REPORT OF THE “STATE OF PALESTINE”
Jerusalem Institute of Justice written submission
TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
ON THE REPORT OF THE “STATE OF PALESTINE”
Executive Summary
Press this link for the full report
The Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) submitted a report to the Human Rights Committee of the UN regarding Palestinian adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). JIJ’s report exposes inadequate law enforcement, incitement to violence, and acts of torture and inhumane treatment by the Palestinian government, directly contradicting Palestinian claims of compliance with international law.
The Human Rights Committee is a United Nations treaty body comprised of 18 international law experts tasked with ensuring that countries adhere to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Countries self-report their adherence to the treaty to legitimize their sovereignty and prove their benevolence. The State of Palestine used its report to deceive the international community and attack the State of Israel while claiming they uphold International Law.
Article 2 of the ICCPR prohibits discrimination. However, the Palestinian educational curriculum promotes violence, excludes peace education, and fosters a biased narrative. Palestinian textbooks legitimize violence, glorify terrorists, erase Israel from maps, and demonize Israelis. This indoctrination of violence among children has long-lasting effects and obstructs peace initiatives, and it can manifest itself in acts of terror perpetrated by children and adults. In the State of Palestine, terrorists are rewarded with glory. Their families receive a payment if the terrorist dies or is arrested; the price increases corresponding to the severity of the crimes. Alongside monetary incentives, terrorists are treated like martyrs. Summer camps where Palestinian children are trained to fight Israel through acts of violence are named after killed terrorists.
Article 6 of the ICCPR safeguards the right to life. The use of human shields by the Palestinian authorities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and breaches Article 6. This concerning practice has been observed in various conflicts, including Operation Protective Edge and the March of Return protests. Moreover, evidence suggests the concealment of rocket production facilities, armories, and combatants in or near residential areas, further jeopardizing civilians and disregarding international norms.
Article 7 of the ICCPR prohibits torture and cruel treatment. However, the Palestinian authorities have a significant gap between their legal framework and practical enforcement in preventing such acts. The Committee Against Torture (CAT) has expressed concerns over incidents of torture and mistreatment in custody, including the lack of confidentiality in complaint handling and the insufficient independence of investigation bodies. Former detainees’ testimonies provide clear evidence of inhumane treatment, torture, denial of rights, and various forms of abuse. Arbitrary arrests and torture are used against Palestinians exercising their fundamental rights, like peaceful protests or criticizing the regime. These abuses appear to stem from higher authorities’ directives. From 2016 to 2021, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights received 4,279 claims. Palestinians commit these acts of torture onto Palestinians.
Article 20 prohibits war propaganda and advocacy for hatred; JIJ’s report highlights the notable discrepancy between the legal measures established by the Palestinian authorities and their practical enforcement. Despite legal restrictions, instances of incitement and hate speech persist. Palestinian television broadcasts content, such as the series “The Path of Sacrifice,” glorifying terrorists and their acts of terror. Social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram are also utilized to spread messages of hate and incitement, including simulated attacks by young children against Israeli soldiers. Palestinian leaders publicly encourage lone-wolf attacks and the procurement of weapons, fostering hatred instead of promoting peace. School textbooks and cultural events are utilized to propagate hate, as seen in a musical production featuring dancers in military attire glorifying combat against the perceived “enemy.”
Lastly, Article 24 safeguards the rights of children. Despite international laws protecting children’s vulnerability, Palestinian children continue to be recruited and involved in violent acts, including clashes, shootings, and stabbings. Organizations like Hamas run summer camps that promote aggression and hostility, jeopardizing these children’s safety, rights, and development. This perpetuates a culture of violence with far-reaching consequences for individuals and society.
