re able to contribute to the steadfast movement’s efforts to hold Germany accountable. Funds raised will be used to cover court and lawyer fees amongst other administrative costs related to how the case progresses.

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL ACTION

Share on X & Instagram

HELP US BUILD OUR MONITOR DATABASE

All forms of repression that are reported to us helps us in developing our legal and communication strategies to defend the Palestine solidarity movement. Your story is important, we cannot allow these patterns of repression to be normalised. Let’s expose those responsible for our repression and hold them accountable together!

REPORT REPRESSION

SUPPORT THE LEGAL AID FUND

Setting up a small monthly donation to our legal aid fund can go a long way to ensure ELSC’s stability and security at this critical time where we face an unprecedented all-time-high number of repression cases. We cannot do this alone and we need your help to continue supporting the movement!

As a member of our community of supporters, you will also get early access to ELSC volunteer opportunities and community events and an opportunity to brainstorm with us in the future about how to scale up the ELSC and better serve the Palestine solidarity movement.Click here to join our community of supporters with a monthly contribution!

JOIN THE ELSC COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

MORE VICTORIES FOR THE MOVEMENT

MORE AND MORE CITIES CUTTING TIES

Last month, new localities made steps to comply with their obligations to uphold international law. Following the City Council of Bologna, the Legislative Assembly of the Emilia-Romagna Region also voted for the adoption of an ethical procurement policy to exclude contracts with companies involved in violations of human rights and international law. This paves the way to target companies complicit in Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza and its crimes all over Palestine.

The Municipality of Copenhagen cut tie s with companies involved in Israeli settlements, including Booking.com, Expedia Group and Airbnb. Mayor Sophie Haestorp Andersen stated: “As a large investor, we have a responsibility for things like human rights. That’s why I don’t think we should invest in companies that have to do with illegal settlements.”

Lasty, the Province of Utrecht decided not to award their profitable contracts to Dutch company EBS Public Transportation. ELSC, among others – including BDS activists – had called on the province to cut such ties because of the involvement of its parent Israeli company (Egged) in serious human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

Widespread media coverage on our criminal complaint against Booking.com continues, with a recent piece published by ABC News Australia where our Senior Legal Officer Daan recalls that colonies established in the West Bank are war crimes and that Booking.com is profiting from war crimes by listing accommodations in these settlements: “So our argument is that any money derived from those settlements is also indirectly derived from those war crimes”.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

Our Monitor Project Officer for Germany Tobias provided research and commentary on the policing of solidarity with Palestine during the Euros 2024.

One of our Germany lawyers and expert on migration law, Alexander Gorski, talks about the most recent developments in Germany’s racist legislation and their implications with regards to surveillance and attacks on freedom of expression. Read more about it in German here, and here.

Share the related AlarabyTV reportage on X

ELSC EVENTS

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SESSION AT UNIVERSITY OF MILAN

In June, we held our first ‘Know You Rights’ session in Italy at the university of Milan. Two lawyers from our legal network provided Palestine solidarity activists with advice on how to protect themselves from increasing repression as they continue to mobilise for divestment and an end to complicity with Israel’s most recent genocidal onslaught on Gaza and the ongoing colonisation of Palestine.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SESSION WITH STUDENTS IN BERLIN

Together with three lawyers from our Solidarity Lawyers Network in Berlin, we organised a Know Your Rights Session with about 40 students mobilising at universities in Berlin. We provided legal advice and strategies to collectively move against the growing repression of student activism in Germany.

COMMUNITY EVENT IN BERLIN

We held our second Berlin Community Event on Saturday, 22nd June, at Haus der Demokratie, to collectively reflect on the current political context and to think through strategic collaborations and needed priorities for the ELSC to effectively support the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany. The event was attended by over 50 activists including student activists, journalists, and movement lawyers.

At our event this year we also presented our unique, extensive Monitoring Database on anti-Palestinian repression across Europe which is soon to be launched. In the past years, our Monitor Team has collected, documented and exposed forms of repression, policies, legislation and case law related to the criminalisation of the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe.

PALESTINE SOLIDARITY ONLINE

Watch our Germany Senior Legal Officer Nadija speak at the United Nations about the intensifying repression against Palestine solidarity in the country and the importance of continued collective mobilisation (12min40):

……….

Our Senior Legal Officer Kiran and Advocacy & Communications Manager Alice gave a workshop to the “community of practice” of Systemic justice where we presented our work and our vision for Movement lawyering in the context of the Palestinian struggle for liberation

USEFUL RESOURCES

GERMANY: RESOURCES OF SUPPORT AGAINST FINES & TRIALS

If you are facing fines or trials for speaking out and mobilising for Palestine, here are some organisations that you can reach out to for support! Resources include free legal advice, open consultation hours for people experiencing racial profiling and racist police violence, contacts with lawyers in solidarity, trial support or financial aid. You are not alone in this, and we will not let the state repression get us down.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

For more recourses of support, get in touch with Palestine at the Forefront: Fighting Repression in Germany

BRITAIN: PROTESTING AT UNIVERSITY? Here’s what you need to know

Video
SHARE & MOBILISE

EXPOSING TIES BETWEEN THE FILM INDUSTRY AND THE ISRAELI STATE & MILITARY

Camera4Palestine, a film industry initiative investigating links between the film industry and the Israeli state, has published a new report, which investigates the international supply routes for Israeli state propaganda. Read More

CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS

Would you like to join our team? We are currently seeking an Advocacy & Communications Officer for the Netherlands. The deadline for applications is 18 July 2024. For more details about the position and how to apply, please follow the link below! 

APPLY NOW!

Our comrades at The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) are seeking an Advocacy & Campaigning officer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Find out more here

We are proud to be in community with you. As you continue to organise and take action, make sure to visit our Know Your Rights resources and continue to report any form of repression

In solidarity,  

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Apartheid, Call for Application, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, repression

Case Update

Moving against intransparency and deafening silence: further legal action against Germany’s war weapons deliveries to Israel

Post author By ELSC
Post date 5 July 2024
Sticky post

In its decision of 10.06.2024 (Az. VG 2 L 119/24), the Administrative Court of Berlin dismissed an urgent appeal that was filed by Palestinians in Gaza and the Lawyers Collective to demand an immediate halt to the supply of weapons used by Israel in its continuous genocidal onslaught on Gaza.

The court concluded that no ban on future exports of war weapons would be necessary, arguing that the Federal Government had revised its licensing practice at the beginning of 2024 and no new licenses have been issued since. The court further assumes that the Federal Government will take its decisions on future licenses in accordance with international law and, if necessary, will also make use of the possibility to refuse future license requests. The court did not fundamentally deny the right to enforce a delivery stop.

ELSC Senior Legal Officer Nadija Samour states:

This opens the way for further legal action through freedom of information requests, main proceedings, and urgent proceedings based on a case by case finding with regards to specific authorizations of weapons exports once they become known, as the factual assumption for the court’s ruling is highly questionable. The court relied on the facts provided by the government, which we view with caution because the authorization procedure is partly secret. We will now dedicate our resources to prevent Germany from illegally selling weapons in violation of the court’s decision.

The Federal Government of Germany has kept the information about current licensing procedures secret and has not provided any information on halted delivery of weapons of war to Israel. The German Government’s communication strategy and flat-out denial of any transparency eminently suggests fear of accountability, as it restricts German courts in reviewing future arms trade licenses.

When confronted and pressured by protestors to stop Germany’s weapons deliveries to Israel in May, Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock claimed: “We can’t stop delivering weapons [to Israel], because we have not delivered any.”

However, a comprehensive report recently published by Forensis, Forensic Architecture’s Berlin-based affiliate, proved that in 2023 the German government had issued arms exports licenses to Israel worth 326.5 million euros. The majority of these exports were approved after 7 October 2023, constituting a tenfold increase compared to 2022. The German government is currently supporting the Israeli army by approving the supply of 3,000 portable anti-tank weapons, 500,000 rounds of ammunition for machine guns, submachine guns or other fully or semi-automatic firearms, as well as other military equipment, while in early 2024 Germany was preparing the authorisation of 10,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition.

Ahmed Abed, lawyer and member of the Lawyers’ Collective, explains:

We cannot understand why the Administrative Court does not address the German arms exports mentioned in the Forensic Architecture report, e.g. 500,000 pieces of firearms ammunition. The German government’s tactic of silence about war weapons and war crimes endangers the lives of our clients. However, the German government has a duty to take all measures to end the genocide in Gaza that has been going on for months.

New legal action demanding the halt of weapons exports altogether is the logical follow-up. UN experts have just recently reiterated their demand to stop the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel immediately as they may constitute serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws and risk state complicity in international crimes, including genocide.

We are saying – loud and clear – that the time for Germany’s enabling of the genocide in Gaza is over. We need to hold our governments accountable and refuse complacency until our demands are met.

We cannot do it alone

Using legal avenues implies huge financial costs on the solidarity movement – legal fees are unfortunately infamously sky high;we need the movement to band together and show its strength in numbers to help cover the fees of this case and its developments. We’re still at a deficit of 5,400 Euros and we need your help! Funds raised will be used to cover court and lawyer fees amongst other administrative costs related to how the case progresses.

We ask you to please consider putting aside whatever amount you’re able to contribute to the steadfast movement’s efforts to hold Germany accountable.

DONATE NOW

You can read more about Germany’s deadly deals with Israel in this comprehensive report recently published by Forensis, that brings together governmental records with data from monitoring groups and other initiatives and provides significant insights on past, current and potential future arms exports from Germany to Israel.

Gegen Intransparenz und ohrenbetäubendes Schweigen: Rechtliche Schritte gegen Deutschlands Kriegswaffenlieferungen an Israel

Das Anwält:innenkollektiv, das vom European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) und Forensis (Forensic Architecture Berlin) unterstützt wird, hat Türen für weitere rechtliche Schritte gegen die deutschen Kriegswaffenlieferungen an Israel geöffnet.

Mit dem Beschluss vom 10.06.2024 (Az. VG 2 L 119/24) wies das Verwaltungsgericht Berlin einen Eilantrag von Palästinenser*innen aus Gaza und des Anwält:innenkollektiv zurück, indem ein sofortiger Stopp von Waffenlieferungen an Israel gefordert wurde, da sie bei einem anhaltenden genozidalen Angriff auf Gaza verwendet werden.

Das Gericht kam zu dem Schluss, dass ein Verbot künftiger Kriegswaffenexporte nicht nötig sei, da die Bundesregierung ihre Genehmigungen Anfang 2024 überarbeitet habe und seitdem keine neuen Genehmigungen mehr erteilt worden seien. Das Gericht geht weiter davon aus, dass die Bundesregierung ihre Entscheidungen über künftige Genehmigungen im Einklang mit dem Völkerrecht treffen und gegebenenfalls auch von der Möglichkeit Gebrauch machen wird, künftige Genehmigungsanträge abzulehnen. Das Recht, einen Lieferstopp in das Kriegsgebiet durchzusetzen, hat das Gericht nicht grundsätzlich verneint.

Nadija Samour, Senior Legal Officer der ELSC, erklärt dazu:

Damit ist der Weg frei für weiteres rechtliche durch Auskunftsanträge, Hauptsacheverfahren bzw. bedarfsorientierte neue Eilverfahren gegen konkrete Genehmigungen von Waffenexporten nach deren Bekanntwerden. Die angenommene Tatsachengrundlage für die Entscheidung des Gerichts ist höchst fragwürdig. Das Gericht stützte sich auf die von der Regierung offengelegten Informationen, die wir mit Skepsis betrachten müssen. Das Genehmigungsverfahren unterliegt teilweise der Geheimhaltung. Wir werden uns darauf konzentrieren, zu verhindern, dass Deutschland entgegen der Entscheidung des Gerichts illegal Waffen verkauft.

Die deutsche Bundesregierung hat Informationen über die laufenden Genehmigungsverfahren geheim gehalten und keine Angaben zur Lieferung von Kriegswaffen gemacht. Diese Kommunikationsstrategie der Bundesregierung, eine pauschale Verweigerung jeglicher Transparenz, deutet stark auf die Sorge vor rechtlichen Konsequenzen hin. Deutsche Gerichte könnten mit einer Überprüfung künftigen Waffenhandel einschränken.

Als die deutsche Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock im Mai von Demonstranten konfrontiert und aufgefordert wurde, die deutschen Waffenlieferungen an Israel zu stoppen, behauptete sie: “Wir können die Waffenlieferungen [an Israel] nicht stoppen, weil wir keine Waffen geliefert haben.”

Ein umfassender Bericht, der kürzlich von Forensis, der Berliner Niederlassung von Forensic Architecture, veröffentlicht wurde, belegt jedoch, dass die deutsche Regierung im Jahr 2023 Waffenexportgenehmigungen im Wert von 326,5 Millionen Euro an Israel erteilt hat. Der Großteil dieser Exporte wurde nach dem 7. Oktober 2023 genehmigt, was eine Verzehnfachung gegenüber 2022 bedeutet. Derzeit unterstützt die Bundesregierung die israelische Armee, indem sie die Lieferung von 3.000 tragbaren Panzerabwehrwaffen, 500.000 Schuss Munition für Maschinengewehre, Maschinenpistolen oder andere voll- oder halbautomatische Schusswaffen sowie andere militärische Ausrüstung genehmigt, während Deutschland Anfang 2024 die Genehmigung von 10.000 Schuss 120-mm-Panzermunition vorbereitet.

Ahmed Abed, Rechtsanwalt und Mitglied des Anwält:innenkollektiv, erklärt:

Wir können nicht verstehen, warum sich das Verwaltungsgericht nicht mit den deutschen Waffenexporten befasst, die im Bericht von Forensis erwähnt werden, z.B. 500.000 Stück Schusswaffenmunition. Die Schweigetaktik der deutschen Regierung zu Kriegswaffen und Kriegsverbrechen gefährdet das Leben unserer Mandanten. Die Bundesregierung hat jedoch die Pflicht, alle Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um den seit Monaten andauernden Völkermord in Gaza zu beenden.

Neue rechtliche Schritte, die einen vollständigen Stopp der Waffenexporte fordern, sind die folgerichtige Konsequenz. UN-Experten haben erst kürzlich ihre Forderung bekräftigt, die Lieferung von Waffen und Munition an Israel sofort zu stoppen. Sie stellen einen schwer Verstoß gegen die Menschenrechte und das humanitäre Völkerrecht dar. Es besteht die Gefahr, dass sich Staaten an internationalen Verbrechen, einschließlich Völkermord, beteiligen.

Wir sagen laut und deutlich, dass die Zeit, in der Deutschland den Völkermord in Gaza unterstützt, enden muss. Wir müssen unsere Regierungen zur Rechenschaft ziehen und uns weigern einzulenken, bis unsere Forderungen erfüllt sind.

Wir schaffen es nur gemeinsam

Leider ist der Rechtsweg mit enormen finanziellen Kosten verbunden, weshalb wir eure Unterstützung brauchen.

Die Bewegung kann hier ihre Stärke zeigen und die Kosten für künftige Rechtsfälle decken. Wir bitten euch, einen finanziellen Beitrag zu leisten, um Deutschland zur Verantwortung zu ziehen. Wir haben immer noch ein Defizit von 5.400 Euro und wir brauchen eure Hilfe! Die gesammelten Gelder werden zur Deckung der Gerichts- und Anwaltskosten sowie anderer Verwaltungskosten im Zusammenhang mit dem Fortgang des Falles verwendet.

SPENDEN SIE JETZT: KEINE WAFFEN FÜR VÖLKERMORD: Unterstützen Sie unseren neuen Rechtsstreit gegen Deutschlands Waffenexporte nach Israel | European Legal Support Center (Powered by Donorbox)

Sie können mehr über Deutschlands tödliche Geschäfte mit Israel in diesem umfassenden Bericht lesen, der kürzlich von Forensis veröffentlicht wurde und der Regierungsunterlagen mit Daten von Monitoringgruppen und anderen Initiativen zusammenführt und wichtige Einblicke in vergangene, aktuelle und potenzielle zukünftige Waffenexporte von Deutschland nach Israel liefert.

مناهضةَ عدم الشفافية والصمت المطبق: مزيد من الإجراءات القانونية ضد تصدير ألمانيا للاسلحة إلى “إسرائيل”

مهد تجمع المحامين/ات المدعوم من المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني ومحامين/ات من أجل من أجل فلسطين ومعهد فلسطين للدبلوماسية العامة والعمارة الجنائية الطريق لمزيد من الإجراءات القانونية ضد إيصال ألمانيا للأسلحة الحربية إلى “إسرائيل”.

رفضت المحكمة الإدارية في برلين في قرارها الصادر في 01 حزيران/يونيو 4202 (42/911 L 2 GV .zA)، الاستئناف العاجل الذي قدمه فلسطينيين/ات من غزة وتجمع المحامين/ات الذي يطالب بإيقاف فوري لتصدير الأسلحة المستخدمة من قبل إسرائيل في هجوم الإبادة الجماعية المستمر على غزة.

توصلت المحكمة إلى أنه ليس هناك ضرورة لفرض حظر على صادرات الأسلحة في المستقبل، متذرعين أن الحكومة الإتحادية قد راجعت ممارساتها في منح التراخيص في بداية عام 2024 ولم يتم إصدار أي رخص جديدة منذ ذلك الوقت. تفترض المحكمة أن الحكومة الاتحادية سوف تتخذ قراراتها بشأن التراخيص المستقبلية وفقاً للقانون الدولي، وفي حال لزوم الأمر، سوف تستفيد من إمكانية رفض منح طلبات ترخيص مستقبلية. لم تقم المحكمة بإنكار الحق حق فرض

وقف التسليم بشكل جذري.

صرحت ناديا سمور senior المسؤولين القانونيين في المركز الأوروبي للدعم القانوني: “هذا بفتح الطريق أمام المزيد من الإجراءات القانونية من خلال طلبات حرية المعلومات والإجراءات الرئيسية والإجراءات العاجلة على أساس النظر في كل حالة على حدى فيما يتعلق بتراخيص صادرات الأسلحة بمجرد أن تصبح معروفة، حيث أن افتراض الوقائع لحكم المحكمة مشكوك فيه للغاية. اعتمدت المحكمة على الوقائع التي قدمتها الحكومة، والتي ننظر إليها بحذر نظراً إلى أن إجراءات الترخيص سرية جزئياً. وسوف نكرس مواردنا الآن لمنع ألمانيا من بيع الأسلحة بشكل غير قانوني منتهكةّ لقرار المحكمة”.

أبقت الحكومة الاتحادية الألمانية المعلومات المتعلقة بإجراءات الترخيص الحالية سرية، ولم تقدم أي معلومات حول وقف تسليم أسلحة حربية إلى “إسرائيل.” توحي استراتيجية التواصل التي تتبعها الحكومة الألمانية ونكرانها الصريح لأي شفافية بالخوف من المساءلة، حيث أنها تقيد المحاكم الألمانية في مراجعة تراخيص تجارة الأسلحة في المستقبل.

عندما ووجهت وزيرة الخارجية الألمانية آنالينا بايربوك وتم الضغط عليها من قبل المحتجين/ات لوقف توصيل الأسلحة من قبل ألمانيا إلى إسرائيل، ادعت الوزيرة “لا يمكننا وقف تسليم الأسلحة [إلى إسرائيل]، لأننا لم نقم بتوصيل أي أسلحة”.

إلا أن التقرير الشامل الذي نشرته مؤخراَ الجنائية، وهي شركة تابعة لشركة العمارة الجنائية التي مقرها برلين، أثبت أن الحكومة الألمانية أصدرت تراخيص تصدير أسلحة إلى إسرائيل عام 2023 بقيمة 326.5 مليون يورو. تم الموافقة على أغلبية هذه الصادرات بعد 7 أكتوبر 2023، وبما شكل مضاعفة التصدير بعشرات الأضعاف مقارنةَ مع 2022. تقوم الحكومة الألمانية حالياَ بدعم الجيش “الإسرائيلي” من خلال الموافقة على توصيل 3000 قطعة سلاح مضادة للدبابات و500000 طلقة ذخيرة للرشاشات ورشاشات وغيرها من الأسلحة نصف الآلية، بالإضافة إلى معدات عسكرية أخرى. بينما كانت تستعد ألمانيا في أوائل عام 2024 للتصريح بتصدير 10000 طلقة ذخيرة دبابات عيار 120 مم.

يشرح المحامي عضو تجمع المحامين/ات، أحمد عبد:

“لا يمكننا أن نفهم لماذا لا تتطرق المحكمة الإدارية إلى صادرات الأسلحة الألمانية المذكورة في تقرير العمارة الجنائية، مثالاَ ال500000 قطعة من ذخائر الأسلحة النارية. سياسة الصمت المتبعة من قبل الحكومة الألمانية فيما يخص أسلحة الحرب وجرائم الحرب يعرض حياة عملائنا للخطر. بالرغم من ذلك، من واجب الحكومة الألمانية اتخاذ جميع التدابير اللازمة لإنهاء الإبادة الجماعية في غزة المستمرة منذ أشهر.”

تحرك قانوني جديد مطالبةَ بوقف تصدير الأسلحة تماماً هو الخطوة التالية المنطقية. وكرر خبراء من الأمم المتحدة مؤخراَ مطالبهم بوقف نقل الأسلحة والذخائر إلى “إسرائيل”، فوراَ لأنها تشكل انتهاكات خطيرة لحقوق الإنسان والقانون الإنساني الدولي وتنطوي على خطر تواطؤ الحكومة في جرائم دولية بما يتضمن الإبادة الجماعية.

نقول بصوت – واضح وعالي- انتهى زمن تمكين ألمانيا للإبادة الجماعية في غزة. علينا أن نحاسب حكوماتنا ونرفض التهاون حتى يتم تحقيق مطالبنا.

لا نستطيع القيام بذلك وحدنا

ينطوي استخدام السبل القانونية على تكاليف مالية ضخمة على حراك التضامن – الرسوم القانونية للأسف باهظة الثمن، ونحن بحاجة إلى أن يتكاتف الحراك ويظهر قوته في الأرقام للمساعدة في تغطية تكاليف هذه القضية وتطوراتها. لا يزال ينقصنا 5400 يورو ونحن بحاجة إلى مساعدتكم! سيتم استخدام الأموال التي سيتم جمعها لتغطية أتعاب المحكمة والمحامين من بين التكاليف الإدارية الأخرى المتعلقة بتطورات القضية.

نرجو منكَِ التفكير في تخصيص أي مبلغ تستطيع/ين المساهمة به لدعم جهود الحركة المستمرة لمحاسبة ألمانيا.

NO WEAPONS FOR GENOCIDE: Support our new legal battle against Germany’s arms exports to Israel | European Legal Support Center (Powered by Donorbox)

يمكنكَِ قراءة المزيد حول صفقات ألمانيا القاتلة مع “إسرائيل” في هذا التقرير الشامل الذي نشرته الجنائية مؤخراَ والذي يجمع سجلات حكومية وبيانات من مجموعات الرصد والمبادرات الأخرى ويقدم رؤى مهمة حول صادرات الأسلحة السابقة والحالية والمحتملة في المستقبل من ألمانيا إلى “إسرائيل”.

Tags Forensic Architecture, Gaza urgent appeal, German arms exports, German government, Germany’s arms trade secrecy, Israel arms exports

Call Job

Call for Applications: Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer) for Britain

Post author By ELSC
Post date 17 June 2024
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The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer) for Britain.

Title: Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer)
Location: London with remote working with colleagues across Europe
Reports to: Executive Director
Line Management: Legal Officer and Junior Legal Officer
Contract: One year consultancy contract, full-time with likelihood of extension and migration to permanent employment contract. We offer flexible hours, with a hybrid onsite London office /remote working.
Salary: [Officer 10.6 – 10.7]
£48,000 – £50,500 depending on PQE experience, with progression up the scale after each annual review.
750 EURO available to support staff well-being.
Assistance with home office equipment.

Start date: August 2024 or as soon as possible 

How to apply: Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR’

Applications are due by 12 July 2024.

We are scheduling interviews as applications come in, don’t miss your chance and apply now!

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Associate Solicitor will lead our legal team in Britain and oversee our cases in England and Wales.

The role requires a qualified solicitor with experience of running litigious cases. Our main practice areas in Britain are: (i) public law and human rights; (ii) employment and discrimination and (iii) defamation law. The post-holder will have particular expertise in one of these areas. Our cases also involve data rights, freedom of information, criminal law, actions against the police, charity law, education law, international humanitarian law, and immigration issues.

The post holder will manage a growing team that consists of a Legal Officer and a Junior Legal Officer. In addition, our British work team has an advocacy and communication officer and two researchers who monitor anti-Palestinian racism.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversee all litigious and advisory casework in Britain alongside our junior legal staff and legal network. Provide expert legal advice and representation, to individual clients and movement partners.
Manage our legal officers, providing training and feedback to them as appropriate. Collaborate closely with our legal network of solicitors and counsel with the goal of strengthening the wider movement.
Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal network, national partners and experts.
Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.
Support ELSC’s outreach and public engagement initiatives.

Required experience, knowledge and skills

3 years + post-qualified experience (PQE) and admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Experience leading on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in public, employment and/or defamation law.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.
An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives. Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics and civil society organisations.
Excellent client care skills, particularly in relation to vulnerable or marginalised clients.
Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.
High level of English-language proficiency.
Commitment to the Palestinian liberation and solidarity movement.

Desirable experience, skills and knowledge

Dual-qualified in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland.
Ideal candidate will already have LAA Supervisor status or meet the requirements to do so
Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.
Experience with management and organisational development.
Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.

Other Requirements

Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC aims and objectives.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. 
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required. 
Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements.
Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff, and projects.

Tags Call for Application

Press Release

New Website With Overview of Ties Between Dutch Universities and Israel

Post author By ELSC
Post date 7 June 2024
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DUTCH VERSION BELOW

Joint Press Release by European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Stop Arms Trade, Solid Sustainability Research, The Rights Forum – Amsterdam, 7 June 2024

Relations with Israel’s military-industrial complex and Israeli human rights violations underline demands from actions at universities

Today, civil society organisations Stop Arms Trade, European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and Solid Sustainability Research published the new website www.academiccomplicity.nl, which provides an overview of all current institutional ties with Israeli entities for all Dutch research universities. With this website, the initiators aim to provide students and staff members taking action at universities in the light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and calling to end complicit ties, as well as all other interested parties, with a reliable and comprehensive source of information. It reveals over 200 relationships with Israeli companies, universities and government agencies, among others, a significant number of which work with or for the Israeli military.

The database, compiled in collaboration with students from various Dutch? universities, relies on publicly available information including collaborations in EU-funded research projects, exchange programs and other joint initiatives.

Israeli partners’ involvement in violence and repression against Palestinians varies.

Most worrying are the collaborations with Israeli military companies, such as Israel Aerospace Industries, which is a major arms supplier to the Israeli armed forces,
says Mark Akkerman (researcher at Stop Arms Trade)

but also with large international arms companies such as Lockheed Martin, Thales and Airbus, which not only supply weapons, but also frequently collaborate with the Israeli arms industry. This arms industry, closely linked to the military, is highly regarded on the international market, where it advertises weapons as ‘combat proven’, or, in other words, ‘tested on Palestinians’.

Itaï van de Wal, from ELSC, adds:

Israeli universities are also deeply embedded in apartheid, occupation and Israel’s military-industrial complex. They produce the knowledge and skills to keep these systems of oppression against Palestinians running, in concert with the military, the state and industry. A number of universities train officers and campuses also lend themselves to military purposes.

Michiel Bot, from Dutch Scholars for Palestine, says:

The complicity of Israeli universities in the occupation, apartheid, and now genocide is not limited to the development of military technology. For example, law faculties are developing doctrines to justify flagrant violations of international law; international relations institutes develop strategic doctrines that legitimize the periodic bombing of Gaza (“Mowing the Grass in Gaza”); archeology departments erase traces of non-Jewish culture in Palestine; students engage in state propaganda on social media.

Access the website here: https://academiccomplicity.nl

Nieuwe website met overzicht banden tussen Nederlandse universiteiten en Israël

7 juni 2024 – Vanaf vandaag is de nieuwe website academiccomplicity.nl online, die per Nederlandse universiteit een overzicht geeft van alle actuele institutionele banden met aan genocide en andere misdaden medeplichtige Israëlische instellingen en bedrijven. Met deze website willen de initiatiefnemers – Stop Wapenhandel, European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) en Solid Sustainability Research – studenten en stafleden die op de universiteiten in actie komen voor het beëindigen van deze banden en alle andere geïnteresseerden van een betrouwbare en zo compleet mogelijke informatiebron voorzien. Het gaat in totaal om ruim 200 relaties met onder meer Israëlische bedrijven, universiteiten en overheidsinstellingen, waarvan een aanzienlijk deel werkt met of voor de Israëlische krijgsmacht.

Itaï van de Wal van het ELSC: “Studenten en medewerkers zetten zich al jarenlang in voor de openbaarheid en beschikbaarheid van de banden met medeplichtige partners die ze aan de kaak stellen. Met deze website zetten we een grote stap naar het voor iedereen vindbaar en overzichtelijk maken deze informatie. Mensen kunnen op academiccomplicity.nl de omvang van het probleem inzien en informatie vinden over waarom partners medeplichtig worden geacht.”

De database, die is samengesteld in samenwerking met studenten en staf van diverse Nederlandse universiteiten, baseert zich op openbaar beschikbare informatie over onder andere samenwerkingen in door de EU gefinancierde onderzoeksprojecten, uitwisselingsprogramma’s en andere gezamenlijke initiatieven.

De betrokkenheid van de Israëlische partners bij geweld en onderdrukking tegen Palestijnen variëert. “Meest zorgelijk zijn de samenwerkingen met Israëlische militaire bedrijven, zoals Israel Aerospace Industries, een belangrijke wapenleverancier voor de Israëlische krijgsmacht,”, aldus Mark Akkerman (onderzoeker bij Stop Wapenhandel), “maar eveneens die met grote internationale wapenbedrijven als Lockheed Martin, Thales en Airbus, die niet alleen wapens leveren maar ook frequent samenwerken met de Israëlische wapenindustrie”. Deze nauw met de krijgsmacht verbonden wapenindustrie staat hoog aangeschreven op de internationale markt, waar het wapens aanprijst als ‘combat proven’, oftewel: ‘getest op Palestijnen’.

Michiel Bot van Dutch Scholars for Palestine vult aan: “De medeplichtigheid van Israëlische universiteiten aan de bezetting, de apartheid, en nu aan de genocide beperkt zich niet tot het ontwikkelen van militaire technologie. Zo ontwikkelen rechtenfaculteiten doctrines om flagrante schendingen van het internationale recht goed te praten; ontwikkelen instituten voor internationale betrekkingen strategische doctrines die de periodieke bombardementen op Gaza legitimeren (“Mowing the Grass in Gaza”); wissen archeologie afdelingen sporen van niet-joodse cultuur in Palestina uit; schrijven geschiedenisafdelingen Palestijnen uit de geschiedenis; en laten universiteiten studenten staatspropaganda bedrijven op social media.”

Tags complicity

Case Update

Erfolg für Palästina Aktivistin Yasemin Acar

Post author By ELSC
Post date 24 May 2024
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ENGLISH BELOW

Pressemitteilung – Berlin, 24. Mai 2024

Das Landgericht Berlin hat zugunsten Yasemin Acar gegen den Tagesspiegel entschieden. Das Gericht hat eine einstweilige Verfügung verhängt, welche die Tageszeitung mit Sitz in Berlin zwingt, gleich mehrere Falschbehauptungen über die Aktivistin zurückzunehmen und zukünftig zu unterlassen. Yasemin hatte mit Unterstützung der Rechtsanwältin Ingrid Yeboah und dem ELSC gegen einen Anfang März erschienenen Artikel geklagt.

Rechtsanwältin Ingrid Yeboah kommentiert:

Bei dem Artikel handelt es sich um eine beschämende Diffamierung der Berliner Aktivistin und ihres Engagements gegen Rassismus und für Menschenrechte. Darin wurde die Aktivistin mehrfach falsch zitiert, ihre Aussagen und Sachverhalte grob verzerrt dargestellt und aus dem Kontext gerissen. So entstand ein Bild einer von Hass zerfressenen Extremistin, welches auf die Entwürdigung und Entmenschlichung der Aktivistin zielt.

Bei diesem Angriff auf Yasemin Acar handelt es sich nicht um einen Einzelfall. Die im Artikel bedienten, rassistischen Klischees sind typisch für die Berichterstattung deutscher Medien. Insbesondere in den letzten Jahren wurde ein schockierendes Level an anti-palästinensischem Rassismus in deutschen Medien sichtbar. Dieser äußert sich, unter anderem, immer häufiger auch in verleumderischen Beiträgen. Diese zielen häufig auf die gesamte Palästina-solidarische Bewegung, bestimmte Palästina-solidarische Gruppen und auf einzelne Aktivist*innen ab.

Unter dem Schlagwort ”Israelhass” wird weder davor zurückgeschreckt Namen, Gesichter und Arbeitgeber der Aktivist*innen zu veröffentlichen, noch ihre Aussagen grob falsch wiederzugeben. Deutsche Medien gehen dabei zunehmend skrupelloser vor. Die BILD etwa veröffentlicht mittlerweile regelmäßig Listen, die in ihrer hemmungslosen Hetze an dunkelste Zeiten der deutschen Presse erinnern. Der Fall ist damit typisch für ein allzu oft vorkommendes Muster deutscher Medien. Das Kulturzentrum Oyoun setzte sich erst vor kurzem vor Gericht erfolgreich gegen die Diffamierungen des Tagesspiegel durch.

Karim Bohnhoff Advocacy and Communications Officer bei ELSC sagt:

Das häufig verwendete Label ”Israelhass” offenbart eine völlige Missachtung der Lebensrealität und politischen Anliegen palästinensischer, muslimischer oder rassifizierter Menschen nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern weltweit. Mit dem Begriff “Israelhass” wird versucht jegliche Kritik an den systematischen Verbrechen an Palästinenser*innen durch den Staat Israel zu diffamieren. Scharfe Kritik an dem Völkermord an Palästinenser*innen, Protest und Solidarität sind legitim!

Ironischerweise hatte der Tagesspiegel Yasemin einst für ihr Engagement gelobt. Als überzeugte Antirassistin setzt sich Yasemin bereits seit Jahrzehnten unermüdlich für die Rechte aller Menschen ein. Sie ist besonders in der Geflüchtetenhilfe tätig. Zuletzt wurde sie für ihre Arbeit für die Rechte der Geflüchteten aus der Ukraine öffentlich gewürdigt. Vielen ist sie auch durch ihren Einsatz gegen Armut und Obdachlosigkeit bekannt.

Erst seit sie sich für Palästina einsetzt, wurde sie zur Zielscheibe der rassistischen Diffamierung durch deutsche Medien. Die Attacke auf Yasemin offenbart noch ein weiteres Problem deutscher Medien: struktureller Sexismus. Auffällig häufig richten sich entsprechende Hetzkampagnen gegen von Rassismus betroffene Frauen, insbesondere muslimische und arabische Frauen.

Und die Hetze bleibt nicht ohne Folgen: Yasemin erhält seit Monaten regelmäßig Morddrohungen und wird immer wieder verbal, aber auch physisch attackiert. Unter diesen Angreifern sind häufig auch Journalisten, welche Yasemin mit Kamera auflauern und versuchen, sie durch Beleidigungen und Handgreiflichkeiten zu provozieren.

Die Polizei weigert sich jedoch beharrlich, bei derartigen rassistischen Angriffen weiter zu ermitteln. Die deutsche Polizei selbst agiert zunehmend autoritär gegen Palästina Aktivist*innen. Das vollkommen rechtswidrige Vorgehen gegen die Palästina-Kongress hatte zuletzt internationales Aufsehen erregt. Vorangegangen war eine beispiellose mediale Hetze gegen die Veranstalter*innen, zu denen auch Yasemin gehört.

Es besteht kein Zweifel, dass deutsche Medien rassistische und autoritäre Tendenzen stärken und anfeuern. Sie schaffen so wesentlich ein Klima, in der rassistische Gewalt durch Staat und Rechtsradikale zunehmend eskaliert.

Trotz dieses gewalttätigen Klimas ließ sich Yasemin nicht einschüchtern und ging dagegen vor. Ihr Erfolg gegen den Tagesspiegel ist deshalb ein Erfolg für die gesamte Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung. Er beweist einmal mehr, dass wir illegale rassistische Diskriminierung nicht dulden und uns erfolgreich wehren werden!

Für Presseanfragen an Yasemin Acar und ELSC wenden Sie sich bitte an Karim Bohnhoff: karim@elsc.support

Victory for Palestine Activist Yasemin Acar

Press release – Berlin, 24 May 2024

Berlin Regional Court has ruled in favour of Yasemin Acar against the Tagesspiegel.

The court issued a restraining order forcing the Berlin-based daily newspaper to remove and not publish again several false allegations about the activist. With the support of lawyer Ingrid Yeboah and the ELSC, Yasemin had taken legal action against an article published at the beginning of March.

Lawyer Ingrid Yeboah shares:

The article constituted a shameful defamation of the Berlin activist and her commitment against racism and for human rights. In the article, the activist was misquoted several times, her statements and political positions were grossly distorted and taken out of context. The result was an image of an extremist consumed by hate, aiming at ultimately degrading and dehumanising the activist.

This attack on Yasemin Acar is not an isolated case. The racist clichés used in the article are typical of reporting in German media. In recent years in particular, a shocking level of anti-Palestinian racism has spread in German media. Among other things, this is increasingly expressed in defamatory articles. These often target the entire Palestine-solidarity movement, certain Palestine-solidarity groups and individual activists.

Evoking the buzzword “Israelhass” (hatred of Israel), journalists do not shy away from publishing the names, faces and employers of activists, nor from grossly misrepresenting their statements. German media are becoming increasingly unscrupulous in their approach. BILD, for example, now regularly publishes lists that are reminiscent of the darkest times of the German press in their unrestrained agitation. The case is thus typical of an all too common pattern in the German media. Oyoun cultural center in Berlin was also recently defamed in the Tagesspiegel and successfully challenged the newspaper in court.

Karim Bohnhoff, Advocacy & Communications officer at the ELSC says:

The frequently used label “Israelhass” reveals a complete disregard for the lived reality and political aims of Palestinian, Muslim or racialized people, not only in Germany but worldwide. It is used in an attempt to silence criticism of the systematic crimes committed against Palestinians by the state of Israel. Sharp criticism of the genocide against Palestinians, protest and solidarity are legitimate!

Ironically, the Tagesspiegel once praised Yasemin for her commitment. As a staunch anti-racist, Yasemin has been tirelessly campaigning for the rights of all people for decades. She is particularly active in helping refugees. Most recently, she was publicly recognised for her work for the rights of refugees from Ukraine. She is also known to many for her work against poverty and homelessness.

It is only since she began campaigning for Palestine that she has become the target of racist defamation by the German media. The attack on Yasemin reveals yet another problem in the German media: structural sexism. Such smear campaigns are conspicuously often directed against women affected by racism, and particularly Muslim and Arab women.

And the incitement is not without consequences: Yasemin has been receiving regular death threats for months and is repeatedly harassed, verbally or sometimes physically. Journalists are often among these attackers, ambushing Yasemin with cameras and attempting to provoke her with insults and violence.

However, the police stubbornly refuse to investigate such racist attacks any further. The German police themselves are acting in an increasingly authoritarian manner against Palestinian activists. The completely unlawful action against the Palestine Congress recently caused an international stir. It was preceded by unprecedented media agitation against the organisers, including Yasemin.

There is no doubt that the German media strengthen and encourage racist and authoritarian tendencies. They are essentially creating a climate in which racist violence by the state and right-wing extremists is increasingly escalating.

Despite this violent climate, Yasemin remained undeterred and pushed back. Her success against the Tagesspiegel is a success for the entire Palestine solidarity movement in Germany. It shows we are able to successfully push back against anti-Palestinian media! We will not tolerate any further illegal racist discrimination!

For press inquiries to Yasemin Acar and ELSC please contact Karim Bohnhoff: karim@elsc.support

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Expression

Press Release

BREAKING-Booking.com Sued for Laundering Profits from Israeli War Crimes in Palestine

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 May 2024
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Press release – 23 May 2024, Amsterdam

DUTCH VERSION BELOW & ARABIC VERSION HERE

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, SOMO and The Rights Forum have filed a criminal complaint to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service to hold Booking.com to account for profiting from the commission of war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).

This case is being brought after years of research into Booking.com’s activities in illegal Israeli settlements as part of a longer trajectory of actions on businesses profiting from abuse in OPT. By facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population, Booking.com profits from war crimes.

‘Profits from illegal Israeli settlements flow into the Dutch financial system via Booking.com listings’

Profiting from war crimes is illegal under Dutch criminal law, specifically article 1 (4) of the Dutch International Crimes Act (Wet Internationale Misdijven). By profiting from serious violations of international humanitarian law, Booking.com is bringing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system – which means that the company is guilty of money laundering, the claimants assert. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has a duty to safeguard the integrity of the Dutch financial system by prosecuting this conduct.

Booking.com is aware of the legal risks involved in these activities yet opted to continue offering accommodations in illegal settlements. The company for this reason has been blacklisted by the UN Human Rights Council since 2020. Reports by human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have highlighted the complicity of the tourism industry in illegal Israeli settlements.

‘The goal is to end corporate impunity surrounding profiting from illegal Israeli settlements’

With this criminal complaint, our organisations aim to end Booking.com’s involvement in international crimes on stolen Palestinian land. We also aim to end the climate of corporate impunity surrounding profiting from Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law.

Settlements are illegal under international law, based on systematic human rights violations, and acts amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity and are harmful to any prospect of justice and peace. The International Criminal Court in The Hague is investigating Israeli settlement construction and European governments have clearly warned companies under their jurisdiction about the legal risks stemming from operating in illegal Israeli settlements. The Dutch government claims to discourage companies from doing business in them, and explicitly puts the responsibility to conform to the law on companies themselves.

The world is witnessing a brutal aggression against the Palestinian people. The International Court of Justice has warned of ‘plausible’ genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza. At the same time, repression and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels, with record amounts of land being stolen for the construction and expansion of illegal settlements. Bringing to account individuals and corporations complicit in and profiting from these crimes is today more urgent than ever before.

Early May, SOMO asked Booking.com for its response to research findings regarding its involvement in Israeli settlements and the legal implications thereof. In its response, Booking.com states that it “wholeheartedly disagree[s]” with our “allegations of illegal activity.” The company does not engage with the accusation of money laundering and claims that there are no laws prohibiting listings in Israeli settlements. Instead, they claim that U.S. laws would prohibit Booking.com from divesting from Israeli settlements.

Dr Susan Power from Al-Haq warned that,

Booking.com is exploiting Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people for commercial profit. Palestinians are subjugated, tortured and killed under Israel’s brutal settler colonial apartheid regime. By profiting from the illegal settlement enterprise, Booking.com benefits from the systematic deprivation of the Palestinian people of their lands and natural resources, entrenches the apartheid regime, and frustrates the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination. This is the ultimate denial of freedom. We demand that Booking.com stop violating the law.

The company’s involvement in Israeli violations of international law also contravenes widely recognised business and human rights (BHR) norms, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which the company explicitly claims to respect.

added Lydia de Leeuw from SOMO.

We have been working on this complaint for years, responding to calls of Palestinians who have seen their property being stolen to end up as profitable vacation homes for settlers on Booking.com. Efforts by human rights groups, activists, and even concerned employees within the company, to warn the company about its operations in the OPT have been systematically ignored. These unlawful operations support a system of settler-colonialism and racial domination that amounts to apartheid, but companies profiting from those violations and facilitating them hardly face legal scrutiny. This is unacceptable and must stop.

said Daan de Grefte, Legal Officer at the ELSC.

The Dutch government refuses to take meaningful action against the continued colonization of occupied Palestinian land, or against Dutch companies profiting from these crimes. It’s time to end this impunity and expose the extent of the harm that operations of companies like Booking.com inflict on the indigenous Palestinian population.

said Edwin van ‘t Pad from The Rights Forum.

West Bank settlements are clearly established by war crimes. Profiting from these illicit economies means profiting from war crimes. Dutch criminal law is very clear: profiting from war crimes is illegal and can be qualified as money laundering. There is no doubt that Booking.com is aware of the illegality of these settlements. They have been requested by numerous actors, on multiple occasions, to stop their operations on stolen Palestinian land. This criminal complaint is a measure of last resort. We expect this case to serve as an example to other companies profiting from war crimes.

said Willem Jebbink, attorney at Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten.

This case was launched with the support of the PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy).

Aangifte tegen Booking.com voor het witwassen van winsten uit Israëlische oorlogsmisdaden in Palestina

Het European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, SOMO en The Rights Forum hebben aangifte gedaan bij het Nederlandse Openbaar Ministerie om Booking.com ter verantwoording te roepen voor het profiteren van oorlogsmisdrijven in Bezet Palestijns Gebied.

Deze aangifte is de uitkomst van jaren van onderzoek naar de activiteiten van Booking.com in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. Door de verhuur van vakantiehuizen mogelijk te maken op grond die gestolen is van de Palestijnse bevolking, profiteert Booking.com van oorlogsmisdrijven.

‘Winsten uit illegale Israëlische nederzettingen vloeien via Booking.com-aanbiedingen het Nederlandse financiële systeem binnen’

Het profiteren van oorlogsmisdrijven is verboden volgens het Nederlandse strafrecht, zoals bevestigd in artikel 1 (4) van de ‘Wet Internationale Misdrijven’. Door te profiteren van ernstige schendingen van het oorlogsrecht, brengt Booking.com de opbrengsten van misdaden in het Nederlandse financiële systeem – wat betekent dat het bedrijf schuldig is aan witwassen, aldus de organisaties. Het Nederlandse Openbaar Ministerie heeft de taak de integriteit van het Nederlandse financiële systeem te waarborgen door dit gedrag te vervolgen.

Booking.com is zich bewust van de juridische risico’s die aan deze activiteiten verbonden zijn, maar heeft ervoor gekozen om accommodaties in illegale nederzettingen te blijven aanbieden. Het bedrijf staat om deze reden sinds 2020 op de zwarte lijst van de VN Mensenrechtenraad. Rapporten van mensenrechtenorganisaties, waaronder Amnesty International en Human Rights Watch, hebben de medeplichtigheid van de toerisme-industrie aan illegale Israëlische nederzettingen benadrukt.

‘Het doel is om de straffeloosheid van bedrijven rond het profiteren van illegale Israëlische nederzettingen te beëindigen’

Met deze aangifte streven onze organisaties ernaar de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij internationale misdaden op gestolen Palestijns land te beëindigen. We streven er ook naar om een einde te maken aan de straffeloosheid van bedrijven rond het profiteren van de schendingen van internationaal recht door Israël.

Nederzettingen zijn illegaal volgens het internationaal recht. Ze zijn tot stand gekomen door systematische mensenrechtenschendingen en daden die neerkomen op oorlogsmisdaden en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid. De nederzettingen zijn schadelijk voor elke kans op rechtvaardigheid en vrede. Het Internationaal Strafhof in Den Haag onderzoekt de bouw van Israëlische nederzettingen en Europese regeringen hebben duidelijk gewaarschuwd voor de juridische risico’s voor bedrijven als ze opereren in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. De Nederlandse regering beweert bedrijven te ontmoedigen zaken te doen in nederzettingen en legt expliciet de verantwoordelijkheid om zich aan de wet te houden bij bedrijven zelf.

De wereld is getuige van een nietsontziende aanval op Palestijnen. Het Internationaal Gerechtshof acht het “plausibel” dat Israël genocide pleegt op Palestijnen in Gaza. Tegelijkertijd hebben de onderdrukking en het geweld tegen Palestijnen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever ongekende niveaus bereikt, met een record aan Palestijns land dat wordt gestolen voor de bouw en uitbreiding van illegale nederzettingen. Het ter verantwoording roepen van individuen en bedrijven die medeplichtig zijn aan en profiteren van deze misdaden is urgenter dan ooit tevoren.

Begin mei heeft SOMO Booking.com om haar reactie gevraagd op onderzoeksresultaten over haar betrokkenheid bij Israëlische nederzettingen en de juridische implicaties daarvan. In haar reactie stelt Booking.com dat het bedrijf het “volledig oneens” is met onze “beschuldigingen van illegale activiteiten”. Het bedrijf gaat niet in op de beschuldiging van het witwassen van geld en beweert dat er geen wetten zijn die vermeldingen in Israëlische nederzettingen verbieden. In plaats daarvan beweert Booking.com dat Amerikaanse wetgeving Booking.com hen zou verbieden te desinvesteren uit Israëlische nederzettingen.

Dr. Susan Power van Al-Haq waarschuwde dat

Booking.com Israëls oorlogsmisdrijven en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid tegen het Palestijnse volk uitbuit voor economisch gewin. Palestijnen worden onderworpen, gemarteld en gedood onder het wrede koloniale apartheidsregime van Israël. Door te profiteren van de illegale nederzettingeneconomie, profiteert Booking.com van de systematische beroving van het Palestijnse volk van hun land en natuurlijke hulpbronnen, verankert het het apartheidsregime en frustreert het de onvervreemdbare rechten van het Palestijnse volk om zelfbeschikking uit te oefenen. Dit is de ultieme ontkenning van vrijheid. We eisen dat Booking.com stopt met het overtreden van de wet.

De betrokkenheid van het bedrijf bij Israëls schendingen van het internationaal recht is ook in strijd met algemeen erkende normen aangaande bedrijven en mensenrechten, zoals de VN Principes voor Bedrijven en Mensenrechten en de OECD Richtlijnen voor Multinationale Ondernemingen, waarvan het bedrijf expliciet verklaart ze te respecteren.

voegde Lydia de Leeuw van SOMO toe.

We werken al jaren aan deze aangifte, als reactie op oproepen van Palestijnen die hebben gezien hoe hun eigendommen worden gestolen om als winstgevende vakantiehuizen voor kolonisten op Booking.com te eindigen. Inspanningen van mensenrechtenorganisaties, activisten en zelfs bezorgde werknemers binnen het bedrijf, om het bedrijf te waarschuwen voor zijn operaties in de nederzettingen, zijn systematisch genegeerd. Deze onwettige operaties ondersteunen een systeem van koloniale overheersing en etnische onderdrukking dat neerkomt op apartheid, maar bedrijven die profiteren van die schendingen en ze faciliteren wordt geen stroobreed in de weg gelegd. Dit is onaanvaardbaar en moet stoppen.

zei Daan de Grefte, juridisch medewerker bij het ELSC.

De Nederlandse regering weigert om effectieve actie te ondernemen tegen de voortdurende kolonisatie van bezet Palestijns land, of tegen Nederlandse bedrijven die profiteren van deze misdaden. Het is tijd om deze straffeloosheid te beëindigen en de omvang van het leed dat de operaties van bedrijven als Booking.com toebrengen aan de inheemse Palestijnse bevolking bloot te leggen.

zei Edwin van ‘t Pad van The Rights Forum.

De nederzettingen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever zijn duidelijk tot stand gekomen door oorlogsmisdaden. Profiteren van deze illegale economieën betekent profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden. Het Nederlandse strafrecht is heel duidelijk: profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden is illegaal en kan worden aangemerkt als witwassen. Er bestaat geen twijfel dat Booking.com op de hoogte is van de onwettigheid van deze nederzettingen. Ze zijn door tal van actoren, op meerdere momenten, verzocht om te stoppen met hun activiteiten op gestolen Palestijns land. Deze aangifte is een laatste redmiddel. We verwachten dat deze zaak als voorbeeld zal dienen voor andere bedrijven die profiteren van oorlogsmisdaden.

aldus Willem Jebbink, advocaat bij Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten.

READ THE ARABIC VERSION OF THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Tags accountability, Apartheid, Business and Human Rights, settlements

Release

Q&A – Booking Sued for Laundering Profits from Israeli War Crimes in Palestine

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 May 2024
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DUTCH BELOW

1. What is the criminal complaint about?

The criminal complaint that the ELSC, Al-Haq, SOMO, and The Rights Forum filed is about Booking.com’s involvement in illegal Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). Our research shows that Booking.com profits from facilitating the rental of vacation homes built on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population. As those settlements are created and maintained by the commission of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity,[1] Booking.com is in fact profiting from those international crimes. This is illegal according to Dutch criminal law, specifically article 1 (4) of the Dutch International Crimes Act (Wet Internationale Misdrijven). Booking.com is bringing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system – which means that the company is guilty of money laundering, the civil society organisations assert. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has a duty to safeguard the integrity of the Dutch financial system by prosecuting this conduct. It is clear that Booking.com was aware of the legal risks involved and opted to continue offering accommodations in illegal settlements.

2. Why is it clear that Booking.com was aware of the risks of their operations in the OPT?

Many reports by human rights organisations (such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch) have been published on the problematic nature of the tourism industry’s involvement in illegal Israeli settlements. Booking.com has been explicitly mentioned in multiple of these reports and the organisations have been in direct contact with the company about their concerns. Grassroots campaigns have also been launched against Booking.com to ‘stop profit from war crimes’.[2]

Furthermore, Booking.com has been included in the UN database on companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements, which is a list compiled by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of companies that have direct or indirect links to the settlements. The publication of this database in February 2020 was widely covered by Dutch and international media. The database was updated in June 2023.[3] Booking.com was included in both publications and was directly approached by the UN prior to its inclusion on the list.

Settlements are illegal under international law, harmful to any prospect of justice and peace, the cause of myriad human rights violations, and their construction constitutes a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity. As such, the Israeli settlement construction is being investigated by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. European governments explicitly warn companies under their jurisdiction about the legal risks stemming from operating in illegal Israeli settlements. The Dutch government ‘discourages’ companies from doing business in them,[4] and explicitly puts the responsibility to conform to the law on companies themselves.

3. What do we want to achieve by filing this criminal complaint?

With this criminal complaint, we aim to end Booking.com’s involvement in international crimes in the OPT. This involvement is problematic in many ways:

First, as highlighted in our complaint, the integrity of the Dutch financial system is compromised as revenue with a criminal origin (proceeds of crime) is transferred into the Netherlands as if it were legitimate earnings. This is exactly what the criminal provision prohibiting money laundering aims to prevent.
Besides violating Dutch criminal provisions, Booking.com’s involvement in Israeli violations of international law also contravenes widely recognised business and human rights (BHR) norms, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which the company explicitly states to respect.
More importantly, the company’s operations are extremely harmful to the occupied Palestinian population, which is protected by the provisions of international humanitarian law that the Israeli state violates (violations that Booking.com profits from). Palestinians are being forcibly displaced to make room for settlements, their natural resources are being stolen and used to supply settlements, they face numerous forms of discrimination to maintain segregation between the settler population and the indigenous Palestinian communities, their right to freedom of movement is greatly restricted, and they face growing violence by settlers living close to Palestinian communities. This regime of racial domination that Palestinians face and to which the settlements are an integral part, is part of Israel’s apartheid regime.
The appropriation of Palestinian territory for settlements, amounts to a de facto annexation of territory, and a denial of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
By conducting ‘business as usual’ in illegal Israeli settlements, Booking.com contributes to normalising the war crimes and crimes against humanity that established them and provides an incentive for the Israeli state to continue committing them.

With this complaint, we also aim to address and end the climate of corporate impunity that surrounds profit from and complicity in Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law. Israeli settlements constitute grave violations of international law, are part of Israel’s settler-colonial policies, form an integral part of a system of racial domination that amounts to apartheid, and have severe consequences for the indigenous Palestinian population. While the International Court of Justice has warned of ‘plausible’ acts of genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza, repression and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels. In April 2024, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention published an “Active Genocide Alert Condemning Ongoing Violence in the West Bank”, stating that “the Israeli military and far-right settlers have used the cover of war to conduct continuous attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, often leading to death and forced displacement”.[5]

Yet, companies profiting from those violations hardly face legal scrutiny. Companies escaping accountability for involvement in and profiting from international crimes provides an incentive for other states to create economies based on such international crimes in other contexts (e.g. the occupation of the Western Sahara, the occupation of Eastern Ukraine).

It is time to expose and address the extent of the harm that operations of companies like Booking.com impose on the indigenous Palestinian population.

4. What would constitute a success for the co-filers? If they succeed in holding Booking.com criminally accountable, what does it mean in practice and what would be the steps to get there?

The main aim is to address the problematic nature of Booking.com’s involvement in and profiting from the war crimes that established the settlements and the violations of Palestinians’ rights that are caused by the settlement enterprise.

A success will be the realisation of corporate criminal accountability for Booking.com for this conduct. Such accountability can come in the form of a criminal investigation being initiated, an indictment being issued by the prosecutor, and, ultimately, a conviction by a criminal court. Criminal procedures such as this one can be lengthy and could span multiple years. Booking.com could be fined, and the individuals who are responsible for this conduct could face personal liability. Any of these measures would provide a strong deterrent to companies operating in, or planning to operate in, illegal Israeli settlements.

A long-term success would be a general acceptance by states and businesses that profiting from illegal Israeli settlements is unlawful and should be actively prosecuted by law enforcement authorities.

5. Did the co-filers speak to Booking.com about their concerns?

Respected human rights groups – including Al-Haq, UN officials, and activists have been raising this issue with the company since at least 2018.[6] These conversations have yielded no results and delivered absolutely nothing to Palestinians, who are continuously losing more land while Booking.com makes a profit from their property.

Booking.com seemed to take a step in the right direction in the summer of 2022, when what appeared to be proposals of the company to add a human rights-related warning label to settlement listings were leaked to international media. However, after this was reported and Israel’s Minister of Tourism vowed to put pressure on the company to reverse its decision, a generic warning label was added for all listings in the West Bank – including Palestinian accommodations – saying the area “may be considered conflict-affected” by the customer’s government and the label made no mention of the illegality of settlements or human rights concerns. This could negatively affect tourism to Palestine and again confirmed that Booking.com will not cease profiting from war crimes without legal intervention.

In early May 2024, SOMO contacted Booking.com, informing the company about research findings regarding its involvement in Israeli settlements and the legal implications thereof, offering the company a right of reply. In the communication, SOMO asserted that Booking.com’s profiting from listings in Israeli settlements amounts to money laundering under Dutch law. Booking.com responded to SOMO stating that it “wholeheartedly disagree[s]” with SOMO’s “allegations of illegal activity”. It also suggested that international law does not apply to corporate actors, and that they are only bound by domestic laws.

In its response, Booking does not engage with the allegations of money laundering. Instead, it claims to be “in full compliance” with Dutch laws, without providing further reasoning. It claims that there are no laws prohibiting listings in Israeli settlements, and rather that U.S. laws would prohibit Booking.com from divesting from Israeli settlements. The response also makes general references to Booking.com’s Human Rights Statement and how the company “appropriately balance[s] the various risks and human rights concerns regarding disputed [emphasis added] Israeli settlements in the West Bank”.

6. Why did you target Booking.com in particular? Are there not many other Online Tourism Agencies (OTAs) that are doing the same?

Booking.com is a large multinational that operates around the world and offers more than 28 million accommodation listings. It is one of the leading companies in its sector. If Booking.com ends its involvement in illegal Israeli settlements, it could have a large effect on other companies, potentially leading to significant changes in the climate of impunity currently surrounding business in settlements in the OPT.

In its official statements,[7] Booking.com states that it is committed to protecting local communities in occupied territories and vows to conduct heightened due diligence on listings there. International law and human rights norms are clear: Israeli settlements in the OPT are illegal and it is impossible to operate in them without breaching business and human rights (BHR) standards and international law.

We are engaging in strategic litigation, meaning that with this complaint we aim to provide conditions for social, political, or legal change, based on the needs of those primarily affected by the addressed injustice. To Palestinians, Booking.com exemplifies corporate profit from violations of their rights, without any accountability. If Booking.com faces true criminal accountability, then it will not only push them to stop their harmful and illegal policies, but other companies too.

7. If Booking.com is following the laws in force in Israel, how can they be held liable for violating Dutch criminal law?

Booking.com B.V. is a Dutch company, headquartered in the Netherlands. Its revenue is registered in the Netherlands and the company pays taxes to the Dutch tax authorities. As a Dutch company, it has to abide by Dutch laws and regulations. Dutch criminal law specifies that the acts committed in the OPT by Israel to establish the settlements are international crimes. By knowingly profiting from these crimes, Booking.com is in violation of Dutch criminal law. It does not matter for this analysis whether or not that conduct is legal according to the state that commits the crimes.

8. Booking.com itself is not committing any war crimes, it simply facilitates the rental of vacation homes. Why is their conduct in settlements problematic?

The conduct of Booking.com in the OPT is problematic for three main reasons.

Firstly, their involvement in the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise contributes to making the settlements economically sustainable. As tourism generates income for the settlement industry, Booking.com’s conduct contributes to the settlement economy and makes it attractive for settlers to colonise more Palestinian land.

Secondly, the company legitimises the settlements – which are widely condemned as flagrant violations of international law, a serious obstacle to justice in Palestine, and a main driver of various violations of Palestinian’s rights – by acting as if it is ‘business as usual’ and by attracting foreign tourists to them. In this way, the war crimes and crimes against humanity these settlements are based on are effectively whitewashed by Booking.com.

Thirdly, not only the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but also profiting from them is explicitly illegal under Dutch law. This was done not only to protect the integrity of the Dutch financial system, but also to frustrate the commission of the principal crimes. By profiting from and exacerbating the system of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Booking.com is facilitating and encouraging their commission.

9. What is the amount of money laundered by Booking.com?

As it is difficult for the co-filing organisations to gain an insight into the finances of Booking.com, it is not possible to know the exact amount of money that entered the Dutch financial system from illegal Israeli settlements. However, in cooperation with international forensic accountants, we were able to make a conservative estimate of the amount that Booking.com has allegedly laundered since it started listing stolen real estate in the OPT. This estimate is based on publicly available information and corporate filings, and shows that the laundered revenue likely amounts to at least one million euros. Details regarding the precise amount can easily be obtained from Booking.com by Dutch law enforcement agencies.

10. Why is this action relevant/ necessary now?

This case is being brought after years of research into Booking.com’s activities in illegal Israeli settlements. We filed this legal complaint as part of a longer trajectory of actions on businesses profiting from abuse in the OPT; work that started before Oct 7 2023, and which we consider has to be pursued now, alongside all of our other collective efforts. Ethnic cleansing and settler violence in the West Bank are only increasing after 7 October, showing the importance of addressing corporate involvement in the settlement economy.

This case was launched with the support of the PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy).

[1] These war crimes include, but are not limited to: the unlawful appropriation of property of the adversary, criminalized in arts. 5 (1) (d) and 5 (5) (t) of the Dutch International Crimes Act; the transfer of civilians into occupied territory, criminalized in arts. 5 (2) (d) (i) and 5 (5) (d) of the ICA.

[2] See the BDS NL (DocP) campaign against Booking.com: https://bdsnederland.nl/stop-profit-from-war-crimes-hoe-booking-com-profiteert-van-israelische-apartheid/; Extinction Rebellion Nederland, XR Justice Now! demonstreert bij hoofdkantoor Booking.com en nodigt medewerkers uit om mee te doen, 13 March 2024, available at: XR Justice Now! demonstreert bij hoofdkantoor Booking.com en nodigt medewerkers uit om mee te doen · Extinction Rebellion Nederland

[3] See the last updated version of the UN database here: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session31/database-hrc3136/23-06-30-Update-israeli-settlement-opt-database-hrc3136.pdf.

[4] De situatie in het Midden-Oosten, “Brief van de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken”, Kamerstukken II 2012–2013, 23 432, nr. 348, p. 4, available at: https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-23432-348.html.

[5] Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, Israel is Committing Genocide across Palestine:
Active Genocide Alert Condemning Ongoing Violence in the West Bank, 8 April 2024, available at: Israel is Committing Genocide across Palestine: Active Genocide Alert Condemning Ongoing Violence in the West Bank (lemkininstitute.com)

[6] See the letter sent by Al Haq, The Rights Forum and other organisations to Booking.com in 2018: Press Release: Al-Haq and Others Send Letter to Booking.com (alhaq.org); See The Rights Forum, Booking.com: toeristische rader in Israëlische oorlogsmisdaad, 30 December 2021, available at: Booking.com: toeristische rader in Israëlische oorlogsmisdaad – The Rights Forum

[7] See Booking.com 2022 Human Rights Statement, available at: https://www.bookingholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BHI-Human-Rights-Statement-2022.04.14.pdf, at p. 6; see AT5, Oproep aan Pride-organisator: heroverweeg samenwerking met hoofdsponsor Booking, 6 March 2024.

Q&A – Aangifte tegen Booking.com wegens witwassen van winsten uit Israëlische oorlogsmisdaden in Palestina

1. Waar gaat de aangifte over?

De aangifte die het ELSC, Al-Haq, SOMO en The Rights Forum hebben ingediend, gaat over de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij illegale Israëlische nederzettingen in bezet Palestijns gebied. Uit ons onderzoek blijkt dat Booking.com winst maakt door de verhuur van vakantiehuizen die zijn gebouwd op grond die is gestolen van de inheemse Palestijnse bevolking. Aangezien die nederzettingen worden gecreëerd en onderhouden door het plegen van meerdere oorlogsmisdaden en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid[1](1), maakt Booking.com feitelijk winst uit deze internationale misdrijven. Dit is volgens het Nederlandse strafrecht illegaal, specifiek onder artikel 1 (4) van de Nederlandse Wet internationale misdrijven. Booking.com brengt de opbrengsten van misdrijven binnen in het Nederlandse financiële systeem – wat betekent dat het bedrijf schuldig is aan witwassen, zo stellen de maatschappelijke organisaties. Het Nederlandse Openbaar Ministerie heeft de plicht de integriteit van het Nederlandse financiële systeem te waarborgen door deze praktijk strafrechtelijk te onderzoeken en te vervolgen. Het is duidelijk dat Booking.com zich bewust was van de juridische risico’s van dit handelen en ervoor koos om accommodaties aan te blijven bieden in illegale nederzettingen.

2. Waarom is het duidelijk dat Booking.com op de hoogte was van de risico’s van hun activiteiten in bezet Palestijns gebied?

Er zijn veel rapporten van mensenrechtenorganisaties (zoals Amnesty International en Human Rights Watch) gepubliceerd over de problematische aard van de betrokkenheid van de toerisme-industrie bij illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. Booking.com is expliciet genoemd in meerdere van deze rapporten en de organisaties hebben rechtstreeks contact gehad met het bedrijf over hun zorgen. Er zijn ook grassroots-campagnes gelanceerd tegen Booking.com om ‘winst uit oorlogsmisdaden te stoppen’.[2]

Bovendien is Booking.com opgenomen in de VN-database van bedrijven die actief zijn in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen, een lijst samengesteld door de Hoge Commissaris voor de Mensenrechten van de VN, van bedrijven die directe of indirecte banden hebben met de nederzettingen. De publicatie van deze database in februari 2020 kreeg uitgebreide aandacht van Nederlandse en internationale media. De database werd bijgewerkt in juni 2023[3]. Booking.com werd in beide publicaties opgenomen en werd rechtstreeks benaderd door de VN voordat het op de lijst werd geplaatst.

Nederzettingen zijn illegaal volgens het internationaal recht, schadelijk voor elk perspectief op rechtvaardigheid en vrede, de oorzaak van talloze schendingen van mensenrechten, en hun aanleg en uitbreiding komt voort uit een aantal oorlogsmisdrijven en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid. Als zodanig wordt de bouw van Israëlische nederzettingen in bezet Palestijns gebied onderzocht door het Internationaal Strafhof in Den Haag. Europese regeringen waarschuwen bedrijven vallende onder hun jurisdictie expliciet voor de juridische risico’s die voortvloeien uit het opereren in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. De Nederlandse regering ‘ontmoedigt’ bedrijven om zaken te doen in deze nederzettingen,[4] en legt expliciet de verantwoordelijkheid om zich aan de wet te houden bij de bedrijven zelf.

3. Wat willen we bereiken met het indienen van deze aangifte?

Middels deze aangifte streven we ernaar om de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij internationale misdrijven in bezet Palestijns gebied te beëindigen. Deze betrokkenheid is op vele manieren problematisch:

Ten eerste, zoals benadrukt in onze aangifte, wordt de integriteit van het Nederlandse financiële systeem aangetast doordat inkomsten met een criminele oorsprong (opbrengsten van misdrijven) naar Nederland worden overgebracht alsof het legitieme verdiensten zijn. Dit is precies wat de strafrechtelijke bepaling ter verbieding van witwassen beoogt te voorkomen.
Naast het overtreden van Nederlandse strafrechtelijke bepalingen, druist de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij Israëlische schendingen van het internationaal recht ook in tegen algemeen erkende normen op het gebied van bedrijfsleven en mensenrechten (Business and Human Rights, BHR), zoals de UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights en de OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, waarvan het bedrijf expliciet zegt deze te respecteren.
Belangrijker nog is dat de activiteiten van het bedrijf bijdragen aan extreem veel leed en onrecht jegens de bezette Palestijnse bevolking, in strijd met bepalingen van het internationaal humanitair recht dat met voeten wordt getreden door Israël (schendingen waar Booking.com van profiteert).
Palestijnen worden gedwongen te verhuizen om plaats te maken voor nederzettingen, hun natuurlijke grondstoffen worden gestolen en gebruikt om nederzettingen te voorzien, ze worden geconfronteerd met talrijke vormen van discriminatie om segregatie tussen de kolonistenbevolking en de inheemse Palestijnse gemeenschappen te handhaven, hun recht op vrijheid van beweging wordt sterk beperkt, en ze worden geconfronteerd met toenemend geweld door kolonisten, onder bescherming van soldaten, die dicht bij Palestijnse gemeenschappen wonen.
Dit regime van raciale overheersing waarmee Palestijnen worden geconfronteerd en waartoe de nederzettingen een integraal onderdeel vormen, maakt deel uit van het apartheidsregime van Israël.
De toe-eigening van Palestijns grondgebied voor nederzettingen komt neer op een de facto annexatie van grondgebied en een ontkenning van de onvervreemdbare rechten van het Palestijnse volk op zelfbeschikking.
Door ‘business as usual’ te voeren in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen draagt Booking.com bij aan het normaliseren van de oorlogsmisdaden en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid waarmee de nederzettingen tot stand zijn gebrachten biedt het een economische prikkel voor de Israëlische staat om ze voort te zetten.

Met deze aangifte streven we er ook naar om het klimaat van straffeloosheid aan te pakken waarbinnen bedrijven winst kunnen halen uit en medeplichtig kunnen zijn aan de schendingen van het internationaal humanitair recht door Israël. Israëlische nederzettingen vormen ernstige schendingen van het internationaal recht, maken deel uit van het koloniale beleid van Israël, vormen een integraal onderdeel van een systeem van raciale overheersing dat neerkomt op apartheid, en hebben ernstige consequenties voor de inheemse Palestijnse bevolking. Terwijl het Internationaal Gerechtshof heeft gewaarschuwd voor een ‘plausibele’ genocide tegen Palestijnen in Gaza, heeft onderdrukking en geweld tegen Palestijnen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever ongekende niveaus bereikt. In april 2024 publiceerde het Lemkin Instituut voor Genocidepreventie een “Actieve Genocide-Waarschuwing die het Voortdurende Geweld op de Westelijke Jordaanoever Veroordeelt”, waarin staat dat “het Israëlische leger en extreemrechtse kolonisten de dekking van de oorlog hebben gebruikt om voortdurende aanvallen uit te voeren op Palestijnen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever, vaak resulterend in dood en gedwongen ontheemding”.[5]

Toch worden bedrijven die profiteren van deze schendingen en ze faciliteren nauwelijks juridisch onderzocht. Bedrijven die ontsnappen aan verantwoordelijkheid voor betrokkenheid bij en profiteren van internationale misdrijven biedt andere staten een stimulans om economieën te creëren op basis van dergelijke internationale misdrijven in andere contexten (bijv. de bezetting van de Westelijke Sahara, de bezetting van Oost-Oekraïne).

Het is tijd om de omvang van het schadelijke effect dat de activiteiten van bedrijven zoals Booking.com hebben op de inheemse Palestijnse bevolking bloot te leggen en aan te pakken.

4. Wat zou succes betekenen voor de mede-indieners? Als het lukt om Booking.com strafrechtelijk verantwoordelijk te houden, wat betekent dat in de praktijk en wat zijn de stappen om daar te komen?

Het belangrijkste doel is om de problematische aard van de betrokkenheid van Booking.com bij en het profiteren van de oorlogsmisdrijven onderliggend aan de nederzettingen te adresseren, evenals de schendingen van de rechten van Palestijnen die worden veroorzaakt door de nederzettingen.

Een succes zou inhouden dat Booking.com strafrechtelijk verantwoordelijk wordt gehouden. Deze verantwoordelijkheid kan zich om te beginnen uiten in de vorm van een strafrechtelijk onderzoek dat wordt gestart, een aanklacht die wordt uitgevaardigd door het OM, en uiteindelijk een veroordeling door een strafrechter. Dergelijke strafprocedures kunnen langdurig zijn en meerdere jaren beslaan. Booking.com kan beboet worden, en de personen die verantwoordelijk zijn voor dit beleid kunnen hoofdelijk aansprakelijk worden gesteld. Elk van deze procedurele stappen en maatregelen zou een krachtig afschrikmiddel vormen voor bedrijven die actief zijn in, of van plan zijn om actief te worden in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen.

Een langetermijnsucces zou zijn dat staten en bedrijven algemeen erkennen dat het profiteren van illegale Israëlische nederzettingen onwettig is en actief vervolgd moet worden door handhavingsautoriteiten.

5. Hebben de mede-indieners met Booking.com gesproken over hun zorgen?

Gerespecteerde mensenrechtenorganisaties – waaronder Al-Haq, VN-functionarissen, The Rights Forum en activisten – hebben dit probleem al sinds 2018 bij het bedrijf aangekaart.[6] Deze gesprekken hebben geen resultaat gehad en hebben absoluut niets opgeleverd voor de Palestijnen, die voortdurend meer land verliezen terwijl Booking.com winst maakt met hun gestolen eigendom.

Booking.com leek een kleine stap in de goede richting te zetten in de zomer van 2022, toen vermeende plannen van het bedrijf om een waarschuwingsetiket met betrekking tot mensenrechten aan het aanbod in nederzettingen toe te voegen, uitlekten naar internationale media. Echter, nadat dit bekend werd en de Israëlische Minister van Toerisme zwoor druk uit te oefenen op het bedrijf om zijn beslissing terug te draaien, werd door Booking.com een generiek waarschuwingslabel toegevoegd voor alle accommodaties in de nederzettingen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever – inclusief Palestijnse accommodaties – waarop stond dat het gebied door de regering van de klant als “conflictgebied beschouwd zou kunnen worden”, zonder dat daarbij melding werd gemaakt van de onwettigheid van de nederzettingen of de zorgen over mensenrechten. Dit zou het toerisme naar Palestina negatief kunnen beïnvloeden en bevestigde opnieuw dat Booking.com niet zal stoppen met het profiteren van oorlogsmisdrijven zonder juridische interventie.

Begin mei 2024 heeft SOMO contact opgenomen met Booking.com en informeerde het bedrijf over de onderzoeksresultaten met betrekking tot diens betrokkenheid bij Israëlische nederzettingen en de juridische implicaties daarvan, waarbij het bedrijf recht op antwoord kreeg. In dit ‘company review request’ stelde SOMO dat de winsten door Booking.com op accommodaties in Israëlische nederzettingen volgens de Nederlandse wet neerkomen op het witwassen van geld. Booking.com reageerde op SOMO en verklaarde dat het “het volledig oneens is” met de “beschuldigingen van illegale activiteiten” van SOMO. Het bedrijf suggereert ook dat het internationaal recht niet van toepassing is op actoren uit het bedrijfsleven, en dat zij alleen gebonden zijn aan binnenlandse wetten.

In haar reactie gaat Booking niet in op de beschuldiging van het witwassen van geld. In plaats daarvan stelt zij “volledig in overeenstemming” te zijn met de Nederlandse wetgeving, zonder verdere motivering. Het beweert dat er geen wetten zijn die vermeldingen in Israëlische nederzettingen verbieden, en dat Amerikaanse wetten Booking.com zouden verbieden om uit Israëlische nederzettingen te desinvesteren. Het antwoord bevat ook algemene verwijzingen naar de Mensenrechtenverklaring (Human Rights Statement) van Booking.com en hoe het bedrijf “de verschillende risico’s en mensenrechtenkwesties met betrekking tot betwiste [nadruk toegevoegd] Israëlische nederzettingen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever op de juiste manier in evenwicht brengt”.

6. Waarom is specifiek Booking.com gekozen? Zijn er niet veel andere online toerismeplatforms die hetzelfde doen?

Booking.com is een grote multinational die wereldwijd opereert en meer dan 28 miljoen accommodaties aanbiedt. Het is een van de toonaangevende bedrijven in zijn sector. Als Booking.com zijn betrokkenheid bij illegale Israëlische nederzettingen beëindigt, zou dit een grote invloed kunnen hebben op andere bedrijven in de sector, mogelijk leidend tot aanzienlijke veranderingen in het klimaat van straffeloosheid dat momenteel heerst rond zakendoen in nederzettingen in bezet Palestijns gebied.

In haar officiële verklaringen[7] heeft Booking.com zich gecommitteerd aan het beschermen van lokale gemeenschappen in bezette gebieden en belooft zij een verhoogde zorgvuldigheid (‘enhanced due diligence’) te hanteren bij vermeldingen daar. Internationaal recht en mensenrechtennormen zijn duidelijk: Israëlische nederzettingen in het bezet Palestijns gebied zijn illegaal en het is onmogelijk om er actief te zijn zonder mensenrechtenverplichtingen voor bedrijven of het internationaal recht te schenden.

We zijn bezig met een strategische procedure, wat betekent dat we met deze aangifte de voorwaarden willen scheppen voor sociale, politieke of juridische verandering, gebaseerd op de behoeften van degenen die primair worden getroffen door het betreffende onrecht. Voor Palestijnen belichaamt Booking.com winst van bedrijven ten koste van schendingen van hun rechten, zonder daarvoor enige verantwoording af te leggen. Als Booking.com daadwerkelijk strafrechtelijk verantwoordelijkheid moet afleggen, zal dit niet alleen Booking.com aanzetten om zijn schadelijke en illegale praktijken te stoppen, maar ook andere bedrijven.

7. Als Booking.com de geldende wetten in Israël naleeft, hoe kan het bedrijf dan aansprakelijk worden gehouden voor het schenden van het Nederlandse strafrecht?

Booking.com B.V. is een Nederlands bedrijf, gevestigd in Nederland. Haar omzet is geregistreerd in Nederland en het bedrijf betaalt belasting aan de Nederlandse belastingautoriteiten. Als Nederlands bedrijf moet het zich houden aan de Nederlandse wet-en regelgeving. Het Nederlandse strafrecht bepaalt dat de handelingen die door Israël in bezet Palestijns gebied worden gepleegd om de nederzettingen op te richten, internationale misdrijven zijn. Door opzettelijk winst te behalen uit deze misdrijven, overtreedt Booking.com het Nederlandse strafrecht. Voor deze analyse maakt het niet uit of dat beleid al dan niet wettelijk is volgens de staat die de misdrijven pleegt.

8. Booking.com zelf pleegt geen oorlogsmisdrijven, het faciliteert simpelweg de verhuur van vakantiehuizen. Waarom is hun beleid in nederzettingen problematisch?

Het beleid van Booking.com in het bezet Palestijns gebied is om drie hoofdredenen problematisch. Ten eerste draagt hun betrokkenheid bij de illegale Israëlische nederzettingen bij aan het economisch bestendig en aantrekkelijk maken van de nederzettingen. Omdat toerisme inkomen genereert voor de nederzettingen, draagt het beleid van Booking.com bij aan de nederzettingseconomie en dat maakt het aantrekkelijk voor kolonisten om meer Palestijns land te koloniseren.

Ten tweede normaliseert het bedrijf de nederzettingen – die breed veroordeeld worden als flagrante schendingen van het internationaal recht, een ernstig obstakel voor gerechtigheid in Palestina, en een belangrijke drijvende kracht achter diverse schendingen van de rechten van Palestijnen – door te handelen alsof het ‘business as usual’ is en door buitenlandse toeristen aan te trekken.

Ten derde is niet alleen het plegen van oorlogsmisdrijven en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid, maar ook het profiteren ervan expliciet illegaal gemaakt door de Nederlandse wetgever. Dit werd niet alleen gedaan om de integriteit van het Nederlandse financiële systeem te beschermen, maar ook om de uitvoering van deze misdrijven te voorkomen. Door ervan te profiteren, en binnen een systeem van oorlogsmisdrijven en misdaden tegen de menselijkheid actief te zijn, faciliteert en moedigt Booking.com het plegen van deze misdrijven aan.

9. Wat is het bedrag dat door Booking.com is witgewassen?

Aangezien het voor de organisaties die aangifte doen moeilijk is om inzicht te krijgen in de financiën van Booking.com, is het niet mogelijk om met zekerheid het exacte bedrag te achterhalen dat vanuit illegale Israëlische nederzettingen in het Nederlandse financiële systeem is terechtgekomen. Echter, in samenwerking met internationale forensische accountants, zijn we erin geslaagd om een conservatieve schatting te maken van het bedrag dat Booking.com heeft witgewassen sinds het begon met het vermelden van gestolen onroerend goed in het bezet Palestijns gebied. Deze schatting is gebaseerd op publiekelijk beschikbare informatie en bedrijfsdocumenten, en laat zien dat het gewassen bedrag waarschijnlijk minstens één miljoen euro bedraagt. Details over het exacte bedrag kunnen eenvoudig worden verkregen van Booking.com door de Nederlandse autoriteiten.

10. Waarom is deze actie nu relevant en noodzakelijk?

Deze zaak wordt gestart na jarenlang onderzoek naar de activiteiten van Booking.com in illegale Israëlische nederzettingen. We hebben deze aangifte ingediend als onderdeel van een langer traject van acties tegen bedrijven die profiteren van schendingen in bezet Palestijns gebied. Een traject dat vóór 7 oktober 2023 begon en waarvan wij vinden dat het moet worden voortgezet, naast al onze andere inspanningen. Etnische zuivering en kolonistengeweld op de Westelijke Jordaanoever nemen na 7 oktober alleen maar toe, wat het belang aantoont van het aanpakken van de betrokkenheid van bedrijven bij de nederzettingeneconomie.

[1] Deze oorlogsmisdaden omvatten, maar zijn niet beperkt tot: de onwettige toe-eigening van eigendom van de tegenpartij, strafbaar gesteld in art. 5 (1) (d) en 5 (5) (t) van de Nederlandse Wet Internationale Misdrijven (Wim); het overbrengen van burgers naar bezet gebied, strafbaar gesteld in art. 5 (2) (d) (i) en 5 (5) (d) van de Wim.

[2] Zie de BDS NL (DocP) campagne tegen Booking.com: https://bdsnederland.nl/stop-profit-from-war-crimes-hoe-booking-com-profiteert-van-israelische-apartheid/; Extinction Rebellion Nederland, XR Justice Now! demonstreert bij hoofdkantoor Booking.com en nodigt medewerkers uit om mee te doen, 13 maart 2024, beschikbaar op: XR Justice Now! demonstreert bij hoofdkantoor Booking.com en nodigt medewerkers uit om mee te doen · Extinction Rebellion Nederland. Al in 2019 werd Booking.com door een consortium gewezen op zijn verplichtingen, zie: https://rightsforum.org/waar-blijft-de-reactie-van-booking-com/

[3] Zie de laatst geüpdatet versie van de VN database: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session31/database-hrc3136/23-06-30-Update-israeli-settlement-opt-database-hrc3136.pdf.

[4] De situatie in het Midden-Oosten, “Brief van de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken”, Kamerstukken II 2012–2013, 23 432, nr. 348, p. 4, beschikbaar op:: https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-23432-348.html.

[5] Lemkin Instituut voor Genocidepreventie, Israël pleegt genocide in heel Palestina: Actieve genocide-waarschuwing waarin het voortdurende geweld op de Westelijke Jordaanoever wordt veroordeeld, 8 april 2024, beschikbaar op: Israël pleegt genocide in heel Palestina: Actieve genocide-waarschuwing waarin het voortdurende geweld op de Westelijke Jordaanoever wordt veroordeeld (lemkininstitute.com)

[6] Brief die in 2018 is gestuurd door Al Haq, The Rights Forum en andere organisaties naar Booking.com: Press Release: Al-Haq and Others Send Letter to Booking.com (alhaq.org); Zie The Rights Forum, Booking.com: toeristische rader in Israëlische oorlogsmisdaden, 30 december 2021, beschikbaar via: Booking.com: toeristische rader in Israëlische oorlogsmisdaad – The Rights Forum. Zie ook: The Rights Forum, Waar blijft de reactie van Booking?, 15 februari 2019, beschikbaar via: https://rightsforum.org/waar-blijft-de-reactie-van-booking-com/

[7] Zie: Booking.com 2022 Human Rights Statement, beschikbaar op https://www.bookingholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BHI-Human-Rights-Statement-2022.04.14.pdf, op p.6; zie AT5, Oproep aan Pride-organisator: heroverweeg samenwerking met hoofdsponsor Booking, 6 March 2024.

Tags accountability, Apartheid, Business and Human Rights, settlements

Statement

Solidarity With Students & Allies Protesting For Palestinian Rights

Post author By ELSC
Post date 22 May 2024
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The ELSC stands in solidarity with, and endorses the principled demands of, student protestors in Europe to disclose, divest and cut all ties with Israeli universities, corporations and all those complicit in the state of Israel’s crimes of genocide, colonisation, occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.

We have seen among the most extreme police violence against students and university staff, as well as the supporting local community. Often with the implicit support of university executives and in cooperation with the police and city mayors. In the Netherlands, for instance, an army of riot police, attack dogs, bulldozers, pepper spray and batons have been used against protestors, and we also documented police violence in France, Germany and Austria. The ELSC firmly believes that protestors have a right to defend themselves from police violence.

The political establishment, from elected politicians to the unaccountable police force, are giving rise to an increasingly hostile environment that allows for repression not just from the state but the far-right who are emboldened and given free rein to attack Palestine protesters.

University administrations, who instead of showing a duty of care to their students, are acting as enforcers of repression. In doing so they are showing a complete disregard for the health, rights and just demands of their students and staff. Their complicity in the wholly disproportionate punishment of students is matched with their complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. It also fully exposes such bodies, not as institutions of free thought and public learning, but as protectors of the state.

More than 35.000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed by Israel – but the healthcare infrastructure to record the death toll has collapsed, meaning the real death toll is likely far higher. Rafah has been invaded, displacing at least 450.000. The border crossing to Egypt is closed, preventing evacuations and the entry of humanitarian aid. Forced hunger leading to famine is rising and Gaza has become completely unlivable. A large number of European universities insist on maintaining ties with research institutions and companies who are deeply embedded and complicit in the Israeli state and industrial complex that drive genocide.

We call on everyone to support Palestinians and their allies as they continue to fight for justice, despite all odds to see liberation in our lifetime.

Please make sure to:

Report all incidents of repression and request legal support here: Report an incident (elsc.support) and see here why it is important to report repression to the ELSC
Stay safe by consulting our ‘know your rights’ resources for Palestinian rights advocates, including protesters, in the Netherlands, in the UK and Italy here.
See more ‘know your rights’ resources for other countries/ contexts here

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Statement

To Confront the Ongoing Nakba and Genocide: Resistance until Liberation and Return

Post author By ELSC
Post date 15 May 2024
No Comments on To Confront the Ongoing Nakba and Genocide: Resistance until Liberation and Return

Ongoing Nakba, Ongoing Genocide

For more than 76 years, the Israeli colonial-apartheid regime has maintained its system of domination and oppression through a strategy that is based on three pillars: forced displacement and transfer, colonization and apartheid. This regime consists of a plethora of policies, practices, and laws that result in the creation, sustainment, and augmentation of the longest standing displaced population in the world: 9.17 million Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons who continue to be denied their rights to reparations, including return, properties restitution and compensation, as enshrined in UNGA Resolution 194 of 1948. In addition, these pillars have resulted in Israel’s control of 85 percent of the land of Mandatory Palestine.

After more than seven months of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, Palestinians remain unprotected and continue to be killed, starved, tortured, besieged and forcibly displaced over and over again. Not only is Israel attacking a protected population, but is also taking measures to destroy the Palestinian population there, slowly, through the weaponization of aid to the point ofmalnutrition and famine, destruction of the healthcare infrastructure, and the denial of healthcare services.

Supported by its colonial allies, Israel has not only refused to ease its chokehold and genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, but has also intentionally denied the needed amount of aid reaching the
starved Palestinian population there, especially in the north, and deliberately obstructed the work of UNRWA and many other international agencies.

Palestinian refugees make up 81 percent of the population in Gaza. They are now also experiencing internal displacement with approximately 1.7 million Palestinians out of 2.3 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip being internally displaced. This represents a staggering 75 percent of the population, and marks one of the largest displacements since 1948. It is clear that the genocide in Gaza is not an isolated event but rather a component of the Ongoing Nakba, fulfilling Israel’s ultimate goal to control the maximum amount of Palestinian land, with the minimum number of Palestinians.

Escalated Suppression of Palestinians

Under the umbrella of the ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, Israel has escalated its suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and in 1948 Palestine. Israel has intensified its policies of silencing Palestinian voices, land confiscation, bolstered by colonizer attacks and access restrictions, resulting in the killing of hundreds and forcibly displacing thousands of Palestinians.

Israeli forces have heavily targeted Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the West Bank through daily raids and incursions, killing residents and destroying public infrastructure and homes.

The number of arbitrary arrests has also skyrocketed with rampant reports of torture and ill-treatment, medical neglect, systematic abuse, beatings and attacks against prisoners. Additionally, the bodies of political prisoners continue to be denied dignified burial, as they are detained by the Israeli colonial-apartheid regime.

Ongoing Complicity

After 76 years of Ongoing Nakba, colonial states, with their domination of the international community, continue to provide support and impunity to the Israeli colonial-apartheid regime, while simultaneously ignoring its legal and moral responsibilities. Satisfied with only setting up public relations ploys and voicing empty concerns over the “humanitarian crisis”, western colonial powers continue to politically, financially and militarily support Israel. These states have become active agents of genocide, by weaponizing aid, supporting Israel in its “day after plans” including its ongoing campaign to defund, eliminate and replace UNRWA. While Israel still hasn’t provided evidence of its allegations, complicit states have deemed the most recent UN review of UNRWA as “insufficient” and continue to suspend the Agency’s funding.

Ongoing Resistance and Solidarity

Despite more than 76 years of displacement, oppression, and ethnic cleansing and genocide, the Palestinian people remain steadfast in their resistance against the Israeli colonial-apartheid regime in pursuit of their liberation. Palestinian resistance in all of its forms, in Mandatory Palestine and abroad, has been met with overwhelming solidarity from people of conscience across the globe, with the efforts of the global solidarity movement standing in stark contrast with clear moral and legal bankruptcy of colonial states and their leaders.

Now, more than ever, we reaffirm that the only solution to the Ongoing Nakba is a comprehensive rights-based decolonization framework, which will ensure the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to self-determination and return. Palestinian resistance, combined with the sustained and strategic efforts of the global solidarity movement, is the only way through which the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip will end, Israel’s colonial-apartheid regime will be sanctioned and dismantled, and colonial states will be held accountable for their complicity.