Based on the information provided, JIJ recommends that the Human Rights Committee issue the following calls to the “State of Palestine”: expunge textbooks advocating violence and terrorism, adopt an internationally accepted definition of terrorism, cease financial support to terrorism, refrain from using human shields or concealing military targets in civilian areas, end the use of torture and ensure thorough investigations, discontinue the promotion of hatred and violence through media and social media platforms, and take measures to prevent the recruitment of children in hostilities and protect their rights. These recommendations aim to promote peace, tolerance, and the protection of human rights.
52 Palestinians Tortured = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning the Crimes against Humanity committed against Palestinian citizens by the Palestinian Authority (PA) was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 20th of February 2019, together with the report on Mahmoud Abbas’s Crimes against Humanity. The report includes testimonies of 52 Palestinian civilians who have suffered the grave atrocities of arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and murder by the PA during the time period of 1991 to 2004. We argued that a full investigation of crimes against humanity should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Mahmoud Abbas, as President of the PA, for his role in the murder, torture, and unlawful imprisonment of innocent Palestinian civilians. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
On November 11, 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal and upheld the district court ruling that found the PA liable for unlawful imprisonment in a precedent-setting ruling and ordered the PA to compensate the 52 plaintiffs. The victims, suspected by the PA of “collaboration with Israel,” suffered extreme physical and emotional trauma that has caused numerous long-term damages. The Supreme Court found all testimonies reliable. As President of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas has played a pivotal role in exercising effective authority and control over the imprisonment, torture, and murder of these Palestinian civilians, in furtherance of a state policy designed to deter resistance towards his Government. During his time in power, Abbas has directed or allowed these crimes to be committed against these Palestinians and many more. Abbas’s acts of arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and murder against these Palestinians and many more constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by the Palestinian Authority and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Murder of Palestinians = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning Hamas’s Crimes against Humanity was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on the 24th of July 2019. We argued that a full investigation of crimes committed within the Palestinian territories should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of Hamas, for his role in the crimes against humanity committed through widespread and/or systematic acts of murder, imprisonment, and torture of civilians in the Gaza Strip. Following this communication and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As leader of Hamas, Haniyeh has played a pivotal role in developing and enforcing Hamas’s extremist ideology and consistent human rights violations against the Gazan civilian population as well as others. Haniyeh knew of and was in a position to prevent the crimes against humanity that have been committed against the civilian population of Gaza; yet he has manifestly failed to do so. Haniyeh’s crimes have had and will continue to have devastating consequences on the entire population of Gaza and the rest of society in the surrounding region. These crimes benefit no one but Hamas’s leadership.
Haniyeh’s acts of widespread and systematic murder against the civilian population of Gaza constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute). In addition, the crimes of torture committed by Hamas security forces and police officers also constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by Hamas and include them in their report due to be presented at the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Abuse of Palestinians = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Crimes against Humanity was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 20th of February 2019. We argued that a full investigation of crimes against humanity should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Mahmoud Abbas, as President of the PA, for his role in the systematic and widespread campaign of murder, torture, and unlawful imprisonment against parts of the Palestinian population in the territory of Judaea and Samaria, known as the “West Bank”. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As President of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas has played a pivotal role in exercising effective authority and control over the widespread or systemic murder, imprisonment and torture of the Palestinian civilians, in furtherance of a state policy designed to deter resistance towards his government.