Signatories:

BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
The Global Palestinian Refugee and IDP Network (GPRN) – 39 Organization
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Plataforma Córdoba con Palestina
Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU)
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
Collectif Palestine Vaincra
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
The Palestine Committee in Norway
Centre for Global Education
The Palestinian Disability Coalition
Trinity BDS
Edmonton Small Press Association
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Asociación Paz con Dignidad
Palestine Solidarity Alliance South Africa
BDS Madrid
Taafi
AKAHATA – Argentina
Palestine Updates/Badayl
Baladi Center for Culture & Arts
Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Xinye Public Interest Service Central
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network-IJAN AntiJAN Argentina
Union of Students in Ireland
Makan
IJAN, INTERNATIONAL JEWISH ANTIZIONIST NETWORK, Spain
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN)-Canada
Sexual Rights Initiative
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearos
Northern rivers friends of Palestine
Australians for Palestine
Free Palestine Coalition Naarm
Muslim Counterpublics Lab
Sare Lesbianista
Palestinarekiko Erantzukizuna
Association of Young Democrats
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía- APDHA
Center for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality
JUST-IS Interfaith Solidarity against Global Militarism and for Social Justice
TU Dublin Students’ Union
NACIÓN ANDALUZA
BDS Almería
Mujeres de Negro de Isbilya
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
Canada Palestine Association
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
Lajee Center
Lajee Celtic
Loud Jew Collective
Comhlamh Justice for Palestine
Cambridge Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
Jews Against the Occupation ’48 Australia
Tzedek Collective
International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(EAFORD)
Save Our Sacred Lands (SOSL)
Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, University of Galway Students’ Union
Housing and Land Rights Network – Habitat International Coalition
MNEMTY ANTI RACISM IN TUNISIA
The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in Southwest Asia and
North Africa (WHRDMENA)
Solidarity Rising
Equipo de Implementación del Decenio Afrodescendiente en España
Uhuru Valencia
Gaza Action Ireland
Movimento Solidaridade Sahara Occidental-Timor Leste
Poitiers Palestine
The Canadian BDS Coalition
Portuguese Friendship Association with Western Sahara (AAPSO)
BDS Murcia
Conférération syndicale des forces productives – COSYFOP
Pax Christi Victoria
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights
Union of Solidarity teachers of Higher Education
Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development
Movement for Liberation from Nakba (MLN)
Botsotso
Palestine Land Society
Iraqi Narratives Project
Syndicat des Enseignants du Supérieur Solidaires (SESS)
International Platform of Jurists for East Timor
Workers for Palestine NL
India Palestine Friendship Forum
IPSN – India
Seva Vardhini
Indo-Palestine Solidarity Network
Student Christian Movement of India
Liverpool Friends of Palestine
Presentation sisters
IPA – India
The Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness)
Human development center
Fraternity Association for Social and Cultural Work- Beirut Center
Human Call Association
Nuwat Association Social Solidarity Center
AWID
Tiro Association for Arts (TAA)
Al-JANA Center
Psychological and Social Development Association – Al Jalazon Refugee Camp
Center for refugee rights – Aidoun
Al-Hadaf KC
Majed Abu Sharar Media Foundation (MASMF)
Collective urgence Palestine
Nahr Al-Bared Refugee Camp Youth
Askar refugee camp’s Women Center
The Popular Committee for Services in Tulkarm refugee camp
BDS ALMERÍA
National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training
Al Houla Association
PUSWP Bethlehem branch
Kangaroo Sports Club – Lebanon
Al Karmel Sport Center
CPCCO – USA
Al Houla Association
Jaén con Palestina
Cairdeas Falasteen Chonamara
Azania Section of the Fourth International
Ibdaa Foundation for Child Development
Jouthor Association

البيان متاح باللغة العربية عبر هذا الرابط
El comunicado español disponible aquí
Die deutsche Stellungnahme finden Sie hier
La déclaration est disponible en français via
Il comunicato è disponibile in italiano tramite

Tags 76, Nakba

Case Update

VICTORY FOR DR GHASSAN ABU SITTAH: ELSC and ICJP overturn Schengen-wide travel ban

Post author By ELSC
Post date 15 May 2024
No Comments on VICTORY FOR DR GHASSAN ABU SITTAH: ELSC and ICJP overturn Schengen-wide travel ban

May 15, 2024

Berlin, Administrative court Potsdam slams German Federal Police: Schengen-Information-System entry for Prof. Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah has no legal basis and is to be revoked immediately after an emergency appeal by ELSC lawyer Alexander Gorski with support from lawyers from the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). This effectively ends the Schengen-area travel ban imposed on Prof. Dr. Abu Sittah by German authorities. He was previously prevented from entering Germany, France and most recently the Netherlands.

The court’s ruling follows ELSC lawyer Alexander Gorski’s arguments in all points and recognizes the urgency of the case vis-a-vis developments in Gaza. The court rejects all accusations by German Federal Police against Dr Abu Sittah and holds that the Federal Police provided no grounds according to the legal basis provided by Art. 24 EU-Verordnung 2018/1861 and § 30 Abs. 5 BundespolizeiG.

“This victory cannot be overstated“

Alexander Gorski shares: “German police delivered a surprisingly weak reasoning for the entry ban issued against Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta in front of the court. By rejecting it as lacking any substantial evidence, the court affirms our case and calls the entire investigation into question. Professor Ghassan worked tirelessly to help Palestinians in Gaza, in dreadful conditions, and yet he has faced such unfair treatment upon his return.

This decision means that Ghassan’s freedom of expression and freedom of movement are no longer under threat, and he can speak out about what he witnessed in Gaza. This victory cannot be overstated.”

This victory highlights the illegality of Germany’s increasingly authoritarian anti-Palestinian state repression and should encourage everyone to speak up against the ongoing genocide on Gaza. We thank Prof. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah for his courage in speaking up against the crimes he has witnessed first handedly and against the shameful attempt by the German state to silence critics of the genocide it is funding. Abu Sittah is due to speak on the 17th May 2024 to Dutch MPs and in public events organised by civil society organisations and at the University of Amsterdam.

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is the first and only independent organisation defending and empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe through legal means. We provide free legal advice and assistance to associations, human rights NGOs, groups and individuals advocating for Palestinian rights in mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.

For press inquiries for Alexander Gorski and the ELSC, please contact Karim Bohnhoff karim@elsc.support
For press inquiries for ICJP, please contact press@icjpalestine.com

Sieg für Dr GHASSAN ABU SITTAH: ELSC und ICJP kippen Schengen-weites Einreiseverbot

15. Mai 2024

Berlin, Verwaltungsgericht Potsdam rügt deutsche Bundespolizei: Die Schengen-Einreise für Prof. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah entbehrt jeder rechtlichen Grundlage und ist sofort zu widerrufen. Das Urteil folgt auf einen Eilantrag des ELSC Anwalts Alexander Gorski mit Unterstützung von Anwälten des International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). Damit ist das von den deutschen Behörden gegen Prof. Dr. Abu Sittah verhängte EU-Einreiseverbot nichtig. Zuvor war er an der Einreise nach Deutschland, Frankreich und zuletzt in die Niederlande gehindert worden.

Das Gericht folgt den Argumenten des ELSC-Anwalts Alexander Gorski in allen Punkten und erkennt die Dringlichkeit des Falles angesichts der Entwicklungen in Gaza an. Das Gericht weist alle Vorwürfe der deutschen Bundespolizei gegen Prof. Dr. Abu Sittah zurück und stellt fest, dass die Bundespolizei keinerlei Begründung gemäß der Rechtsgrundlage des Art. 24 EU-Verordnung 2018/1861 und § 30 Abs. 5 BundespolizeiG vorweisen kann.

“Dieser Erfolg kann nicht hoch genug geschätzt werden“

Alexander Gorski kommentiert: „Die Bundespolizei hat vor Gericht eine überraschend schwache Begründung für das gegen Prof. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta erlassene Einreiseverbot geliefert. Indem das Gericht sie als nicht stichhaltig zurückweist, bekräftigt es unser Anliegen und stellt die gesamten polizeilichen Ermittlungen in Frage. Professor Ghassan hat Palästinenser*innen in Gaza unter schrecklichsten Bedingungen unermüdlich geholfen, und dennoch wurde er nach seiner Rückkehr so ungerecht behandelt.

Diese Entscheidung bedeutet, dass Prof. Abu Sittah Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung und Freizügigkeit nicht mehr bedroht ist. Er kann wieder frei darüber sprechen, was er in Gaza erlebt hat. Dieser Erfolgkann nicht hoch genug geschätzt werden.“

Dieser Erfolgverdeutlicht die Rechtswidrigkeit der zunehmend autoritären anti-palästinensischen Repression durch den deutschen Staat und sollte jeden ermutigen, seine Stimme gegen den anhaltenden Völkermord in Gaza zu erheben. Wir danken Prof. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah für seinen Mut, sich gegen die Verbrechen auszusprechen, die er mit eigenen Augen miterlebt hat. Ebenso ächten wir den beschämenden Versuch des deutschen Staates, Kritiker*innen des von ihm finanzierten Völkermords zum Schweigen zu bringen. Abu Sittah wird am 17. Mai 2024 mitniederländischen Abgeordneten und vor zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen an der Universität Amsterdam sprechen.

Das European Legal Support Center (ELSC) ist die erste und einzige unabhängige Organisation, die die Palästina-Solidaritätsbewegung in Europa mit rechtlichen Mitteln verteidigt und stärkt. Wir bieten Verbänden, Menschenrechts-NGOs, Gruppen und Einzelpersonen, die sich für die Rechte der Palästinenser*innen auf dem europäischen Festland und im Vereinigten Königreich einsetzen, kostenlose Rechtsberatung und -hilfe an.

Für Presseanfragen an Alexander Gorski und ELSC wenden Sie sich bitte an Karim Bohnhoff: karim@elsc.support
Für Presseanfragen zu ICJP wenden Sie sich bitte an press@icjpalestine.com

Tags Freedom of Expression, Freedom of movement, gaza, genocide

Urgent call

Appeal to the Spanish government

Post author By ELSC
Post date 15 May 2024
No Comments on Appeal to the Spanish government

We are a collective of lawyers in Germany who have recently filed an urgent appeal against the arms shipments from Germany to Israel before the Berlin Administrative Court.

We were informed by activists that the cargo ship “Borkum” will dock in Cartagena today – Wednesday, May 15, 2024 – loaded with arms shipments for Israel. The cargo ship’s destination is the port of Ashdod in Israel – a city only 25 km away from Gaza, where the world community has been observing genocide and the most serious war crimes against the Palestinian people for 7 months. It is up to all of us, and now especially the Spanish government, to actively do something about this!

Today, the port of Cartagena awaits the arrival of the cargo ship Borkum. According to the identification codes of the individual containers, which are indicated in the documents received from the Campaign to Stop the Arms Trade with Israel, this ship contains: 20 tons of rocket engines (UN code class 1.3C 186), 12.5 tons of rockets with explosive charges (code 181), 1,500 kg of explosive materials (477) and 740 kg of cargoes, propellant charges for cannons (242).

As lawyers, we would like to point out that we are not only subject to our conscience, but also to the law. The Arms Trade Treaty is clearly your responsibility as a signatory:

The Arms Trade Treaty clearly states in its Article 6 that:

“A State Party shall not authorize a transfer of conventional arms covered by Article 2(1) or of items covered by Article 3 or Article 4 if, at the time of authorization, it has knowledge that the arms or items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, attacks against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes as defined in international agreements to which it is a party.”

The same treaty (Article 2) states that the transfer of arms includes the export, import, transit, transshipment and brokering of arms. Authorizing a ship loaded with arms destined for Israel means allowing the transit of arms to a country currently under investigation for genocide against the Palestinian people and responsible for serious human rights violations. To date, it is estimated that over 35,000 people, including more than 15,000 children, have been killed. The port of Ashdod is barely 30 km from Gaza, and the company involved in the transfer, according to the documents, is IMI Systems, part of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company, which has a very close and highly strategic relationship with the Israeli Defense Forces. The documents state that “under no circumstances” should the name IMI Systems and Israel appear on the Internet.

We know that the Spanish government is committed to defending the rights of the Palestinian people. On such a symbolic day as today, when we commemorate 76 years of the Nakba, we ask you to check the contents of the freighter Borkum and prevent the military cargo it is carrying from reaching Israel to be used against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and to deny the ship further passage.

Llamamiento al gobierno español

Somos un colectivo de abogados en Alemania. Hace unas semanas, hemos presentado un recurso urgente contra el envío de armas de Alemania a Israel ante el Tribunal Administrativo de Berlín.

Unos activistas nos han informado de que el carguero «Borkum» atracará en Cartagena hoy, miércoles, 15 de mayo de 2024, transportando un cargamento de armas para Israel. El buque de carga va con destino al puerto de Ashdod en Israel, una ciudad a tan solo 25 kilómetros de Gaza, donde la comunidad internacional lleva siendo testigo del genocidio y de algunos de los crímenes de guerra más graves contra los palestinos durante los últimos 7 meses. Depende de todos nosotros, y ahora especialmente del gobierno español, ¡hacer algo al respecto!

Hoy, el puerto de Cartagena espera la llegada del carguero Borkum. Según los códigos de identificación de los contenedores individuales, que se indican en los documentos recibidos de la Campaña para Detener el Comercio de Armas con Israel, este buque contiene: 20 toneladas de motores de cohetes (código ONU clase 1.3C 186), 12,5 toneladas de cohetes de carga explosiva (código 181), 1.500 kg de materiales explosivos (477) y 740 kg de cargamentos, cargas propulsoras para cañones (242).

Como abogados, nos gustaría señalar que no sólo estamos sujetos a nuestra conciencia, sino también a la ley. El Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas es sin duda su responsabilidad como firmante:

El Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas establece claramente en el artículo 6 que:

«Un Estado Parte no autorizará una transferencia de armas convencionales comprendidas en el apartado 1 del artículo 2 o de artículos comprendidos en los artículos 3 o 4 si, en el momento de la autorización, tiene conocimiento de que las armas o los artículos se utilizarían para cometer genocidio, crímenes de lesa humanidad, violaciones graves de los Convenios de Ginebra de 1949, ataques contra objetivos civiles o contra civiles protegidos como tales, u otros crímenes de guerra definidos en acuerdos internacionales de los que sea parte.»

El mismo tratado (artículo 2) establece que la transferencia de armas incluye la exportación, la importación, el tránsito, el transbordo y el corretaje de armas. Autorizar un barco cargado de armas con destino a Israel significa permitir el tránsito de armas hacia un país actualmente investigado por genocidio contra el pueblo palestino y responsable de graves violaciones de los derechos humanos. A día de hoy, se calcula que han muerto más de 35.000 personas, entre ellas más de 15.000 niños. El puerto de Ashdod está a apenas 30 kilómetros de Gaza y la empresa implicada en la transferencia, según los documentos, es IMI Systems, parte de Elbit Systems, la mayor empresa armamentística de Israel, que mantiene una relación muy estrecha y altamente estratégica con las Fuerzas de Defensa israelíes. Los documentos establecen que «bajo ninguna circunstancia» el nombre de IMI Systems e Israel debe aparecer en Internet.

Sabemos que el gobierno español está comprometido con la defensa de los derechos del pueblo palestino. En un día tan simbólico como hoy, en el que conmemoramos los 76 años de la Nakba, le pedimos al gobierno que compruebe el contenido del carguero Borkum, que impida que la carga militar que transporta llegue a Israel para ser utilizada contra el pueblo palestino en la Franja de Gaza y que niegue el paso al buque.

Appell an die Spanische Regierung

Wir sind ein Kollektiv an Rechtsanwältinnen und Rechtsanwälten in Deutschland, die kürzlich einen Eilantrag gegen die Waffenlieferungen von Deutschland nach Israel vor dem Berliner Verwaltungsgericht angestrengt haben.

Wir wurden von Aktivist*innen informiert, dass das Frachtschiff „Borkum“ heute – Mittwoch, 15.5.2024- in Cartagena angelegt wird, beladen mit Waffenlieferungen für Israel. Ziel des Frachtschiffes ist der Hafen in Ashdod in Israel – eine Stadt nur 25 km entfernt von Gaza, wo die Weltgemeinschaft seit 7 Monaten einen Genozid und schwerste Kriegsverbrechen gegen die Palästinenser*innen beobachten muss. Es ist an uns alle, und nun ganz besonders an der Spanischen Regierung, hiergegen aktiv etwas zu unternehmen!

Heute erwartet der Hafen von Cartagena die Ankunft des Frachtschiffes Borkum. Nach den Identifizierungscodes der einzelnen Container, die in den von der Kampagne zur Beendigung des Waffenhandels mit Israel erhaltenen Unterlagen angegeben sind, enthält dieses Schiff: 20 Tonnen Raketentriebwerke (UN-Codeklasse 1.3C 186), 12,5 Tonnen Raketen mit Sprengladungen (Code 181), 1.500 kg explosive Stoffe (477) und 740 kg Ladungen, Treibladungen für Kanonen (242).

Als Rechtsanwältinnen und Rechtsanwälte weisen wir Sie darauf hin, dass wir nicht nur unserem Gewissen unterworfen sind, sondern auch dem Gesetz. Das Arms Trade Treaty ist klar in der Verantwortung, die Sie als Vertragsunterzeichnerin trifft:

Der Vertrag über den Waffenhandel legt in seinem Artikel 6 klar fest, dass:

„Ein Vertragsstaat darf einen Transfer von konventionellen Waffen, die unter Artikel 2 Absatz 1 fallen, oder von Gegenständen, die unter Artikel 3 oder Artikel 4 fallen, nicht genehmigen, wenn er zum Zeitpunkt der Genehmigung Kenntnis davon hat, dass die Waffen oder Gegenstände zur Begehung von Völkermord, Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, schweren Verstößen gegen die Genfer Abkommen von 1949, Angriffen auf zivile Objekte oder Zivilpersonen, die als solche geschützt sind, oder anderen Kriegsverbrechen im Sinne internationaler Übereinkünfte, bei denen er Vertragspartei ist, verwendet werden würden.“

In demselben Vertrag (Artikel 2) heißt es, dass die Weitergabe von Waffen die Ausfuhr, die Einfuhr, die Durchfuhr, die Umladung und die Vermittlung von Waffen umfasst. Die Genehmigung für ein mit Waffen beladenes Schiff, das für Israel bestimmt ist, bedeutet, dass die Durchfuhr von Waffen in ein Land erlaubt wird, gegen das derzeit wegen Völkermordes am palästinensischen Volk ermittelt wird und das für schwere Menschenrechtsverletzungen verantwortlich ist. Bis heute wurden schätzungsweise über 35.000 Menschen, darunter mehr als 15.000 Kinder, getötet. Der Hafen von Aschdod ist kaum 30 km vom Gazastreifen entfernt, und das an dem Transfer beteiligte Unternehmen ist den Unterlagen zufolge IMI Systems, das zu Elbit Systems gehört, Israels größtem Waffenkonzern, der eine sehr enge und äußerst strategische Beziehung zu den israelischen Streitkräften unterhält. In den Unterlagen heißt es, dass „unter keinen Umständen“ der Name IMI Systems und Israel im Internet auftauchen dürfe.

Wir wissen, dass sich die spanische Regierung für die Verteidigung der Rechte des palästinensischen Volkes einsetzt. An einem so symbolträchtigen Tag wie heute, an dem wir der 76 Jahre andauernden Nakba gedenken, bitten wir Sie, den Inhalt des Frachters Borkum zu überprüfen und zu verhindern, dass die militärische Fracht, die er transportiert, Israel erreicht, um gegen das palästinensische Volk im Gazastreifen eingesetzt zu werden, und dem Schiff die Weiterfahrt zu verweigern.

Tags arms export, gaza, genocide

Press Release

Anti-Palestinian Surveillance in Germany: New Hearing in the Case of Dr Anna Younes

Post author By ELSC
Post date 11 April 2024
No Comments on Anti-Palestinian Surveillance in Germany: New Hearing in the Case of Dr Anna Younes
Sticky post

GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Today 12 April 2024, Dr Anna-E. Younes is challenging anti-Palestinian organisations RIAS Berlin and MBR (Mobile Beratungsstelle gegen Rechts) in the Berlin District Court (Landgericht Berlin) with the support of the ELSC.

Dr Anna Younes is a German Palestinian scholar working on the ‘New Antisemitism’ discourse, race critical theories and settler-/colonial theories. Like many others she has already been subjected to several disinformation campaigns, publicly defamed, censored and unfairly excluded from public and academic spaces way before 2019. In 2019, however, Dr Younes discovered that a secret dossier which selectively draws on certain publications of hers and takes them out of context, was written up and distributed by RIAS/MBR in order to get her disinvited from public speaking engagements. Said dossier had been privately passed on to people in die Linke and distorted her work or articles to make defamatory statements about her, including by framing her as an anti-Jewish racist and sexist terrorist sympathizer. Subsequently, Dr Younes was disinvited from a panel discussion on right-wing extremism and anti-Muslim racism organised by the Berlin chapter of Die Linke where she was supposed to present her work on anti-Muslim racism and right-wing networks in Germany.

In violation of European data protection law, Dr Younes was surveilled for her scholarship and activism, causing her loss of employment, reputational damage, as well as an uncanny repetition of surveillance strategies as known from German history. Dr. Younes, the ELSC and her lawyers argue that the creation and circulation of RIAS’ secret dossier – without Dr. Younes’ knowledge or consent – gravely infringed upon her right to privacy, freedom of expression, and academic freedom and amounts to digital surveillance. More importantly, her case does not stand in isolation; it rather unmasks the multiple layers of systematic repression that have been silencing and criminalising Palestinian voices in Germany for a long time. Beyond that, this case is also crucial as it testifies to the importance of halting further infringements on the right to privacy and to free political expression of political minorities, such as anti-war and anti-capitalist movements or climate activists.

Concerned about the consequences of this repressive surveillance for herself and other academics, activists or journalists, Dr Younes reached out to the ELSC and took legal action.

Nearly two years ago, the Berlin District Court upheld Dr Younes’ claims and ordered VDK – the German state-funded organisation that legally represents RIAS Berlin and MBR – to give Dr Anna Younes access to the data that the two organisations had secretly gathered and disseminated. The information released by VDK revealed that RIAS Berlin and MBR had been collecting people’s personal data based on their ‘positions on Israel and BDS’.

Dr Younes and her lawyer now expect the court to order RIAS/MBR to pay damages for the harm suffered by Dr Younes for more than two years. Not only should RIAS/MBR pay damages for having violated Dr Younes’ right to information, as confirmed by the first instance court, but also for the unlawful collection and dissemination of a dossier aiming to damage her reputation.

Dr Younes’ lawyer, Alexander Gorski, said:

This legal battle is about making sure that state-funded organisations such as RIAS Berlin and MBR are held accountable for their repressive practices which have extreme consequences for individuals’ reputation and fundamental rights and freedoms. This must stop.

In March 2024, RIAS (the federal organisation whereof RIAS Berlin forms the local Berlin branch) released their report on ‘Anti-Semitism within BDS’, which enacts yet another targeted attack against the BDS movement and its supporters. Furthermore, RIAS also continues to use unfounded allegations of antisemitism and support of terrorism to further repress Palestine solidarity as well as turning the important category of anti-Jewish racism to mean nothing but “critical of Israeli politics” thereby enabling a dangerous and deeply racist hollowing out of what we mean by anti-Jewish racism. Finally, within that vein, RIAS also confirms its use of the harmful and widely criticized ‘IHRA definition of antisemitism’ to assess incidents of antisemitism.

It is obvious that organisations like RIAS are instrumentalizing the fight against anti-Jewish racism to platform a discourse aimed at repressing and erasing Palestinian voices and anti- or de-colonial narratives, especially at a moment when a wide range of individuals and groups in German civil society are raising their voice against the ongoing genocide and against Germany’s support of Israel’s settler violence. – said Dr Younes.

The decision from the judge is expected within a few weeks.

Read more about the case

Antipalästinensische Überwachung in Deutschland: neue Anhörung im Fall von Dr. Anna Younes

Heute, am 12. April 2024, klagt Dr. Anna-E. Younes mit Unterstützung der ELSC gegen die antipalästinensischen Organisationen RIAS Berlin und MBR (Mobile Beratungsstelle gegen Rechts) vor dem Landgericht Berlin.

Dr. Anna Younes ist eine deutsch-palästinensische Wissenschaftlerin, die sich mit dem “Neuen Antisemitismus”-Diskurs, rassenkritischen Theorien und Siedler-/Kolonialtheorien beschäftigt. Wie viele andere war sie bereits vor 2019 mehreren Desinformationskampagnen ausgesetzt, wurde öffentlich diffamiert, zensiert und zu Unrecht aus dem öffentlichen und akademischen Raum ausgeschlossen. Im Jahr 2019 entdeckte Dr. Younes jedoch, dass ein geheimes Dossier, das sich selektiv auf bestimmte Veröffentlichungen von ihr stützt und diese aus dem Zusammenhang reißt, vom RIAS/MBR erstellt und verbreitet wurde, um sie von öffentlichen Auftritten auszuladen. Dieses Dossier wurde privat an Personen in der Partei Die Linke weitergegeben und verfälschte ihre Arbeit oder Artikel, um diffamierende Aussagen über sie zu machen, unter anderem indem sie als antijüdische, rassistische und sexistische Terroristensympathisantin dargestellt wurde. In der Folge wurde Dr. Younes von einer Podiumsdiskussion über Rechtsextremismus und antimuslimischen Rassismus ausgeladen, die von der Berliner Sektion der Partei Die Linke organisiert wurde und auf der sie ihre Arbeit über antimuslimischen Rassismus und rechte Netzwerke in Deutschland vorstellen sollte.

Unter Verstoß gegen das europäische Datenschutzrecht wurde Dr. Younes wegen ihrer wissenschaftlichen Arbeit und ihres Engagements überwacht, was zum Verlust ihres Arbeitsplatzes und zur Schädigung ihres Rufes führte und eine unheimliche Wiederholung der aus der deutschen Geschichte bekannten Überwachungsstrategien darstellt. Der Fall, den Dr. Younes, die ELSC und ihre Anwälte aufgebaut haben, argumentiert, dass die Erstellung und Verbreitung des geheimen Dossiers des RIAS – ohne Dr. Younes’ Wissen oder Zustimmung – ihr Recht auf Privatsphäre, freie Meinungsäußerung und akademische Freiheit schwerwiegend verletzt hat und einer digitalen Überwachung gleichkommt. Noch wichtiger ist, dass ihr Fall nicht isoliert dasteht, sondern vielmehr die vielen Ebenen der systematischen Unterdrückung aufdeckt, die palästinensische Stimmen in Deutschland seit langem zum Schweigen bringen und kriminalisieren. Darüber hinaus ist dieser Fall auch deshalb so entscheidend, weil er zeigt, wie wichtig es ist, weitere Verstöße gegen das Recht auf Privatsphäre und freie politische Meinungsäußerung von politischen Minderheiten wie Antikriegs- und antikapitalistischen Bewegungen oder Klimaaktivisten zu unterbinden.

Besorgt über die Folgen dieser repressiven Überwachung für sie selbst und andere Akademiker, Aktivisten oder Journalisten wandte sich Dr. Younes an die ELSC und erhob rechtliche Schritte.

Vor fast zwei Jahren gab das Landgericht Berlin den Klagen von Dr. Younes statt und ordnete an, dass der VdK – die deutsche staatlich finanzierte Organisation, die RIAS Berlin und MBR rechtlich vertritt – Dr. Anna Younes Zugang zu den Daten gewährt, die die beiden Organisationen heimlich gesammelt und verbreitet hatten. Die von der VdK herausgegebenen Informationen enthüllten, dass RIAS Berlin und MBR personenbezogene Daten von Personen auf der Grundlage ihrer “Positionen zu Israel und BDS” gesammelt hatten.

Dr. Younes und ihr Anwalt erwarten nun, dass das Gericht den RIAS/MBR zur Zahlung von Schadenersatz für den Schaden verurteilt, den Dr. Younes mehr als zwei Jahre lang erlitten hat. Der RIAS/MBR sollte nicht nur Schadensersatz dafür zahlen, dass das Recht von Dr. Younes auf Information verletzt wurde, wie das erstinstanzliche Gericht bestätigt hat, sondern auch für die unrechtmäßige Sammlung und Verbreitung eines Dossiers, das darauf abzielt, ihren Ruf zu schädigen.

Dr. Younes’ Anwalt, Alexander Gorski, sagte:

In diesem Rechtsstreit geht es darum, sicherzustellen, dass staatlich finanzierte Organisationen wie RIAS Berlin und MBR für ihre repressiven Praktiken zur Rechenschaft gezogen werden, die extreme Auswirkungen auf den Ruf und die Grundrechte und -freiheiten des Einzelnen haben. Das muss aufhören.

Im März 2024 veröffentlichte RIAS (die Bundesorganisation, deren Ortsgruppe in Berlin RIAS Berlin ist) ihren Bericht über “Antisemitismus in BDS”, der einen weiteren gezielten Angriff auf die BDS-Bewegung und ihre UnterstützerInnen darstellt. Darüber hinaus nutzt RIAS weiterhin unbegründete Vorwürfe des Antisemitismus und der Unterstützung des Terrorismus, um die Solidarität mit Palästina weiter zu unterdrücken und die wichtige Kategorie des antijüdischen Rassismus auf nichts anderes als “kritisch gegenüber israelischer Politik” zu reduzieren, wodurch eine gefährliche und zutiefst rassistische Auslöschung dessen ermöglicht wird, was wir unter antijüdischem Rassismus verstehen. Schließlich bestätigt RIAS in diesem Zusammenhang auch die Verwendung der schädlichen und weithin kritisierten “IHRA-Definition von Antisemitismus”, um Vorfälle von Antisemitismus zu bewerten.

Es ist offensichtlich, dass Organisationen wie RIAS den Kampf gegen antijüdischen Rassismus instrumentalisieren, um einem Diskurs eine Plattform zu bieten, der darauf abzielt, palästinensische Stimmen und anti- oder de-koloniale Narrative zu unterdrücken und auszulöschen, insbesondere zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem ein breites Spektrum von Einzelpersonen und Gruppen in der deutschen Zivilgesellschaft ihre Stimme gegen den anhaltenden Völkermord und gegen Deutschlands Unterstützung der israelischen Siedlergewalt erhebt

– so Dr. Younes.

Die Entscheidung des Richters wird in den nächsten Wochen erwartet.

Tags Academic freedom, BDS, Digital surveillance, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Press Release

Legal Action to Stop Arms Exports from Germany to Israel

Post author By ELSC
Post date 5 April 2024
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GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Press release – ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, and Forensis.

Berlin – 5 April 2024

On April 5, 2024, Berlin lawyers are filing an urgent application against the German government to stop the approval of war weapons exports to Israel. The urgent appeal is being filed by Palestinians in Gaza who are demanding an immediate halt to the supply of weapons to Israel. As there is reason to believe that these weapons are being used to commit grave violations of international law, such as the crime of genocide and war crimes, the applicants are hereby demanding that the German government protect their right to life.

In 2023, the German government issued arms exports licenses to Israel worth 326.5 million Euro, the majority of which were approved after October 7, 2023, a tenfold increase compared to 2022. The German government is currently supporting the Israeli army by approving the supply of 3,000 portable anti-tank weapons, 500,000 rounds of ammunition for machine guns, submachine guns or other fully or semi-automatic firearms, as well as other military equipment, while in early 2024 Germany was preparing the authorisation of 10,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition. In addition, Germany authorised Israel to use two of the five TP-Heron combat drones that they had previously leased. A comprehensive report recently published by Forensis, Forensic Architecture’s Berlin-based affiliate, that brings together governmental records with data from monitoring groups and other initiatives, provides significant additional insights on past, current, and potential future arms exports from Germany to Israel.

As early as February 23, 2024, Palestinians filed criminal charges against members of the German government for aiding genocide in Gaza. The urgent application is therefore only logical: the arms deliveries and support provided by the Federal Government to Israel violate the Federal Republic’s obligations under the War Weapons Control Act. The criteria for the approval of arms exports include, among other things, that the weapons are not used against Germany’s obligations of the international law, in this case that Israel does not violate human rights and international humanitarian law. Since the ICJ in its decision of January 26, 2024 already sees evidence of genocide in Gaza, the Lawyers’ Collective believes that the delivery of weapons is contrary to these obligations. A Dutch court of appeal also ruled on February 26, 2024 that the delivery of F-35 spare parts to Israel must be stopped. The aim of the urgent motion is therefore to immediately stop future approvals of weapons of war deliveries to Israel and to revoke approvals that have already been granted.

SUPPORT THE CASE

Eilantrag gegen Waffenexporte von Deutschland nach Israel

Pressemitteilung von ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine, Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative und Forensis.

Berlin – 5.4.2024

Am 5. April 2024 reichen Berliner Anwält:innen einen Eilantrag beim Verwaltungsgericht in Berlin gegen die Bundesregierung ein, um die Genehmigung von Kriegswaffenexporten nach Israel zu stoppen. Der Eilantrag wird von Palästinenser:innen in Gaza gestellt, die eine sofortige Einstellung der Waffenlieferungen an Israel fordern. Da Grund zu der Annahme besteht, dass die Waffen für Völkerrechtsverletzungen wie Völkermord und Kriegsverbrechen eingesetzt werden, verfolgen die Antragsteller:innen ihren Rechtsanspruch, dass die Bundesregierung ihr Recht auf Leben schützen muss.

Im Jahr 2023 genehmigte die Bundesregierung Rüstungsexporte nach Israel im Wert von 326,5 Millionen Euro, die meisten davon nach dem 7. Oktober 2023. Im Vergleich zu 2022 verzehnfachten sich damit die Rüstungsexporte. Aktuell unterstützt die Bundesregierung die israelische Armee, indem sie die Lieferung von 3.000 tragbaren Panzerabwehrwaffen, 500.000 Schuss Munition für Maschinengewehre, Maschinenpistolen oder andere voll- oder halbautomatische Schusswaffen sowie weiteren Rüstungsgütern genehmigt. Anfang 2024 hat die Bundesregierung die Exportbewilligung von 10.000 Schuss Panzermunition geprüft. Außerdem genehmigte Deutschland Israel die Nutzung von zuvor geleasten TP-Heron-Kampfdrohnen. Darüber hinaus liefert ein umfassender Bericht, der kürzlich von Forensis – die in Berlin ansässige Schwesteragentur von Forensic Architecture – veröffentlicht wurde und Informationen aus Regierungsdokumenten mit Daten unabhängiger Monitoring-Gruppen zusammenführt, entscheidende Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich vergangener, gegenwärtiger und möglicherweise zukünftiger Rüstungs- und Waffenexporte von Deutschland nach Israel.

Bereits am 23. Februar 2024 stellten Palästinenser:innen Strafanzeige gegen Mitglieder der Bundesregierung wegen Beihilfe zum Völkermord in Gaza. Der Eilantrag ist daher nur folgerichtig: Die Waffenlieferungen und Unterstützungsleistungen der Bundesregierung an Israel verstoßen gegen die Verpflichtungen der Bundesrepublik aus dem Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz. Zu den Kriterien für die Genehmigung von Waffenexporten gehört unter anderem, dass die Waffen nicht gegen die Verpflichtungen des Bundes aus dem Völkerrecht eingesetzt werden, in diesem Fall, dass Israel nicht gegen die Menschenrechte und das humanitäre Völkerrecht verstößt. Da der IGH in seiner Entscheidung vom 26. Januar 2024 bereits Anhaltspunkte für einen Völkermord in Gaza sieht, steht hier nach Ansicht des Anwält:innenkollektivs zu befürchten, dass die Waffenlieferung diesen Verpflichtungen entgegen stehen. Auch ein niederländisches Berufungsgericht hat bereits am 26. Februar 2024 entschieden, dass die Lieferung von F-35-Ersatzteilen an Israel gestoppt werden müssen. Ziel des Eilantrags ist es daher, künftige Genehmigungen für Kriegswaffenlieferungen an Israel sofort zu stoppen und bereits erteilte Genehmigungen zu widerrufen.

Tags accountability, arms trade, complicity, war crimes

Newsletter

ELSC Updates & Recent Victories for the Defence of Palestinian Rights Advocacy in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 20 March 2024
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Dear Friend,  

In the past weeks and months, we have joined forces with many of you who are mobilising tirelessly for an end to Israel’s heinous crimes against Gaza. In the first 2 months of 2024 alone, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of victories for the movement – which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter.  

JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY 

Accountability Now: Palestinians Sue German Government Officials for Enabling the Genocide in Gaza 

Last month, we supported a group of German lawyers – representing families of two Gazans – who filed a criminal complaint against German Government officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for the crime aiding and abetting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by providing Israel with weapons and other material support. We continue to make clear that the time for impunity is over. 

READ MORE ABOUT IT IN GERMAN & IN ENGLISH 

Share on X and Instagram 

Freedom for Palestine! Democracy for Germany! 

 We have joined forces with activist groups and organisations coming together in the Kufiya Network in a collective call against the repression of the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany. Together, we reject the construction of a ‘reason of state’ that forces on us ‘an unconditional solidarity’ with war crimes, and the criminalisation of any resistance to the occupation. 

READ THE STATEMENT HERE

Accountability for EU Complicity with Israeli Illegal Settlements: A New Legal Victory Highlights the EU Commission’s Shortcomings 

After discovering that the European Commission (EC) was violating its own rules around the funding of projects involving Israeli entities, an activist with ICAHD Finland, with the support of the ELSC, recently got the EU Ombudsman to issue an important decision which confirmed that any entity established in the Israeli illegal settlements in the OPT should be excluded from EU cooperation projects. It highlights the failure of the EC in making sure that those responsible for violating these principles are properly held accountable. 

Share this legal win!

READ MORE

Help us keep up our battles!

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FIGHTING REPRESSION IN THE UK

Science Secretary withdraws allegations against members of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for expressing solidarity with Palestinians and will be forced to pay damages! Professor Kate Sang and Dr Kamna Patel of UKRI were baselessly accused by the Science Secretary Michelle Donelan of sharing ‘extremist views’ for reposting a Guardian article about the aftermath of 7 October and for expressing concern over Israel’s actions in Palestine on their social media, solely drawing from smears published by lobby group Policy Exchange. They reached out to the ELSC and we connected them with lawyers on the ground who helped them take legal action against the Science Secretary for her unfounded and outrageous allegations. UKRI has now concluded they were not in breach of the terms of their appointment. 

READ MORE & AMPLIFY

These are not isolated attacks.  

Jewish Chronicle is once again forced to apologise to Palestinian scholar Nimer Sultany for publicly smearing him! Dr Sultany’s emblematic victory back in December 2023 continues to expose the ongoing pattern of character assassinations aimed at silencing Palestinian and allied voices. The Jewish Chronicle rectified the article that drummed up false allegations against Dr Sultany and were forced to apologise to him after he filed a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) with ELSC support.  

In this difficult moment, our collective mobilisation is more crucial than ever. 

Toolkits to empower the UK solidarity movement! Together with the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) and University and College Union (UCU) representatives, we have produced a toolkit to ensure safeguarding your rights as employees in Higher Education in England and Wales. 

Amena El Ashkar’s struggle against the UK government! Join us in solidarity with Amena, a third-generation Palestinian refugee and highly respected journalist, who is challenging the Home Secretary’s denial of her student visa. Despite receiving a full scholarship to continue her PhD studies at LSE, her visa denial was  “certified personally” by Suella Braverman on the basis that her presence in the UK would not be in the public interest.  

Amena shared that her acceptance into the PhD programme at LSE ‘was a source of immense pride, not just my family and friends, but for the entire community in the camp’.

Shatila Camp drawn by Matt Chun. For more see: http://mattchun.com.

But on 30 January 2024, a High Court judge publicly “rebuked” the Home Secretary’s ‘grave’ and ‘shockingly poor’ conduct in handling the visa challenge of Amena. We are now waiting for the UK Home Secretary to issue a fresh decision.  

SOLIDARITY WITH SHAHD!

FIGHTING REPRESION IN THE NETHERLANDS AND SWITZERLAND 

Support two Palestine activists arrested in The Hague! Two activists of the solidarity movement in the Netherlands who were recently arrested by Dutch police during a sit in at The Hague train station are challenging their chargeswith the help of a lawyer. One of them, a Palestinian woman, was arrested for criticising the police as they tried to take away her megaphone. The other activist was stopped when shouting “Free Palestine” as she walked through the station. By challenging their charges, we send a message to The Hague’s police department that they cannot interfere with our right to speak up and protest genocide! 

DONATE HERE

NGO worker is challenging his unfair dismissal after denouncing ethnic cleansing on X! After speaking out via a X (formerly Twitter) on his personal capacity, posting in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the first days of Israel’s genocidal campaign, Ousman Noor’s employment contract was terminated. The reasons for dismissal were never clarified. Ousman has now filed a lawsuit against his former employer. Share his call. Ousman is almost there with crowdfunding the necessary funds to cover his legal fees but needs a last little push. If you want to help him, donate here – the crowdfunding expires on 18 March! 

MORE VICTORIES FOR OUR MOVEMENT 

Our rallying cry “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” is once again unable to be suppressed! In Prague, activists won another legal battle against the attempts to censor “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” (see here about attempts in Germany and recent victories). In December 2023, the City of Prague banned a demonstration because the slogan would be used, but activists pushed back and went to court. The court has since ruled that this slogan cannot be understood as violent and antisemitic, and that the Municipality had no right to ban the demonstration. Read their statement here. 

The Netherlands forced to stop export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel! Last month, the Court of Appeal in The Hague ordered the State to stop the export of F-35 fighter jet spare parts to Israel. This is a big win for the tireless advocacy of organisations like The Rights Forum, PAX for peace, and Oxfam! The court ruled that the State should have revoked the export license in light of Israel’s violations of basic principles of humanitarian law in its assault on Gaza. Importantly, the Court also held that political or economic considerations cannot play a role in assessing the revocation of such export licenses. 

READ MORE

TRACKING AND DOCUMENTING REPRESSION 

Let’s connect our monitoring efforts to build strong and effective advocacy strategies across countries! In the past years, the ELSC has established a monitoring database that tracks and reveals all forms of anti-Palestinian repression in numbers, patterns, mechanisms, actors, and detrimental effects. It builds on a comprehensive glossary of terms, definitions and concrete examples, as well as a developed methodology for analysis to expose patterns and scandalise anti-Palestinian racism, colonial narratives, and Zionist disinformation. Let’s Join forces across countries! 

Protest photo credits: Rasha Al Jundi. For more on Al Jundi’s work see here: https://www.rashajundi.com.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

ELSC EVENTS

Know Your Rights Series – Germany 

We have been running a series of Know Your Rights online sessions for people in Germany, featuring our Germany Legal Officer and lawyers from our network. Hundreds of people across Germany joined us to learn collectively about our rights when it comes to protests, the use of Palestine solidarity slogans, police violence, residency status and more. 

‘A land without peace’ – University of Milan 

We have participated in a seminar organised by the University of Milan on the 5th of March, where we presented our legal work within the wider context of the Palestine solidarity movement and the growing repression across Europe post 7 October.  

Palestine solidarity events – Online  

In the past months, we have participated in a number of solidarity events with Palestine organised across Europe, in which we have spoken about countering discrimination and intimidation, international solidarity and activism for a ceasefire, censorship in Germany or legal responses to the colonial assault on Gaza with Catalan organisations, including the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights IRÍDIA.

ELSC IN THE MEDIA

No country for Palestinians: a chronicle of suppression and resistance in Germany 

German state and police response to Palestinian solidarity protests since 7 October, especially in the first weeks, has been unabashedly severe. From 11 to 20 October alone, we counted 600 detentions in Berlin, including of minors among those showing solidarity with Palestine, alongside a series of criminal and administrative proceedings.  

The historical and systematic censorship of Palestinian narratives and lived realities is often framed in the language of individual and isolated cases. In collaboration with our Monitor Project, Untold Stories Media has visualised our data to shed light on colonial and orientalist roots of anti-Palestinian repression in Germany, and (hi)stories of Palestinian resistance and steadfast defiance. Written by Nora Ragab.  

 READ THE ARTICLE HERE IN ENGLISH
& IN ARABIC 

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Rai News: Spotlight. Affairs, politics and rights in the West Bank 

Our empower work has appeared on the Italian TV programme RaiNews ‘Spotlight’, where our legal officer spoke about the ‘Don’t buy into Occupation’report and the complicity of European financial institutions in colonies in the West Bank.

tune in

SUPPORT OUR WORK

JOIN THE ELSC COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

We are proud to be in community with you. As you continue to organise and take action, make sure to visit our Know Your Rights resources and continue to report any form of repression. 

In solidarity,  

The ELSC 

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Call for Application, Freedom of Expression, repression

Urgent call

UK Government Must Stop Crackdown on Freedom of Expression, Warn 46 NGOs including ELSC

Post author By ELSC
Post date 8 March 2024
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ELSC is among 46 NGOs calling on the Prime Minister to stop the recent crackdown on fundamental rights to freedom of expression. The open letter has also been covered in the Guardian.

8 March 2024

To the Prime Minister,

RE: Government proposals to crack down on the right to protest and free expression

We, the undersigned, write with great concern about recent proposals that will further restrict the rights of everyone in the UK. It is the responsibility of any government to ensure that all people can fully exercise their rights, and that fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly are only interfered with when strictly necessary and in a lawful, proportionate way.

That is why we are greatly concerned by the ‘Defending Democracy Policing Protocol’, published a few days ago, which would further add to a chaotic patchwork of repressive legislation and policing powers that has placed undue restrictions on the right to protest in this country. The protocol outlines new restrictive proposals, some of which relate to protest locations. Many locations listed, such as the Palace of Westminster, outside constituency offices, town halls or the venue of a political event are perfectly normal locations for protest. Existing legislation already governs if violent or other criminal activity occurs, but the words used by senior politicians suggest these locations are in and of themselves no longer to be treated as acceptable locations of protest. The Protocol misrepresents the law and risks having a chilling effect on individuals’ ability to exercise their right to protest in this country.

In addition, we have wider concerns about the manner in which your government has come to discuss protesters and others that engage in legitimate political activity on important issues of the day. Our organisations have emphasised the necessity of using considered language in recent months. Yet the deployment of certain terms, such as ’extremism’, ‘radical’, ‘hate mobs’, by your government creates division and exacerbates existing fears amongst minoritised communities. For some, such as neurodiverse people and Muslims, they will be greatly worried by announcements to redouble support for the Prevent duty, which infringes on freedom of expression, association, assembly and the right to non-discrimination.

As an open society, we should value engagement with all, including our critics and those who see the world differently from us. That is why proposals from Ministers on the definition of extremism or Government Advisors on banning engagement with certain groups is deeply worrying. There have already been concerns that the current definition of extremism is too broad, including from the former Head of Counter-Terrorism Policing.

There is a different path to the above, one where your government facilitates the right of everyone to have their voices heard. It is our collective responsibility to set a reasoned tone for any discussion; the language that has been used in recent weeks and months has not met this important bar. Instead, the government has sought to demonise an overwhelmingly peaceful movement of individuals calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, who are concerned and outraged by the catastrophic loss of life that we are all witnessing.

We strongly urge the government to:

Reverse the recent crack-down on the right to protest and stop conflating protests with extremism;
Abandon the expansion of the definition of extremism and proposals to bar MPs from engaging with certain groups;
Refrain from amplifying divisive language which could inflame tensions within and between communities.

Signed

Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive Officer, Amnesty International UK
Chris Rose, Director, Amos Trust
Article 19
Dr Sara Husseini, Director, British Palestinian Committee
CAGE
Leo Ratledge and Lianne Minasian, Co-Directors, Childrens Rights International Network
Christian Aid
Nick Gardham, Chief Executive Officer, Community Organisers
Jennifer Nadel, Co-Director, Compassion in Politics
Chris Doyle, Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding
Tim Livesey, Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
Daniel Gorman, Director, English PEN
Giovanni Fassina, Programme Director, European Legal Support Centre
Hugh Knowles and Miriam Turner, Co-Executive Directors, Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Sarah Mann, Chief Executive Officer, Friends Families and Travellers
Eva Tabassam, Director, Gender Action for Peace and Security
Nick Dearden, Director, Global Justice Now
Will McCallum and Areeba Hamid, Co-Executive Directors, Greenpeace UK
James Harrison, Director, Institute of Employment Rights
Liz Fekete, Director, Institute of Race Relations
Sarah Castell, Chief Executive Officer, Involve
Tareq Shrourou, Executive Director, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
Akiko Hart, Director, Liberty
Aimee Shalan, Director, Makan
Raheel Mohammed, Director, Maslaha
James Skinner, Co-Director, MedAct
Raghad Altikritti, Chairperson, Muslim Association of Britain
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain
Azhar Qayum, Chief Executive Officer, Muslim Engagement and Development
Naomi Magnus and Ros Edwards, Directors, Na’amod
Kevin Blowe, Campaigns Coordinator, Netpol
Northern Police Monitoring Project
Mark Kieran, Chief Executive Officer, Open Britain
Jim Killock, Executive Director, Open Rights Group
Oxfam GB
Ben Jamal, Director, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Layla Aitlhadj, Director, Prevent Watch
Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
Michael Buraimoh, Chief Executive Officer, Race on the Agenda
Shabna Begum, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Runnymede Trust
The Democracy Network
John Cooper, Director, The Fellowship of Reconciliation
Clare Farrell, The Humanity Project
Katrina Ffrench, Founder and Managing Director, UNJUST
Tessa Khan, Founder and Executive Director, Uplift
Asad Rehman, Executive Director, War on Want

Tags Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Call Job

Call for Applications: Advocacy Officer for Britain

Post author By ELSC
Post date 26 February 2024
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The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer for Britain.

Title: Advocacy & Communication Officer – Britain
Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant

Location: London – with the possibility of remote working in Britain and remote working will colleagues across Europe.

Reports to: Chief of Advocacy and Communications.

Line Management: None

Salary: Salary range is £37,500 – £40,000 depending on experience and with progression up the pay scale after each annual review. 750 EURO available to support staff well-being. Assistance with home office equipment.

Start date: 1 April 2024 or as soon as possible.

How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line [UK ACO OFFICER]. Applications are due by 23:59 CET Sunday 17 March 2024.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE  

As the Advocacy Officer for Britain, you will be in the Advocacy & Communication Team and work with our Legal Officers in Britain and partners to design and implement public outreach strategies (including engaging with the press and use social media, in particular) to achieve visibility for our legal work and narrative change; crowdfund to cover legal costs; build campaigns, grow and mobilise our network of supporters; and establish relationships with activists on the ground in Britain.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE  & QUALIFICATIONS

2-3 years experience working in a similar role (or equivalent) with a good eye for a story and clear instincts about audience, channels, and purpose, and a track record of successfully placing stories in the media, including: pitching stories, writing press releases, and placing op eds.
Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist organising, in particular the rights of the Palestinian people and the intersectional struggles connected to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Experience (professional or volunteer) with campaigning; involvement in activist groups, grassroots, non-profit or electoral political organisations.
Experience convening coalitions and building relationships.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES  

Basic knowledge of common law/human rights principles, the law of England & Wales, or direct experience with the British legal system.
Demonstrated ability to distil complex legal and policy issues into compelling and accurate copy for a range of channels and audiences.
Demonstrated skills in communications/ advocacy work.
Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills. English is the working language of the ELSC.
Good understanding and knowledge of British politics on the question of Palestine.
Teamwork skills and flexibility; ability to manage time and prioritise with a busy workload.
Highly organised, strong attention to detail, driven, can work independently without direction.
Commitment to anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. 
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required. 
To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

A Master’s degree in a related field.
Proficiency in Arabic.
Experience with web development, graphic design, social media management or other digital communications experience and skills.

MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS

In coordination with the Advocacy and Communication Team, produce and implement public outreach strategies that fit with the legal strategies of the individuals and groups we are supporting; provide them with expert media advice.
Develop, maintain and proactively use contacts with British, international print and broadcast media to identify opportunities for and secure, immediate and long-term media coverage in print and broadcast media.
Pitch stories, produce/ review media materials on ELSC’s work, respond to queries from journalists and coordinate and carry out appropriate interviews.
Draft and publish case summaries/updates on the ELSC website, in coordination with the relevant legal officers, and assist with the production and distribution of the ELSC monthly Newsletter.
Support the Digital Communication Officer to design and monitor relevant social media content: text, visuals and potential videos/reels.
Maintain and expand our network of support in Britain through maintaining effective communication with activists and partner organisations.
Represent the ELSC in public events in Britain.

Tags Call for Application

Press Release

Accountability Now: Palestinians Sue German Government Officials for Enabling the Genocide in Gaza

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 February 2024
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GERMAN VERSION BELOW/DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG UNTEN

Berlin – 23 February 2024

Today, a group of German lawyers – representing families of two Gazans – is filing a criminal complaint against German Government officials (1), for the crime of aiding and abetting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by providing Israel with weapons and issuing related export permissions. They are supported by civil society organisations ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy) and Law for Palestine under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative. The charges are being filed at the Office of the Federal Prosecutor in Karlsruhe (‘Generalbundesanwaltschaft’).

In a historic ruling on 26 January 2024 in the case filed by South Africa against Israel for the crime of Genocide, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures against the “serious risk” of genocide and stated that the latter is “plausibly taking place”. Following that ruling, Germany, like other Third States, has a clear obligation to prevent genocide and German State officials should use their leverage and employ all lawful means at their disposal to influence Israel to refrain from genocidal acts.

German criminal law requires a ground for initial suspicion to start investigations on a potential crime being committed. The ICJ ruling clearly showed that there is such ground for initial suspicion when it comes to the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

When it comes to “aiding and abetting”, this can be done through logistical, financial or material support, but also by creating favorable conditions for the main crime. In particular, aiding and abetting includes the authorization of arms exports and political support.

The German state is one of the countries that has shown some of the strongest political and material support to Israel in its assault on the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians, with many German officials also inciting to genocide in their statements since October 2023.

The plaintiffs have decided to act, attempting to hold Germany accountable for its complicity in the unspeakable horrors their families are living through. Nora Ragab, an activist and plaintiff in the case, who has relatives in Gaza, declared:

We the living must remember the dead in Gaza, tell their stories and fight for justice. We, Palestinians in the diaspora, will not stand by and watch a genocide being committed against our families and our people. We will use all means at our disposal, from protests on the streets to lawsuits in criminal courts. Today we aim to hold the German government accountable for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

The case notably draws on the fact that in 2023, Germany’s arms exports to Israel amounted to EUR 326.5 million, most of which were approved after October 7, 2023, a tenfold increase of arms exports to Israel compared to 2022. Weapons imported from Germany make up 28 percent of Israel’s military imports.

The German government approved more than 300 additional export applications for military equipment worth EUR 306.4 million. It is currently examining Israel’s request for the delivery of tank ammunition, namely 10,000 rounds of 120-millimeter precision ammunition, to which the federal ministries involved have already agreed in principle.

Many countries around the world have taken measures to cut ties with Israel with the genocide unfolding. In Europe, a Dutch Court ordered the government in February 2024 to halt export of F-35 Jets in the light of its international obligations and because there are clear risks that Israel is violating basic principles of international humanitarian law, while the Wallonie region in Belgium has temporarily suspended its exports of gun powder to Israel.

Nadija Samour, the lawyer who filed the case and a legal officer with ELSC said:

Our governments in Europe have a legal obligation not to provide Israel any support in perpetrating the current genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This has to stop and this is what we hope to achieve by going to court. This lawsuit sends a clear message to German officials: you cannot continue to remain accomplices of such crime without consequences. We want accountability.

While the world continues to witness the total destruction of Gaza, broadcasted live on TV, it is the responsibility of German courts to prevent the German state from being complicit in such horrors and grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

(1) Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Minister of Finance Christian Lindner and members of the “Bundessicherheitsrat”, the government body that authorizes arms export licenses.

***

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative is a Palestinian-led initiative composed of international legal practitioners and lawyers is pursuing legal action against individuals and entities complicit in the crimes in Palestine including genocide in Gaza.

**Rechenschaftspflicht Jetzt: Palästinenser*innen erstatten Strafanzeige gegen deutsche Regierungsmitglieder wegen Beihilfe zum Völkermord in Gaza**

Berlin 23.02.2024

Heute erstattet eine Gruppe deutscher Anwält*innen im Namen von deutsch-palästinensischen Familienangehörigen aus Gaza Strafanzeige gegen Mitglieder des Bundessicherheitsrats, unter ihnen Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz, Bundesministerin des Auswärtigen Annalena Baerbock, Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz Robert Habeck, und Bundesminister der Finanzen Christian Lindner.

Der Vorwurf lautet Beihilfe zum Völkermord durch die Genehmigung von Rüstungsexporten, dem unterlassenen Widerruf der bereits erteilten Genehmigungen, sowie die diplomatische Unterstützung Israels – und damit die psychische Beihilfe -, und nicht zuletzt die Einstellung von Hilfszahlungen an die UNRWA.

Die Gruppe wird unterstützt von den zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen ELSC (European Legal Support Center), PIPD (Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy), Law for Palestine, und der Initiative Justice and Accountability for Palestine. Die Strafanzeige wird bei dem Generalbundesanwaltschaft in Karlsruhe erstattet.

Der Internationale Gerichtshof (IGH) ist mit einem historischen Beschluss am 26.01.2024 aufgrund der Klage Südafrikas gegen Israel zum Ergebnis gelangt, dass plausible Anhaltspunkte für einen Genozid an Palästinenser:innen vorliegen.

Folglich hat die Bundesrepublik, genauso wie andere Drittstaaten, die völkerrechtlich verankerte Pflicht, diesen Genozid zu verhindern, und ihren Einfluss und alle rechtlichen Mittel, über die sie verfügt, einzusetzen, um Israel dazu aufzufordern, genozidale Handlungen zu unterlassen.

Gemäß der deutschen Strafprozessordnung ist die Voraussetzung für die Einleitung von Ermittlungen der sogenannte Anfangsverdacht. Der IGH-Beschluss hat deutlich gezeigt, dass ein solcher Anfangsverdacht hinsichtlich eines Völkermords gegen die Palästinenser*innen in Gaza besteht.

Beihilfe kann geleistet werden durch logistische, finanzielle oder materielle Unterstützung, aber auch durch das Kreieren von günstigen Umständen für die Straftat. Hier sind insbesondere die Genehmigungen von Rüstungsexporten und die politische und diplomatische Unterstützung zu benennen.

Die Anzeigeerstatter:innen haben sich entschieden zu handeln, um die Verantwortlichen in Deutschland für die Unterstützung unbeschreiblicher Gräuel zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen. Nora Ragab, eine Aktivistin und Anzeigenerstatterin, die auch Familienangehörige in Gaza hat, erklärte:

“Wir, die Lebenden müssen den Toten in Gaza gedenken, ihre Geschichten erzählen, und für Gerechtigkeit kämpfen. Wir Palästinenser*innen in der Diaspora werden nicht tatenlos zusehen, wie ein Genozid an unseren Familien und unserem Volk begangen wird. Wir nutzen alle Mittel, von den Protesten auf der Straße bis zu Anzeigen und Klagen vor den Gerichten. Heute werden wir die deutsche Regierung für ihre Mitschuld am Völkermord in Gaza zur Verantwortung ziehen.”

Die angezeigten Beihilfehandlungen beziehen sich u.a. auf die Rüstungsexporte im Wert von 326,5 Millionen Euro allein im Jahr 2023, von denen die meisten nach dem 7. Oktober 2023 genehmigt wurden und sich somit im Vergleich zu 2022 verzehnfachten. Das für Waffenexporte zuständige Wirtschaftsministerium erklärte im November, dass die “Anträge auf Ausfuhr von Rüstungsgütern nach Israel prioritär bearbeitet und beschieden” würden. Die deutsche Bundesregierung genehmigte seit dem 7. Oktober 2023 mehr als 300 zusätzliche Exportanträge für Militärausrüstung im Wert von 306,4 Millionen EUR. Allein zwischen dem 7. Oktober und dem 7. November 2023 wurden 185 Genehmigungsanträge abschließend bearbeitet. Die Waffen, die aus Deutschland nach Israel importiert werden, machen 28% der israelischen Rüstungsimporte aus.

Gerade prüft die deutsche Regierung die Lieferung von Panzermunition, die von den Ministerien der hier angezeigten Personen bereits genehmigt wurden.

Viele Länder der Welt haben bereits Maßnahmen ergriffen, um sich von dem von Israel begangenen Völkermord zu distanzieren. In den Niederlanden hat ein Gericht im Februar 2024 die Regierung dazu aufgefordert, den Export von F-35 Strahljägerteile zu unterlassen, da es klare Risiken gibt, dass Israel aktuell gegen grundlegende Prinzipien des Völkerrechts verstößt. Die Region Wallonien in Belgien hat vorübergehend ihren Export von Schießpulver eingestellt.

Rechtsanwältin Nadija Samour, Bevollmächtigte der Strafanzeigenerstatter*innen sagt hierzu:

“Unsere Regierungen in Deutschland und Europa sind völkerrechtlich verpflichtet, Völkermord zu ahnden und zu verhindern, statt ihn zu untestützen. Mit der Strafanzeige fordern wir die Strafjustiz auf, gegen diese Unterstützungshandlungen vorzugehen. Die Strafanzeige setzt ein klares Zeichen gegen die deutschen Regierungsbeamt*innen: die Unterstützung für einen Genozid hat Konsequenzen.”

Während die Welt die totale Zerstörung Gazas live auf ihre Bildschirme übertragen bekommt, ist es die Verantwortung der deutschen Strafjustiz zu verhindern, dass der deutsche Staat sich an solchen Gräueln und schweren Verbrechen des internationalen Völkerrechts mitschuldig macht.

Tags accountability, genocide, war crimes

Job

Call for Applications: Finance Manager and Administration Officer (Development and Operations) 

Post author By ELSC
Post date 31 January 2024
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The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Administration Officer (Finance Manager) and an Administration Officer (Development and Operations) 

About the roles:

Finance Manager: The Finance Manager has overall management responsibility for the finance and accounting functions, budgeting, controlling and managing the organisational financial systems and operating budget. The post holder will be a proactive and highly organised individual who takes initiative and is flexible and creative in planning and problem solving. You will be detail-oriented, with a strong understanding of standard accounting practices and budgeting.

Find more information about the position and how to apply here.

Administration Officer (Development and Operations): The Administration Officer will support our Development (Fundraising) Team and Operations Team – two teams that keep the ELSC surviving and thriving. The Development team brings in funding from the smallest individual donors, grants, and individual major donors. The Operations team is a recently established team and will be running the recruitment and onboarding for over 20 new ELSC staff in the coming year. The post holder for this role will work across the two teams, providing administrative and operational support, including maintaining the fundraising database.  We’re looking for someone with great people skills, as well as drive, initiative and determination.

Find more information about the position and how to apply here.

The applications deadline for both positions is 12th February 2024.

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Press Release

Press Release: a Palestinian-led initiative warns public officials in Europe of intention to prosecute over complicity in Israel’s crimes in Gaza.

Amsterdam, January 22, 2024

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative has issued a stark warning to European public officials of the Austrian, French, German and Dutch governments that they could be individually liable for their role in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of Genocide through their involvement in providing military, economic, and political support to Israel.

This comes after 108 days of Israel’s relentless war against Gaza and the Palestinian people, resulting in a devastating toll, as of 19 January:

24,977 Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

66,082 Palestinians injured in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

1,930,000 Palestinians internally displaced in the Gaza Strip.

10,300 Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip.

7,100 Palestinian women killed in the Gaza Strip.

117 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel.

By ordering 1.2 million people in besieged Gaza to immediately leave their homes in northern Gaza and flee south, Israel has enforced mass displacement which constitutes both a war crime and a crime against humanity. Its ongoing complete siege of the Gaza Strip, restricting electricity, food, water, and other basic necessities, further amounts to collective punishment — a war crime under the Geneva Convention. Already back in November, more than 36 UN experts sounded the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza, “disturbed by the failure of governments and international systems to heed [the] call and achieve an immediate ceasefire”… “and profoundly concerned about the support of certain governments for Israel’s strategy of warfare against the besieged population of Gaza, and the failure of the international system to mobilise to prevent genocide”. The Government of South Africa made history, applying to the ICJ under the Genocide Convention accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide against the 2.3 million Palestinians in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip and requested provisional measures that include a ceasefire and lifting of the blockade. The World Court is expected to decide on the requested measures within days, while deliberations on the merit of the genocide charges against Israel will likely take many months. South Africa’s submission described Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group”.

The German government, for instance, has increased military aid and promised unwavering economic and political support to Israel as it continues its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Even when the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza had exceeded 10,000 five weeks into the start of Israel’s brutal onslaught, Chancellor Scholz continued to oppose a ceasefire: “ I do not think the calls for an immediate ceasefire or long pause – which would amount to the same thing – are right.” Meanwhile, the Dutch government greenlighted export of military equipment to Israel during the genocide, while the Austrian and French public officials, through declarations and visits have shown unconditional support to Israel’s bombing campaign and can be legally liable for “aiding and abetting” war crimes.

‘Despite horrific crimes committed against our people in Gaza, from indiscriminate bombings, mass killings, destruction of civilian infrastructure, starvation and forced displacement of the vast majority of the Palestinians in Gaza, European public officials have continuously and shamelessly supported such crimes publicly, and therefore must be held accountable …’ said Rula Jamal, Co-Director of the Palestine institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), one of the co-leads of the initiative.

‘At a time of unprecedented atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza, it is not only a moral obligation of European states to uphold the international rule of law and prevent the crime of genocide. It is also a legal obligation: failure to do so might result in individual criminal liability for those who continue to recklessly support Israel’s relentless assault on Palestinians in Gaza’, according to Daan de Grefte, Legal Officer at the European Legal Support Center.

“As legal advocates deeply committed to justice, the unprecedented atrocities against the Palestinian people profoundly stir our consciences, compelling us to unite in fulfilling our duty. Those public officials implicated in supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza must face accountability. We urge decision-makers at all levels to reconsider their endorsement of international crimes, put an end to the hypocrisy, bring an immediate halt to the ongoing devastation in Gaza, and champion international law as the universal standard for protecting every individual”, emphasized Ihsan Adel, Chairperson of the Law for Palestine.

‘The continuation of unconditional support and armament of the Dutch state of Israel, even after seemingly genocidal statements by Israeli senior officials, is unacceptable. In combination with the horrific facts on the ground in Gaza, specifically the enormous death toll – including almost half of them children, this means that the Dutch government cannot keep supporting Israel’s actions without consequences. The Dutch state and its officials have the duty to prevent genocide and all other violations of humanitarian law’, states attorney Wout Albers of Global Justice Association.

Sustaining such assistance implicates European public officials in the perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as failure to prevent the crime of genocide. This may render officials criminally liable for violating international law by ‘aiding and abetting’ Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people.

The full letters to the government officials can be found here.

About The Justice and Accountability for Palestine initiative

The Justice and Accountability for Palestine initiative is a decentralized worldwide network of legal organizations, lawyers and human rights defenders; dedicated to investigating and pursuing legal actions against individuals and entities involved in crimes in Palestine. The initiative is coordinated by Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) and Law for Palestine (Law4Palestine).

Contact for media enquiries and interviews:

General inquiries: communication@accountabilitypalestine.org
(Arabic,English) Rula Jamal, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org
(Dutch) Daan de Grefte, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org
(French) Inès AbdelRazek, communication@accountabilitypalestine.org

Tags accountability, complicity, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes

Call Job

Call for Application: UK Paralegal

Post author By ELSC
Post date 1 November 2023
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The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking a Paralegal for the UK.

Job title: Paralegal

Department: UK Legal Defence Team

Office location: Remote working

Reporting to: UK Legal Officer – Team Leader

Hours: 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility is required from time to time to meet the professional requirements of the role.

Contract: Short term contract – ends 31 Dec 2023, start as soon as possible, Full-time – £2000 – £2500 depending on experience

The Role

Overall purpose for this role

To provide a reliable and efficient support service for UK Legal Officer and assist with general administration of cases of repression;
To undertake a wide variety of paralegal and administrative tasks as set out below.

Main duties and responsibilities

Case Management

To effectively manage the intake and referral of cases and ensure that accurate information and instructions are obtained from clients and accurate records are maintained;
Assist with drafting documents, client liaison including interviewing clients and taking instructions, research work and provide general administrative support;
Sort and review records, drafting case summaries, liaise with solicitors, barristers and third parties;
Ensure that urgent matters are escalated and referred to appropriate person in a timely manner.

Client/ 3rd party management

Communicate with clients/ other parties as and when necessary, in a professional, courteous and efficient manner;

Document/ Data management

Ensure documents and copies of correspondence are kept up to date and filed;
Ensure accuracy when updating client information on the relevant databases;
Ensure database information is updated and maintained in accordance with instructions and in line with relevant processes;

Open new files and close old files as required.

Person specification

Genuine interest in working with European Legal Support Centre and passionate about defending Palestinian solidarity and providing access to justice to all;
Good academic background with legal qualifications (Law Degree or GDL required; LPC/SQE or BPTC not required);
Previous experience in a legal firm, chambers and/or legal clinic or law centre
Ability to manage own workload in a busy environment to a consistently high standard and timely manner;
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to client care;
Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders;
Experience with dealing with clients sensitively and managing difficult conversations;
Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment;
Proficient user of Microsoft Office Teams

Desirable

Experience in interviewing and liaising with clients and taking witness statements

How to apply

All applications must be submitted via this form.

Fill in the form, upload a copy of your CV and complete the assignment.

Rolling application process – open until filled.

Tags Call for Application

Statement

Justice for Palestine: we will not be deterred nor silenced

Post author By ELSC
Post date 19 October 2023
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In light of the heinous actions of the State of Israel against the Palestinian people, and the extension of its oppressive structures onto Palestinians and their supporters in Europe, the ELSC expresses its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation and justice against colonial oppression and apartheid. As a legal organisation supporting the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we stand alongside all those who are carrying the cause, taking a stand and challenging the violent complicity of European states and institutions that enables Israel’s ceaseless colonial violence and its seemingly ever-lasting impunity.

As we stand witness to the most atrocious crimes against humanity, with our Palestinian partners and independent experts warning of the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people, we are witnessing a serious increase of anti-Palestinian racism in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

The large demonstrations taking place in many European cities, despite outrageous attempts to ban and repress solidarity in many places with extreme force, have shown that people are undeterred and refuse to be silenced. Now as ever, we reiterate our support to all advocates for Palestinian rights in the EU and the UK who are facing censorship, smear campaigns, sanctions, racist attacks and despicable police brutality.

We recall that the right to resist and struggle for freedom from colonialism, apartheid and foreign occupation, and to speak up against decades-long human rights violations, is fundamental and protected by law.

At the ELSC, we are currently devoting all our efforts to monitoring all forms of repression against the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, including the UK. We are receiving numerous reports and requests but due to our limited resources (human and financial), we are intervening in support of the most urgent cases and connecting those facing incidents of repression to our network of lawyers. All communication is registered and we are coordinating support.

At this critical moment, we urge you to:

Report all incidents of repression and request support here: https://elsc.support/intake
Stay safe by consulting the ‘know your rights’ resources below if you are engaging in protests, direct actions or posting online. Follow along for the ELSC’s ‘know your rights’ resources
Send any footage or video showing repression to info@elsc.support, including the location and date of the incident
Report anti-Palestinian content online to 7amleh here in Arabic and here in English
Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians, which is responding to the current emergency in Gaza
If you can support our work with a financial contribution, please donate to the ELSC
If you would like to volunteer with us, please complete this form
For translators and interpreters, please apply here to volunteer

‘KNOW YOUR RIGHTS’ RESOURCES

Germany:

A Street Action Guide for Germany by Go Film the Police; “What to do if you witness police violence?” by KOP (here in German and here in Arabic)
“What to do if you witness police brutality?” (in Arabic) by KOP.
A leaflet in German and English containing guidelines on what to do if you are detained by the police or subjected to police violence.

UK:

Protesting at University in the UK: What Are My Rights? for students and staff protesting at university, by ELSC and Liberty.
Your right to protest; Protest Bust Cards (With Translations into Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Farsi, Punjabi, Kurdish etc.) by Liberty, Migrants Organise and Black Protest Legal Support.
Guide for Internationals Attending Protests in Scotland; useful contacts and basic guidelines for protests in Scotland by Scottish Community & Activist Legal Project (SCALP).

Defending your Advocacy on Palestine in the Higher Education Context, Briefing by ELSC, BRISMES Campaigns and London Region UCU representatives.

Report incidents in UK schools with Palestine in School initiative and see the Know your Rights in Schools Guide.

The Netherlands:

Our Know Your Rights Toolkit for Protesters provides an overview of protest law in the Netherlands and pays attention to specific questions and themes that affect our movement. It is available in Dutch, Arabic, and English.
Read these tips from AAAH on what to do before, during, and after house searches.
Look at this guide for support and recovery after experiencing or witnessing police violence.

Italy:

Toolkit per Manifestanti, ELSC (in Italian and English)
Guida comoda per situazioni scomode, Cosa devi sapere in caso di manifestazione by Strali
Breve guida ai tuoi diritti davanti alle forze di Polizia by Associazione Antigone

France:

Les outils juridiques de la Legal team antiraciste et les contacts utiles en manifestations (région parisienne)

Guide du manifestant arrêté du Syndicat de la magistrature

ONLINE

If you are threatened or harassed online, check this guide by CrimethInc on Prevention and Aftercare for Those Targeted by Doxxing and Political Harassment

10 things to remember when reporting on Palestine by PIPD

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Apartheid, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression, Solidarity

Case Update

VICTORY: “From the river to the sea” is protected speech, Dutch court rules!

Post author By ELSC
Post date 18 October 2023
No Comments on VICTORY: “From the river to the sea” is protected speech, Dutch court rules!

At a time when expressions of support for the Palestinian cause are facing criminalisation at utterly unprecedented levels across Europe, we draw attention to the Dutch court ruling: “From the river to the sea” fully legitimate!

What happened?

After a Dutch activist gave a speech at a Palestine solidarity rally in May 2021 in Amsterdam, he was reported to the police by a supporter of Israel for ‘inciting hatred and violence against Jews’ by shouting ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ and expressing support for ‘Palestinian resistance’.

The Dutch public prosecutor, however, refused to prosecute the activist, saying that the pro-Palestinian slogans he used are ‘are subject to various interpretations’ rather than calls for illegal conduct. The prosecutor added that they found the expressions ‘to relate to the state of Israel and possibly to people with Israeli citizenship, but do not relate to Jews because of their race or religion’.

What was the role of the ELSC?

After the prosecutor refused to prosecute the activist, the pro-Israel individual complained to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal against the prosecutor’s decision. This is when the ELSC stepped in and helped the activist find a lawyer from our network, Willem Jebbink. We also provided an academic expert to assist the lawyer in writing a defence statement. After more than two years, on the 15^th of August, the court confirmed that the activist had not committed a criminal offence when chanting the slogan ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. The court’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Why is this an important victory?

Some European states have weaponised the events of October 7th, 2023, enforcing unprecedented levels of repression against the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe. We are witnessing extraordinary restrictions being imposed on virtually all expressions of solidarity: Palestinian flags and kuffiyeh scarves are being banned and protest rallies are being systematically prohibited. The slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ is also increasingly being used as justification for repression on the false premise that it incites violence against the Jewish people.

The strategy behind portraying this slogan as antisemitic is to equate anti-Zionism with antisemitism and silence discussion around and advocacy for the Palestinian cause. ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ holds incredible significance to all Palestinians because it reaffirms the right of return, the liberation of Palestine and freedom for the Palestinian people. It represents a political manifesto increasingly recognised around the world: justice for all Palestinians in historic Palestine and in exile.

In view of Professor Marc Lamont Hill’s dismissal from U.S.-based news network CNN for expressing this very slogan, as well as the prosecution of several activists in Germany for chanting it, which is prohibited under a very limited reading of its significance, we welcome the Dutch court’s decision to protect human rights and political freedoms over Western states’ interests in repressing solidarity!

With our help, this activist won this important legal battle. Both the public prosecutor and the court concluded that the slogan is not punishable and thus not worth prosecuting. This is a victory for all Palestinians and Palestinian rights activists, especially in these times of unprecedented anti-Palestinian racism and repression.

Through collective action, we can succeed. This was only made possible thanks to your continuous support and deep dedication!

SHARE THIS VICTORY

As attacks against Palestinian rights advocacy continue in The Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, we invite you to join us in supporting the Palestinian struggle for liberation. Help us defend the right to advocate for justice!

DONATE

Any donation, large or small, will make a huge difference. We are stronger together!

In solidarity,

The ELSC team

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Expression, repression

Call Job

Call for Applications: Advocacy Officer for Germany

Post author By ELSC
Post date 26 September 2023
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The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer for Germany.

The Role

As the Advocacy Officer for Germany, you will work mainly with the Advocacy Officers and the Legal Officer for Germany. Please note that long-term commitment is requested from the applicants since this position is envisaged as such:

1. A training phase of 6 months based in Amsterdam, with 1 to 3 trips in Berlin – Ideal starting date: November 2023 / Latest starting date: January 2024.

2. After a period of 5 months, an assessment will be made with your supervisors (Advocacy & Communication Manager, Legal Officer for Germany and the ELSC Director). If the traineeship is successful, a long-term position as the Advocacy Officer for Germany based in Berlin will be offered, entailing more responsibilities.

Specific tasks, for the training phase, can include support in:

Designing and implementing public outreach campaigns.
Drafting and publishing case summaries/updates on the website (in coordination with the legal officers).
Drafting and posting social media content: text, visuals, videos/reels.
Drafting, sending and publishing the monthly Newsletter.
Maintaining and expanding our network of support in Germany.
Organising and facilitating in-person community events and/or workshops with activists, academics, students and lawyers.
Drafting content crowdfunding campaigns.
Organising and promoting ELSC public events.

The second phase (long-term position) will include the above tasks that concern Germany, in line with the yearly country strategy developed by the Legal Officer for Germany and the ACO team – more autonomy on these tasks will be expected from you than during the training phase. On the long-term, the following additional tasks will be expected:

Representing the ELSC in public events and interviews.
Maintaining and expanding our network of journalists in Germany.

To read the full job description and requirements, please click here.

How to apply

Please send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work with the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, in English, to alice@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ELSC Vacancy ACO Germany’. The deadline for applications is 8 October 2023.

Tags Call for Application

Press Release

New Report Highlights Major Free Speech Issues in UK Universities

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 September 2023
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Report published today reveals breaches of fundamental rights in UK Higher Education through the use of the ‘IHRA definition of antisemitism’

London, 13 September 2023

A controversial definition of antisemitism that conflates criticisms of Israel with antisemitism has been used on campuses, leading to restrictions on the freedom of speech of staff and students, the new report reveals. This is the first study to expose the harmful implications of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism following its adoption in UK universities. It was conducted by the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES), the largest academic association in Europe focused on the study of the Middle East and North Africa, and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC). The report demonstrates that the definition is not fit for purpose and is infringing on academic freedom and freedom of speech, while also harming the mental health, reputation and career prospects of students and staff.

The report is based on an analysis of 40 cases, recorded between 2017 and 2022, in which university staff and students were accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition. In all instances, except in two ongoing cases, the accusations of antisemitism have been rejected. The final two have yet to be substantiated.

The findings demonstrate that the IHRA definition is undermining academic freedom and freedom of expression in relation to discussions of Israel and Palestine and risks being used in a way that discriminates against Palestinians and others on campuses who wish to teach, research, study, discuss, or speak out against the oppression of Palestinians.

The accusations have, in some cases, led to the cancellation of events that discuss the situation in Palestine and/or take a critical stance on Zionism, or the imposition of unreasonable conditions on the format of events. A common feature across several cases is the occurrence of significant and sustained levels of monitoring and surveillance by complainants including recording student speeches and staff lectures; monitoring student or staff social media posts; and reviewing academic publications, course syllabi and reading lists.

Staff and students who were subject to investigations and, in some cases, disciplinary hearings registered varying levels of stress and anxiety caused by these processes, despite being exonerated.

The reflections of one academic who went on leave due to stress are illustrative:

When you are in the process, you don’t understand how stressed you are. My nerves made me hyper vigilant for two years. The impact of the cases, continual media coverage, and constant communication to deal with the case resulted in chronic stress.

Another targeted academic expressed concerns about their reputation and career:

I feel like I’m on this emotional roller-coaster. I feel like I won’t get a job anywhere else. If I apply for another job, they might not hire me. Not that they would think that I’m antisemitic but because they would want to avoid controversy. That’s the reality for me now. It’s different for the people whose investigations didn’t go public. Reputation is everything for academics.

One student explained how the accusations interfered with their studies and threatened their future education:

It was really difficult to hear that you might be kicked out of university. It was very hard for me to focus on my studies. I had to do re-sits in the summer, so I didn’t graduate until recently. I nearly didn’t get into Oxford. I missed the deadline by two months. If it wasn’t for Oxford being really flexible, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.

These cases are creating a chilling effect among staff and students, deterring individuals from speaking about or organising events that discuss Palestine out of fear that they will be subject to complaints, or else will face considerable bureaucratic hurdles and even costly legal action. Academics employed on temporary contracts and students are particularly susceptible to self-censorship out of fear that any sort of accusations, even if not upheld, could jeopardise their future ability to obtain permanent employment or impact their mental health.

The authors of the report recommend that UK higher education institutions should rescind the adoption of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism.

Neve Gordon, the Chair of BRISMES’s Committee on Academic Freedom and a professor of human rights law in the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London said:

What has been framed as a tool to classify and assess a particular form of discriminatory violations of protected characteristics, has instead been used as a tool to undermine and punish protected speech and to punish those in academia who voice criticism of the Israeli state’s policies.

Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC added:

Not only does the documented pattern call into question the compliance of UK universities with their legal obligation to protect academic freedom and freedom of expression, but it is leading universities away from their core mission of nurturing critical thought, facilitating unhindered research, and encouraging wide-ranging debate.

Background

In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a working definition of antisemitism (‘the IHRA definition’), to which was appended a list of examples of antisemitism, several of which mention Israel, thereby conflating criticisms of the State of Israel, its policies, practices and political ideology with antisemitism. In practice, these examples have been used in UK higher education institutions to delegitimise points of view critical of Israel by making false accusations of antisemitism.

As pointed out by one of the main drafters of the IHRA definition, Kenneth Stern, writing in The Guardian in 2019, “It was never intended to be a campus hate speech code”.

While antisemitism exists within UK society and incidents of anti-Jewish prejudice occur in higher education institutions, just as in other institutional contexts, the findings of this new report provide concrete evidence that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is not fit for purpose. The history and instrumentalisation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism should be understood in a wider context of attacks on advocates for Palestinian rights, as explained in a previous report published by the ELSC. Additional resources produced in the USA and Canada demonstrate similar harmful consequences for the rights of advocates for Palestine, while several human rights organisations, like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have asked the UN to reject the IHRA definition because its use and implementation “chill and sometimes suppress non-violent protest, activism and speech”. Such misuse has also been criticised by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Racism E. Tendayi Achiume.

In the UK, other efforts are being deployed at the institutional level to try and undermine advocacy for Palestine. In June 2023, the government tabled a bill aimed at preventing public bodies from making investment decisions that align with their human rights responsibilities and obligations. The bill was designed to target, in particular, boycotts, divestment and sanctions of Israel and, therefore, the Palestinian-led BDS movement. In response, a coalition of more than 70 civil society organisations in the UK declared that this bill represents a further attack on freedom of expression. Human Rights Watch called the bill “the latest in a growing list of measures which fundamentally undermine free speech and democratic rights in the country.”

The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) is the largest academic association in Europe focused on the study of the Middle East and North Africa. Through its Committee on Academic Freedom, it is committed to supporting academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region, both in the UK and globally. https://www.brismes.ac.uk/

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is the only organisation providing free legal support to individuals, groups and organisations advocating for Palestinian rights in Europe, including the UK. ELSC also documents incidents of repression and analyses and challenges the restrictive policies that result in shrinking space. https://elsc.support/

Tags Academic freedom, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Newsletter

Summer Updates & Recent Victories for the Defence of Palestinian Rights Advocacy in Europe

Post author By ELSC
Post date 4 August 2023
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Dear friend,
We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing mass repression in Jenin and everywhere else in the world. We have been kept very busy these past few months as Europe carried on with its concerted efforts to silence Palestine, and would now like to share with you some updates covering the period from April to July. The movement perseveres, and we have many victories to report!

HELP US KEEP UP OUR WORK

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VICTORIES & CASE UPDATES

DOCUMENTA FIFTEEN CHARGES OF ANTISEMITISM DROPPED

In April 2023, Kassel’s Public Prosecutor dropped the charges of antisemitism concerning some artwork presented at the 15th edition of the renowned documenta art festival in Kassel, specifically targeted Palestinian artists and one artwork of an Indonesian artist displaying a pig and an Israeli Mossad agent.

Documenta fifteen, which was curated by Jakarta-based artists’ collective Ruangrupa and largely featured artists from the Global South, faced months of major smear campaigns for hosting Palestinian collectives and exhibits of Palestine solidarity.

The Prosecutor balanced the allegations with artistic freedom and context. To read the full declaration of the Prosecutor, contact us.

MAJOR UK ART CENTRE APOLOGISES AFTER ASKING SPEAKER TO AVOID TOPIC OF ‘FREE PALESTINE’

After asking Palestinian speaker Elias Anastas, a co-founder of the Palestine-based Radio Alhara, to avoid discussing ”free Palestine” at length during a livestreamed talk on the radical possibilities of radio, the Barbican Centre has now apologised for its intervention calling it an “unacceptable and a serious error of judgement”. The ELSC has advised Artists for Palestine UK, a network of pro-Palestinian artists and culture workers, who have successfully defended this crucial case against the silencing of Palestine!

GERMAN BROADCASTER DEUTSCHE WELLE TO COMPENSATE JOURNALIST FARAH MARAQA FOR UNLAWFUL DISMISSAL

German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), which fired seven Arab journalists in February 2022 based on allegations of antisemitism, will compensate journalist Farah Maraqa for unlawful dismissal and cover the legal fees, following the Court’s decision on 28 June. More will follow on the DW cases and the legal ramifications of the judgement. Stay tuned!

SUPPORT BDS AUSTRIA’S BRAVE BATTLE AGAINST THE MUNICIPALITY OF VIENNA

BDS Austria is still fighting the Municipality’s unjust Strategic Lawsuit against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting them for posting a picture of the famous “Visit Apartheid” poster stuck on a billboard along with the City’s logo in 2021.

FIND OUT MORE

What happened in court on 14 July? After the Municipality of Vienna sent a scandalous settlement offer to the activist, the activist’s lawyer stated the reasons why they refused this proposal: the Municipality proposed withdrawing its complaint in exchange for payment of € 17,838.81, which is more than the damages requested in the trial. Moreover, the settlement proposal included a gagging clause preventing the BDS Austria activist from claiming that the City of Vienna had filed “SLAPP lawsuits” and/or “abusive lawsuits” against members of BDS! The judgement is expected to be delivered in a couple of months. The activist and their lawyer Elisabetta Folliero are ready to go up to the European Court of Human Rights to protect fundamental rights, and we will be there every step of the way to support them! We will not let this shameful affront to democracy and free speech stand!

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📣 Join us in solidarity with BDS Austria – against the silencing of voices for justice; for the right to solidarity and freedom of expression!📣

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AFFY AND ALIYA’S COURT HEARINGS AGAINST THE FINANCIAL GIANT LLOYDS BANK POSTPONED

Affy and Aliya’s hearings against Lloyds Bank have been postponed to 2024. The two women are fighting Lloyds’ discriminatory treatment after the bank sanctioned them for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights. Although their call for justice has been delayed, we will not let it go unanswered!

Join us and our dedicated supporters like James and Nicola in reaffirming Affy and Aliya’s unity and hope as they continue to fight the violation of their rights and institutionalised racism!

DONATE

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Consider a monthly donation to the ELSC. Every donation, no matter how small or large, makes a difference.

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ELSC NEW REPORT

In June, while the US Administration was releasing its strategy to combat antisemitism and the UN working on its own, we launched our new report exposing the harmful impacts of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA WDA) – which conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel – on the freedoms of expression and assembly in the EU and the UK. The report is the first case-based account of human rights violations resulting from the institutionalisation and application of the controversial IHRA definition by the European Union and the UK.

Our case studies unmask the biased arguments of the European Commission which has ignored and concealed the the repressive realities of the IHRA WDA for years.

RIGHT TO BDS

THE RIGHT TO BOYCOTT COALITION TO PUSH BACK AGAINST ANTI-DEMOCRATIC BILL IN THE UK

The ELSC has joined a coalition of civil society organisation made up of trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice, human rights, cultural, campaigning, and solidarity organisations, in opposing the UK government’s proposed law to stop public bodies from advocating for or participating in boycott.

WATCH THE VIDEO

After a first vote in Parliament, the bill will be debated again in September. What can you do to help protecting our collective rights?

SIGN THE PETITION

Do you live in the UK? Write to your MP and ask your Councillors to sign this open letter.

Are you a student in the UK? Check here how the bill would affect your activities and organise to oppose it!

Check all the materials prepared by the UK Palestine Solidarity Campaign here!

BARCELONA OMBUDSMAN RECOMMENDS BREAKING TIES WITH TEL AVIV: A HISTORICAL PRECEDENT LEADING TO CONCRETE POLITICAL ACTION

In a ground-breaking resolution, the Office of Barcelona’s Ombudsman recommended in December 2022 that the city revokes its Twinning Agreement with Tel Aviv over concerns about human rights violations committed by Israel against Palestinians. He emphasised that maintaining links with Israel constituted complicity in the commission of the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, thus setting an historical precedent among European public institutions in the denunciation of Israel’s crimes.

Few months later, Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau suspended relations with Israel.

ELSC EVENTS

ELSC-SAOT PANEL DISCUSSION

As part of this year’s SAOT Palestine Solidarity Festival in Berlin, the ELSC organised a panel discussion together with Palestinian activists and journalists, which provided insight into the political context surrounding our struggles and critically assessed the ever-growing anti-Palestinian racism in Germany.

In line with the festival’s 2023 theme of victory, the discussion opened a conversation on how to successfully push back against these increasing attacks and empower the artist, activist, scholar, journalist, and all those who advocate for freedom and justice.

ELSC ONLINE

ELSC-FMEP PODCAST EPISODE ON THE IHRA DEFINITION

The ELSC was invited to the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) podcast to talk to Lara Friedman about our new report on the suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy through the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

TUNE IN

ELSC NEW REPORT IN BELGIAN NEWS

Our new report on the IHRA definition was featured in an oped published in Le Soir by our partners from Association belgo-palestinienne (ABP), Union des progressistes juifs de Belgique (UPJB), Een Andere Joodse Stem (EAJS) and Palestina Solidariteit. This comes at a time in which Belgian municipalities face increasing backlash for suspending relations with Israel until it respects international law.

ELSC’S STATEMENT AGAINST THE NAKBA DEMONSTRATION BANS IN GERMANY ON MONDOWEISS

Read Hebh Jamal’s piece on Mondoweiss referencing our statement against Germany’s criminalisation of Palestinian existence in light of the repeated bans of Nakba commemoration and numerous arrests of anyone and anything visibly Palestinian.

CHECK OUR FULL STATEMENT

ELSC FEATURED ON THE NEW ARAB: TOGETHER AGAINST THE UK’S ANTI-BOYCOTT BILL

We spoke with the New Arab on the coalition of more than 70 organisations in the UK who have come together to oppose this bill. Read the article here.

USEFUL RESOURCES

NEW UN REPORT RAISING SERIOUS CONCERNS ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE IHRA DEFINITION ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

A new UN report affirms restrictions and harassment of Palestinian civil society through intensified coordination between the Israeli government and pro-Israel groups globally and through the instrumentalisation of the harmful IHRA definition of antisemitism.

READ THE REPORT

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REPRESSION IN GERMANY

Watch this short documentary by The New Arab on how Germany’s history of antisemitism is used to silence pro-Palestine activism. The ELSC has published a related short video, exposing how the Berlin police normalised their racist aggression against Palestinians and their allies in Germany in light of the repeated Nakba bans.

Thank you for your continued support!

In solidarity,

The ELSC team

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Apartheid, BDS, bds austria, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, repression

Press Release

BREAKING-New Report Reveals Human Rights Violations Resulting from IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Post author By ELSC
Post date 6 June 2023
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Amsterdam, 6 June 2023

Today, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) launches its new report “Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism – Violating the Rights to Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the European Union and the UK”. The report is the first case-based account of human rights violations resulting from the institutionalisation and application of the controversial IHRA definition by the European Union and the UK. The growing concerns about the negative human rights impact of the IHRA definition, have so far been ignored by the EU.

The ELSC report is based on 53 recorded incidents between 2017 and 2022 in Germany, Austria and the UK, in which individuals, groups and organisations were accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition. All of the accused were targeted for advocating for Palestinian rights, denouncing Israel’s practices and policies and/or criticising Zionism as a political ideology. When legally challenged, most of these allegations of antisemitism were dismissed as unsubstantiated.

Analysis of the cases reveals a highly problematic pattern in which the IHRA definition is being implemented. Although it is advertised and promoted as “non-legally binding”, the definition is increasingly used by public and private bodies as if it was law. As a result, the IHRA definition chills free speech and curtails freedom of assembly, resulting in self-censorship of individuals afraid to face allegations of antisemitism.

As confirmed by the ELSC report, allegations of antisemitism invoking the IHRA definition are overwhelmingly aimed at Palestinians, Jewish activists and organisations advocating for Palestinian rights. This suggests the definition is being implemented in a discriminatory manner. Individuals who are targeted suffer a range of unjust and harmful consequences, including loss of employment and reputational damage.

Dr Younes, Independent Researcher and (Policy) Writer in Germany, said:

With the uncritical adoption at the political and academic level across Europe, it has become impossible to voice any critical opinion about Israeli policies in public or in academia without the risk of losing your job, contract, funding or future employment opportunities.

A student activist in a UK university reflected:

I found that the IHRA definition was deployed as a distraction tactic, where routinely I felt burnt out defending the right to freedom of expression and solidarity with Palestine […] I had crippling anxiety of who I could even trust, as it felt like the IHRA definition was a mode of surveillance in my day-to-day life.

The ELSC report also criticises the European Commission for consistently ignoring and dismissing the growing human rights concerns about the IHRA definition, and for failing to take measures to prevent any adverse impact of it on fundamental rights.

Giovanni Fassina, director at the ELSC, commented:

It is time for the European Commission to acknowledge and address that the policy it has been promoting and implementing on the basis of the IHRA definition, both at EU and member state level, is highly detrimental to fundamental rights and that it is fostering anti Palestinian racism.