During his time in power, Abbas has directed or allowed these crimes to be committed against various Palestinian groups – including those deemed to have been critical of the current PA government or which have supported rival Palestinian factions. Abbas knew of and was in a position to prevent the crimes against humanity that have been committed against the civilian population of the West Bank, yet he has manifestly failed to do so. Abbas’s acts of widespread and systematic murder against the civilian population of the West Bank constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (“Rome Statute”). In addition, the crimes of torture committed by the Palestinian Authority’s police officers constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by the Palestinian Authority and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Children of Gaza = UN War Crimes
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning Hamas’s war crimes was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 13th of September 2018. We argued that a full investigation of crimes committed within the Palestinian territories should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of Hamas, for his role in the commission of war crimes through the recruitment, enlistment and use of children below the age of 15 to participate directly in hostilities in an armed conflict. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As a senior leader of Hamas for many years, Haniyeh has played a pivotal role in the exploitation of the most vulnerable in society, the children of Gaza. Not only did Haniyeh fail to prevent war crimes against children committed by Hamas operatives, he has actively encouraged the indoctrination from an early age and recruitment of child soldiers to bolster the Hamas military and paramilitary forces. Firstly, as the de facto and subsequently the de jure leader of Hamas, Haniyeh knew of and was in a position to prevent the enlistment of children as active participants in hostilities, but failed to do so. Secondly, and even more egregiously, Haniyeh was an active proponent of the conscription through his attendance of graduation ceremonies for military training camps aimed at recruiting children, and giving numerous speeches in which he advocated children joining the military struggle against Israel.
The use of children under 15 to participate in armed conflict is also considered a criminal activity pursuant to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by Hamas and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Amnesty International = Bias Against Israel
We have written a letter to Amnesty International in response to their extremely biased report against Israel titled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity”.
Dear Amnesty International,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli NGO fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike, find it of the utmost importance to address your recent report titled “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity”.
We believe the report’s attempt to allege that Israel has maintained “a system of oppression and domination” over the Palestinians that meets the international definition of apartheid is a preposterous and baseless claim. Israeli Arabs take an active part in Israeli life, as military and police commanders, as ministers, as diplomats, and as Supreme Court judges. In addition, there’s an Arab party in the current coalition and in June 2021 Israeli Arab Parliament Members held a conference in the parliament of the so called apartheid regime of Israel titled: “Between Occupation to Apartheid”. The report also accuses Israel’s “apartheid” of extending “over Palestinian refugees whose right of return to their homes remains controlled by Israel.” To claim that Israel imposes a system of oppression and domination on Palestinians that live in Lebanon, Jordan, or the United States is completely absurd.
We condemn the terminology used in the report referring to the terrorist organization “Hamas” as solely an “armed group”, whereas this organization clearly falls under the various definitions for terrorism. Furthermore, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States have all designated it as a terrorist organization. Hamas periodically violates International Humanitarian Law by firing rockets and mortars from densely populated areas, thus placing Gazan civilians in grave danger as “human shields.” In the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, in May 2021, Hamas (the armed Palestinian groups that the report refers to) fired thousands of indiscriminate rockets towards Israeli towns, killing thirteen Israelis. Hamas also misfired hundreds of rockets that fell into the Gaza Strip, killing Palestinians and damaging Palestinian property, these acts are heinous war crimes, yet your report does not mention them even once. The report only mentions alleged war crimes committed by Israel.
Moreover, this report is above all a blatant means to delegitimize the State of Israel and criminalize Israeli laws and practices that are designed to safeguard Jewish identity, such as the Law of Return. The report infers that this law is a form of oppression of Palestinians: “This unequal and separate citizenship structure has resulted in stark discrimination against Palestinian citizens in several ways”. To propose that the law constitutes a form of discrimination towards Palestinians is outrageous, since its sole purpose is to safeguard Israel’s Jewish character. Furthermore, this law and others are enshrined under international law and parallel the practices of many nation-states.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
If you agree with this letter and want to send a petition to Amnesty International letting them know that you stand up for Israel and believe their report is biased click the button below to sign the petition. It will get sent to Amnesty International’s London
headquarters.
PETITION TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Dear Amnesty International,
I stand with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli NGO fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and find it of the utmost importance to address your recent report titled “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity”.
We believe the report’s attempt to allege that Israel has maintained “a system of oppression and domination” over the Palestinians that meets the international definition of apartheid is a preposterous and baseless claim. Israeli Arabs take an active part in Israeli life, as military and police commanders, as ministers, as diplomats, and as Supreme Court judges.