The ELSC urges the European Commission, as well as the governments, parliaments and public institutions in the EU Member States and the UK, to cease and revoke the endorsement, adoption, promotion and implementation of the IHRA definition. While addressing and enforcing policies to combat antisemitism, the legal obligation of public actors to respect and protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be upheld.

Currently, the United Nations is finalising its “Action Plan on monitoring antisemitism and enhancing a system-wide response”. Recently, the ELSC joined a letter of more than a hundred civil society organisations, urging UN Secretary-General Guterres and High Representative Moratinos not to adopt and apply the IHRA definition. In November 2022, 128 leading scholars in antisemitism, Holocaust Studies and related fields, warned the UN in a public statement against adopting the IHRA definition. In October 2022, the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism released a report sharply criticising the IHRA definition.

——-

READ THE REPORT

Media coverage

The Intercept

Al Jazeera

Carnegie Middle East Center (DIWAN)

ELSC in FMEP’s podcast Occupied Thoughts

Op-ed in Al-Jazeera by Majed Abusalama

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: April 2023

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 May 2023
No Comments on ELSC Newsletter: April 2023

Dear friend,

Today, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ongoing Nakba, we want to reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people fighting for justice, liberation and return.

Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!

CASE UPDATES

TIME TO ACT! 3 WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE HEARINGS AGAINST ONE OF THE UK’S BIGGEST BANKS

22 days left until the hearings in which Lloyds employees Affy and Aliya will face the financial giant in court! The two women are fighting Lloyds’ discriminatory treatment after the bank sanctioned them for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights.

It is only with your help that we have managed to reach this far, meeting almost 50% of our fundraising goals to cover the fees for this important legal battle! Join us in reaffirming Affy and Aliya’s hope and unity as they embark on the last three weeks before resisting this violation of their rights in court!

Help us reach our £30K goal to support the two brave women standing up against one of the UK’s biggest banks.

DONATE

📣 SHARE on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook 📣

VICTORY IN THE UK: TRADE UNION ACTIVIST REINSTATED AFTER BEING SUSPENDED FOR UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS OF ANTISEMITISM

In November 2021, Victor, an advocate for Palestinian rights and trade union activist was suspended as a trade union representative for allegedly posting antisemitic comments online. The alleged incriminating messages were largely about criticism of the policies of the state of Israel by former Labour Party members and included a reference to Palestinian revolutionary and poet Ghassan Kanafani.

In support of its decision to suspend Victor as senior representative, the union referred to an ‘expert opinion’ authored by a person known for his pro-Israel stance. After our lawyers rebutted the controversial opinion by submitting our own expert opinion, exposing the bias and proving that the allegations against our client were unfounded, we managed to get Victor reinstated and rehabilitate his reputation inside the respective trade union. After a significant period of suspension, following the internal hearing in September 2022, Victor was immediately reinstated to his elected and appointed positions with immediate effect. Action pays off! 

✊ SHARE THIS VICTORY! ✊

LUXEMBOURG CRIMINAL COURT UPHOLDS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF PALESTINIAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

⚖️ Will you help us win more cases? ⚖️

Consider a monthly donation to the ELSC. Every donation, no matter how small or large, makes a difference.

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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS: RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM

More than 100 civil society organisations, including the ELSC, signed an open letter to Secretary-General António Guterres and the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos, initiated by Human Rights Watch.

Read more about this important action on Middle East Eye

ELSC EVENTS

ITALY: ELSC ORGANISED EVENT ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION & THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN PALESTINE

On the 18th of April, the ELSC with the support of VoiceOver Foundation and PIPD organised a conference on “Shrinking spaces, freedom of expression and the protection of human rights in Palestine” at the University of Milan. We were glad to be joined by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian occupied territories.

It was a key opportunity to develop critical thinking on the Palestinian narrative in Italy. Thanks to our speakers, we had the chance to explore issues related to the censorship of Palestinian voices and the increasing limitation of the space for those who support Palestinian rights and action.

SEE MORE HERE

ELSC PARTICIPATES IN THE 2023 PALESTINE DIGITAL ACTIVISM FORUM

We are excited to join 7amleh’s 2023 Palestine Digital Activism Forum! Our colleague Alice Garcia will facilitate a session on 24 May 2023, discussing how to push back against smear campaigns and racist speech against Palestinians and supporters of the cause. Register today!

ELSC ONLINE

ELSC gave an interview following censorship in Austria

Our colleague Layla Kattermann spoke to Salma Shaka about the intensifying attacks against Palestinian rights advocates in Europe, after the Museumsquartier Vienna cancelled an event with BDS Austria and the ELSC.

ELSC gave two interviews on the #NakbaDay arrests in Berlin in May 2022 and the new bans in April 2023

Our colleague Safaa Moussa spoke to Perspektive Online about the #NakbaDay arrests in Berlin last May, when the Berlin Police detained and fined dozens of individuals for walking in the street and peacefully showing solidarity with Palestine following a city-wide ban on commemorations of the 74th anniversary of the Nakba.

Especially with regard to Palestine, there is an increasing tendency to impose restrictions, the illegality of which is then repeatedly established by the courts.

The Berlin police continues to ban Palestinian protests this year, and this criminalisation of speech and right to protest is already underway in other German cities. In light of the 75th commemoration of the Nakba, the ELSC has reaffirmed its solidarity with the nakba_75 campaign that is fighting to end Germany’s attempts to criminalise solidarity with Palestine.

WATCH OUR VIDEO MESSAGE

USEFUL RESOURCES

30+ U.S. states have compromised the First Amendment of the Constitution to shield Israel from accountability, paving the way for an attack on climate action, gun control, reproductive rights, & more. Learn how the attack on the #RightToBoycott in the U.S. started and how it is evolving in this new visual from Visualizing Palestine with Palestine Legal and Just Vision Media, featuring 443 anti-boycott bills introduced since 2014 at the state and federal level.

Just Vision has produced the free accessible movie Boycott, which provides rich context on the rapid spread of anti-boycott bills in the United States. The film follows the personal journeys of three protagonists as they defend freedom of expression and lays bare what is at stake if they are defeated: the constitutionally protected right to boycott.

BRILL has published Landmark Al-Haq book, “Prolonged Occupation and International Law” on Palestinian Land Day.

Read Rasha Jundi’s article on resisting the systemic silencing of Palestinian voices in Germany. A portrait on collective anger and hopes for a future of justice and freedom:

Cacti have traditionally surrounded Palestinian lands. They remain silent witnesses of depopulated villages and to the continued colonisation of our home. They symbolise beauty, continuation and tough resistance. When one Palestinian voice is raised, it echoes and spreads like cacti. It shall never be silenced. In spite of forces like those in Germany.

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Statement

ELSC Statement: No to the Nakba Demo Bans, End Germany’s Criminalisation of Palestinian Existence

Post author By ELSC
Post date 19 May 2023
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In another act of state repression, the Berlin police banned all events commemorating 75 years of ongoing Nakba. Following the demonstration ban from 2022, the police disrupted a Palestinian cultural event on 13 May in Neukölln, banning any political public speech, attempting to stop the distribution of books on Palestine on a discretionary basis, and preventing attendees from dancing the traditional Dabka, claiming that it was a form of “political expression”. One of the banned speeches was to be delivered by a member of the ELSC and a partner scholar, Anna Younes (PhD), with the purpose of informing people on their legal rights. Other events that were banned were scheduled for 13, 14 and 20 May 2023: these demonstrations wanted to demand justice for the Palestinian people by remembering the displacement and ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the course of the founding of the state of Israel. At least 11 demonstrations on the Nakba have been banned in Berlin since April 2022.

The justification for the bans is informed by a systematic pattern of anti-Palestinian racism criminalising solidarity with the Palestinian cause for freedom and return, as well as expressions of Palestinian identity. May 2022 already saw immense state repression against Palestinians and their supporters, when the Berlin police preventively banned five registered events commemorating 74 years of ongoing Nakba and honouring Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was murdered by Israeli Occupation Forces while reporting on their invasion of Jenin refugee camp. When individuals peacefully took to the streets to express their solidarity, the Berlin police unleashed a campaign of harassment arresting and beating activists for wearing the Palestinian scarf known as the Kuffiyeh or for being dressed in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

These anti-democratic measures are enacted as a form of collective punishment directed at anything visibly Palestinian, extending to any expression of collective memory and rights advocacy as seen through the recent bans of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners in Berlin and beyond. Palestinians in exile commemorating their tragedy, and more generally Arab participants in the demonstrations are dehumanised and framed in the colonial tradition as ”highly emotionalised men” who would “glorify violence” and are “difficult to control”. Neukölln is placed under general suspicion and depicted as a harbour of violence, based on the racist criminalisation of its predominantly migrant, particularly Arab population. The allegations and language used in the prohibition orders, both in 2022 and in 2023, express blatant racism and, in particular, constitute Anti-Palestinian racism – a form of anti-Arab racism that aims to silence, exclude, erase, stereotype, or defame Palestinians and their narratives – towards the Palestinian community in Germany.

Attacks against the Palestine solidarity movement are ever-growing as Germany upholds its unconditional support for the Israeli occupation and continues to whitewash crimes of apartheid and settler violence. The Berlin government’s actions around Nakba Day reflect Germany’s complicity in the continuing oppression of the Palestinian people, and further constitute a wider assault on the fundamental rights of free speech and assembly. This must be read as a dangerous precedent for further arbitrary curtailments of basic democratic rights.

These bans are an attack on all of us. The ELSC stands in solidarity with all Palestinians and supporters of the Palestinian cause. As further Palestine solidarity events are planned in the coming days in Berlin, we call on all stakeholders to join us in demanding the protection of the most fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, and to support the campaign launched in defence of these rights for Palestinians and their supporters in Germany.

If you, your group, organisation or otherwise have been intimidated, slandered, repressed, censored or banned from speaking out or participating in Palestine advocacy, or if you have questions about your rights, please reach out to us and complete the incident form.

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, BDS, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, repression

Statement

Joint Statement: Israeli Apartheid – The Legacy of the Ongoing Nakba at 75

Post author By ELSC
Post date 15 May 2023
No Comments on Joint Statement: Israeli Apartheid – The Legacy of the Ongoing Nakba at 75

The ELSC signed this joint statement initiated by Al-Haq at the occasion of the commemoration of 75 years after Nakba in Palestine.

Seventy-five years have passed since the Palestinian people were ethnically cleansed and forcibly expelled from their homes, lands, and property in their ancestral land during the 1948 Nakba (meaning ‘catastrophe’ in Arabic). Palestinian society was decimated during the Nakba, 531 Palestinian villages were destroyed, and more than 70 massacres were carried out against innocent civilians, killing more than 15 thousand Palestinians between 1947 and 1949. The legacy of the Nakba events is that about two-thirds of the Palestinian people became refugees in and around 1948 and a quarter of those who remained within historic Palestine geography were internally displaced and denied their right to return to their villages, towns, and cities of origin ever since.

Since 1948, Israel established a regime of racial domination and oppression over the Palestinian people primarily in the domains of nationality and land. In the immediate aftermath of the Nakba, Israel adopted a series of laws, policies, and practices, which sealed the dispossession of the indigenous Palestinian people, systematically denying the return of Palestinian refugees and other Palestinians who were abroad at the time of the war. At the same time, Israel imposed a system of institutionalized racial discrimination over Palestinians who remained on the land, many of whom had been internally displaced. Such Israeli laws have constituted the legal architecture of the Israeli apartheid that continue to be imposed on the Palestinian people today.

The 1950 so-called ‘Absentee Property’ Law became the main legal instrument of dispossession. Israel used it to confiscate the property of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons, who were deemed ‘absentees’ despite the State denying their return. Seventy-five years later, this ‘Absentee Property’ Law continues to advance Israel’s Judaization of parts of the West Bank including the city of Jerusalem and to alter its Palestinian character, demographic composition and identity.

In turn, the 1950 Law of Return and the 1952 Citizenship Law cemented Israel’s institutionalized racial discrimination in law. Establishing domination, both in law and in practice, Israel granted every Jew the exclusive right to enter the State as an immigrant and to obtain citizenship. At the same time, Palestinian refugees have been categorically denied their right to return, to their homes, lands, and property from which they were illegally dispossessed.

Such Israeli laws compose the legal foundation of Israeli apartheid, perpetuating its systematic racial domination and oppression over all Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line, and refugees and exiles. Seven and a half decades on, Israel has strategically fragmented the Palestinian people into at least four separate geographic, legal, political, and administrative domains as a tool to impose and maintain apartheid. Israel’s strategic fragmentation of the Palestinian people ensures that they cannot meet, group, live together, or exercise any collective rights, particularly their right to self-determination and permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. Strategic fragmentation is further entrenched through the illegal closure and blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Annexation Wall, and Israel’s permit regime consisting of checkpoints and other physical barriers, severely impacting the freedom of movement of Palestinians.

As we commemorate 75 years since the Nakba, the Israeli government continues its de jure and de facto annexation of the West Bank, which represents the continuation of Israel’s land grab, pillage, and displacement of Palestinians through the maintenance of its apartheid. As reaffirmed by successive United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, Israel’s continued annexation plans are a testament to Israel’s 21st-century apartheid, leaving in its wake the demise of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The crimes of the Nakba, including the ethnic cleansing and expulsion of Palestinian refugees, extensive destruction of Palestinian property, mass killing, and the prolonged denial of Palestinian refugees’ right to return, have never been prosecuted or remedied. Just five years ago, the Israeli occupying forces, implementing its shoot-to-kill policy, mass killed some 60 unarmed Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip on the eve of the 70th Nakba commemoration. The injustices of the Nakba and the ongoing denial of the right of return led to the Great Return March civil demonstrations every Friday in Gaza for two years, which Israel repressed with lethal force, with impunity.

This year, as Palestinians commemorate the 75th Nakba, Israel’s most right-wing and racist government intensifies its oppression of the Palestinian people, including daily raids and extrajudicial killings in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. On 9 May, Israel carried out a 5-day horrific unprovoked military assault on the 16-year besieged Gaza Strip targeting residential buildings resulting in the killing of 33 Palestinian civilians, some of them in their sleep, including six children and four women. In addition, 147 others were wounded, including 48 children and 26 women.

On Nakba Day, we call on States, the UN, international organisations and civil society organisations from around the world to take effective legal and political measures to bring perpetrators of suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Situation in Palestine. The ICC Prosecutor Mr Karim Khan must expedite his investigation and start issuing arrest warrants, and deliver justice to Palestinian victims of mass atrocity crimes.

At this critical juncture in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, support is also needed for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) until a durable solution to the Palestinian refugee question, based on the full realization of the Palestinian people’s inalienable human rights.

Finally, we call on all stakeholders to recognize and join the human rights movement crystalising consensus that the situation on the ground is that of Apartheid imposed on the Palestinian people. There are many possible paths to a just future, but none should be based on permanent occupation, settler colonialism, and the domination and oppression by one group of people over another. Apartheid has no place in our world and Israel’s apartheid must be dismantled now.

ENDS

See how the Nakba has transformed Palestine since 1948 with this map by Visualizing Palestine marking the Nakba at 75: https://today.visualizingpalestine.org/?blm_aid=8507392

1. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Mankind (Al-Haq)

2. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association (Addameer)

3. Al Dameer Association for Human Rights

4. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan)

5. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ)

6. Arab Center for Agricultural Development

7. Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)- France

8. Association of Women Committees for Social Work (AWCSW)

9. Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ)

10. Cairo Institute For Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

11. Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights “Hurryyat”

12. Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCPRJ)

13. Defender Center for Human Rights (Libya)

14. Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-Palestine)

15. Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

16. Djiboutian League of Human Rights (LDDH)

17. European Legal Support Center (ELSC)

18. European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR)

19. Forum Tunisien pour les droits Économiques et sociaux (FTDES)

20. Groningen for Palestine (GfP)

21. Habitat International Coalition – Housing and Land Rights Network

22. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS”

23. International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP)

24. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

25. International Institute for Nonviolent Action (NOVACT)

26. Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI)

27. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)

28. La ligue Algérienne pour La Défense des droits de l’homme

29. Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Limeddh- Mexico

30. Mwatana for Human Rights (Yemen)

31. OPEN ASIA|Armanshahr Foundation

32. Palestine Solidarity Campaign – South Africa (Gauteng)

33. Palestine Solidarity Campaign – South Africa (Cape Town)

34. Palestine Solidarity Campaign – UK

35. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD)

36. Pan-African Palestine Solidarity Network (PAPSN)

37. Platform of French NGOs for Palestine

38. Riposte Internationale

39. South African BDS Coalition

40. South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP)

41. Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC)

42. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH

43.The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO)

44. The Rights Forum

45. Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)

Tags Apartheid, ICC, Right of return

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: March 2023

Post author By ELSC
Post date 11 April 2023
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Dear friend,

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing mass repression. As Europe carries on with its concerted efforts to silence Palestine, the movement perseveres, and we nonetheless have victories to report!

HELP US KEEP UP OUR WORK

Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!

UK UPDATES: WOMEN CHALLENGE REPRESSION IN COURT

NEW CASE: WE ARE TAKING LLOYDS BANK TO COURT TO PROTECT PALESTINIAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY!

Two Muslim women, Affy and Aliya are suing their employer Lloyd’s Bank, one of the UK’s biggest banks, for discrimination. In May 2021, both posted statement in support of Palestine on the bank’s internal chat for employees. Affy and Aliya were investigated and subsequently sanctioned for breaching the bank’s policies on discrimination, harassment, abusive and offensive content. In addition to unimaginable consequences for their personal and professional lives, they both lost their annual bonuses and received written warnings that could remain on their records indefinitely while Affy lost a prestigious graduate role.

The ELSC launched a crowdfunding campaign to help both employees cover the costly legal fees of their lawsuit against Lloyds.

We need at least £30 000 to support Affy and Aliya in Court!

DONATE

Join our fight against all types of racism and support Affy and Aliya’s claim by sharing this campaign across all platforms!

📣 SHARE on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin 📣

SHAIMA DALLALI RESISTING NUS DISMISSAL

Following Shaima Dallali’s summary dismissal from her role as President of the National Union of Students (NUS) after an investigation accusing her of antisemitism based on her beliefs concerning the Palestinian struggle, she is now taking legal action!

In bowing to political pressure, the NUS has undermined its own commitment to anti-racism, including the fight against antisemitism, and has abandoned its duty of care to its elected President Shaima Dallali. She has been subjected to the most intense public scrutiny and horrifying abuse, including death threats.

The ELSC signed a joint statement with other organisations in the UK to condemn Shaima Dallali’s dismissal by the NUS.

Read more about the NUS repressing Palestine advocacy here

DR SHAHD ABUSALAMA CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST THE REPRESSION FROM SHIEFFIELD UNIVERSITY

Dr Shahd Abusalama has been countlessly targeted with intensified anti-Palestinian smears by pro-Israel groups, outlets, and social media trolls, which culminated after her enrolment at Shieffield Hallam University (SHU).

After successfully fighting two investigations and the suspension of her teaching, SHU launched a third investigation. Dr Shahd Abusalama was cleared but decided to leave this hostile environment.

The fight now continues as SHU decided to violate Shahd’s employment rights and disclosed misleading information to the pro-Israel ‘Jewish Chronicle’, which instigated a further round of brutal smears in the media. Dr Shahd Abusalama is fighting back and pursuing legal action to hold SHU accountable!

✊ SUPPORT SHAHD’S ESSENTIAL FIGHT ✊

As a Palestinian woman, I want to be able to articulate my story and political views without being harassed and subject to discrimination. But this is not just my lawsuit. With this legal fight, we will make sure that no other individual faces persecution or harassment for their legitimate beliefs from our employers. This case will challenge systemic issues, including the oppressive IHRA definition, the rights of workers to fair treatment, and legitimate protest and free expression.
Shahd

NEWS FROM GERMANY

DR ANNA YOUNES’ SURVEILLANCE CASE: THE FIGHT CONTINUES WITH TWO NEW LAWSUITS

On 2 November 2022, exactly three years after she discovered RIAS’ covert surveillance of her activities and after two legal victories, German Palestinian scholar Dr Anna Younes launched two new lawsuits. She requests the Administrative Court of Berlin to find the preparation and transmission of the secret dossier on her unlawful, and acknowledge that RIAS/MBR’s surveillance and false labelling of Dr Younes as an anti-Jewish racist violated her right to privacy and right to reputation. In addition, she requests compensation for the ensuing harm inflicted by RIAS/MBR for over two years.

Read more about the case and watch this video.

⚖️ Donate to support Dr Younes in her legal battle as she reclaims her rights in court ⚖️

DEUTSCHE WELLE CASE: THE FIGHT GOES ON

After the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) fired seven Arab journalists in February 2022 based on allegations of antisemitism, we witnessed two victories last year as the dismissals of Maram Salem and Farah Maraqa were found unlawful.

A year later, on 24 February 2023, journalist Zahi Alawi also won his lawsuit! A Labour Court found his dismissal by DW unlawful and ordered his reinstatement.

But the fight goes on! In a last-minute gambit, Deutsche Welle appealed the decision issued by the Berlin Labour Court in favour of Farah Maraqa. A new hearing is taking place on 10 May 2023, but Farah is confident and stands firm.

✊ SUPPORT FARAH’S ONGOING FIGHT! ✊

BERLIN: FIRST VICTORY AT THE TRIALS OF THE 2022 NAKBA DAY ARRESTS

Following a city-wide ban on commemorations of the 74th anniversary of the Nakba, the Berlin Police detained and fined dozens of individuals for walking in the street and peacefully showing solidarity with Palestine, such as through wearing the Kuffiyeh or the colours of the Palestinian flag. Some of them were beaten. Read more about our urgent letter to UN Special Rapporteurs and request for accountability in relation to unjustified repression and violence from the Berlin police.

9 months later, several protesters are challenging the fines in German courts. Stay tuned as more hearings will happen in the coming weeks and support!

SIGN the call to stop Germany’s attempt to criminalise solidarity with Palestine & DONATE to help with the legal proceedings’ fees

For more information on the bans and repression, read Human Rights Watch statement by Omar Shakir.

THE MOVEMENT PERSEVERES

We have published many of our legal victories in the UK, in Germany, in Austria, and in The Netherlands on our website. Pushing back is possible when we stand together!

⚖️ Will you help us win more cases? ⚖️

Consider a monthly donation to the ELSC. Every donation, no matter how small or large, makes a difference.

DONATE

RESISTING THE ISOLATION OF PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY

As part of our work at ELSC, we monitor and support European and Palestinian organisations facing attacks and incidents in the EU and the UK leading to defunding by donors, the implementation of policies restricting funding and/or de-risking by financial institutions.

These incidents happen in a context of coordinated smear campaigns led by pro-Israeli groups and the Israeli government, which form part of a larger strategy to shut down Palestine advocacy while shielding Israel from accountability.

Do you want to know more? Check our twitter thread!

ELSC ONLINE

ELSC gave an interview on Antisemitism, Palestine and academic freedom

We spoke to Dr Sevgi Doğan for Security Praxis blog about the impact of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism on academic freedom and unfounded allegations of antisemitism in academia. Read it here.

Read ELSC comments given to Hebh Jamal in +972 Magazine on the chilling effects on free expression of Palestinian rights advocacy and legitimate demands for accountability as Germany takes drastic steps toward further criminalising Palestinian activism.

ELSC was hosted by Lina Hadid and Lamia Bazzari to speak on defending and empowering advocates for Palestinian rights across Europe on their Free Palestine Podcast. Tune in!

USEFUL RESOURCES

Visualizing Palestine introduces the system and actors involved in suppressing speech critical of the Israeli regime and Zionism in its recent visual #SystemofSilencing. This is the first of five visuals that will be published in the next months, highlighting attacks on freedom of expression aimed at shielding Israel from accountability. Follow along!

UK-based organisation CAGE published two expert reports signed by leading scholars, Professor John Dugard SC and Professor Avi Shlaim on the notion of “Israel’s right to exist”. As observed in several cases of suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy, this concept is often very broadly interpreted by pro-Israel actors and raised to purport allegations of antisemitism and target Palestinian rights advocates.

Thank you for your continued support!

In solidarity,

The ELSC team

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, repression

Urgent call

Human Rights and other Civil Society Groups Urge United Nations to Respect Human Rights in the Fight Against Antisemitism

Post author By ELSC
Post date 4 April 2023
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The United Nations should respect human rights in its efforts to combat antisemitism, more than 100 human rights and civil rights organisations, including the ELSC, said in an open letter to Secretary-General António Guterres and the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos initiated by Human Rights Watch.

Note: Since its release on April 3, this letter has been updated to reflect additional signatories now totaling 104 organizations. The updated list of organizations is appended.

Joint Letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under Secretary-General Miguel Ángel Moratinos

20 April 2023

Dear UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Under Secretary-General Miguel Ángel Moratinos:

Our coalition of 104 civil society organizations is writing to you to voice our strong support for the United Nations’ commitment to combatting antisemitism in line with international human rights standards. Antisemitism is a pernicious ideology that poses real harm to Jewish communities around the world and requires meaningful action to combat it. Our organizations call on world leaders to condemn antisemitism and to take steps to protect Jewish communities, including holding perpetrators of hate crimes accountable.

As the UN develops its own action plan towards a coordinated and enhanced response to antisemitism rooted in human rights, we are aware that a number of Member State governments and organizations aligned with some of those governments, as well as the former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Ahmed Shaheed, have been advocating that the UN adopt and use the “working definition of antisemitism” of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). We urge the UN not to do so.

The IHRA definition was originally developed to guide research and law enforcement data validation before being used by the IHRA in its work, which includes education about the Holocaust and antisemitism. Adoption of the definition by governments and institutions is often framed as an essential step in efforts to combat antisemitism. In practice, however, the IHRA definition has often been used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and thus chill and sometimes suppress, non-violent protest, activism and speech critical of Israel and/or Zionism, including in the US and Europe. Such misuse has also been criticized by the former Special Rapporteur on Racism E. Tendayi Achiume.

Ken Stern, the main drafter of the IHRA definition, recently reiterated his concerns about the institutional adoption of the definition in light of its proposed inclusion in an American Bar Association (ABA) draft resolution on antisemitism. Stern’s concern stems from the IHRA definition’s repeated use as “a blunt instrument to label anyone an antisemite.” In the end, ABA members adopted a resolution on antisemitism that did not reference the IHRA definition. Stern’s message to ABA applies equally to the UN.

Those who use the IHRA definition in this way tend to rely on a set of eleven “contemporary examples of antisemitism” attached to the definition by the IHRA in 2016. Seven of those examples refer to the state of Israel. These examples, which are presented as possible illustrations and indicators to “guide the IHRA in its work”, include:

“denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination; e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” and
“applying double standards by requiring of [Israel] a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”

The wording of the first example above on “racist endeavour” opens the door to labeling as antisemitic criticisms that Israeli government policies and practices violate the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the findings of major Israeli, Palestinian and global human rights organizations that Israeli authorities are committing the crime against humanity of apartheid against Palestinians. This example could also be used to label as antisemitic documentation showing that Israel’s founding involved dispossessing many Palestinians; or arguments, also made by some Members of the Israeli Knesset, to transform Israel from a Jewish state into a multiethnic state that equally belongs to all of its citizens – that is, a state based on civic identity, rather than ethnic identity.

The example on “applying double standards” opens the door to labeling as antisemitic anyone who focuses on Israeli abuses as long as worse abuses are deemed to be occurring elsewhere. By that logic, a person dedicated to defending the rights of Tibetans could be accused of anti-Chinese racism, or a group dedicated to promoting democracy and minority rights in Saudi Arabia could be accused of Islamophobia. This example suggests also that it is antisemitic to evaluate Israel as anything but a democracy, also when assessing its actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where it has for more than half a century governed millions of Palestinians who have no say on the most consequential issues affecting their lives and who are deprived of their basic civil rights.

The IHRA qualifies the examples by noting that “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic” and that any finding of antisemitism must “[take] into account the overall context.” However, in practice, these disclaimers have failed to prevent the politically motivated instrumentalization of the IHRA definition in efforts to muzzle legitimate speech and activism by critics of Israel’s human rights record and advocates for Palestinian rights.

The targets of accusations of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition have included university students and professors, grassroots organizers, human rights and civil rights organizations, humanitarian groups and members of the US Congress, who either document or criticize Israeli policies and who speak in favor of Palestinian human rights. If the UN endorses the IHRA definition in any shape or form, UN officials working on issues related to Israel and Palestine may find themselves unjustly accused of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition. The same goes for numerous UN agencies, departments, committees, panels and/or conferences, whose work touches on issues related to Israel and Palestine, as well as for civil society actors and human rights defenders engaging with the UN system.

After the United Kingdom’s government adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism at the national level, at least two UK universities in 2017 banned certain activities planned for “Israel Apartheid Week.” One of them, the University of Central Lancashire, banned a panel planned by Friends of Palestine on boycotts of Israel. A university spokesperson stated, “We believe the proposed talk contravenes the [IHRA] definition” of antisemitism “formally adopted” by the government.

In February 2020, Israel advocacy groups in the US challenged Pitzer and Pomona College’s support for a film screening about Palestinian protests in Gaza against Israeli repression and a panel on “Perspectives on Colleges and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” featuring the prominent Jewish commentator Peter Beinart and Palestinian-American Yousef Munayyer, hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The Israel advocacy groups claimed that SJP’s positions, such as its support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, are “clear indicators of anti-Semitism under the examples listed by the IHRA.” In January 2020, Israel advocacy groups called for the University of Michigan to review the agenda for a “Youth for Palestine” conference focused on student activism and community organizing on Palestine, and to “compare it to the IHRA definition,” and consider canceling it over concerns that it will feed antisemitism.

Some advocates of the IHRA working definition have presented it as a non-controversial “consensus definition”. However, many leading antisemitism experts, scholars of Jewish studies and the Holocaust, as well as free speech and anti-racism experts, have challenged the definition, arguing that it restricts legitimate criticism of Israel and harms the fight against antisemitism.

Since 2021, at least two alternative definitions have been put forward: the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism by hundreds of scholars of antisemitism, Holocaust studies, Jewish studies and Middle East studies, as well as the Nexus Document by a task force affiliated with Bard College and the University of Southern California. While acknowledging that criticism of Israel can be antisemitic, these alternative definitions set out more clearly what constitutes antisemitism and provide guidance surrounding the contours of legitimate speech and action around Israel and Palestine.

As an international organization committed to the universal promotion of the rule of law and human rights, the UN should ensure that its vital efforts to combat antisemitism do not inadvertently embolden or endorse policies and laws that undermine fundamental human rights, including the right to speak and organize in support of Palestinian rights and to criticize Israeli government policies.

For these reasons, we strongly urge the UN not to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

We look forward to assisting the UN’s efforts to combat antisemitism in a way that respects, protects and promotes human rights.

Sincerely,

Adalah: The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel*

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Mankind

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Amnesty International*

B’Tselem

Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement

Human Rights Watch

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH)

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel

Joined by:

11.11.11

7amleh – The Arab Center for Social Media Advancement

A Different Jewish Voice (Netherlands)*

Academia for Equality*

Africa4Palestine (AFP)

American Friends Service Committee

American Humanist Association*

American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)*

Americans for Peace Now*

Arab Canadian Lawyers Association*

Association “Pour Jérusalem”

Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AUDRIP)

Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)

BDS Netherlands

Belgian Academics & Artists for Palestine (BAA4P)

Bisan Center for Research and Development*

Breaking the Silence*

British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES)*

Broederlijk Delen

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)*

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)*

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land (CJPHL)*

CCFD-Terre Solidaire

Charity & Security Network*

CIDSE

CNCD-11.11.11

Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine (CJACP)

Combatants for Peace

Comhlamh Justice for Palestine

Defending Rights & Dissent*

Defense for Children International – Palestine

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

EuroMed Rights*

European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP)*

European Jews for a Just Peace

European Legal Support Center (ELSC)

European Middle East Project (EuMEP)

Finnish-Arab Friendship Society

Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP)*

Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)*

gate48 – critical Israelis in the Netherlands*

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ

Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church

Human Rights Defenders Fund (HRDF)*

IfNotNow*

Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV)*

Independent Jewish Voices Canada

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)*

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC)*

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (Finland)

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (UK)

Jahalin Solidarity*

Jewish Network for Palestine (UK)

Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East (Germany)

Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL)*

Jewish Voice for Peace – Twin Cities*

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)*

Jews against the Occupation Australia*

Jews for Palestine-Ireland

Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste*

Kairos Ireland

La Cimade (France)

Law for Palestine*

Le Comité de Vigilance pour une Paix Réelle au Proche-Orient (CVPR PO)

Medico international

Mennonite Church Canada Palestine-Israel Network*

Middle East Peace Now*

Minnesota BDS Community*

Mouvement de la paix France

Nederlands Palestina Komitee

One Justice

Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK*

Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO)

Parents Against Child Detention (PACD)

Pax Christi USA

Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Project South*

Promise Institute for Human Rights*

Sadaka – The Ireland-Palestine Alliance*

The Rights Forum

Trinity College Dublin BDS*

Tzedek Collective*

Une Autre Voix Juive (France)

Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP)

United Jewish People’s Order of Canada

United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI)*

University Network for Human Rights

Women Against Military Madness (WAMM)*

Women in Black (Vienna)

* Post-launch signers that joined this letter after its initial release on 3 April 2023

Picture: CC UN Photo/Rick Bajornas Flickr

Tags Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Press Release

Two Muslim Women Take Lloyds Bank to Court for Discrimination

Post author By ELSC
Post date 6 February 2023
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16 March 2023, London and Amsterdam

After being sanctioned for posting messages in support of Palestine on their internal work portal, two Muslim women are suing their employer for discrimination. Lloyds Bank PLC (“LBP” or “Lloyds”) is one of the biggest banks in the UK.

In May 2021, Affy and Aliya posted messages in support of the Palestinian people and criticising illegal Israeli policies on their internal online portal, a platform where social issues are often discussed between employees. At the time, the Israeli army was bombing the occupied Gaza Strip, an attack that resulted in the killing of 236 Palestinian civilians. Affy also expressed her desire for LBP to boycott HP, a company that provided servers to run the ID systems that Israel uses to restrict Palestinian movement, and raised concerns on the impact of this on LBP’s ethical business activity.

Lloyds decided to investigate Affy and Aliya about the posts. Findings of ‘gross misconduct’ were made against both women for breaching the Lloyds’ policies on professional integrity, personal integrity – which include rules about discrimination, harassment and abusive content – and doing business responsibly. They received written warnings which could remain on their records indefinitely and were both reported to the Financial Conduct Authority for failing ‘to act with due skill, care and diligence’.

This has had serious consequences in Affy and Aliya’s personal and professional lives. Affy, was 21 at the time, lost a prestigious graduate role with a £60,000 starting salary as a result of Lloyds’ sanctions. Affy and Aliya both lost their annual bonuses. Both are anxious about their future careers and now fear reprisal for raising concerns about socially responsible business or speaking about Palestine.

To get these sanctions removed, and to defend the right to speak about Palestine, Affy and Aliya are taking LBP to court for discrimination.

We should all be freed from discrimination based on our beliefs or our opinions about a just cause. We are taking this legal fight to end discrimination in our workplace. said Aliya.

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is supporting Affy and Aliya in their legal fight to get their sanctions revoked and their professional reputations restored. Giovanni Fassina, the Director of the ELSC, comments:

We have taken on this case to defend Affy and Aliya’s rights to advocate for Palestinian rights in their workplace, including through education and actions around corporate complicity in human rights abuse. This case is a clear manifestation of anti-Palestinian racism, a form of discrimination that silences, excludes, and defames Palestinians and their allies with slander such as being inherently antisemitic, and a dangerous restriction of free speech.[1]

The ELSC launched a crowdfunding campaign to help both employees cover the costly legal fees of their lawsuit against Lloyds, one of the biggest banks in the UK. The costs are estimated to be at least £30,000.

Affy’s hearing is set to take place in June 2023 at the London Central Employment Tribunal. Aliya is in the process of applying to have her case adjoined to Affy’s.

[1] To read more about anti-Palestinian racism, see ACLA, Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations, April 2022, available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61db30d12e169a5c45950345/t/627dcf83fa17ad41ff217964/1652412292220/Anti-Palestinian+Racism-+Naming%2C+Framing+and+Manifestations.pdf

Visual: CC Commons

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, BDS, censorship, Discrimination, Freedom of Expression

Release

Antisemitism, Palestine and academic freedom. Interview with the European Legal Support Center

Post author By ELSC
Post date 19 December 2022
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The ELSC gave an interview to Dr Sevgi Doğan for Security Praxis blog about the impact of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism on academic freedom and unfounded allegations of antisemitism in academia. Read it below.

Original publication on Security Praxis blog: https://securitypraxis.eu/antisemitism-palestine-academic-freedom-interview-elsc/

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) adopted a working definition of antisemitism of 2016 to address the rise in hate and discrimination against Jews. It has been formally adopted by the UK government (2016) and, according to IHRA’s list, by many others, and several university administrations in the United States and the UK.

In some cases the definition has been instrumentalised using the accusation of antisemitism to discredit academics because of their pro-Palestinian stance. Regarding this issue, we interview Giovanni Fassina and Alice Garcia from the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) which is an independent legal organization that provides free legal advice and assistance to advocates for Palestinian rights, and that supports the Palestine solidarity movement in mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. The Center also supports academics, scholars, grassroots activists, NGOs and charities who are facing defamation, bullying and/or repression. They have been working on several cases of restrictions on academic freedom in Austria, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Today, we discuss the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism and its adaptation, restrictions on human rights activists defending the rights of the Palestinian people and the work of scholars whose area of expertise is post-colonial studies, ethnic and religious conflicts, Middle Eastern studies, and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, as well as (self-)censorship. Besides, Giovanni and Alice answer our questions about the role of ELSC to promote freedom of expression and academic freedom.

We thank you for your contribution.

Can you say something about the European Legal Support Center? What is it about?

The ELSC intervenes to end arbitrary restrictions and criminalisation of peaceful advocacy and humanitarian work. It also develops legal tools and engages in strategic litigation to support civil society advocacy and campaigns.

Our work is rooted in movement lawyering. This means that we take direction from Palestinian civil society to help us use our legal and advocacy skills to challenge structural discrimination and oppression against Palestinians and their allies in a way that empowers them.

In that context, the Center was established in January 2019 as a joint initiative of European jurists, the Palestinian civil society network PNGO and the Dutch NGO The Rights Forum – which is kindly hosting the ELSC in Amsterdam.

What is IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism?

On 26 May 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted a “non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism”, also known as the “IHRA definition”. The definition declares: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

To complement the definition, the IHRA attached a set of eleven examples that serve as illustrations of “contemporary antisemitism”, seven of which relate to Israel. You can read more background on how the definition and its examples came to be adopted by the IHRA here. These examples welcome a conflation of legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies with antisemitism. In fact, according to a recent report by former UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. E. Tendayi Achiume, on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the examples “are being invoked and leveraged to suppress fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and political participation, as well as human rights to equality and non-discrimination”.

In this respect, numerous initiatives, institutions, civil society organisations in Europe and beyond, and academics, including Jewish scholars and Palestinian scholars, have levelled criticism at the instrumentalisation of the IHRA definition as a tool to discredit legitimate objections to the Israeli government’s policies and actions. Crucially, even the IHRA definition’s lead author himself, Kenneth Stern, has cautioned against its weaponisation and, most recently, as UN bodies are being pressured into adopting the IHRA definition, more than 100 scholars signed a letter denouncing its detrimental effects on academic freedom.

While the IHRA definition is a non-binding instrument, governments and academic institutions throughout Europe have been as their new policy to combat antisemitism despite the well-documented risks for fundamental rights it carries. Indeed, former Special Rapporteur Tendayi Achiume observed that “it is precisely the IHRA-WDA’s ‘soft law’ status, which effectively helps undermine certain co-existent rights, without offering any remedy or means to legally challenge such violations”.

How does it affect universities and academic freedom? Can you see it as an instrument to limit academic freedom?

Universities are being pressured into adopting the IHRA definition by their governments. As a result, more than 200 British universities have incorporated the definition into their policies, and limitations to academic freedom and discussion have already been reported. The IHRA definition has thus become a binding policy in many universities, which has already led to students and staff members being subjected to disciplinary proceedings under it.

The case of Shahd Abusalama (see further details below) illustrates how unfounded accusations of antisemitism often cost scholars and academics their jobs and reputation. Though such accusations are consistently disproven and dismissed, they instill the fear of being subjected to arbitrary disciplinary proceedings in the first place.

Similar cases have also emerged in Germany and Austria, where allegations of antisemitism supported by the IHRA definition have been used as a tool to silence academics, thus limiting their academic freedom and, more broadly, their freedom of expression. Notable cases include the cancellation of Dr. Walaa Alqaisiya’s lecture at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, as well as Dr. Anna-Esther Younes’ surveillance and disinvitation from an event organised by the Berlin chapter of political party The Left (Die Linke).

The formal inclusion of the IHRA definition within university policies and its use as a tool to discredit legitimate speech thus results in an arbitrary stigmatisation of academics who dare to speak their mind about Palestine and can lead to a climate of fear and self-censorship that gravely harms academia and Palestinian rights advocacy at large.

Do you think one day this kind of statement, or definition can lead to universities to accept it otherwise they can be accused of anti-Semitism?

Yes, this is a concrete risk. As previously stated, universities are encouraged, including by their governments, to adopt the IHRA definition as an internal policy through a practice bordering improper interference with institutional autonomy. For instance, the UK government, in the person of the education secretary, has threatened funding cuts if universities refuse to adopt the definition.

Despite the governmental pressure, university bodies in the UK have rejected the definition. For instance, following University College London (UCL)’s adoption of the IHRA definition, its Academic Board called on the university to retract the definition and seek an alternative one. Such instances have led to various criticisms raised against academic institutions – although as of yet, no accusations of antisemitism. The latest example comes from the University of Aberdeen, which refused to adopt the IHRA definition and was soon accused of silencing Jewish voices and of taking a “scandalous position” on the matter. Such public accusations can damage a university’s reputation and detract the attention from the actual and pressing concerns raised by the IHRA definition in itself. However, UCL’s Academic Board and Aberdeen’s positions should be amplified and followed by others, as emblems of the defence of academic freedom.

Can you give some examples of the cases that the scholars were dismissed because of their works or critics about the conflict between Israeli and Palestine? One of the example as I know is from University of Bristol in 2021 where a professor of sociology David Miller lost his job because of his comment on Israel by accusation of antisemitism and another example is professor of Cornell University Architecture, Art, and Planning (Cornell AAP), Samia Henni, whose office was recently broken and looted, and who has been subjected to the online hate harassment in 2020/2021 after her publication (The Coloniality of an Executive Order) and lecture, “Palestine is There, Where it Has Always Been,” that she convened at Cornell University.

The cases of Dr. Anna-Esther Younes in Germany and Dr. Walaa Alqaisiya in Austria saw both scholars being brutally disinvited from events in which they were supposed to present their work. Both specialised in decolonial perspectives, and both were accused of antisemitism because of their academic research and publications on Palestine/Israel. Their subjection to smear campaigns and, in Dr. Younes’ case, to illegitimate surveillance, has severely damaged their reputation amongst the academic community – so much so that, despite the refutation of the allegations, it is still difficult for them to reclaim a space in academia. This goes to show how scholars on Palestine/Israel in Europe are sometimes compelled to self-censor in order to avoid groundless accusations, stigmatisation and even isolation from their peers.

In the UK, Dr. Shahd Abusalama was subjected to an internal investigation by Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) over a Twitter thread she posted. As part of this investigation, she was suspended a day before her teaching position was supposed to start. Thanks to a powerful worldwide public campaign supported by the Sheffield Hallam UCU, civil society organisations, academics, students, and the ELSC, the university lifted the suspension six days later, and dropped the investigation. A few months later, SHU launched a second investigation which cleared Shahd – yet again. This investigation was confidential, and in breach of a settlement agreement reached between Sheffield Hallam and Dr. Abusalama, a Senior University Official used this information to further smear Shahd in the press.

These are only a few examples that illustrate the risks Palestinian scholars, and academics working on Palestine/Israel more broadly, face on a daily basis. As Dr. Alqaisiya’s case shows, not only are universities resorting to the IHRA definition, but other pro-Israel actors are increasingly using the definition to back their allegations of antisemitism.

As the examples above and the case of David Miller show, the instances of scholars being silenced, dismissed, investigated and as a result alienated from the academic world are growing at a worrying pace throughout various European countries. The broad adoption of the IHRA definition encourages this trend by giving an appearance of soundness to the claim that criticism of Israel amounts to antisemitism.

How do the scholars at risk reach you?

Scholars at risk often find us through the solidarity movement, friends, relatives or online, on our website or social media. Anyone who wishes to reach out to the ELSC to request legal support or to report an incident of repression, including a limitation of their academic freedom based on their voices being raised to speak about Palestine/Israel, is welcome to do so through our website. We do our best to promptly get back to them and provide the support they need.

What kind of cases do you encounter? For what reason usually the scholars are accused of anti-Semitism or dismissed?

Most of the time, the scholars we defend write and teach on Palestine/Israel or the Middle East, or they are sympathetic to the Palestinian people’s struggle to access their fundamental rights. Some are also active on the topic in their personal, rather than professional, capacity. They sign petitions, go to protests, and/or express their opinions on this topic through their personal social media.

Usually, scholars face complaints (often anonymous) for alleged antisemitism and/ or smear campaigns from pro-Israel media or advocacy groups based on social media posts, academic articles, or other initiatives related to their activism. It is important to mention that, so far, all the scholars we support have been cleared of the allegations (or their case is still pending), for the very simple reason that they are baseless. Indeed, the allegations predominantly refer to conduct or actions that equate legitimate criticism of the Israeli State or its policies, or of Zionism as a political ideology, and have nothing to do with antisemitism. It is also important to add that those scholars keep being active on Palestine, and we strongly believe that our legal intervention and the many cases we have won deter the usual complainants to keep going with their unfounded allegations.

It seems that these cases are not talked a lot. Why do you think about this silence?

These cases are often underreported because universities are hesitant to get involved with an issue that some voices deem “controversial”. Universities fear that complaints and accusations may expose them and put their reputation on the line, even after academics are vindicated. There is a “Palestine Exception” in academia, as Palestine Legal documented in its landmark report concerning the US context.

The scholars themselves are sometimes afraid to speak out about their experience, because even a wrongful accusation of antisemitism entails a heavy and lasting stigma to one’s name. There is undue shame and taboo around the topic and speaking out can risk one’s career. It is what we call the chilling effect, which affects not only the people who are directly targeted but also their whole community. The chilling effect manifests itself in self-censorship and shrinking civic space, which interferes with the right to freedom of expression, including academic freedom, and the right of the public to receive accurate information on Palestine/Israel. This poses a threat to the safeguarding of fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.

However, it is crucial to break this pattern and build a support network that speaks out and expresses support for targeted scholars. This in turn helps academics feel safe to speak their minds without fear of retaliation and to see their reputation restored. Pushing back is possible, as we have experienced, and it is necessary if we want to challenge the restrictive policies and tactics aimed at silencing the voices that are critical of Israel or other apartheid or colonial regimes.

Academic freedom, according to UNESCO’s definition of 1997, is “[…] the right, without constriction by prescribed doctrine, to freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely their opinion about the institution or system in which they work, freedom from institutional censorship and freedom to participate in professional or representative academic bodies”. As a lawyer what do you think about academic freedom?

As stated by former Special Rapporteur and Professor of Law Tendayi Achiume, academic freedom must be interpreted as “the freedom of individuals, as members of academic communities (e.g., faculty, students, staff, scholars, administrators and community participants) or in their own pursuits, to conduct activities involving the discovery and transmission of information and ideas, and to do so with the full protection of human rights law.” Thus, academics must enjoy the right to academic freedom in its broadest ‘extramural’ meaning, that is not only in their institutional and on-campus activities, but also in their role as educators and commentators in their private sphere.

The European Court of Human Rights has also acknowledged the importance of academic freedom as a corollary of the broader right to freedom of expression, protected under Article 10 of the ECHR. Article 10 is particularly important, as it applies not only to “information” or “ideas” that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb. The undeniable importance of freedom of expression, and by extension of academic freedom, justifies a strictly limited interference with this right, in exceptional and narrowly prescribed circumstances.

How can/should university community take action about these cases and protect academic freedom?

The university community’s support is vital in supporting scholars and protecting the academic freedom of the community as a whole. Materially, members of the university community can amplify cases and campaigns, such as that of Dr. Younes, to end censorship and surveillance of academics in Germany. Letters, statements and campaigns in support of academics who are facing such restrictions on their academic freedom can be signed and spread throughout professional and personal networks. The university community must speak out collectively, and we welcome you to support and follow the work done by the ELSC and other organisations and activist groups working on this topic. It is crucial to distribute information about the danger of adopting and applying the IHRA definition of antisemitism within universities.

Cover photo generated with Stable Diffusion, prompted with “Abuses of the accusation of antisemitism” and some style directions.

Tags Academic freedom, IHRA

Urgent call

Avoid Assisting in the Forcible Deportation & Transfer of Human Rights Defender Salah Hamouri

Post author By ELSC
Post date 14 December 2022
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Urgent Appeal to Commercial Airlines

Summary

Israel has recently announced it will imminently deport Palestinian human rights defender Salah Hamouri, an act that could be a serious violation of international law. We, the undersigned human rights organizations, call on commercial airlines to do everything in their capacity to refuse to assist in what could constitute a war crime by refusing to transport individuals undergoing unlawful forcible deportation and making a public statement to this effect.

The below document provides background to the case of Salah Hamouri, references the relevant legal obligations of commercial airlines, and sets out the practical steps commercial airlines need to take to ensure they are not contributing to serious violations of international law.

Background

On 30 November 2022, the Israeli authorities informed imprisoned Palestinian-French human rights lawyer, Salah Hamouri, 37, that he will be forcibly deported to France from occupied East Jerusalem – his hometown – for “breach of allegiance” to Israel. Hamouri has been held in administrative detention since March 2022 without charge or trial on the basis of ‘secret evidence,’ and the decision to deport him follows Israel’s revocation of Hammouri’s permanent residency status in Jerusalem._¹ Hamouri has said that he refuses deportation and will not willingly board a flight.

Hammouri’s deportation, which can take place any time from December 4, 2022, onwards, will be a clear escalation in Israel’s prolonged harassment and targeting of him through arbitrary arrests, travel bans, surveillance, and family separation.

Unlawful deportations and residency revocations in occupied territory violate numerous provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Hammouri’s deportation out of the occupied territory could constitute a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and potentially a war crime as per the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

In accordance with the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention, the protected population in an occupied territory, such as is the case in the internationally-recognized occupied East Jerusalem, does not have a duty of allegiance to the Occupying Power (Israel), the basis upon which Hamouri is to be deported. _²

According to a UN Experts’ statement on 2 December 2022

“Such unilateral, arbitrary measures taken by Israeli authorities in retaliation against Mr. Hammouri as a human rights defender, violate every principle and the very spirit of international law

[…]

These measures set an extremely dangerous precedent for all Palestinians in Jerusalem. The international community must not remain silent and quietly watch this umpteenth violation”._³ Private commercial actors have a responsibility to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in their own activities. Where they fail to abide by those responsibilities in their activities and relationships, they risk contributing to grave violations and internationally recognized crimes._⁴UN Experts’ statement

In light of the above, we strongly urge commercial airlines to refuse and refrain from assisting the Israeli authorities in carrying out its inhumane, discriminatory, and likely unlawful forced deportation of Salah Hammouri.⁵ Moreover, we ask that commercial airlines running direct flights to France make a statement on their website stating their refusal to participate in any unlawful forcible deportations by Israel of the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

At a time when Hammouri’s family and loved ones, Palestinian and international civil society, the United Nations, and states are calling on Israel to halt his forcible deportation and transfer and for Hammouri to be able to remain in his hometown, commercial airlines should review and act in accordance with the relevant set duties, namely those under international human rights and humanitarian law.

Organizational signatories

Adalah Justice Project
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
Al-Haq, Law in Service of Man
Alice Rothchild, MD
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
Bisan Center for Research and Development
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
Community Action Center, Al-Quds University
Democracy for the Arab World (DAWN)
Equipo Juridico Pueblos
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
Freedom Archives
Human Rights Watch
International Association of Democratic Lawyers
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
Just Peace Advocates
Justice for Palestinians
Law for Palestine
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
National Lawyers Guild, International Committee
National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Committee
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association (Canada)
Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos
Paz con Dignidad
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
The Canadian BDS Coalition
The Center for Constitutional Rights
The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy PIPD
The Palestinian Committee in Norway

¹ For more information concerning Hamouri’s case, see: https://justiceforsalah.net/12/2022/press-release-en/intervention-needed-salah-identity-revoked-and-to-be-deported/ and https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/08/16/israel-free-french-palestinian-rights-worker

² For more analysis, see https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/12/israel-opt-deporting-salah-hammouri-would-constitute-a-war-crime/

³ UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Israeli deportation order against French-Palestinian activist Salah Hamouri could constitute war crime: UN experts, 2 December 2022, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/12/israeli-deportation-order-against-french-palestinian-activist-salah-hammouri

⁴ DCAF, ICRC and the Geneva Centre for Business and Human Rights, Fact Sheet: How does armed conflict impact responsible security management?, https://securityhumanrightshub.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Standalone%20-%20Factsheet%20%20Armed%20Conflicts_FINAL.pdf

⁵ Over the years, commercial airlines around the world have been increasingly demonstrating commitment by refusing to accept forced deportations of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. See https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/uk-virgin-atlantic-to-stop-accepting-forced-deportations-amid-concern-over-removal-of-windrush-generation-migrants-lgbt-asylum-seekers/

Tags Apartheid, Discrimination, Freedom of movement

Call

Call for Applications: Chief Legal Officer

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 December 2022
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The ELSC is seeking a Chief Legal Officer based in Amsterdam to oversee the legal team on all cases and projects emanating (mainly) from Germany, The Netherlands and the UK.

The role will cover five main areas of work:

managing the legal team consisting of three Legal Officers in their daily activities;
supervising the legal team’s casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates throughout Europe and mainly in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK;
providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under domestic law and European human rights law;
devising and advising on strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies; and
overseeing the legal team’s organisation and participation in workshops and advocacy events.

Location: The position would be based in Amsterdam. Remote-working will be considered.

To read the full job description, please click here.

How to apply

Please send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, in English, to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ELSC Chief Legal Officer’.

The deadline for applications is 30 December 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial (online) interview during the second week of January. Prior to the interview, candidates will be asked to complete a short assignment.

Start date and training period: The shadow position will commence between 01 February 2023 and 01 March 2023. The successful candidate will be required to undertake 3 or 4 months of training (32 hours per week) before taking over the role of Chief Legal Officer in June 2023 (this position is 36-40 hours per week). Training will involve working alongside the current Chief Legal Officer on the specific tasks outlined above to ensure the candidate has the requisite expertise and knowledge to successfully manage the legal team.

Tags Call for Application

Release

Second edition of ‘Don’t Buy Into Occupation’ coalition exposes billions in European financial support to companies in illegal Israeli settlements

The Don’t Buy Into Occupation coalition releases its second report exposing European financial institutions’ involvement in the Israeli illegal settlement enterprise.

The new report finds that between January 2019 and August 2022, 725 European financial institutions (EFIs) were actively involved in the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise with $115.5 billion in shares and bonds, and $171.4 billion in loans and underwritings between January 2019 and August 2022.

Since the release of the first DBIO report, the volume of lending to, share and bond holdings in these businesses has remained high. This exposes the continued lip service paid by EFIs to the need for heightened due diligence in the context of military occupation.

The DBIO coalition consists of 24 European and Palestinian Organisations who have come together to investigate the financial relationships between European financial institutions and businesses involved across various sectors in the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise. The report findings are critical in defunding Israeli occupation by understanding how European financial institutions are linked to violations of human rights and international law, like the illegal appropriation of Palestinian land and expulsion of families.

Read the second edition of the report here: https://dontbuyintooccupation.org/reports/dont-buy-into-occupation-report/

To search the implication of financial institutions in the Israeli illegal settlement enterprise by company, investor or creditor, check this database: https://dontbuyintooccupation.org/dbio-data/

Tags Business and Human Rights

Statement

On International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, 96 organisations stand with Palestinian political prisoners

Post author By ELSC
Post date 29 November 2022
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On International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we joined a statement along with more than 90 organisations. The statement, initiated by Palestinian human rights organisation Addameer, shows support to Palestinian political prisoners and civil society and demands an end to the Israeli occupation authorities’ arbitrary policies.

This International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Addameer calls on the international community to demonstrate support for Palestinian political prisoners, both directly with the actions of the Palestinian Prisoner Movement, as well as through demanding an end to the Israeli occupation authorities’ arbitrary policies and practices of deprivation of liberty; administrative detention, inhumane prison conditions and a crackdown on civil society activism, all of which serve to construct and maintain the Israeli apartheid regime.

The year 2022 has been the deadliest for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 2015. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the Israeli occupying forces have killed over 200 Palestinians so far- 51 of that number are children, the majority shot by Israeli forces or armed settlers in the occupied West Bank. At the same time, in August 2022, Israel launched yet another aggression against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, during which 49 Palestinians, including 17 children, were killed, and another 335 were injured.

As recent Israeli elections recorded a swing to the far-right and the targeting of activists and peaceful protesters has vastly increased, the conditions for Palestinian prisoners mirror those on the ground. Currently, 4760 Palestinian political prisoners are held in Israeli occupation prisons, including 160 children and 33 women. Of that number, 820 are administrative detainees, held without charge or trial based on undisclosed “secret information,” four of whom are children and three are women.

Over the last two years, Addameer has documented a significant and rapid increase in Israel’s use of administrative detention, not only as a tool to quash legitimate civil resistance and civic work against the Israeli settler-colonial and apartheid regime but as a form of control and intimidation over the Palestinian people as a whole. From within prisons, Palestinian political prisoners and detainees have used the tools available to them to stand up against the systemic discrimination and violation of their basic rights, engaging in individual and collective hunger strikes, abstentions from medical treatment, and a collective boycott of military courts.

Recently, renowned international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have built on the work and research of Palestinian civil society in recognising Israel’s policies and practices of domination, fragmentation and oppression against Palestinians amount to apartheid. International criminal law defines apartheid as a crime against humanity committed through inhumane acts “in the context of an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group” with the intention of maintaining such a regime. Israel’s establishment of dual bodies of law discriminately governing people based on nationality, and the unequal application of administrative detention, through which thousands of Palestinians have been incarcerated for security offenses in comparison to a “handful” of Israelis, was highlighted by Human Rights Watch as a specific modality of its apartheid regime.

Administrative Detention and the Palestinian Prisoner Movement

Administrative detention, a colonial practice first used by the British Mandate and reappropriated by the Israeli regime, is the indefinite imprisonment of individuals, without trial or charge, whom Israel alleges may pose a future “risk to the security of the area.” The decision is made based on “secret information,” which is neither disclosed to the detainee nor their lawyer. The inherent structure of Israeli military courts, in which Israeli military officers serve as the judge and prosecutor, ruling following Israeli military orders issued by the Israeli military commander precludes any independence and impartiality, violating the essence of fair trial guarantees. It is therefore impossible to mount a defence. A person can initially be detained for six months; however, this order can be extended indefinitely. Detainees, therefore, have no idea when they will be released; taking a major psychological toll on them and their families.

Despite its blatant violation of fair trial standards, Israel acts with impunity and is indiscriminate in the use of administrative detention; targeting university students, former prisoners, children, and vulnerable individuals. The year 2021 saw a surge of 1,695 administrative detention orders, concentrated in May and June, as part of Israel’s campaign of mass arbitrary arrests following the escalation of aggression against the Palestinian people across the occupied territories. On 12 May 2021 alone, the homes of almost 60 Palestinians, a group constituted of journalists, activists, and Palestinian Legislative Council candidates were raided and arrested- 25 of this group were transferred to administrative detention. Between January to October 2022, Israeli occupation authorities issued around 1,789 administrative detention, already surpassing the number of orders from last year. Further, Israel is increasingly renewing detention orders as a method of suppression, ensuring that prisoners remain detained; between June and October 2022, there were 628 renewal orders and 452 new orders.

In January 2022, all Palestinian administrative detainees, around 500 at that time, initiated a collective boycott of the Israeli military judicial system. The detainees refused to participate in military court proceedings at all levels, and their legal counsel did not appear on their behalf. The boycott called for an end to administrative detention. Officially, the collective military court boycott ended in July 2022; however, many detainees continue their boycott, emphasizing the lack of trust in any judicial process and fair trial guarantees under the Israeli judicial system. As Israeli military judges refuse to acknowledge the protest, military court hearings and judicial reviews of administrative detention orders continue to be held in the absence of the detainees.

Hunger strikes have long been used as a peaceful and legitimate means to demand basic rights. During 2021, Addameer documented an increasing number of 60 detainees undertaking hunger strikes- many of whom sustained permanent health consequences or imminent threats to life. In August this year, Palestinian detainee Khalil Awadeh ended his 172-day hunger strike. The following month, 30 detainees, including Palestinian-French human rights lawyer Salah Hammouri, launched an open hunger strike in protest of administrative detention. The hunger strike was suspended in October, following an agreement with Israeli occupation authorities to prioritise discussions on administrative detention and release elderly and sick detainees by the end of the year. The latter has yet to act on this promise.

Methods of Oppression of Palestinian Prisoners

Any resistance from the Palestinian Prisoner Movement is in the face of a brutal apparatus of unlawful policy, systematically wielded with absolute impunity to quash Palestinian spirits inside prison. Whilst administrative detention is one of Israel’s most unjust policies, it is just one of the cruel processes levied on Palestinian prisoners. Once arrested, detainees are regularly subjected to physical, positional, and psychological torture, a practice effectively legalised through which “physical pressure” is permissible in situations of “necessity.” Beatings, solitary confinement, and sleep deprivation are also used. Such practices are regularly obscured through the complicity of medical professionals, and military courts, a point documented by Addameer in its Cell No.26 report this year.

The torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners are not limited to interrogation and are a threat levied on prisoners throughout their incarceration. Prison raids are well-documented, and used as a form of collective punishment by the Israeli Prison Services (“IPS”); systematically exploiting any excuse to deploy special forces into prisons to attack and harass Palestinian prisoners and detainees. In September 2021, six Palestinian prisoners escaped from the high-security Gilboa prison. The escaped detainees were eventually remanded, but not before the IPS embarked upon a campaign of collective punishment against all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. 350 prisoners were transferred to unknown locations (notwithstanding that the illegal forcible transfer of protected persons from occupied territory into the occupying state constitutes unlawful deportation in contravention of international law). A lockdown on all prisons and detention centres was implemented, denying prisoners access to lawyers and family visits, in addition to conducting violent raids.

Designation of Addameer as a “Terrorist” Organization

Further, Israel has employed new methods to restrict those acting to defend the rights of Palestinians. On 19 October 2021, Addameer, along with five other Palestinian civil society organisations, was designated as “terrorist” organisations by the Israeli Minister of “Defense.” The offices of the six organisations based in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah were raided by the Israeli occupying forces the following year. The designation, which has a profound impact on the safety of both the organisations’ staff and service users, is the latest event in Israel’s crackdown on Palestinian civic space and targeted campaign to silence Palestinian voices. The designation has been widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations and European Union, for its attack on legitimate human rights work and lack of evidential basis. Despite this, Israel has refused to amend its position. As long as the designation remains in place, Addameer’s work in providing crucial legal representation for Palestinian prisoners, as well as documenting human rights abuses to hold Israel accountable on an international scale, remains at risk. Without the presence of civil society organisations, Palestinian prisoners lose vital support on the ground.

While various UN experts have attempted to hold Israel to account, it has repeatedly refused to abide by international law principles and engage with their demands. As a concluding remark, we recall the case of Ahmad Manasra, arrested in 2015 at the age of 13, and has been detained in Israeli occupation prison since. His publicly circulated violent interrogation drew widespread condemnation. Following years of imprisonment, including sustained periods of solitary confinement, medical reports have found that Ahmad now suffers from serious mental health problems, including schizophrenia and suicidal ideation.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly rejected requests for Ahmad’s release, citing the retrospectively applied counter-terrorism law as a reason preventing his early release. UN human rights experts have called for Ahmad’s release, saying:

“Ahmad’s imprisonment for almost six years has deprived him of childhood, family environment, protection, and all the rights he should have been guaranteed as a child. This case is haunting in many respects and his continuous detention, despite his deteriorating mental conditions, is a stain on all of us as part of the international human rights community […] To Ahmad we say, we regret we failed to protect you”

The impunity with which Israel is able to commit systematic human rights violations must end, before we fail to protect the Palestinian people, including prisoners. Amidst an aggravating political climate, the situation for Palestinian prisoners is only worsening. Addameer seeks to amplify the Palestinian Prisoner Movement’s demands to end Israel’s systematic and widespread reliance on administrative detention on the international stage; without this work, Israel’s regime will further isolate and silence the voices of Palestinian prisoners. Vocal international solidarity with the movement is urgent and essential. It should further extend, not only to the civil society organisations who work to document and amplify the struggles of prisoners but through condemnation of Israeli apartheid and its use of administrative detention as a method of oppression.

Local Organizations:

Academics for Palestine- Concordia University, Montreal (Canada)
Al Dameer Association for Human Rights (Palestine)
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Palestine)
Al Salam Förening (Sweden)
Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man (Palestine)
Applied Research Institute- Jerusalem (ARIJ) (Palestine)
Arab Women Organization for Jordan (Jordan)
Baltimore Nonviolence Center (U.S.A)
BDS Mexico (Mexico)
BDS Vancouver/ Coast Salish Territories (Canada)
Bisan Centre for Research and Development (Palestine)
Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver (Canada)
Center for Defense of Liberties & Civil Rights “HURRYYAT” (Palestine)
Chrysalis Theatre Incorporated (UK)
Coalició Prou Complicitat amb Israel (Catalonia)
Collectif Palestine Vaincra (France)
Comité de Solidaridad con la Causa Árabe (Spain)
Comité Universitario Solidaridad Pueblo Palestino (Mexico)
Community Action Center, Al-Quds University (Palestine)
Defense for Children International- Palestine (Palestine)
Gaza Action Ireland (Ireland)
Harvard Law School Advocates for Human Rights (U.S.A)
Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS” (Palestine)
Indian Association of Lawyers (India)
Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL) (Lebanon)
NYU Law Students for Justice in Palestine (U.S.A)
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association (Canada)
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU) (Canada)
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (Palestine)
Palestinian Prisoners Society (Palestine)
Regina Peace Council (Canada)
SANA for Special Individuals (Jordan)
Swedish Friends of the Freedom Theatre (Sweden)
The Freedom Theatre (Palestine)
The Palestine Institute for Public Democracy (Palestine)
The Palestine Performing Arts Network (Palestine)
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH (Palestine)
The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) (Palestine)
The Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (Palestine)
Union of Agricultural Work Committees (Palestine)
Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (Palestine)

Regional Organizations:

ACAT-France
Arab Network for Civic Education- ANHRE
Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
California Coalition for Women Prisoners
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) Victoria
Comunitat Palestina de Catalunya
Corporación Jurídica Libertad
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
Freedom Archives
Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theater
GreaterToronto4BDS
Harvard Advocates for Human Rights
Human Rights for Law (HR4A) Saskatchewan
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Irídia – Center for the Defense of Human Rights
Jewish Network for Palestine
Jewish Voices for Peace
Justice Peace Advocates/ Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Law Students for Justice in Palestine, Georgetown Law
Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
Palestine House
Project South
Rising Tide North America
RootsAction Education Fund
Socialist Action/ Ligue pour l’Action Socialiste
Students for Justice in Palestine, Chicago
The Canadian BDS Coalition
U.S Palestinian Community Network
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USPCR)

International Organizations:

Africa4Palestine
Arab Organization for Human Rights
Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)
ATL Jenine
Critical Resistance
Early Childhood Development Intercultural Partnerships
European Jews for a Just Peace (EJJP)
Eyewitness Palestine
International Organization for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD)
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
Kali_Feminists
National Students for Justice in Palestine
NOVACT- International Institute for Nonviolent Action
Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos
Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
Paz con Dignidad
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
SUDS – Associació Internacional de Solidaritat i Cooperació
The Freedom Theater
United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)
War on Want
World BEYOND War

See the original publication on Addameer’s website.

Statement

ELSC will be back on Twitter soon

Post author By ELSC
Post date 28 November 2022
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Dear followers,

As some of you may have noticed, the ELSC’s Twitter account has been down since last week. We want to reassure you that this is due to technical reasons only and that we are doing our best to get our page back as soon as possible. The current situation unfolding at Twitter and the ensuing staff shortages might explain why some processes seem to have considerably lengthened and why our problem has not been fixed yet.

We apologise for the inconvenience and, in the meantime, we encourage you to keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.

We hope to find you back on Twitter soon!

In solidarity,

The ELSC

Icon: Cc Jurgen Appelo (Flickr)

Fundraising Campaign

Help us carry on our fight for justice for Palestinian rights advocates

Post author By ELSC
Post date 25 November 2022
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We have just launched our year-end campaign to gather the funds we need to continue our work in 2023!

We have until the end of this year to raise €20,000 to fund our legal battles for next year! Without the generosity of our supporters, our work in the defence of Palestinian rights advocates is at risk.

HELP US PROTECT OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR PALESTINE

Throughout 2022, we have grown our team and now boast 10 professional staff members giving their all into tackling cases of repression, mostly in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, and providing legal support to Palestinian civil society organisations. Owing to donations, we were able to win more cases than any year before: more than 80 individuals and organisations had their fundamental rights upheld after the ELSC intervened.

Throughout 2022, we have helped secure victories in court for our community

With our assistance, Dr Anna-Esther Younes challenged German institutions in court and the two organisations responsible for surveilling, smearing and censoring her were held accountable. Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Farah Maraqa also won her lawsuit against German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which had dismissed her for alleged antisemitism in an attempt to silence her.

In the UK, our team helped Gazan scholar Shahd Abusalama recover her teaching position after she was suspended by Sheffield Hallam University and brutally smeared in the public sphere.

I am indebted to the ELSC. The support they have provided has really helped me in challenging the mainstream media. They provide a crucial service.
— UK activist supported by the ELSC

Some people do a great job for Palestine and the ELSC are at the top of the list.
— Football Against Apartheid

I would have probably not written about Palestine without your support and the positive outcome.
— British academic supported by the ELSC

LET’S WIN MORE CASES

In order to tackle the growing climate of repression across Europe with even more might in 2023, we urgently need the resources.

Will you join our movement for justice? Become an ELSC supporter today to ensure that defenders of Palestinian rights keep receiving free legal support by making a monthly donation to the ELSC.

DONATE

Thank you, from the whole ELSC team, for your deep dedication and solidarity.

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media and amplify our work!

If you are a legal practitioner or a volunteer who wants to be part of our movement in support of Palestinian rights advocates, please contact us at info@elsc.support.

Tags Academic freedom, Apartheid, BDS, censorship, end of year campaign, Freedom of Expression, fundraising, IHRA, repression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: October 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 11 November 2022
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Throughout the past month, we’ve succeeded in empowering and defending freedom of expression and the right to advocate against repression and injustice in Palestine.

HELP US KEEP UP OUR WORK

Before all else, the ELSC wishes to draw attention to the urgent situation engulfing Palestine in recent weeks. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing mass repression. As Europe carries on with its concerted efforts to silence Palestine, the movement perseveres and we nonetheless have victories to report!

Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!

AUSTRIA: FOUR UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION AND SUED BDS ACTIVIST SECURES FIRST VICTORY IN STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, SR on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and SR on the situation of human rights defenders have sent a communication to Austrian authorities. They demand clarification on the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit filed by the City against a BDS Austria activist.

The SRs expressed “concern that the City of Vienna’s filing of a lawsuit against a member of BDS Austria may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances“.

📝 Amplify BDS Austria’s statement 📝

The BDS activist in question has secured a victory on October 22 as the administrative authority at the City of Vienna drops its proceedings! We’re hopeful that this decision pushes the civil court to dismiss the SLAPP still pending against the activist.

Back in April, a judge upheld the SLAPP lodged by the City of Vienna against the activist over the same post. The City’s argument? The sarcastic “Visit apartheid” statement associated with the City’s logo constitutes defamation and BDS “incites to hatred against Israeli people”.

But this latest victory may mark a turning point in the judicial saga. The activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, is hopeful that the civil court will now follow suit:

“It is very positive that the administration of the City of Vienna has reaffirmed the importance of the exercise of freedom of opinion. […] We hope that the civil proceedings still pending will also have the same outcome. It is vital to reiterate that freedom of opinion, and freedom of boycott as its component, are essential in order to safeguard democracy.“

read our press release

📣 Share the good news on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook 📣

SUPPORT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS – TAKE ACTION

Support the activist’s legal battle and donate
Sign the petition to demand the Municipality of Vienna ends its lawfare against legitimate BDS action

⚖️ Will you help us win more cases? ⚖️

Consider a monthly donation to the ELSC. Every donation, no matter how small or large, makes a difference.

donate

UK: WHILE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY REJECTS IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM, UKLFI DEFENDS TEACHER’S ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS

We congratulate Aberdeen University’s move to reject the IHRA working definition of antisemitism!

We encourage students to continue to resist the adoption and the use of the flawed IHRA definition at university with this toolkit. Combat racism, hold the Israeli government accountable, and reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism!

📣 Amplify our Twitter thread 📣

Meanwhile, a member of UK Lawyers for Israel has provided an “expert witness” testimony in support of a teacher sanctioned for antisemitism. The teacher is a supporter of Israel and began posting antisemitic content on social media under a pseudonym in a futile attempt to “bait” Palestine solidarity organisations into endorsing racism. The UKLFI member testified in support of the teacher in an attempt to defend his actions as a supporter of Israel, stating that “the IHRA definition had never been intended for use as a tool to sanction people nor as a means to take away their livelihood or free speech, or indeed to effect discipline.”

Contrasting with UKLFI’s usual stance that anti-Zionism constitutes antisemitism and its strong campaigning for the implementation of the IHRA definition, this case reveals manipulation and insincerity in how the IHRA definition is used by pro-Israel organisations: it is not a tool to combat antisemitism but, rather, a tool to censor Palestinian rights advocacy.

📣 Share the news on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter 📣

Stay updated on our UK cases with our brand-new country-specific website!

GERMANY: PROGRESS IN CHALLENGING THE BUNDESTAG’S ANTI-BDS LEGISLATION AS NEXT HEARING IS CONFIRMED

The Bundestag 3 for Palestine (BT3P) suing the German federal parliament for the anti-BDS resolution adopted in 2019 mark a new step against resisting the legislation: the next hearing at the Higher Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenbur has been announced for the first half of 2023!

Eight decisions have already affirmed the illegitimacy of anti-BDS law in Germany: the Munich Regional Court, the administrative courts of Lower Saxony, Cologne, Hesse, Bavaria and, most recently Leipzig, have convicted the cities of Oldenburg, Bonn, Frankfurt and Munich for violating the constitutional rights to equality, freedom of expression and assembly.

✊ Support this crucial legal battle against shrinking civic space in Germany ✊

UN: 65 ORGANISATIONS SEND A LETTER TO THE NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, URGING FOR CONCRETE MEASURES TO ENSURE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

On 17 October 2022, 65 Palestinian, regional and international organisations sent a joint letter to the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, welcoming him in his new position and highlighting some of the recent alarming Israeli policies and practices imposed against Palestinians.

ONGOING CAMPAIGNS IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE

Meta, Let Palestine Speak!

Hold Meta accountable for censoring Palestinian content on social media.

READ THE JOINT STATEMENT

#StopSettlements

Sign the ECI petition to demand an end to European trade with illegal settlements. Please add your signature and share it with your family and friends!

SIGN THE PETITION

#JusticeForSalah

Take action for Salah Hammouri, the Palestinian-French lawyer imprisoned in administrative detention.

TAKE ACTION

#FreeAhmadManasra

Support the campaign for the release of the young Ahmad Manasra, detained in Israeli jails and suffering from serious consequences to his mental health.

SUPPORT

EVENTS

Check out the second panel on “Anti-Zionism as taboo” organised by
Judeobolschewienerinnen with Palestine Speaks, JID Leipzig, Dr. Sarah El-Bulbeisi and Dr Anna-Esther Younes. This discussion is essential in a context such as the German and Austrian, where censorship is widespread. Freedom of expression and of assembly are continuously at risk. Dr. Anna-Esther Younes’ and Walaa Alqaisiya’s cases are clear examples of this climate.

ELSC was proud to participate in the 2022 edition of the Festival des Libertés in Brussels, attending a panel on the criminalisation of solidarity. Listen to the discussion here (French).

USEFUL RESOURCES

Take a look at the new publication on the growing Israeli repression of Palestinian civil society and the crime of apartheid by Palestine Studies and Al Haq.

Read Hebh Jamal’s overview of anti-Palestinian racism, including of the use of the IHRA definition to repress artistic and political expression and the role of mainstream media in amplifying the racist vitriol.

You can find resources on challenging the IHRA definition here.

Read the new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on ecological crisis climate justice and racial justice. Here, the SP analyses how the IHRA definition risks being weaponised to restrict freedom of expression, demonstration and the press.

Thank you for your continued support!

In solidarity,

The ELSC team

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media @elsclegal and amplify our work!

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

If you are a legal practitioner or a volunteer who wants to be part of our movement in support of Palestinian rights advocates, please contact us at info@elsc.support.

Tags Academic freedom, Apartheid, BDS, censorship, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, repression, SLAPP

Press Release

First step towards justice for Palestinian rights activist in Vienna sued over social media post

Post author By ELSC
Post date 9 November 2022
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European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Vienna, November 9, 2022

The Viennese administrative authority has discontinued proceedings brought against the BDS Austria activist, including a fine of up to 3.500€, which accused the activist of committing an administrative offence. The activist and their lawyer are hopeful that this verdict will compel the civil court to dismiss the pending SLAPP and lead to a full vindication of the activist’s rights.

On 20 October 2022, in a positive turn of events, the administrative authority dismissed the proceedings brought against a BDS activist for posting a third-party photo of the famous “Visit apartheid” poster parodically emblazoned with the City of Vienna logo. The charges were initially brought on the grounds of the improper use of the City’s logo, a violation of the Administrative Offences Act which warranted a fine of up to €3.500.

The administrative authority based its sudden halt of the proceedings on section 45(1) of the Administrative Offences Act 1991 (VStG), which allows for a dismissal of proceedings where, among other things: the defendant is innocent, the offence is not reprehensible or the harm raised by the claim is not severe enough to justify the proceedings. Although the administrative authority was unable to specify any one of the reasons listed in section 45(1), the fact that it relied on this provision in the first place clearly shows that it understood the claim to be baseless.

In the meantime, the City of Vienna’s SLAPP against the activist for defamation is still ongoing.

Back in April 2022, a judge contestably upheld the SLAPP lodged by the City against the activist over the same post. In the submission, the City of Vienna complained that the sarcastic “Visit apartheid” statement associated with the City’s logo would amount to defamation and that the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement “incites to hatred against Israeli people”. The activist has appealed this decision.

In a letter sent in May 2022 to the Austrian authorities, four UN Special Rapporteurs had also expressed concerns about the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit that “may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances”.

The latest victory may mark a turning point in this judicial saga.

The activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, welcomes the decision dated 20 October 2022:

It is very positive that the administration of the City of Vienna has reaffirmed the importance of the exercise of freedom of opinion, thus demonstrating that Viennese institutions still have willpower to tackle violations of fundamental human rights. We hope that the civil proceedings still pending will also have the same outcome. It is vital to reiterate that freedom of opinion, and freedom of boycott as its component, are essential in order to safeguard democracy.

The judgment on the appeal against the interim decision has not yet been issued, and a hearing for the civil lawsuit is yet to be set.

TAKE ACTION

Donate to support the BDS activist in their legal battle
Email the Mayor of Vienna and demand he drops the lawsuit
Sign the petition demanding the City of Vienna end the SLAPP and repeal its anti-BDS resolution

Tags Apartheid, BDS, Freedom of Expression, SLAPP

Case Update

Dr Anna Younes Surveillance’s Case: the Fight Continues with Two New Lawsuits

Post author By ELSC
Post date 3 November 2022
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On 2 November 2022, exactly three years after she discovered RIAS’ covert surveillance of her activities and after two legal victories, Dr Anna Younes launches two new lawsuits. She requests the Administrative Court of Berlin to find the preparation and transmission of the secret dossier on her unlawful, and she requests compensation.

On November 1 2019, RIAS/MBR shared a secret dossier it had compiled on Dr Anna Younes with the head of Die Linke/The Left, framing her as an anti-Jewish racist, sexist, and terrorist sympathizer. This led to her hasty disinvitation from a panel discussion held the next day by the political party Die Linke/The Left. Three years later, the scholar is continuing her legal battle against this surveillance and censorship.

Dr Younes has already two legal victories to her credit since the Berlin District Court ordered RIAS/MBR to provide Dr Younes access to the secret dossier and the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA) ruled that RIAS/MBR violated European data protection law. However, the DPA found the preparation and transmission of the dossier by RIAS/MBR lawful on the basis of their ‘legitimate interest’ in influencing political actors. In doing so, the DPA failed to motivate its decision and to take into consideration the fundamental rights, freedoms, and interests of the scholar.

Today, Dr Younes demands that the administrative court review the controversial DPA’s decision and acknowledge that RIAS/MBR’s surveillance and false labelling of Dr Younes as an anti-Jewish racist violated her right to privacy and right to reputation.

In addition, she is filing a new civil lawsuit so that judges finally find the preparation and transmission of the dossier unlawful and order RIAS/MBR to cease the collection of her personal data. Dr Younes will also request compensation for the ensuing harm inflicted by RIAS/MBR for over two years.

“The two lawsuits are of paramount importance to challenge the repressive practices exercised by state-funded organisations such as RIAS Berlin and MBR. As long as German courts do not confirm their unlawfulness, those methods would become common-practice, unfettered and conducted without consideration of the individuals’s reputation and fundamental rights and freedoms. This is a crucial and collective legal battle.”
Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

Indeed, Dr Younes is not alone in facing smears, repression and censorship for exercising her freedom of expression and bringing the Palestinian narrative into the public discourse around racism. For this reason, third parties will also intervene in the administrative lawsuit to portray the extent of the harm inflicted by such surveillance practices.

TAKE ACTION

Read more about the case and watch this video

Read and sign the support letter

Listen to the podcast featuring Dr Younes, Inna Michaeli and Alice Garcia (Advocacy and Communications Manager at ELSC

Donate to support Dr Younes in her legal battle as she reclaims her rights in court

Tags Academic freedom, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, smear campaign

Statement

Joint Statement in Response to Dismissal of NUS President Shaima Dallali

Post author By ELSC
Post date 2 November 2022
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The ELSC signed a joint statement with other organisations in the UK to condemn the dismissal of NUS Shaima Dallali.

We are dismayed to see that the NUS’ investigation into their elected president, Shaima Dallali, has been allowed to reach this conclusion.

The disciplinary investigation into Ms. Dallali was triggered after pressure from the Government and the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) which led to a wider investigation into antisemitism within the NUS. We, amongst a range of legal, community, student and rights organisations have raised questions about the credibility of this process as a genuine anti-racist exercise. The dismissal of Ms. Dallali, and the discrimination which we consider that she has been subjected to, only exacerbates these concerns. We understand that Ms. Dallali is considering her right to appeal the dismissal and to bring Tribunal proceedings over the NUS’ treatment and dismissal of her.

We recognise the considerable political pressure put on the NUS to initiate and reach ‘the right result’ in these two investigatory processes. However, in bowing to this pressure, the NUS has undermined its own commitment to anti-racism, including the fight against antisemitism, and has abandoned its duty of care to its elected President. Ms. Dallali has been subjected to the most intense public scrutiny and horrifying abuse, including death threats. This is not the first time a Muslim woman of colour has had her social media trawled, her internet presence scrutinised, and her ability to do her elected role obstructed by a media-stoked outrage that ends up conflating legitimate criticisms of Israel with antisemitism. Unfortunately for Ms. Dallali, her grave concerns over her safety have been completely side-lined.

The refusal to accept Ms. Dallali’s unreserved apology for one tweet from a decade ago when she was a teenager, while publicising a number of spurious allegations around her support for Palestinian rights, speaks volumes about the nature of the NUS’ investigation. The fact that the decision to dismiss Ms. Dallali was leaked and published in the Jewish News and the Jewish Chronicle, and reportedly shared with the Government and the Leader of the Opposition, before she had even been notified, is wholly inappropriate and beggars belief.

From the outset of the dual investigations, we raised fundamental concerns about the framework for investigation and the failure to acknowledge how conflation of antisemitism with legitimate critique of Israeli oppression has been utilised to silence Palestinians and those who support their rights. The inclusion, for example, amongst the published allegations against Ms. Dallali, that she had tweeted ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ and had participated in a protest at KCL against the presence on campus of a former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, made clear a failure from the outset to distinguish between genuine antisemitism and legitimate advocacy for the rights of Palestinians.

We have also raised concerns about the disproportionate involvement of the UJS, who were given significant authority in the framing of the investigation and the appointment of the Independent Investigator. Whilst we recognise the need for the NUS to consult with a body representing Jewish students in addressing concerns about antisemitism, the degree of prioritisation of a single interested party violates due process.

It also fails to take into account the role the UJS has played in the conflation of antisemitism and legitimate critique of Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people, including promoting resources which suggest that it is inherently antisemitic to advocate for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel or to describe Israel as a state practising the crime of apartheid.

In this regard we note that the formal disciplinary process against Ms. Dallali was, in part, triggered by her public statements criticising Israel for its discriminatory laws and policies, and her calling out of the UJS on social media, prior to being elected president, for its evidenced activities aiming to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights. It is deeply concerning that criticism of the UJS for its overtly political pro-Israel advocacy has been reframed as evidence of hostility to all Jewish students, and thereby seen as grounds for dismissal.

Whilst we await the report into the broader investigation, Ms. Dallali’s dismissal renews our deep concerns that its likely outcome, rather than combatting the very real problem of antisemitism, will instead contribute to anti-Palestinian racism and the silencing of legitimate advocacy for Palestine.

In responding to this situation in this manner, we believe the NUS has made a series of misjudgments and reached an outcome that does precisely the opposite of its purported aim. It needs to embark on the significant task facing it to repair the damage done by this investigation and rebuild trust with students who are doing crucial anti-racism work, including those advocating for Palestinian rights and working to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism.

Signatories:

Palestine Solidarity Campaign

British Palestinian Committee

Diaspora Alliance

European Legal Support Centre

Muslim Association of Britain

Palestinian Forum in Britain

Tags Discrimination, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Media Coverage

A Member of UK Lawyers for Israel Provides “Expert Opinion” to Support a Teacher Sanctioned for Antisemitism

Post author By ELSC
Post date 24 October 2022
No Comments on A Member of UK Lawyers for Israel Provides “Expert Opinion” to Support a Teacher Sanctioned for Antisemitism
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UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) member, Lesley Klaff, provided “expert witness” testimony in support of a pro-Israel teacher accused of posting antisemitic material. Her testimony contradicts UKLFI’s usual position on anti-Zionist commentary. In April 2022, she testified to a Panel for the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is not to be interpreted strictly, but rather on a case-by-case basis, and that it should not be used to sanction people or restrict their freedom of speech.

Lesley Klaff’s testimony in support of someone who made vile, antisemitic sentiments appears to deviate from UKLFI’s modus operandi. However, the teacher’s political position as a pro-Israel supporter gives context to her sudden determination to stand behind him.

Edward Sutherland, religious education teacher and ex-Convenor of the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland (COFIS), used a pseudonym to post antisemitic material on Facebook in a fruitless attempt to “bait” and “expose” Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) members as racist, hoping that the antisemitic slurs would elicit supportive responses from SPSC. This case is just the latest in a line of attacks carried out by pro-Israel groups, utilising fake profiles to defame Palestinian rights advocates and silence any criticism of Israel’s apartheid regime and Zionism as a political ideology. The antisemitic commentary included plainly offensive statements, such as: “[l]ooks like a certain Zio’s big nose is out of joint”.

Lesley Klaff’s testimony that such commentary “was not unequivocally antisemitic” and that there is a clear distinction between antisemitism and anti-Zionism^[1] diverges drastically from UKLFI’s usual approach to anti-Zionist commentary.

UKLFI is a legal advocacy and campaigning organisation based in the UK that has been attempting to smear and disrupt the work of Palestinian human rights groups and their partners for years. Since the UK government adopted the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism in December 2016, UKLFI has strongly advocated for a rigorous implementation of the definition and its examples. UKLFI has stressed on multiple occasions that anti-Zionism and criticism of the state of Israel constitute antisemitism, and so has Lesley Klaff.

However, in this case, Klaff has interpreted the IHRA definition in an entirely different way. According to the minutes of Sutherland’s hearing, initially published on the GTSC’s website – the page has since been removed but the link is still available here – Klaff declared that:

Zionism relates to being pro-Israel as a political entity, and antisemitism as being anti-Jewish in a racial and religious sense. With no ‘concrete’ determination of antisemitism within the IHRA definition, consideration of any comments as being antisemitic required account to be taken of the context and all of the circumstances in each case.

The IHRA definition had never been intended for use as a tool to sanction people nor as a means to take away their livelihood or free speech, or indeed to effect discipline.

Lesley Klaff’s testimony reveals manipulation and insincerity in how the IHRA definition is used by pro-Israel organisations not as a tool to combat antisemitism but, rather, a tool to censor Palestinian rights advocacy through the false conflation of criticism of Zionism with antisemitism. It, therefore, seems fitting that a UKLFI member acknowledges that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism purely in support of a pro-Israel individual who posted abusive antisemitic content online in an attempt to thwart Palestinian rights advocacy. The genuine offensiveness of Mr Sutherland’s comments, which were upheld as antisemitic in spite of Lesley Klaff’s testimony, brings into question UKLFI’s motivations, and that of some of its members, when putting forward the general stance that anti-Zionism equals antisemitism. This case highlights the inconsistency underpinning UKLFI’s equation of antisemitism and anti-Zionism and its exploitation of antisemitism for political gain.

References[+]References[−]

References
↑1	She stated: “Zionism relates to being pro-Israel as a political entity, and antisemitism as being anti-Jewish in a racial and religious sense.”

Tags IHRA, Lawfare

Call

Call for Applications: Human Rights Practitioners Fellowship Programme 2023

Post author By ELSC
Post date 18 October 2022
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We are proud to launch a Fellowship Programme for young Palestinian law graduates in order to encourage the centrality of the Palestinian voice in our collective work for justice. The program will equip fellows with further training on the use of legal mechanisms, advocacy, media and other tools to support grass-roots movements and advance social justice causes.

As an ELSC-Human Rights Practitioner fellow, you will work to develop legal memos, devise strategies, conduct research and assist clients with their rights as well as monitor developments of attacks against advocates for Palestinian rights. The work is conducted in partnership with human rights lawyers and NGOs of different European countries.

As part of our strategy to monitor, defend and empower Palestinian rights advocates, in this role, you will:

a) assist with research to monitor the repression of Palestinian rights advocates;

b) provide legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under European human rights law;

c) develop strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies

d) analyse relevant legislation and jurisprudence under EU law regarding cases of limits to freedom of expression and human rights advocacy.

To read the full Programme description, requirements and practical matters, please click here.

To apply for this position, send your CV, a one-page cover letter in English outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, to application@elsc.support with the subject line “Human Rights Practitioners Fellowship” by Tuesday 1st of November 2022.

Tags Call for Application

Release

65 Organisations Send a Letter to the New High Commissioner for Human Rights, Urging for Concrete Measures to Ensure Justice and Accountability for the Palestinian People

Specifically, the letter underscored Israel’s 15-year-old closure and blockade of the Gaza Strip; Israel’s escalation in its invasive military incursions into Palestinian cities in recent months; and its closure as acts of collective punishment of Shu’fat Refugee Camp and ‘Anata; as well as an aggravation in the Israeli Occupying Forces’ (IOF) use of its ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy. Furthermore, the letter underlined the increase of Israel’s campaign of mass arbitrary arrests and detentions, including in its arbitrary, coercive, and punitive administrative detention policy.

Noting how the Palestinian people have been denied their right to self-determination for decades, the joint letter emphasised that the human rights situation in Palestine should be at the top of the High Commissioner’s agenda, including by prioritising the annual updating the UN Database on Settlement Business Activities, as mandated. The letter noted with concern, the repeated and unexplained delays regarding the update of the Database, which are unprecedented in the way the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has handled prior mandates, and are due to reported political pressure and interference exerted on the OHCHR. To this end, the letter highlighted Israel’s systematic efforts in silencing human rights defenders, voicing their opposition to Israel’s unlawful policies and practices and pushing for international justice and accountability, including by arbitrarily outlawing six prominent Palestinian civil society organisations. That being said, the organisations expressed their trust that such pressure will not derail the OHCHR from its commitment to human rights, justice, and accountability, and urged the new High Commissioner and his Office to:

Recognise and acknowledge the root causes of the prolonged denial of Palestinian rights, embedded in Israel’s settler-colonialism and apartheid;
Prioritise the annual updating of the UN Database, as mandated under HRC Resolution 31/36 and ensure that appropriate resources are allocated so as to allow for continued development of the Database;
Continue working with civil society organisations and human rights defenders in full transparency for the completion and continuous updating of the Database;
Address Israel’s institutionalised and systematic targeting of the Palestinian people, including the 15-year-long closure on the Gaza Strip, and Israel’s mass and arbitrary ‘shoot-to-kill’ and administrative detention policies; and
Investigate and report, by means of country visits or otherwise, attacks against human rights defenders working on issues related to Palestine and facing intimidation or arbitrary legislative or administrative restrictions, and ensure their protection.

Read the full letter here.

Picture: CC-by-2.0 Justin McIntosh

Tags Apartheid

Case Update Press Release

Four UN Special Rapporteurs Address Their Concerns to Austrian Authorities About Anti-BDS Resolution and Lawsuit Against Activist

Post author By ELSC
Post date 13 October 2022
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UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, SR on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, SR on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and SR on the situation of human rights defenders sent a communication to Austrian authorities, asking clarification on the City of Vienna’s anti-BDS resolution and the lawsuit the City filed against a BDS activist.

In the communication sent on 20 May 2022, the SR raised their concerns about the resolution adopted in 2018, “which includes undue restrictions to the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and of association”. They further expressed “concern that the City of Vienna’s filing of a lawsuit against a member of BDS Austria may hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders committed to monitor and denounce human rights violations in occupied Palestine, shrinking the civic space available to them to express legitimate grievances”.

The BDS Austria activist published a social media post showing a picture of the famous poster stating “Visit Apartheid” that was stuck on a billboard along with the official logo of the Municipality of Vienna. The post had the sarcastic caption “We are pleased that the City of Vienna also takes note of apartheid and publicly states it”. In November 2021, the City of Vienna filed a SLAPP (Strategic lawsuit against public participation) against the activist on the grounds of defamation and unlawful use of the City’s logo. It claimed that the BDS movement “incites to hatred against Israeli people” and therefore being publicly associated with BDS would amount to defamation since “the designation of the situation in Israel/Palestine as an “Apartheid” constitutes damage to our reputation”. In a highly contestable decision delivered on 6 April 2022, the Commercial Court of Vienna endorsed the City’s lawsuit and ruled against the BDS activist.

The SR are worried that “this judgement in the first instance consolidates the City of Vienna’s motion against the BDS movement”. The resolution, which falsely labels the BDS movement as “antisemitic”, was indeed invoked by the City in the lawsuit. As stated in a legal opinion commissioned by the ELSC and authored by Professors Xavier Dupré De Boulois, Eric David, Richard Falk and John Reynolds, the resolution infringes on the fundamental rights of freedoms of expression, association and assembly of Palestinian rights advocates.

Moreover, the SR recalled the legality and legitimacy of the BDS movement: “we point out that expressing support for, or opposition to, BDS, is fully guaranteed by the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and association” enshrined in articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and political Rights. They also cited the European Court of Human Rights milestone judgement Baldassi and Others v. France and positive case law confirming the right to BDS in France and Germany. The SR further added that “this is in line with the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA)” which “stipulates that ‘boycott, divestment and sanctions are commonplace, non-violent forms of political protest against states’.”

On 8 July 2022, the Austrian authorities replied to the communication, failing to respond to most of the requests sent by the Special Rapporteurs. Instead, they reiterated their baseless and unfounded claims targeting BDS Austria: “Their movement’s campaigns are often referred to as antisemitic”. They stood firm in a problematic position that was observed in the context of the lawsuit against BDS Austria and that contradicts the freedom of expression and protection of human rights defenders.

The reply of the Austrian authorities makes the legal battle of the activist even more necessary in order to challenge the suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy in Austria. The BDS activist appealed the Court decision and is ready, if necessary, to stand before the European Court of Human Rights to assert his fundamental right to freedom of expression, a right enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

SUPPORT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS – TAKE ACTION

Donate to help the activist covering the legal fees
Sign the petition co-sponsored by the ECCP to ask the Municipality of Vienna to stop its lawfare against BDS activists

ELSC Newsletter: September 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 October 2022
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Throughout the past few months, the solidarity movement has won several victories in pushing back against repression. Through legal challenge and public advocacy, it is possible to make our critical voices heard!

We need your continued support to keep up the crucial fight for freedom of expression and Palestinian rights.

DONATE

And don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

GERMANY: TWO SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS AGAINST DEUTSCHE WELLE

In July 2022, we witnessed the first victory for a journalist involved in the Deutsche Welle (DW) case that began back in February 2022, when the public broadcaster fired seven Arab journalists based on allegations of antisemitism. The Bonn Labour Court found that the dismissal of Palestinian journalist Maram Salem by the German outlet was unlawful.

Then, in September 2022, the Berlin Labour Court ruled in favour of Farah Maraqa, ordering DW to reinstate her and cover the costs of the legal dispute.

The ELSC is proud to have supported Farah Maraqa, who stood firm in her convictions and had the courage to take DW to court.

📣 Share the good news on Twitter and Instagram! 📣

However, the DW management seems to have institutionalised its prejudiced stance in a new Code of Conduct that mentions Israel twice, including: “Due to Germany’s history, we have a special obligation towards Israel.” It is unclear what obligations this statement is implying for DW employees or subcontractors. This raises important questions related to press independence.

⚖️ Will you help us win more cases? ⚖️

DONATE

NETHERLANDS: A POSITIVE PRESS COUNCIL DECISION FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES

In August 2022, the Dutch Press Council ruled that Dutch daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad acted carelessly by publishing allegations of antisemitism against The Rights Forum without hearing them.

❗NL Press Council rules that a newspaper can't publish antisemitism allegations against a person without hearing the party accused.
⚖️justice for @TheRightsForum, facing a smear campaign aimed at restricting its journalistic use of FOI requests to research pro-Israel advocacy https://t.co/TAit5UVQr6
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) August 5, 2022

This is an important achievement considering the Dutch NGO has been facing a harsh smear campaign since the beginning of the year, after it filed a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) seeking to research ties between Dutch universities and pro-Israel advocacy groups as well as Israeli institutions, government agencies and Israeli arms, surveillance and security companies.

The Rights Forum also achieved a significant victory against disinformation. After the organisation alerted Google about a Google ad sponsored by the Israeli government labelling Amnesty International as antisemitic, Google took down the ad within one day.

DOCUMENTA FIFTEEN: “WE ARE DETERMINED, WE ARE TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT GIVING UP”

On 25 September 2022, the world’s largest contemporary art exhibition, documenta fifteen, closed after months of brutal and unfounded allegations against the curators ruangrupa, members of the artistic team and participating artists. Palestinian artists and others who expressed solidarity with them faced smears, insults, assaults, death threats, cyber harassment and vandalism.

In the latest development, a committee appointed to investigate antisemitism into documenta fifteen issued a very controversial preliminary report and a statement accusing the lumbung community (ruangrupa and artists) of Israel-related antisemitism. The community responded with a powerful statement denouncing racism, Eurocentrism and censorship.

VIENNA: NEW COURSE AT VIENNA FINE ARTS ACADEMY SIGNALS FURTHER ERASURE OF PALESTINIAN NARRATIVE

The Austrian institution that censored Palestinian academic Dr. Walaa Alqaisiyia will host a course entitled “Antiantianti – Conflicts about Antiantisemitism and Antiracism in the Politicized Art World” and will be using Walaa’s disinvitation as a case study.

The abstract of the course clearly displays a pro-Israel bias and misrepresents the Palestine solidarity movement. We condemn the holding of a course that is likely to fuel insidious censorship of genuine anti-racist discourse.

READ OUR STATEMENT

📣 Share on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! 📣

#STOPTRADEWITHSETTLEMENTS: A NEW PARTNER IN THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO BAN EU TRADE WITH ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS

Avaaz just joined the #StopTradeWithSettlements coalition and calls on everyone to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative to ban EU trade with illegal settlements!

SIGN

📣 Share the campaign on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! 📣

Friends of the Earth Europe also published a compelling and important blog post over the summer. The largest grassroots environmental network in Europe explains the link between food sovereignty in Palestine and Israeli settlements, highlighting the necessity to stop all EU trade with the latter.

#STANDWITHTHE6: A NEW PHASE OF REPRESSION AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY

On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided the offices of seven Palestinian organisations including the six that were designated as “terrorist” by the Israeli government in October 2021. The IOF confiscated documents and equipment, destroyed material, sealed entrance doors and left military orders ordering the closure of the organisations. Over 150 organisations, including the ELSC, demanded the international community take all the necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders.

So far, the EU has remained quiescent on the matter, as it has regarding the protection of French-Palestinian human rights defender Salah Hammouri. For the past two decades, Salah has been subjected to constant harassment and deprivation of his fundamental rights by Israeli authorities. His three-month administrative detention based on “secret evidence” was again renewed at the beginning of September 2022 and he has now been transferred into solitary confinement. Along with other political prisoners, Salah began a hunger strike on 25 September and has since been deprived of salt. Read more in the urgent letter sent to French President Emmanuel Macron by Salah’s lawyers.

READ OUR JOINT STATEMENT

📣 Join the #JusticeforSalah campaign and amplify it on Twitter and Instagram 📣

Undeterred by these worrying recent developments which contradict the basic principles of international law, the EU continues to tighten its cooperation with Israel by convening the EU-Israel Association Council after 10 years amid widespread protest from Palestinian, European, and international civil society organisations.

RESOURCES & NEWS FROM AROUND EUROPE AND BEYOND

#PromisedLand: the Italian centre for investigative journalism Irpi Media launched a series of reports exposing the links between the Israeli government and far-right parties in Europe. The first piece of “Promised Land”, authored by journalists Christian Elia and Lorenzo Bagnoli, shows how the Italian far-right cultivates relationships with antisemitic figures while strongly supporting Israel’s policies, including silencing pro-Palestine voices.

📣 Amplify on Twitter 📣

Our Canadian partners, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), are launching a pivotal report on the suppression of speech concerning Palestine in Canada. Join the report launch event with a panel of brilliant activists and scholars, including Anna-Esther Younes.

📣 Share on Twitter and Instagram 📣

Dr Anna-Esther Younes has herself been facing ongoing attempts to suppress her voice as a Palestinian decolonial scholar. Read more about her case and how you can help us push back against increasing repression in Europe below:

The ELSC recently joined CASE, the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe! We are happy to join other non-governmental organisations united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). SLAPPs are an abuse of the legal system and an attempt to intimidate and silence public watchdogs, including Palestinian rights advocates, through lengthy and expensive litigation that drains a target’s resources and seeks to dissuade critical voices.

Remember to follow the ELSC on social media @elsclegal and amplify our work!

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donation s to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

If you are a legal practitioner or a volunteer who wants to be part of our movement in support of Palestinian rights advocates, please contact us at info@elsc.support.

Photo: CC Jan-Hendrik Pelz12, “An Inner Place” talk at the documenta fifteen exhibition.

Tags Academic freedom, Apartheid, BDS, defamation, deplatforming, Digital surveillance, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of the Press, IHRA, palestine solidarity, repression

Case Update Press Release

New Course at Vienna Fine Arts Academy Signals Further Erasure of Palestinian Narrative

Post author By ELSC
Post date 7 October 2022
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The ELSC expressly condemns the holding of a course that is likely to fuel insidious censorship of genuine anti-racist discourse.

In May 2022, Palestinian scholar Dr. Walaa Alqaisiya was hastily disinvited from the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts’ Spring Curatorial Programme: Art Geographies. While the Academy refused to apologise and to clarify the internal process that led to her censorship, Walaa and her supporters pushed back and obtained the withdrawal of the remainder of the event from the Academy’s premises.

Adding insult to injury, the Academy is now hosting a year-long course entitled “Antiantianti: Conflicts about Antiantisemitism and Antiracism in the Politicized Art World”. While Eduard Freudmann and Petja Dimitrova, the course organisers, purportedly intend to reflect on “develop[ing] practices of solidarity that are simultaneously anti-racist and anti-anti-Semitic”, the abstract manifestly misrepresents the Palestine solidarity movement. It states that, “for decades, the conflict served as a projection screen for a political left” and that “supporting the Palestinian cause was taken for granted”.

Moreover, the course organisers chose two subjects of study: Dr. Alqaisiya’s disinvitation and the dismantling of an artwork in this year’s documenta edition. Neither Dr. Alqaisiya nor any contributor to the documenta fifteen exhibition were contacted prior to the preparation of this course. By cherry-picking two isolated incidents, Freudmann and Dimitrova deliberately extricate them from their broader context and thereby exclude entire fragments of the events.

In particular, the full picture of racism, and specifically anti-Palestinian racism, which took place in both instances, is absent from the course description, and its importance is explicitly downplayed. Had the course organisers intended to engage in a fully informed discussion on anti-racism, the abstract should have referred to a comprehensive factual overview, including the accounts relating to Dr. Alqaisiya’s differential treatment and to the unabashed, systematic racism that occurred at documenta fifteen.

The course further intends to study “different definitions of racism and antisemitism”, which begs the question – will the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and its examples be used as a parameter for discussion? If so, the course would likely steer the conversation away from anti-racism by eliminating the Palestinian narrative in favour of a widely criticised definition of antisemitism that conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli state with antisemitism. This equation is extremely harmful to the global struggle against racism and the just pleas of the oppressed Palestinian people.

A space must be provided in academia for the free expression of sentiments of Palestinian solidarity, without repression. The ELSC therefore strongly condemns the maintenance of this course under the preconceptions expressed in its abstract, which is likely to harm individuals who are already facing outrageous smears and attacks.

Photo: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Schillerplatz 3, 1st district of Vienna, Peter Haas / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tags Academic freedom, Anti-Palestinian Racism, IHRA

Statement

Statement Regarding BSR’s Human Rights Due Diligence for Meta on Palestine & Israel

Post author By ELSC
Post date 28 September 2022
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7amleh, along with 73 of local, regional and international partners – including the ELSC – has issued a joint statement regarding BSR’s Human Rights Due Diligence report on Arabic and Hebrew content on Meta’s platform. Human rights organizations and civil society have been calling for an independent review of Meta’s content moderation policies as they pertain to Palestine for years, so we commend the publication of this report.

Read on 7amleh’s website

We, the undersigned human rights and civil society organizations, commend the publication of Business for Social Responsibility’s (BSR) Human Rights Due Diligence Report of Arabic and Hebrew content on Meta’s platforms in the Israel/Palestine context in May 2021. For years, digital and human rights organizations have been calling for an independent review of Meta’s content moderation policies. These calls came as a result of Meta’s constant and deliberate actions to censor the voices and narrative of Palestinians and those in solidarity with them. Thus, denying Palestinians their right to freedom of expression, affecting their freedom of assembly and freedom to political participation and non-discrimination and further distorting the international community’s understanding of what is happening in Palestine.

We appreciate and value BSR’s efforts and professionalism through their assessment and independent review. We especially acknowledge their engagement with local, regional and international stakeholders and right-holders throughout the process. Launching this due diligence report is a step in the right direction. importantly, we look forward to Meta’s unequivocal commitment to implementing the recommendations of this report. More generally, we urge Meta to take decisive action to protect the voices of Palestinians among other oppressed peoples and groups around the world.

BSR’s findings provide further evidence of the over-enforcement of Arabic content compared to Hebrew content, and under-enforcement of content moderation policies on Hebrew language content. The latter was, according to BSR, “largely due to the lack of a Hebrew classifier,” some of these problems have been documented for years by 7amleh, The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media. Furthermore, the report cites adverse human rights implications to Palestinians’ right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom to political participation, and non-discrimination. BSR also found evidence of Meta’s policies and practices leading to biased outcomes, which negatively impact Palestinian and Arabic speaking users.

Notwithstanding our support for much of BSR’s work, we must provide some important caveats that would help Meta address these problems more systemically. First, BSR distinguishes between intentional and unintentional bias, and states that it only found evidence of unintentional bias in Meta’s policies and practices. However, we have been calling Meta’s attention to the disproportionately negative impact of its content moderation on Palestinians for years. Therefore, even if the bias started out as unintentional, after knowing about the issues for years and not taking appropriate action, the unintentional became intentional.

Furthermore, though BSR accurately identified many root causes of the over-enforcement of content moderation on Palestinian and Arabic content, they have underestimated the role of the Israeli government. The Israeli cyber unit sends tens of thousands of voluntary content takedown requests annually to Meta, and the company has historically complied around 90% of the time. This is only one example of many that highlights Israel’s special relationship with Meta, despite the extensive documentation and evidence by international, Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups, of Israel’s systematic, multidimensional violation of Palestinian human rights. Israel leverages this relationship to pressure Meta to take down Palestinian content, as Defense Minister Benny Gantz publicly did during the May 2021 uprisings.

In an effort to ensure Meta fulfills its human rights obligations, BSR recommends a series of steps that also align with civil society’s repeated demands on Meta over the years. BSR stated that Meta should reevaluate certain content moderation policies, take substantial action to increase transparency around their content moderation practices and policies, invest in more precise Hebrew and Arabic language content moderation resources, and establish greater clarification around its legal obligations with regards to Foreign Terrorist Organizations and State Designated Global Terrorists. These recommendations are a step in the right direction, and need to be taken seriously by Meta. We call on Meta to provide complete transparency on voluntary content removal requests from the Israeli government, including its Cyber Unit, as well as where and how automated decision making are being used for content moderation, and about content policies related to the classification and moderation of “terrorism” and “extremism”.

In addition to the report’s recommendations, 7amleh’s racism and hate speech index between 6th to the 21st May 2021 showed a 15-fold increase in violent speech compared to the same time period of the previous year. Thus, Meta must improve their Hebrew language content moderation by creating a Hebrew hate speech lexicon.

Finally, these recommendations will only be successfully implemented if Meta truly commits to a co-design process with civil society, as well as if it provides a detailed timeline for exactly how they will commit to, and implement these recommendations in full transparency and in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Meta has stated that it is committed to co-design, therefore, we stand ready to work with them and we urge Meta to start the process as early as possible.

Signatures

7amleh- The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Access Now

Mnemonic

Just Vision

Makan

SMEX

Fight for the Future

Kandoo

American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)

Platform of French NGOs for Palestine

IFEX

Ranking Digital Rights

Visualizing Palestine

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH

Kayan Feminist organization

Women Against Violence

Council for Arab-British Understanding

Nederlands Palestina Komitee (NPK)

National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP)

Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State, Tunisia

Institute for Middle East Understanding

The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO)

The Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center-

Women Media and Development

Al-Haq

Palestinian vision

The Arab Culture Association

Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC)

NOVACT

Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership & Rights Activation- PYALARA

Community Media Centre

U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Defence for Children International

Masaar – Technology & Law Community

Palestinian Center for policy research and strategic studies-MASARATtegic

Association Belgo-Palestinienne WB

Agriculture development association

Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP)

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES MONITOR (AL-MARSAD)

H&R Legal Office

The East Jerusalem YMCA

Media Matters for Democracy

The Palestinian Coalition for the Economic, social, and cultural rights – Adala

YWCA-Palestine

Nisaa Broadcasting Radio Company

Pcs

Arab American University

May First Movement Technology

Kairos Palestine

Burj Alluqluq Social Center Society

Jordan Open Source Association

Palestinian Counseling Center (PCC)

The Community Action Center / Al-Quds University

SumOfUs

Center for Constitutional Rights

Eyewitness Palestine

CODEPINK

Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)

MediaJustice

Union juive française pour la paix

Adalah Justice Project

Action Center on Race & the Economy

Human Rights Watch

Palestinian Observatory for Fact-Checking and Media Literacy “Tahaqaq”

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

Association “Pour Jérusalem”

The Right to Education Campaign – Birzeit University

ECCP – European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine

Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient, Luxembourg

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Association for Progressive Communications – APC

Tags Digital Rights, Freedom of Expression

Media Coverage

Letter to EU Leaders: Cancel the EU – Israel Association

Post author By ELSC
Post date 28 September 2022
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The ELSC co-signed a letter to call upon the EU and its Member States to cancel the EU-Israel Association and to “hold Israel accountable for its persistent crimes and human rights violations”.

To Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union Member States
To High Representative of the EU Foreign Policy and Security

26 September 2022

Ref: Human rights and civil society organisations demand to review the decision to renew the EU-Israel Association Council that will green light Israeli violations.

Your Excellencies,

European Ministers for Foreign Affairs,

Mr Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU Foreign Policy and Security,

The undersigned Palestinian and European civil society organisations address this letter to you to express our deep concern regarding the decision to renew the EU – Israel Association Council (hereinafter “Association Council”), which seeks to resume formal dialogue and strengthen cooperation with Israel and mainstream the very problematic “Abraham Accords”.

The European Commission President Von Der Leyen in her latest visit to the region stated about Israel: “Our shared culture and values have created a deep connection between Europe and Israel…the strongest bond we share is our belief in democracy and in democratic values”. Double standards applied by European leaders towards people facing military occupation, annexation and war crimes is evident, and is unbearable for the Palestinian people. Today more than ever, the founding principles and values of freedom and justice that have shaped the international order and adopted by the European Union (EU) must be applied and maintained everywhere.

Instead, the Association Council will further normalise authoritarian and oppressive practices instead of democratic values and human rights, and will continue to omitt the entrenching violations under international law that are being committed against the Palestinian people.

The Association Council is planned to reconvene at a time where Israel has intensified its attacks against the Palestinian people, including European citizens. Already more than 140 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Palestine since the beginning of the year, without anyone being held accountable. Over the past few months, the Israeli military has repeatedly invaded Palestinian refugee camps and cities including Jenin and Nablus in the occupied West Bank, killing more than 27 Palestinians in Jenin alone. Those illegal raids have led to the targeted killing of the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May 2022, whose family continues to seek justice and accountability.

In June 2022 the Gaza Strip marked 15 years of being under suffocating air, sea and land blockade and closure. Between 5-7 August 2022, Israel waged an unprovoked military offensive against Gaza, conducting a series of heavy airstrikes on densely populated areas and deliberately targeting civilians and their homes. During the 3-day offensive, 49 Palestinians were killed, including four women and 17 children, while another 360 were wounded, including 151 children and 58 women.

On May 4th, the Israeli High Court greenlighted the mass expulsion orders of more than 1,300 Palestinians across eight communities in Masafer Yatta, in the south of the occupied West Bank, and demolitions have already started to take place, paving the way for further land theft and Israeli annexation. These orders amount to the single largest expulsion operation carried out by Israel since 1967. Since then, the EU and its members states have regularly reiterated the illegality of both the expulsion operations and of the Israeli settlement enterprise built on stolen Palestinian land, but in practice it fails to adhere to its own obligations under international law.

Israel has also significantly escalated its attack on Palestinian civil society organisations, when on 18 August its military invaded the city of Ramallah, raided, ransacked and forcibly shut down the offices of seven Palestinian civil society organisations that it has criminalised and declared six of them to be unlawful in October 2021. This move follows decades of concerted efforts to discredit, defund and silence their crucial work in exposing Israeli crimes and pushing for accountability. While nine EU member states have rejected the criminalisation in a joint statement and committed to continue fund and work with Palestinian civil society, the EU has failed to meaningfully protect the organisations and their staff. Spanish citizen Juana Ruiz Rishmawi was arbitrarily detained for 10 months, simply for working for one of the Palestinian civil society organisations under Israeli attacks, and Salah Hammouri -a French-Palestinian lawyer- who is working with Addameer, is still arbitrarily detained.

The EU remains Israel’s largest trade partner, and by allowing European companies, governments and financial institutions to continue trade with the Israeli illegal settlement enterprise, the EU not only maintains but emboldens the very existence of these war crimes, further financing the Israeli theft of Palestinian land and natural resources.

The EU has also signed a new gas deal with Israel and Egypt as part of the policies that aim to streamline the very problematic “Abraham Accords” into the EU approach with its Southern neighborhood and integrate Israel into the EU energy supply strategy. Israel has been systematically preventing Palestinians access to gas off the coast of Gaza while maintaining the blockade and promoting its own gas exports. The new gas deal is among the EU’s new Southern Neighborhood policy projects that seek to mainstream the “Abraham Accords”, serving authoritarian interests and further undermining peoples’ right to self-determination.

This is the reality from which the EU’s decisions are disconnected. Deepening the EU-Israel dialogue, as frank as some EU Member States wishes for it to be, rather than holding the latter accountable through meaningful actions, continues to treat Israel as a good faith actor as opposed to a “bad faith occupier”, as accurately described by the former UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk.

Instead of allowing Israel to entrench its colonial enterprise and apartheid regime, rewarding it with further economic cooperation and trade of harmful military equipment and technologies, the EU and its Member States have an obligation and interest, to hold Israel accountable and put an end to impunity.

We thus urge the EU to review its decision to resume the Association Council Meeting, the recently signed gas deal and review its bilateral cooperation programmes with Israel, to hold Israel accountable for its persistent crimes and human rights violations committed against the Palestinian people.

Signatory Organisations:

Palestinian CSOs

Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

Al-Haq

Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)

Bisan Center for Research and Development

BNC – BDS National Committee

Boycott from Within

Burj alluqluq Social Center Society

Center for Defense of Liberties & Civil Rights “Hurryat”

General Federation of Palestinian Workers

General Union of Palestinian Teachers (Gupt)

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)

Palestinian Non Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)

QADER for Community Development

Stop the Wall Campaign

The Freedom Theatre

The Jerusalem Human Rights Consortium

The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (The PIPD)

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH

Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture

Union of Agricultural Work committees UAWC

Union of Cooperative Associations for Saving and Credit “UCASC”

Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling

European CSOs:

Apart collective

Association Belgo-Palestinienne WB, Belgium

Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)

Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS), France

Associazione Amici della Mezzaluna Rossa Palestinese

BDS groups: Austria, Berlin, France, Greece, Italia, Marche, Norway, País valencià, Roma

Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orient, Luxembourg

Coordinamento Campagna BDS Bologna, Italy

European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine – ECCP

European Legal Support Center (ELSC)

European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine

Flemish Socialist Movement (V-SB), Belgium

Gibanje za pravice Palestincev

Iniciatíva za spravodlivý mier na Blízkom východe, (Slovak Initiative for a Just Peace in the Middle East)

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Irish Rule of Law International, Ireland

Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Germany

Kapitál, kultúrno-spoločenský mesačník

La Via Campesina – Arab and North Africa Region LVC ARNA

Law for Palestine

Mezinárodní hnutí solidarity ISM

Ne našim jménem! – Za spravedlivý mír na Blízkém Východě

Nederlands Palestina Komitee, Netherlands

NOVACT International Institute for Nonviolent Action, Spain

Palestina Solidariteit vzw

Paz con Dignidad, Spain

Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, France

Polish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Poland

Red Solidaria contra la ocupación de Palestina – RESCOP

Rete Romana di Solidarietà con il popolo Palestinese

SADAKA, Ireland

The Norwegian Committee for Academic and Cultural Boycott of the State of Israel (Akulbi)

The Palestine Solidarity Association in Sweden (PGS), Sweden

The Rights Forum, Netherlands

Trócaire, Ireland

Union syndicale Solidaires, France

Viva Salud, Belgium

Statement

A joint statement on the case of the administratively detained Palestinian-French citizen Salah Hammouri

Post author By ELSC
Post date 5 September 2022
No Comments on A joint statement on the case of the administratively detained Palestinian-French citizen Salah Hammouri
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We call for immediate release and demand Israel rescind the decision to revoke his Jerusalem residency based on “secret evidence.”

ADD YOUR SIGNATURE O N L A W F O R P A L E S T I N E ‘S W E B S I T E

العربية | Français

We, the undersigned organizations, unions, and institutions, condemn and reject the arbitrary measures taken by the Israeli occupation forces against human rights defender and lawyer at Addameer, violating its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

For many years, Salah Hammouri has been subjected to a continuous harassment campaign by the occupation forces due to his human rights activism. Mr. Hammouri has spent nine years in Israeli occupation prisons as a result of over six arrests. The longest stretch he spent in an occupation prison was seven continuous years between 2005 and 2011, after he was forced to choose between being deported to France for 15 years or imprisoned for 7. Since the beginning of March 2022, the Israeli occupation forces have held Mr. Hammouri in their prisons without charge under the administrative detention system, based on a secret file that even his lawyer is not permitted to view. These actions make his detention arbitrary and illegal under international law.

The occupation forces have taken several additional acts against Mr. Hammouri in attempt to deport him from Jerusalem. Most recently, in October 2021, they issued a decision to revoke his Jerusalem residency for charges of not showing loyalty to the State of Israel, which was also based on “secret evidence.” Thereafter, they have tried to enforce the decision by attempting to deport him to France; where he holds citizenship. Mr. Hammouri’s wife and children currently reside in France because the occupation authorities have prevented them from entering the occupied territories, thus depriving him of his right to have his family reside with him.

When Mr. Hammouri is released, he fears he will be forcibly removed and deported from his home city of Jerusalem. The Israeli Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Mr. Hammouri’s residency revocation case in February 2023.

The harmful actions taken against Mr.Hammouri are important to be understood for two primary reasons:

First, revoking his Jerusalem residency for not showing loyalty to the occupying state based on “secret evidence” represents an unprecedented Israeli measure against Arab and Palestinian presence in Jerusalem. This is a community that is already suffering from escalating settlement projects and attempts to Judaize the city by erasing Palestinian presence, despite the occupation’s illegality under international law. Passing this precedent against Mr. Hammouri means opening the door for the Israeli occupation forces to expel any Palestinian Jerusalemite from the city by revoking their Jerusalem residency based on purely “secret evidence.” This will provide a new, powerful tool for Israel to reduce the number of Palestinians in Jerusalem without needing to provide any legal justification.

Second, Mr. Hammouri is a target because he is a human rights defender and a lawyer for Palestinian prisoners. This means that Israel is waging a war against human rights defenders, both as individuals and groups, completing what it started by labelling six Palestinian human rights organizations as terrorist groups including Addameer where Mr. Hammouri works. In fact, Israel previously personally targeted Mr. Hammouri for being a human rights worker by hacking his mobile phone and installing Pegasus software developed by Israeli cybersecurity company NSO. Through these practices, Israel seeks to convey a message to all peaceful activists and human rights defenders that they have no immunity and can be subjected to family separation, arbitrary detention, and even expulsion from the country.

In addition, although Mr. Hammouri holds French citizenship, the French government has not played any effective role in pressing for his release from this arbitrary detention. The Israeli government recently placed Mr. Hammouri in a collective isolation confinement as a punishment for sending a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron asking him to help with his release. Since then, the French government has not taken any public action to assist him such as condemning the detention or calling on the Israeli occupation authorities to immediately release him. Instead, they merely visited him and asked the Israeli government to “respect his rights.” These actions are clearly insufficient, not in line with the usual response of French authorities in cases of arbitrary detection of French citizens and does not demonstrate a strong enough political will to hold the Israeli authorities accountable.

Accordingly, the organizations, unions, institutions, and human rights bodies that have signed this statement, alongside the Justice for Salah campaign, affirm the following:

We reject the harassment and arbitrary violations the Israeli occupation forces are subjecting Salah Hammouri to as punishment for his human rights work and to discourage him, and all human rights defenders, from continuing to defend Palestinians and criticize Israeli violations. We specifically:

Condemn and reject the practice of administrative detention, emphasizing its violation of provisions of international law. Thus, we call for the immediate release of all administrative detainees, including Salah Hammouri. We affirm that Israel’s administrative detention practices violate the text of Articles 42 and 78 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, permits administrative detention only for necessary and compelling reasons to maintain its exceptional nature. Contrarily, Israel practices administrative detention in a systematic and repeated manner for undisclosed “secret reasons,” making these detentions arbitrary ones. Therefore, this practice also violates Article 75 of Protocol I annexed to the 1977 Geneva Conventions, which is, in itself, part of customary international law.

Condemn and reject the Israeli decision to revoke the Mr. Hammouri’s Jerusalem residency based on a secret file and allegations of disloyalty to the occupying power. We emphasize that this is a violation of the international law per Article 43 of the Hague Convention on the Rules of Land War 1907 and Article 64 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which prohibit an occupying power to act as the owner of sovereignty over the occupied territory. Israel’s practices also violate Articles 45 of the Hague Convention and 68 (3) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibit an occupying power from demanding loyalty from the inhabitants of the occupied territory. Furthermore, this is illegal in international humanitarian law as forcibly deporting inhabitants of an occupied territory is considered a war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute. In fact, when forcible deportation is part of a widespread and systemic policy against civilians—as it is in Israel—it also is considered a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute. Furthermore, revoking the residency of human rights defenders and others in Jerusalem violates various rules of international human rights law such as the right to family life, the right to freedom of movement, including the right to leave and return to one’s homeland, and the right of expression and peaceful assembly in accordance with Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These deportation practices also contradict declarations made by the UN Security Council and the General Assembly that it is illegal to change the status quo in terms of demographics in the city of Jerusalem. Finally, emptying the city of its Arab residents is a blatant application of the internationally condemned practice of apartheid.

We demand that the French government act effectively and quickly to help secure the release of French citizen Salah Hammouri, denounce and prevent the revocation of his residency and his forced deportation from Jerusalem, and compensate him for the human rights violations he was subjected to.
We demand that the International Criminal Court move the investigation file as soon as possible and prosecute Israel for its grave violations of international humanitarian and criminal law, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
We call on the United Nations, especially the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Human Rights Council, to take effective steps to stop Israel’s practices of revoking Jerusalem residencies, emptying the city of its Arab residents, and changing its demographic composition in contravention of the existing legal status.
We demand that world governments activate universal jurisdiction in accordance with Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure that Israel is held accountable and does not enjoy impunity for the grave violations it commits against Palestinians, including arbitrary detention and forced displacement.
We demand that member states of the international community, world parliaments, and civil society institutions work to pressure Israel to respect human rights work. We ask these states and organizations to help provide protection to the Palestinian people and human rights workers, document violations of international law committed by the occupation, and seek international accountability.

Signatories (to add the name of your orgnization/institute among the signatories, Please fill in this form):

Law for Palestine – UK.
Al Haq Organization – Law in the Service of Mankind. Palestine
Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. ARDD. Jordan
American Center for Justice (ACJ). USA
Jemez Peacemakers. New Mexico USA
Palestine Arab Relief and Development Authority. Palestine
Centre for Human Rights Research & Advocacy (CENTHRA). Malaysia
Geneva International Centre for Justice. Switzerland
L’association des palestiniens d’Ile de France
Union d’Associations Palestiniennes en France
Canadian BDS Coalition
Just Peace Advocates
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
Bisan Center for Research and Development
Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P)
Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC).
Belgian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (BACBI)
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
BDS Korea
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
Human Rights for All ( HR4A) Saskatchewan
French Jewish Union for Peace
Association Belgo-Palestinienne WB
Association France Palestine Solidarité
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
Human Rights and Democracy Media Centers SHAMS
Finnish-Arab Friendship Society, Finland
Comité de Solidaridad con la Causa Árabe, Spain
ICAHD Finland
François GIRODON
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
International Association of Democratic Lawyers
docP – BDS Netherlands
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
Nederlands Palestina Komitee
LDH – Ligue des droits de l’Homme France
Palestine House
Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers
International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL)
Comite Dordogne-Palestine
Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)
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Tags Freedom of Expression, human rights

Statement

Dutch NGOs call upon the international community to take action against Israel for targeting Palestinian human rights organisations

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 August 2022
No Comments on Dutch NGOs call upon the international community to take action against Israel for targeting Palestinian human rights organisations
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After the Israeli army violently raided and closed seven prominent Palestinian human rights organisations last Thursday, this weekend it threatened the director of Al Haq (Shawan Jabarin) by telephone and detained the director of Defense for Children International – Palestine (Khaled Quzmar) several hours for questioning. This escalation proves once again that statements by European governments expressing serious concerns are insufficient. This, together with the killing of critical journalists and other Palestinian civilians with impunity, has reached the point where the international community must set a clear boundary. This is the limit, according to a broad representation of Dutch organisations.

In October last year, 32 Dutch organisations condemned Israel’s decision to designate six organisations (now seven) as terrorist on the basis of Israeli anti-terror laws. On 12 July 2022, the Netherlands and eight other EU countries expressed their support for the organisations. The EU countries have so far not seen any evidence of the terrorist designation and therefore rejected the Israeli allegations, as “no substantial information has been received from Israel that would justify a review of our policy towards the six Palestinian NGOs on the basis of the Israeli decision to designate these NGOs as ‘terrorist organisations'”.

What we warned about in October is happening: in an attempt to suppress the work of human rights defenders, Israel is raiding their offices, confiscating property and documents, then sealing them with metal plates and leaving a military order declaring the organisations illegal. This is a serious violation of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly. This ever-increasing restriction on civil society is not in keeping with a country that claims to be a democratic state based on the rule of law.

Several of the seven organisations that have been affected provide evidence of alleged war crimes by Israel to the International Criminal Court. The Netherlands, as host country of the ICC, has an additional responsibility to ensure that civil society organisations, individuals and states can continue to provide the ICC with evidence and information.

Without significant action, the longstanding pattern of repression and undermining of Palestinian organisations will further deteriorate. This is unacceptable and it has become clear that statements alone are not enough to make Israel change its policy. The international community should immediately take the following actions in the face of the threat to the existence of Palestinian civil society organisations and human rights defenders:

Urge at the highest diplomatic level that Israel withdraws the charges against the seven organisations and brings the underlying anti-terror legislation into line with international law;
Protect Shawan Jabarin and Khaled Quzmar and other employees from interrogation, arbitrary arrest and detention, and ask Israel to cease all harassment practices and policies, including arbitrary detention, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, institutionalised hate speech and incitement;
Add action to it, in line with the 2013 recommendations of the AIV, and attach (diplomatic) consequences to this escalation;
Openly increase financial, political and where necessary logistical support to Palestinian organisations and civil society, guided by the needs of these organisations;
Give priority in its policy towards Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to protecting civil society and human rights defenders;
Call on the Assembly of States Parties and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to ensure the viability of organisations working to present evidence to the Court.

Signed by:

PAX
Amnesty International Nederland
SOMO
The Rights Forum
OXFAM Novib
European Legal Support Center
Defence for Children Nederland
ActionAid Netherlands
Both Ends
Human Security Collective
Stichting Aflatoun International
Right to Play Netherlands
Transnational Institute (TNI)
Stichting Kifaia
MENA Werkgroep FNV
Gate48
Plant een Olijfboom
Kairos Sabeel Nederland
Nederlands Palestina Komitee
Een Ander Joods Geluid
Grote Midden Oosten Platform
Plan International Nederland
International Child Development Initiatives
Dutch Scholars for Palestine

Photo: DCI-Palestine

Read the statement originally published on the website of PAX.

Tags Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Statement

Over 150 Organizations Demand International Community Stand Against Raids and Closures of 7 Palestinian Organizations

Post author By ELSC
Post date 23 August 2022
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The ELSC joined over 150 organisations to condemn the raids and closures of 7 prominent Palestinian organisations and urge the international community to take effective measures. Read below the joint statement originally published on the CIHRS website.

Amid Israel’s escalating attacks targeting their work, a group of more than 150 Palestinian, regional, and international organizations express our full solidarity with the designated seven leading Palestinian civil society organizations, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq Law in the Service of Man (Al-Haq), Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committees (HWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC).

On the morning of 18 August 2022, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided and sealed the doorways into the offices of the seven Palestinian organizations. The IOF also confiscated documents and equipment and destroyed items in the offices. On the doors of the organizations, military orders were left behind ordering the closure of the offices under Article 319 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945. This development follows the 19 October 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz designation of six leading Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist organizations under Israel’s Anti-Terrorism Law (2016), which was then extended to the West Bank on 3 November 2021 by a military order that outlawed the same organizations.

We urge the international community to unequivocally condemn Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civil society and tactics to further repress of freedom of expression. States must take all necessary action to support and protect Palestinian human rights defenders and ensure the continuation of their invaluable work.

These raids and closures represent the latest escalation in Israel’s widespread campaign aiming to silence and discredit any Palestinian individual or organization that dares to seek accountability for Israel’s grave human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The “persecution of organizations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid” is a method used by Israel, amounting to acts of apartheid prosecutable under the Rome Statute, to maintain its domination and oppression over the Palestinian people.

The organizations remain at an additional risk of closure of bank accounts, travel bans and movement restrictions, and the arrest and detention of staff members for their work. Israel’s attacks against these organizations pose an existential threat to independent Palestinian human rights organizations and civil society who work to monitor and document violations of human rights and provide basic services to the Palestinian people.

We call upon the international community to demand that Israel immediately revoke its designations of Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations as “terrorist organizations,” reverse the military orders designating the organizations and closing their offices and repeal its Anti-Terrorism Law (2016) as it does not meet basic human rights standards.

Moreover, we call on the international community to take effective measures to end all other actions that deny Palestinians their inalienable human rights.

Lastly, we call on the members of the international community to continue their support and increase funding to the organizations and engage with financial institutions to ensure the transfer of funds to the organizations.

Signatories:

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
11.11.11
Abductees’ Mothers Association
Academic Program for Studies of Arab and Muslim Communities in Diaspora
ACAT-France
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
Advokatfirmaet Roli
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
Al-ataa Benevolent Association
Aldameer association for human rights
Al-Haq
Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society
Andalus Institute for Tolerance and anti-Violence Studies
Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)
ARTICLE 19
Artists for Palestine UK
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asociacion Palestina Biladi
Association Belgo-Palestinienne
Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression
Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)
Aswat Nissa
Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children’
Australian Centre for International Justice
Basmeh & Zeitooneh for Relief and Development
Baytna
Bds Maroc
BDS Netherlands
BDS Vancouver Coast Salish Territories
Belgian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (BACBI)
Bytes For All, Pakistan
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Strategic Studies to Support Women and Children
Centre for Global Education
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
CNCD-11.11.11
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Comhlamh Justice for Palestine
Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Luxembourg
Committee for Justice
Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ)
Conectas Human Rights
Cultura è Libertà, una campagna per la Palestina
DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
Een Andere Joodse Stem / Another Jewish Voice (Belgium)
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Egyptian Front for Human Rights (EFHR)
Egyptian Human Rights Forum
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
El Nadim Center For Management & Rehabilitation of victims of violence
ESCR-Net, International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
EuroMed Rights
European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine – ECCP
European Legal Support Center (ELSC)
European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Financial Justice Ireland
Foundation for Middle East Peace (Washington, DC)
Front Line Defenders
Fundación Mundubat
Gaza Action Ireland
Global NPO Coalition on FATF
Herbst Law PLLC
Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS”
Human Rights for All (HR4A) Saskatchewan
Human Rights in China
Human Rights Watch
Human Security Collective
ICAHD-USA
International Accountability Project
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
International Commission to support Palestinian People’s Rights
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
International Service for Human Rights
International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – UK
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Just Words Limited
Justice for Palestinians Calgary
Justitia Center for legal protection of human rights in Algeria
Kairos Ireland
Kenya Human Rights Commission
League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)
Local Development and Small Projects Support (LDSPS)
Makan
MakeShiftPublishing
MENA Rights Group
Muslim Peace Fellowship
Mwatana for human rights
Nederlands Palestina Komitee
New Weapons Research Groups
Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel
North Bronx Racial Justice
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO-Norway)
Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees
NOVACT Institute for Nonviolent Action
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association
Palestina Solidariteit vzw Belgium
Palestine Solidarity Alliance
Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton
Palestine Solidarity, St. John’s, NL
Palestine Solidary Organisation at Nelson Mandela University
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Pan African Palestine Solidarity Network
Paz con Dignidad
Peace and Building Foundation
Physicians for Human Rights Israel
Platform of French NGOs for Palestine
Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)
Project South
Riposte Internationale
Sadaka-the Ireland Palestine Alliance
Sadaqa
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Scottish Friends of Palestine
Sexual Rights Initiative
SOLIDAR
Solsoc
South African BDS Coalition
South African Jews For a Free Palestine
STEILAS
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights
Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justice
The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)
The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine
The Canadian BDS Coalition
The civic coalition for Palestinian rights in jerusalem
The Danish House in Palestine
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA
The Norwegian Initiative DEFEND INTERNATIONAL LAW
The Palestine Committee of Norway
The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy
The Palestinian Human Rights Organization “PHRO”
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH
The Rights Forum
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA (Australia)
United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI)
University Network for Human Rights
University of KwaZulu-Natal Decoloniality Action Group
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Visualizing Palestine
Viva Salud
Vrede vzw
West African Human Rights Defenders Network
Women in Black Vienna
Women Now for Development
Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Yemen Future Foundation for Culture & Media Development

Tags Apartheid, de-platforming, Defunding, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: June 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 11 July 2022
No Comments on ELSC Newsletter: June 2022
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This month, at least three cases confirmed, again, that public pressure and collective support, sometimes coupled with litigation, constitute a great tool to achieve our rights as advocates for Palestinian rights!

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GERMAN AUTHORITY HOLDS RIAS AND MBR ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATING ANNA YOUNES’ DATA RIGHTS

The Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA) held German organisations RIAS Berlin and MBR accountable for violating the rights of German Palestinian scholar Dr. Anna-Esther Younes. The two organisations had previously circulated a secret dossier which led to her disinvitation from a public event.

Two years after Dr. Anna Younes filed a complaint to the DPA with our support, the DPA finally found that RIAS/MBR violated European data protection law (GDPR) in refusing to give Dr. Younes access to the data they hold on her. The DPA recognised Dr. Younes’ basic data rights as a European citizen, which comes after another previous success where the civil court affirmed the right of Dr.Younes to have access to her data.

Share this new victory on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn

But this is not over yet! RIAS/MBR previously acknowledged that the purpose of the dossier was to identify Dr. Younes’ positions on Israel and BDS. They secretly sent this dossier to a third party to get her disinvited. However, the DPA considered that this was lawful and that RIAS/MBR pursued a legitimate purpose in collecting and transmitting information about Dr. Younes.

We will appeal this decision. Do you want to help us?

DONATE

Read more in the last media articles published about the case:
– See an update by Dania Akkad in Middle East Eye
– this piece by Hebh Jamal in +972 Magazine
– a piece in German by Nidal Thawri in Marx21
– an oped by Abir Kopty in Middle East Eye

EU RESUMES FUNDING TO TWO PALESTINIAN NGOS

After Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq started legal proceedings against the European Commission for suspending its funding in May 2021 based on an Israeli disinformation campaign, the EU recognised there were no grounds to do so and resumed its funding to Al Haq on 28 June 2022.

Read Al-Haq’s statement and share the good news on Twitter.

The EU also resumed unconditionally and with immediate effect its funding to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), which had faced the same suspension as Al-Haq.

MOHAMMED EL KURD V. GOETHE INSTITUTE

The prominent Palestinian activist and poet Mohammed El Kurd faced an attempt of censorship at a conference organised by the Goethe Institute in Hamburg about right-wing extremism and authoritarian regimes’ tactics, where he was invited to speak. Few days before the start of the conference, the institution revoked the invitation, raising social media posts criticizing Israel that they “did not find acceptable”. In solidarity with El Kurd, the curators of the conference Moshtari Hilal and Sinthujan Varatharajah withdrew their participation and denounced the climate of anti-Palestinian racism in German institutions. Thanks to this push back, many other participants of the event withdrew, which led to the entire program being scaled down.

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OTHER CASE UPDATES IN GERMANY

We also celebrate a victory in Stuttgart this month, as the City of Stuttgart decided it will not appeal the decision issued by the Stuttgart Administrative Court on 21 April 2022 in favour of the Stuttgart Palestine Committee. The Court had upheld the Committee’s complaint against the City’s decision to remove their access and details from the Municipality’s website.

This incident had happened following a smear campaign launched by the Jerusalem Post against the Committee because of its support to the Palestinian-led BDS movement. The City of Stuttgart had justified its decision citing the Bundestag’s anti-BDS resolution, while the Court had recalled that the BDS movement is protected by freedom of expression and that the Bundestag’s resolution is not binding.

But this time, the City acknowledged the illegality of their decision. One of their spokespersons said:

for purely legal reasons, we have decided not to appeal against it. Based on the current jurisprudence, as it has been elsewhere, we estimate the chances of being successful with an appeal to be very low. That is why we have put the address of the Palestine Committee back on the municipal homepage.

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🚨Victory for BDS activists in Stuttgart!✌️🏽
The City of Stuttgart acknowledged the illegality of its decision to remove the details of Stuttgart Palestine Committee from its website. The City complied with the Stuttgart Administrative Court's decision & put back the details.👇🏽1/4 pic.twitter.com/xlunuQDWal
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) July 6, 2022

Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Farah Maraqa, who has been unfairly dismissed by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) along with five other Arab journalists in February 2022, published an update about her court case against DW.

Update on court. My lawyers just submitted my statement to the court after receiving Deutsche Welle’s one. A painful but a must battle I'm fighting. I've been silent for a while, appreciating your support. And I will be speaking soon again. (1/2)
— Farah Maraqa (@Farah_Maraqa) June 23, 2022

SUPPORT HER CASE

AUSTRIA: THE CASE OF PALESTINIAN SCHOLAR WALAA ALQAISIYA

Dr. Walaa Alqaisiya, Research Fellow at Columbia University, the LSE Middle East Centre and Università Ca’ Foscari, also faced anti-Palestinian racism and censorship from Austrian public institutions when she was disinvited by the Mumok Museum and the Academy of Fine Arts of Vienna from their Spring Curatorial Program at the end of May 2022. The cancellation of her lecture followed a smear campaign on social media and a complaint from pro-Israel advocacy groups. Art media Art Forum and Hyperallergic wrote about the episode.

Hundreds of artists, writers and academics, including Judith Butler, Roger Waters, Angela Davis and Dirk Moses, have voiced their outrage in the wake of the last-minute cancellation, which pushed one of the co-curators to remove the remainder of the program from the premises of the cancelling institutions. Nevertheless, the Fine Arts Academy and the MUMOK still have not stepped back on their statement, nor recognised the damage done to Dr. Alqaisiya’s reputation. She is still waiting for a public apology from the Rector of the Fine Arts Academy and further explanation on the decision making process.

🚨CENSORSHIP UPDATE👏🏽
After @WAlqaisiya's lecture was cancelled by @akbild, co-organisers Verein K and the curator of the program just announced the retreat of the remainder of the program from the premises of the cancelling institutions.👇🏽https://t.co/xEXuc3yiPM 1/3 https://t.co/4HYvAECgd8
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) May 30, 2022

7 MORE MONTHS TO BAN EU TRADE WITH ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS WORLDWIDE!

Join the European Citizens Initiative #StopSettlements to ban EU trade with illegal settlements!

With one million EU citizens signing the Initiative, the EU will have to reassess its complicity with illegal settlements. It would be an historical step in realigning the EU with its own rules when it comes to trade and in making Israel accountable for its illegal settlement policy.

SIGN

Send the petition to your friends, family members. Share on your chat groups and social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

UK: LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TWITTER TROLL AFTER AN ONLINE SMEAR CAMPAIGN

Peter Bolton is a journalist with The Canary, where he writes about Israel-Palestine among other topics. One year ago, Peter Bolton published a piece denouncing the continuous smear campaigns and unfounded allegations of antisemitism made against the Left in the UK.

Following that, Peter Bolton became himself the target of similar unfounded allegations on Twitter. A fake Twitter account started to spread smears against the journalist, which were amplified by other accounts and retweeted many times. Peter Bolton decided to take legal action against the troll to make it accountable and deter others who would spread defaming allegations online against anyone standing for justice with Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates.

SUPPORT HIS CASE

EVENTS: PANEL DISCUSSION IN THE NETHERLANDS

Last month, the ELSC joined the in-person panel organised in Amsterdam by the Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation (LWS) and Een Ander Joods Geluid (A Different Jewish Voice) on “How Israel lobbies make it harder to speak up against Israel’s policies”.

Our Advocacy and Communication Officer Alice Garcia joined Dina Zbeidy (anthropologist at Leiden University and LWS board member), Peter Beinart (professor of journalism and Editor-at-large of Jewish Currents), as well as Layla Kattermann and Itaï van de Wal (student activists in Leiden and Utrecht universities) in the panel to give an overview of the situation in The Netherlands (see from 45min).

Read our report on the attempt to suppress Palestinian rights advocacy in the Netherlands.

OTHER GOOD NEWS FROM EUROPE

In a milestone decision for accountability and Palestinian rights, Catalonia Parliament became the first Parliament in Europe to recognise that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid, after the approval of a resolution.

Tags Academic freedom, Apartheid, BDS, Business and Human Rights, Defunding, Digital surveillance, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of the Press

Press Release

Berlin Data Protection Authority Holds RIAS/MBR Accountable for Violating Dr. Younes’ Data Rights

Post author By ELSC
Post date 22 June 2022
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On 16 May 2022, the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA) decided in favour of Dr. Anna Younes and issued a warning against VDK, representing RIAS Berlin and MBR. The two organisations had prepared a secret dossier on Dr. Younes, which aimed at identifying “her positions on Israel and BDS”. The dossier also framed her as supporter of terrorism, sexism and anti-Jewish racism and resulted in her disinvitation from a public event on anti-racism organised by Die Linke in November 2019. Furthermore, the DPA rejected RIAS/MBR’s claim and stated that they “did not have a serious scientific purpose” nor a journalistic one when preparing this dossier. After almost two years, the DPA finally found RIAS/MBR violated European data protection law (GDPR) and recognised Dr. Younes’ basic data rights as a German citizen. Further legal action will be taken.

Nearly two years after Dr. Younes filed a complaint to the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA), the DPA issued a final decision on RIAS/MBR’s duty to provide access to her data. This decision follows a months-long public media campaign as well as a lawsuit brought against the DPA for its inactivity, both designed to expedite the legal process and obtain reparation for the damage inflicted on Dr. Younes. This decision also comes after a first victory for Dr. Younes in the beginning of May 2022, as a district court ruled in her favour and RIAS/MBR disclosed a part of the information they collected on her – namely, the dossier, which had been leaked to Dr. Younes. RIAS/MBR state in their answer to the DPA that they collected information on Dr. Younes in order to “identify her positions on Israel and BDS”.

The DPA’s decision finally upheld Dr. Younes’ right to obtain access to the personal data collected by RIAS/MBR as ensured by European and German data protection law. In so doing, it rejected RIAS/MBR’s claims that the covert data gathering and sharing pursued journalistic and research purposes, which would have entitled the organisations to an exemption from providing this information.

Indeed, the DPA found that RIAS/MBR failed to follow a scientific methodology and limited itself to creating a “compilation of publicly accessible facts without deriving any new findings on them”. The DPA further rejected the invocation of a journalistic privilege, considering that the dossier was “explicitly not intended for publication and thus cannot represent an indirect contribution to the formation of public opinion”.

For these reasons, the DPA held that RIAS/MBR had violated article 15(1) of the GDPR on the right of access by the data subject. In this regard, Dr. Younes and the ELSC welcome the DPA’s decision.

Nonetheless, the DPA deemed that the framing of the data and its private transmission of the dossier to Die Linke was lawful, without explaining the grounds for said surveillance in the first place. Nor did this decision take into consideration Dr. Younes’ right to reputation, to not be misrepresented as having an “Antisemitic attitude”.

After more than two years, it is a relief that the DPA held RIAS/MBR MBR accountable, whose conduct amounts to surveillance. We welcome the DPA’s decision that RIAS/MBR cannot legitimate their conduct on pretences of journalism or an ostensible scientific activity. Nevertheless, we deeply disagree with the DPA that RIAS/MBR’s preparation and transmission of the dossier was legitimate, as this resulted in significant damage to Dr. Younes’ professional and personal reputation and sends a clear message to all Palestinians in Germany. We will appeal the decision.
Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

Read more about the case and watch this video

Donate to support the case

Read and sign the support letter

Listen to the podcast featuring Dr Younes, Inna Michaeli and Alice Garcia (Advocacy and Communications Manager at ELSC)

Tags Academic freedom, BDS, Digital surveillance, Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Event

Panel discussion: “How Israel lobbies make it harder to speak up against Israel’s policies”

Post author By ELSC
Post date 20 June 2022
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The ELSC will join the in-person panel organised by Leonhard-Woltjer Foundation & and Een Ander Joods Geluid (A Different Jewish Voice) on “How Israel lobbies make it harder to speak up against Israel’s policies”, in Amsterdam.

When? Thursday 30 June 2022, 19:30-21:30 

Where? Pakhuis de Zwijger, fifth floor, IJ-zaal (Piet Heinkade 179, Amsterdam)

Entrance is free. To attend the discussion, please register by filling this form OR by sending an email to info@leonhardwoltjer-stichting.nl.

About the panel

Israel lobbies have made a habit of trying to silence critics of Israel’s policies of oppression, eviction and apartheid vis-à-vis the Palestinians. One silencing tactic consists of intimidating outspoken critics by slandering them as antisemites and calling them other bad names until they lose their credibility and podium. To avoid such a hostile treatment critics might self-censor or take a safe “evenhanded” or agnostic stance on who is to blame for the conflict. Another known tactic of Israel lobbies is to cancel and stifle public discussion about Israel’s policies by lamenting that such discussion makes the Jewish community “feel unsafe”.

This evening we will take a closer look at how silencing tactics could lead to a “shrinking” public space in which it is becoming increasingly difficult for people and organizations to voice their concerns openly and safely and develop a shared and nuanced understanding of how a just settlement of the conflict can be reached.

The speakers

1. Peter Beinart, a professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York, will discuss (online) what silencing means more specifically, the various forms it can take, and how detrimental it can be for democratic values and critical discussion.

2. Alice Garcia will provide a broad overview of the most notable silencing cases from 2015 to 2020 in the Netherlands on the basis of a prolonged research project that she and her colleagues conducted at the European Legal Support Center (ELSC).

3. Layla Kattermann and Itaï van de Wal will zoom in on an extreme recent silencing case in the Dutch context, which was the attempt to frustrate a legal request of information (“WOB-verzoek”, based on the Dutch Freedom of Information Act) about Dutch-Israeli academic ties.

The discussion will be moderated by Dina Zbeidy. She is an anthropologist at Leiden University of Applied Sciences and LWS board member.

Edition, 1st of July 2022: WATCH the video of the event

Tags Academic freedom, Freedom of Expression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: May 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 13 June 2022
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This month, we achieved an important victory as a German court ruled in favour of scholar Dr. Anna Younes in digital surveillance case.

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On 6 May 2022, the Berlin District Court upheld Dr. Younes’ claims and ordered VDK – the German state-funded organisation that legally represents RIAS Berlin and MBR – to give Anna Younes access to data that the two civil society organisations had gathered on her and passed on to others. The information released so far reveals that RIAS and MBR have been collecting people’s personal data based on their “positions on Israel and BDS”.

What’s next?

Dr. Younes and her lawyer will request damages in court as RIAS/MBR prevented her from accessing her information for two years. It also remains to be clarified whether RIAS and MBR have been storing further data other than those revealed in the disseminated dossier.

This is an important victory because organisations using the IHRA definition for the surveillance of Palestinian rights advocates will be required to provide access to the information they collect on individuals. We believe that this is not an isolated case and that there is a structural issue of profiling Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates in Germany. This is what we intend to challenge further in court. This demeanour creates a chilling effect and limits democratic participation in public debate.
Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

Read Middle East Eye and Mondoweiss stories about the case and repression of Palestinian rights advocates in Germany.

This victory was made possible by the combination of litigation and public pressure along with collective support!
We still need your support to successfully move on with the next steps of the case.

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Read more about the case and watch this video.

AUSTRIA: PALESTINIAN SCHOLAR SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGES CENSORSHIP

On May 30^th, Palestinian scholar Walaa Alqaisiya was supposed to speak as part of the Spring Art Curatorial program organised by the MUMOK museum, the Fine Arts Academy of Vienna and cultural organisation Verein K. After a smear campaign against the Palestinian researcher, those institutions decided to cancel her presence only few days before the panel. Her censorship was justified by false allegations that depicted her as an “antisemitic”. The label was used with the effect of silencing the only Palestinian voice in a program dedicated to post-colonial research.

The ELSC reached out to its support network, the contributors and organisers of the event. Verein K and the curator of the event finally issued a strong statement and decided to remove the remainder of the program from the premises of the cancelling institutions. Share the good news!

Many organisations like the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES), the European Association of International Studies (EISA), SeSaMo (Società per gli Studi sul Medio Oriente) raised their concerns about this censorship, as well as contributors of the program such as Françoise Vergès, Kate Sutton and Raino Isto. The contributors set up a letter of support signed by more than 300 scholars, artists and students. Walaa Alqaisiya is still waiting for a public apology from the Rector of the Fine Art Academy.

SUPPORT

Share Walaa’s story on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin.

NEW EPISODES OF VIOLENT REPRESSION IN BERLIN

Ahead of the 74^th anniversary of the Nakba, the Berlin police prohibited public gatherings organised by civil society organisations in Berlin Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Palästina Spricht and Samidoun. They based their decision on unfounded allegations, using a language that amount to Anti-Palestinian racism. In the face of this imminent threat to the rights of freedom of expression and of association and the right of non-discrimination, the ELSC sent an urgent letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on racism, on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly.

DOWNLOAD THE LETTER

When individuals spontaneously took the streets of Berlin on the 15th of May, they were met with brutal police repression and disproportionate restriction on their fundamental freedoms. READ MORE about our request for accountability in relation to unjustified repression and violence from the Berlin police

Also read Human Rights Watch statement on the bans and the repression, by Omar Shakir.

In another violent episode, the site where a Palestinian artist collective is set to exhibit next month as part of art event Documenta 15 has been vandalised with hate speech by a far right anti-Muslim group. Read more here.

The art exhibition Documenta 15, happening this summer in Germany, has been under attack for several weeks already, after a group called the Alliance Against Anti-Semitism Kassel spread unfounded allegations of antisemitism against Palestinian participants, against the organisers and other participants who signed an open letter denouncing the German 2019 anti-BDS resolution as a threat to artistic freedom and freedom of speech. After those smears were picked up by national newspapers, the organisers have also been accused by the Central Council of Jews in Germany of not properly dealing with antisemitism. Nonetheless, they are resisting the smear campaign; read their open letter.

On the context in Germany, watch this new Al Jazeera documentary Germany, Anti-Semitism and the blacklisting of Palestinian journalists.

LEGAL VICTORY FOR ACTIVISTS IN STUTTGART AGAINST UNLAWFUL ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THEIR BANK

In separate incidents in 2018 and 2022, the Stuttgart Palestine Committee faced undue interferences with its rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association, on the basis of its support for the BDS movement and following smear campaigns.

In a milestone ruling delivered on 26 April 2022 by the Regional Court of Stuttgart, attempts by the State Bank of Baden-Württemberg at financial deplatforming against Stuttgart Palestine Committee were found unlawful and the activists could retain access to their two bank accounts. The Court considered that:

The Bank could not rely on the Bundestag anti-BDS resolution, as the resolution does not have any binding force;
As a public-law institution, the Bank is bound to ensure respect for its customers’ fundamental rights;
The Bank’s argument of threat of damage to its reputation does not hold ground and it must provide services to everyone equally.

This decision came less than one week after another legal victory for the Committee against the City of Stuttgart that had withdrawn its access to the Municipality’s website for the promotion of their activities.

Palästinakomitee Stuttgart activists got their 2nd legal victory in a week!
✅21/04 They win a case against the City of Stuttgart that tried to censor them.
✅26/04 They retain access to their bank accounts after attempts of terminating their accounts.https://t.co/dv2lK3VQsi 1/7
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) May 2, 2022

TWO POSITIVE JUDGEMENTS IN FRANCE

On 5 May 2022, the French Court of Appeal of Lyon confirmed the acquittal of Olivia Zémor, issued last year by a French criminal court in Lyon. Olivia Zémor, the President of BDS group CAPJPO-EuroPalestine, was accused of incitement to discrimination and public defamation by pharmaceutical company Teva Santé because she amplified calls to boycott the company on EuroPalestine’s website.

Just like in the first instance, the Court of Appeal rejected both accusations and reiterated the legitimacy of the BDS (Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions) call and its protection as a form of expression, referring to the Baldassi case in its reasoning.

In two landmark rulings dated 29 April 2022, the French highest administrative court prevented the dissolution of the Comité Action Palestine (CAP) and the Collectif Palestine Vaincra (CPV).

French government had signed two governmental decrees on 9 March 2022, pronouncing the dissolution of the two Palestine solidarity groups, based on both groups’ alleged incitement to hatred, discrimination, or violence, as well as their supposed provocation to commit terrorist offences.

The Council of State rejected the unfounded allegations of antisemitism and support to terrorism made against the groups and determined that the decrees gravely violated the groups’ fundamental freedoms of association and of expression. It also confirmed the legitimacy of boycott calls.

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PASSED AND COMING EVENTS

On the 24^th of May, we intervened in the panel discussion organised by Student For Palestine in Leiden University. After having been censored by the University two months ago, Students for Palestine remain unsilenced and came back to campus with an in-person event on “Silencing Palestine”!

The panel discussed the obstacles of Palestinian resistance and advocacy in the Netherlands and beyond.

Thursday 30^th June evening, Leonhard-Woltjer Stichting (LWS) and Een Ander Joods Geluid (A Different Jewish Voice) are holding a public event on “Silencing Palestinian voices: how Israel lobbies make it harder to speak up against Israel’s policies”, with the participation of Peter Beinart, Alice Garcia, Layla Kattermann and Itaï van de Wal. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Dina Zbeidy. Our report on the attempts to chill Palestinian rights advocacy in The Netherlands will be part of the discussion.

More info

Join us and register by sending an email to info@leonhardwoltjer-stichting.nl

Statement

The ELSC Demands Accountability After Police Repression in Berlin on 15th of May 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 30 May 2022
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Last week, the ELSC sent a letter to UN Special Rapporteurs on contemporary forms of racism, on freedom of opinion and expression, and on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, following its previous communication alerting on urgent threats to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in Berlin ahead of Nakba day.

On 13 May 2022, the Berlin police, with a stamp of approval from Berlin’s Higher Administrative Court, prohibited public gatherings to be held over the weekend in commemoration of the 74 years of the Nakba and in remembrance of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist killed by the Israeli army. The police’s decision was based on unfounded allegations, using a language that amount to Anti-Palestinian racism, and constituted an arbitrary and disproportionate limitation to fundamental freedoms, as stated in our first communication.

On 15 May 2022, individuals spontaneously took to the streets of Neukölln to observe a moment of silence in honour of the slain journalist. In different locations in Berlin, they were met with brutal police repression. Police officers used a kettling technique to encircle and detain groups of people, to collect their personal details and individually photograph them.

Activist Ramsy Kilani, who was manhandled by police officers, recounts:

“Beyond media attacks, anti-Palestinian racism has by now reached a new level of violent repression and crackdowns on anything visibly Palestinian in Germany. As Palestinians, we were not even allowed to commemorate our tragedy, the Nakba, in silence, without being assaulted and having our fundamental rights abolished by the police and official institutions in Berlin. These attacks on us and on me personally have retraumatized me, but they have not succeeded in taking our will to resist this injustice and to continue the struggle for Palestinian human rights”.

The police intervention represents an egregious and targeted limitation of fundamental freedoms enshrined in German basic law, European Human Rights Law and international law.

Against this backdrop, Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about the incidents, designating the pre-emptive ban as “an extreme restriction that effectively works as a collective punishment on those who wish to peacefully assemble, based on speculation over potential unlawful acts of a minority”. Manu Pineda, Member of the European Parliament, asked the EU Commission to determine that the ban on protests violates Articles 10, 11 and 12 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The ELSC, therefore, ask the relevant UN Special Rapporteurs to: a) request an explanation from the competent authorities of the City of Berlin; b) publicly denounce the violations of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right of non-discrimination; c) take the necessary steps to ensure that any of the person(s) responsible for the alleged violations are hold accountable.

Read the letter

Photo: cc Montecruz Foto | 14.05.2021 – Free Palestine demo in Berlin

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Case Update Press Release

German Court Rules in Favour of Scholar Dr. Anna Younes in Digital Surveillance Case

Post author By ELSC
Post date 17 May 2022
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European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Berlin, May 17, 2022

In November 2019, RIAS and MBR created a secret dossier which depicted Dr. Younes as an anti-Jewish racist, terrorist sympathiser and sexist. The dossier was then sent to Katina Schubert, the head of the political party Die Linke/The Left in Berlin. This resulted in Dr. Younes’ exclusion from a public event organised by the party. This conduct infringed upon Dr. Younes’ right to privacy, freedom of expression, and academic freedom. RIAS/MBR’s actions amount to digital surveillance.

In March 2020, Dr. Younes, with the support of her lawyer and the ELSC, requested RIAS provide access to her personal data, based on data rights under EU Data Protection Law. RIAS/MBR refused. Therefore, she brought her case to the Berlin Data Protection Authority (DPA), and then to court. Additionally, she had to file two lawsuits at the beginning of April 2022, due to the non-processing of her case by the DPA.

However, it was only after a public media campaign was launched and more than 1,000 scholars, organisations, artists, journalists and activists supported her, that the DPA finally acknowledged Dr. Younes’ right to access her data. On 2 May 2022, RIAS/MBR withdrew their original position that Dr. Younes had no right to access her data, released the secret dossier previously disseminated and finally acknowledged the merits of her claim. A few days later, the court also handed down its decision in favour of Dr. Younes.

Most importantly, RIAS/MBR admitted to collecting data on, “Dr. Younes’ positions on Israel and the BDS movement.” The latter is a classification that most likely derives from MBR/RIAS’ use of the contested “IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism”.

Dr. Anna Younes and the ELSC welcome the decision of the District Court and the reconciliatory reaction of the DPA. The ELSC expects the DPA to acknowledge that RIAS and MBR illegally passed the secret dossier on to Katina Schubert, which led to a violation of Dr. Younes’ privacy rights – amongst other things.

Following this victory, Dr. Younes and her lawyer will request damages in court as RIAS/MBR prevented her from accessing her information for approximately two years. It also remains to be clarified whether RIAS and MBR have been storing further data other than those revealed in the disseminated dossier.

“This is an important victory because organisations using the IHRA definition for the surveillance of Palestinian rights advocates will be required to provide access to the information they collect on individuals. We believe that this is not an isolated case and that there is a structural issue of profiling Palestinians and Palestinian rights advocates in Germany. This is what we intend to challenge further in court. This demeanour creates a chilling effect and limits democratic participation in public debate.” – Giovanni Fassina, Director of the ELSC.

Read more about the case and watch this video

Read and sign the support letter

Donate to support the case

Listen to the podcast featuring Dr Younes, Inna Michaeli and Alice Garcia (Advocacy and Communications Manager at ELSC)

Tags Academic freedom, BDS, Freedom of Expression, smear campaign

Release

Urgent Communication: Imminent Threat to the Rights of Freedom of Expression and of Association and the Right of Non-discrimination in Berlin

Post author By ELSC
Post date 16 May 2022
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Last week, the Berlin police prohibited public gatherings organised by civil society organisations in Berlin Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Palästina Spricht and Samidoun, planned to take place over the following weekend to commemorate the 74 years of the Nakba (the forced transfer of hundreds of Palestinians from their homeland). In the face of this imminent threat to the rights of freedom of expression and of association and the right of non-discrimination, the ELSC sent an urgent letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on racism, on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly.

Download the letter

To the kind attention of:

Ms. E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Ms. Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression;

Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association..

Excellencies,

I have the honour to address you in my capacity as Programme Director of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), a human rights organisation that provides free legal advice and assistance to associations and individuals advocating for Palestinian rights in mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.

In this connection, I would like to bring to the attention of your Excellencies, information we have received concerning the prohibition of public gatherings organised by three organisations, Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Palästina Spricht and Samidoun, on 13, 14 and 15 May 2022 in Berlin, Germany.

According to the information received:

Public gatherings were planned to take place on 13, 14 and 15 May 2022 in the City of Berlin in commemoration of the 74th anniversary of the expulsion of the Palestinians from their homeland. Three applications for interim measures to suspend the prohibitions were rejected by the Berlin Administrative Court.

The Berlin Police justifies the prohibition by making the claim that an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic atmosphere is likely to occur. It states that the majority of participants in the demonstration will be from the Arab diaspora and from Muslim-influenced groups, and that “experience has shown that this clientele currently has a clearly aggressive attitude and is not averse to violent action”. According to the Police, “gatherings that critically discuss the fate of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories are thus likely to mobilise people who, in specific cases, may be tempted to take actions or make statements that are not compatible with German legislation”.

In Europe, where freedom of expression and opinion and freedom of peacefully assemblies are guaranteed, this is a worrisome development. I wish to express my concern that these measures represent a blatant, arbitrary and disproportionate limitation to these freedoms as guaranteed by Articles 5 and 8 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (“Grundgesetz”), by Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and by Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In addition, the allegations and language used in the prohibition are expressed with unjustifiable condescendence toward the German Palestinian community and amount to Anti-Palestinian racism, a form of anti-Arab racism that aims to silence, exclude, erase, stereotype, defame or dehumanize Palestinians or their narratives, in violation of the right of non-discrimination established by article 14 ECHR and article 26 ICCPR.

Therefore, I urge you to take action to: a) request an explanation from the competent authorities of the City of Berlin; b) publicly denounce the violations of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and the right of non-discrimination; c) take the necessary steps to ensure that any of the person(s) responsible for the alleged violations are held accountable.

Please accept, Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Giovanni Fassina
Programme Director, ELSC
14.05.2022

Picture: Palestine solidarity protest in Berlin, credit Hossam el-Hamalawy (Flickr)

Tags Anti-Palestinian Racism, BDS, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: April 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 May 2022
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This month was marked by the launch of the campaign in support of German-Palestinian scholar Dr. Anna Younes. She is a German Palestinian academic who has been subjected to several disinformation campaigns and surveilled. In 2019, she discovered that a secret dossier circulated about her, distorting her academic work and other data to frame her as anti-Jewish racist, sexist and as a terrorist sympathizer. After two long years of proceedings with the Berlin Data Protection Authority that failed to issue a final decision on her case, Dr. Younes is now filing two lawsuits to seek justice.

This case illustrates the increasing violation of democratic principles with respect to Palestinian rights advocates across Europe and Germany in particular. It infringes on the right to privacy, freedom of expression and the participation in public life of anti-racist and decolonial advocates in Europe. Read here Middle East Eye’s report on the case.

Thanks to your support we aimed to raise more than 600 euros to sustain Dr. Younes’ legal costs. We need more help to cover the total costs of the lawsuits and support other advocates in Germany who might face surveillance as well.

DONATE

Over 500 scholars, activists, artists, organisations and human rights defenders signed a letter to support Dr. Anna Younes and other scholars, activists and journalists against censorship and surveillance in Germany. Angela Davis, Judith Butler, Noam Chomsky, Roger Waters and others signed the letter, join them!

SIGN

Share the campaign on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

NEW SUCCESSES FOR BDS IN GERMANY

Despite the harsh climate for Palestinian rights advocates in Germany, two new judgements delivered on the 21^st of April and the 26^th of April in Stuttgart shows us, again, that litigation to defend our fundamental rights works.

Palästinakomitee Stuttgart was targeted by several unfounded smear campaigns because of their support to the Palestinian-led BDS movement. In two different episodes, the City of Stuttgart withdrew the Committee’s access to the City’s website to advertise their activities, and the Landesbank Baden-Württemberg Bank announced the termnation of their bank accounts. Both decisions where based on the German Parliament’s anti-BDS resolution (among other reasons).

The activists legally challenged those undemocratic decisions and the Courts gave them reason. The Administrative Court and the Regional Court of Stuttgart both held that the Bundestag’s anti-BDS resolution lacks any legal binding effect. The Administrative Court reaffirmed that the BDS movement does not incite hatred against the Jewish people, and that it must be protected from undue interference.

SHARE THIS VICTORY

These decisions are consistent with a growing trend in German case law, which upholds the legitimacy of BDS. Read our analysis. Ahmed Abed, the lawyer who defended the Stuttgart activists, is also challenging the German Bundestag’s anti-BDS resolution with the Palestinian-Jewish-German team of activists BT3P.

SUPPORT THE CASE

A HIGHLY CONTESTABLE JUDGEMENT AGAINST BDS AUSTRIA

In a decision delivered on 6 April 2022, the Commercial Court of Vienna endorsed the City of Vienna’s lawsuit, ruling against the BDS activists.

TAKE ACTION

The Court’s decision is deeply problematic as it ignores the evidence submitted on behalf of the BDS activist, including legal opinions of renowned international and Israeli scholars. Furthermore, the Court ignored the existence of the Israeli system of apartheid towards Palestinians, a fact that is meticulously documented by organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’tselem and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The BDS activist intends to appeal the decision and is ready, if necessary, to stand before the European Court of Human Rights to assert his fundamental right to freedom of expression.

DONATE

THE RIGHT TO BOYCOTT THREATENED IN THE UK

The UK government is proposing an “anti-boycott bill” that, if passed, could dramatically affect individual and organisations’ ability to campaign for social and climate justice in the UK and around the world. We are proud to be among the 40+ organisations opposing this bill.

Share the campaign’s statement on Twitter and Instagram.

BANNING EU TRADE WITH ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS: HELP US GET TO 1 MILLION SIGNATURES!

More than 170 organisations, including the ELSC, Human Rights Watch, Friends of the Earth, Avaaz and many others, joined the Stop Settlements Coalition calling to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative. We need 1 million signatures to push the EU to enact a ban on trade with illegal settlements in occupied territories, in line with its international law and EU trade obligations.

SIGN

Push people to sign in sharing the petition on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

WEBINARS ON THE WEAPONISATION OF THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM TO SILENCE CRITICISM OF ISRAEL

Law For Palestine held a webinar on “The Anti-Semitism Label: Fighting Discrimination V. Silencing Critical Voices”. The webinar examined the IHRA definition of Anti-Semitism, which many states and institutions have endorsed as a tool to combat antisemitism. Our Director Giovanni Fassina joined Former UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Professor Richard Falk and Professor of International Law Neve Gordon in the panel.

This month, the ELSC also participated to the webinar “Enforcing Silence: the Criticism of Israel, freedom of expression and anti-Semitism label”, organised by the Community Action Center – Al-Quds University. The event presented the definitions of anti-Semitism, notably among EU countries, limitations on the academic freedom of opinion, journalists’ freedom of expression, and the persecution of critics of the ongoing Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinian people.

COMING EVENTS

The ELSC will participate to a webinar organized by BRISMES on “Teaching Palestine in the Present”, on the 4th May 2022, 16:00-18:00 (UK time). Join us and register below.

REGISTER

2 CALLS FOR APPLICATION FROM PALESTINE

The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) is looking for an experienced and driven Advocacy Expert who can strategically develop their understanding of, and relationships with, the institutions of the European Union and relevant bodies. The EU Advocacy Expert will support PNGO in amplifying the Palestinian narrative and the effectiveness of Palestinian advocacy efforts in the EU.

APPLY

BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights opened its call for applications for its International Mobilization Course on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in Palestine from Sunday 24 July to Tuesday 2 August. A great opportunity for international advocates, researchers, activists, policy officers to gain a deeper understanding of a human rights based approach to international mobilisation for the rights of the Palestinian people.

If you would like to join the course, please fill the application form and send it, along with your CV, to leila@badil.org before 16 May 2022.

If you are interested in empowering the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donations to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support.
If you are a legal practitioner or a volunteer who wants to be part of our movement in support of Palestinian rights advocates, please contact us at info@elsc.support.

DONATE

Tags Academic freedom, BDS, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, smear campaign

Event

Webinar: Teaching Palestine in the Present

Post author By ELSC
Post date 4 May 2022
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The ELSC Director Giovanni Fassina will join a great panel of scholars, researchers and representatives of NGOs at a webinar organised by The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) on “Teaching Palestine in the Present”.

Date: Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Time: 16:00-18:00 (BST)

Location: Online via Zoom

Register here to attend

Régis Debray has spoken, in a famous paragraph, of the constant difficulty of being contemporary with our present. In Europe at least, we have yet to be sufficiently contemporary with our past.
(Perry Anderson, Antinomies of Antonio Gramsci, 1976, p. 78)

Who writes Palestinian history, in the present, and down to the present? How is it written and practiced, in and outside Europe, and what for? How has what the Italian revolutionary and intellectual Antonio Gramsci called the ‘war of position’ (an organizational and cultural struggle in the ‘fortresses’ of civil society) been fought from above and below in schools and universities? What are the stakes of the struggle? Who is involved? This panel addresses these questions by examining factors such as the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, transnational Palestinian solidarity, university politics, the firing of academics, publishing, education, academic freedom, pro-Israeli groups and individuals, state power, and Zionism. We will aim to open up a wide-ranging discussion of how the ‘integral politics’ of Palestinian history are playing out amid contested forms of hegemony in the present, while considering how those in Middle East Studies can best intervene.

Chair

Teodora Todorova (Teaching Fellow in Sociology, University of Warwick / Chair, BRISMES Committee on Outreach and Pedagogy)

Discussant

Yara Hawari (Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network)

Speakers

Mai Abu Moghli (Senior Researcher and a Co-Principle Investigator on an Education in Emergencies Programme at the Centre for Lebanese Studies)
Tamara Ben-Halim (Co-Director and Founder of MAKAN)
Nicola Pratt (Professor, International Politics of the Middle East, University of Warwick / BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom)
Giovanni Fassina (Programme Director, European Legal Support Centre – ELSC)
Martin Konečný (Director, European Middle East Project – EuMEP)
John Chalcraft (Professor of Middle East History and Politics, London School of Economics / BRISMES Secretary / Director of BRISMES Campaigns).

Tags Academic freedom, BDS, IHRA

Statement

Protect the right to boycott

Post author By ELSC
Post date 3 May 2022
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The UK government is proposing an ‘anti-boycott bill’ that, if passed, could dramatically affect the ability of individuals and organisations to campaign for social and climate justice in the UK and around the world.

We as a collection of organisations have written the following statement to express our opposition to the bill:

Civil Society Statement

As a group of civil society organisations made up of trade unions, charities, NGOs, faith, climate justice, human rights, cultural, campaigning, and solidarity organisations, we advocate for the right of public bodies to decide not to purchase or procure from, or invest in companies involved in human rights abuse, abuse of workers’ rights, destruction of our planet, or any other harmful or illegal acts. We therefore oppose the government’s proposed law to stop public bodies from taking such actions.

The government has indicated that a main intention of any legislation is to ensure that public bodies follow UK foreign policy in their purchasing, procurement, and investment decisions, particularly relating to Israel and Palestine. We are concerned that this would prevent public bodies from deciding not to invest in or procure from companies complicit in the violation of the rights of the Palestinian people. We affirm that it is the right of public bodies to do so, and in fact a responsibility to break ties with companies contributing to abuses of rights and violations of international law in occupied Palestine and anywhere else where such acts occur.

From bus boycotts against racial segregation to divestment from fossil fuel companies to arms embargoes against apartheid, boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns have been applied throughout history to put economic, cultural, or political pressure on a regime, institution, or company to force it to change abusive, discriminatory, or illegal policies. If passed, this law will stifle a wide range of campaigns concerned with the arms trade, climate justice, human rights, international law, and international solidarity with oppressed peoples struggling for justice. The proposed law presents a threat to freedom of expression, and the ability of public bodies and democratic institutions to spend, invest and trade ethically in line with international law and human rights.

We call on the UK government to immediately halt this bill, on opposition parties to oppose it and on civil society to mobilise in support of the right to boycott in the cause of justice.

Share the statement

Signatories

Amos trust
Artists for Palestine UK
Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU)
British Committee for the Universities of Palestine
BRISMES Campaigns
British Palestinian Council
Campaign Against Arms Trade
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Communication Workers Union (CWU)
European Legal Support Centre
Friends of Birzeit University (FOBZU)
Free Speech on Israel
Friends of Al Aqsa
Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Global Justice Now
Greenpeace UK
Institute of Race Relations
International Centre of Justice for Palestinians
Israeli Committee against House Demolitions UK
Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JJP)
Labour and Palestine
London Mining Network
Makan
Methodist Church in Britain
Movement for the Abolition of War
Muslim Association of Britain
National Education Union
National Union of Students
Netpol
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
People and Planet
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Quaker Roots
Quakers in Britain
Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers Union (RMT)
Sabeel-Kairos UK
SOS-UK (NUS climate campaign)
Stamp out Poverty
Transport Salaried Staffs Association Union (TSSA)
UNISON
Unite the Union
United Reformed Church
University and College Union (UCU)
War on Want

Tags BDS, Freedom of Expression

Event

Webinar “Enforcing Silence: the Criticism of Israel, freedom of expression and anti-Semitism label”

Post author By ELSC
Post date 19 April 2022
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The ELSC will join a webinar organised by the Community Action Center – Al-Quds University to discuss the academic and journalistic freedom to criticise Israeli illegal policies.

Date and time

20th of April 2022 from 17.30-19.00 (GMT+3, Jerusalem time)

Join the event here: https://bit.ly/3Od7Ljk

The speakers

Ilan Pappé, renowned Israeli historian

Sai Englert, academic and activist

Giovanni Fassina, director of the European Legal Support Center

About the event

The panel will discuss the silence Israel enforces on academics and journalists speaking on Israel’s policies by labeling it anti-Semitic.

The event presents the definitions of anti-Semitism, notably among EU countries, limitations on the academic freedom of opinion, journalists’ freedom of expression, and the persecution of critics of the ongoing Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinian.

The Community Action Center – Al-Quds University is an association emanating from Al-Quds University and which aims to empower the Palestinian community in East Jerusalem. Read more here.

Tags Freedom of Expression, IHRA

Case Update Press Release

Viennese Court Endorses the City of Vienna’s SLAPP Against Palestinian Rights Advocate

Post author By ELSC
Post date 12 April 2022
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European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Amsterdam and Vienna, April 13, 2022

In a highly contestable decision delivered on 6 April 2022 in the case between the City of Vienna and a member of BDS Austria, the Commercial Court of Vienna endorsed the City’s Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), ruling against the BDS activists. The Austrian activists will appeal this decision.

The judge ordered that the BDS activist must no longer use the logo of the City of Vienna in connection with any publication or public statement in order to avoid that the latter may be interpreted as issued by the City. The Court forbade the use of the City’s logo, although it was not proven in any way that the activist had ever done so.

The City sued the activist for publishing a sarcastic social media post that contained a picture of the famous “Visit Apartheid” poster attached to a billboard carrying the official logo of the City of Vienna. The City alleges that the BDS movement holds “antisemitic views” and “incites hatred against Israeli people”. Accordingly, it claimed that being publicly associated with BDS and with “the designation of the situation in Israel/Palestine as ‘Apartheid’ causes damage to [its] reputation”, and that this would therefore amount to defamation.

The judgement of the Vienna Court significantly deviates from prior judgments issued by the European Court of Human Rights, notably its judgment in Baldassi and Others v. France, as well as from emerging case law in Germany, all of which confirm the legitimacy of the Palestinian civil society-led BDS movement.

The Court’s decision is deeply problematic for the following reasons:

The Court exclusively based its reasoning on the City’s documents, while disregarding the 22 pieces of evidence submitted on behalf of the BDS activist, including legal opinions of renowned international and Israeli scholars.
The Court also ignored that the existence of an Israeli system of apartheid that oppresses the Palestinian people is a fact that has been meticulously documented by leading human rights organizations and UN experts, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’tselem and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It was clear from the BDS activist’s social media post that the apartheid poster did neither originate from the City nor express the views of the City. The activist’s post was not a factual assertion but rather satirical humour, which was taken out of context and used to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights.

The BDS activist intends to appeal the decision and is ready, if necessary, to stand before the European Court of Human Rights to assert his fundamental right to freedom of expression, a right enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Regarding next steps, the activist’s lawyer, Elisabetta Folliero, said:

“My client wants to proceed with the appeal, which is crucial for the defence of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. The City’s claim of financial compensation for damages and the cost of the legal proceedings, which my client will be required to pay if the appeals court upholds this controversial judgement, has already a chilling effect on support for Palestinian rights in Austria. For this reason, we ask for solidarity, including donations, which will support our appeal.”

TAKE ACTION

Donate to help the BDS activist with the legal costs
Email the Mayor of Vienna to ask him to drop his lawsuit
Sign the petition to ask the City of Vienna to end the SLAPP and repeal its anti-BDS resolution

Tags BDS, Freedom of Expression

Newsletter

ELSC Newsletter: March 2022

Post author By ELSC
Post date 6 April 2022
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Dear friend,
This month was marked by Women’s Rights Day as well as the Israeli Apartheid Week, where many students and activists organised events and protests to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and raise awareness about the Israeli apartheid. This week was not free from censorship, especially on campus, as shown by an incident in The Netherlands. We also share updates from the European Citizens’ Initiative Campaign as well as news from Germany, Austria, and a vacancy to work with us in the UK!

A GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITY IN THE UK

We are seeking a Legal Officer to oversee our cases and projects emanating from the UK. If you want to join a young and dynamic team and you’re passionate about defending Palestinian rights advocacy and UK law, apply before 17 April 2022.

APPLY

The role will cover: a) overseeing casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates in the UK; b) providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under UK domestic law and European human rights law; c) developing strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies; d) analysing relevant legislation and jurisprudence under UK and EU law; and e) organising and participating in workshops and advocacy events.

Share the vacancy on your social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

MUNICIPALITY OF VIENNA V. BDS AUSTRIA

Two months after the hearing in Vienna, BDS Austria is still waiting for a ruling by the Court on the lawsuit filed by the Municipality of Vienna over a social media post of the famous “Visit Apartheid” poster. The anti-SLAPP task force Protect the Protest interviewed BDS Austria about the SLAPP they are facing. The group shared a strong message:

“continue doing the work, build networks, and seek international support”

BDS Austria stands strong and keeps protesting against Israeli apartheid and against the attempts to silence them. It is time now to reinforce the pressure. Email directly the Mayor of Vienna to ask him to end this lawsuit.

EMAIL the Vienna Mayor

DONATE

CENSORSHIP IN THE NETHERLANDS

While the case of the Freedom of Information (FOI-WOB) request by The Rights Forum – that triggered a harsh smear campaign against the leading Dutch NGO – is still pending, the ELSC supported a new case of censorship in Leiden University.

Students for Palestine, a group of activist students in The Hague, organised a panel discussion on apartheid in Leiden University with South African and Palestinian scholars. Only a few days before the date of the event planned for the beginning of the Israeli Apartheid Week, the University refused to host the event, alleging that the chair – the well-respected scholar in anthropology and law Dina Zbeidy – was “not neutral”.

After hundreds of academics and students protested this breach of academic freedom and raised concerns of anti-Palestinian racism, the University accepted to host the event on a different campus, but again, required to replace the chair. As the students refused to give in to the pressure, Leiden University cancelled again the event, which eventually took place in a cultural venue in The Hague. This incident caught the attention of BIJ1 MP Sylvana Simons who raised a question in Parliament.

Read more here and join the 1700 students and scholars who signed the letter to Leiden University.

SIGN the support letter

DONATE to help us win more cases

UPDATES FROM GERMANY

Following the dismissal of 7 journalists and the publication of an extremely biased investigation by the Deutsche Welle (DW), Palestinian-Jordanian Farah Maraqa took the German state broadcaster to court and had a first hearing. Farah Maraqa, who the ELSC is supporting, is determined to pursue her legal battle against her unsubstantiated termination.

SUPPORT HER CASE

The DW has set a very dangerous precedent for the freedom of the press in Germany. The fact that the IHRA definition was used as a frame of the investigation shows, again, the very worrying chilling effect of the definition on freedom of expression and on accurate reporting on Israel-Palestine.

Nevertheless, legal battles are worth undertaking since, in the past years, we have observed a coherent and positive case law on anti-BDS policies in Germany. In 8 decisions, German courts have consistently upheld the right of activists to use public facilities for BDS-related events, thus reaffirming the legitimacy of BDS.

This reinforces the lawsuit of the Bundestag 3 for Palestine (BT3P) aiming to repeal the German Parliament’s anti-BDS resolution and end this tactic of repression targeting Palestinian rights advocates.

DONATE to support the BT3P lawsuit

TAKE ACTION TO BAN TRADE WITH THE SETTLEMENTS

More than 170 organisations, including the ELSC, Human Rights Watch, Friends of the Earth, Avaaz and many others, joined the Stop Settlements Coalition calling to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) petition. We need 1 million signatures to push the EU to enact a ban on trade with illegal settlements in occupied territories, in line with its international law and EU trade obligations.

SIGN

CHALLENGING REPRESSION OF PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND APARTHEID

In a joint letter with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, we asked key EU institutions and Member States to uphold international law at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. We asked, in particular, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to condemn Israel’s apartheid and to call on Israel to revoke the unsubstantiated designation of the 6 prominent Palestinian CSOs.

At the occasion of the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the OPT Michael Lynk also published its report. It concludes that Israel has been imposing an apartheid regime over the Palestinian people and acknowledges the settler-colonial nature of Israel’s occupation and apartheid.

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Tags BDS, Call for Application, Freedom of Expression, IHRA, smear campaign