Moreover, this report is above all a blatant means to delegitimize the State of Israel and criminalize Israeli laws and practices that are designed to safeguard Jewish identity.
We call upon Amnesty International to cease their attack on Israel!
I declare that the State of Israel does not perpetuate apartheid and has a right to exist as the homeland of the Jewish people.
Signed by
Stop the Apartheid Lie - Petition Against the UNHRC
With an extremely wide scope, an unreasonable budget of $18 million, 18 full-time employees and three members with a track record of hostility towards Israel chosen to lead the inquiry, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has initiated a permanent “Commission of Inquiry” (COI) into Israel, which constitutes a blatant and unprecedented direct attack on Israel.
The United Nations (UN) is perhaps the most biased global human rights organization in modern history when it comes to Israel. During the 70 plus years of Israel-UN relations, much ink has been spilled on the disproportionate preoccupation of the UN with Israel. Starting with a disgraceful resolution determining that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination, to an unequivocal recognition by former UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon officially confirming that the UN is biased against Israel. But every time you think they hit rock bottom, a new low is waiting around the corner. This time the hypocrisy and prejudice that characterize the UN’s approach toward Israel have reached new lows.
With an extremely wide scope, an unreasonable budget of $18 million, 18 full-time employees and three members with a track record of hostility towards Israel chosen to lead the inquiry, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has initiated a permanent “Commission of Inquiry” (COI) into Israel, which constitutes a blatant and unprecedented direct attack on Israel.
The pretext for this inquiry was to investigate the May 2021, 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, in which Hamas fired thousands of indiscriminate rockets towards Israeli towns, killing innocent Israelis and Palestinians alike. The real reason for this inquiry though is to accuse Israel of systematic discrimination and repression based on the national, ethnic, racial or religious identity of Palestinians. In other words, to classify Israel as an Apartheid state.
The UN refuses to allow the facts and the reality on the ground to divert it from its course. A reality in which Arab Israelis are intertwined in all aspects of the Israeli society. They are leading commanders in the Israeli Defense Forces, they hold high positions in the Israeli Police Forces, and they serve as ministers, diplomats, and even judges at the Israeli Supreme Court. But all of this is completely irrelevant for the UN.
As part of the orchestrated apartheid campaign, Amnesty International, the world’s largest human rights organization and a leading player in antisemitic campaigns, published a 211-page report accusing Israel of implementing an institutionalized regime of Jewish oppression and control over the Palestinians. The report denies Israel’s right to exist as the nation state of the Jewish people. It is a clear and blatant demonstration of modern antisemitism. It features twisted legal analyses and a series of fabrications intertwined with ridiculous terminology. One that describes, inter alia, the designated terror group Hamas, as an “Armed Group”.
The publication of the report at this time is intended to strengthen the legitimacy of the UNHRC Committee and its conclusions. A foregone conclusion. In addition, Amnesty calls on the international community to exercise pressure on Israel by calling for an Arms Embargo on Israel and calling on the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate Israel for committing the crime of Apartheid.
Israel understands very well that this is a rigged game. The committee’s conclusions were reached even before the committee began its work. I expect that the committee will determine that Israel is an apartheid state.
A similar process took place several months ago when the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced the opening of a criminal investigation against Israel, in a disgraceful political decision that lacks any legal or moral justification.
Israel has officially announced that it will not cooperate with the UNHRC probe and will not allow its members to enter Israel. Israel has recently refused a request by Ms. Navi Pillay, the Commission’s chair to meet with Israeli officials. This will not be the first time that Israel chooses not to cooperate with initiatives and resolutions that meet all the characteristics of modern antisemitism. Open boycott instead of cooperation, is Israel’s new approach.
PETITION TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Dear United Nations Human Rights Council,
I stand with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli NGO fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and find it of the utmost importance to reject the so-called independent commission named “The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel”.
The mandate and structure of this “inquiry” have been designed to rewrite history from 1948, to find Israel guilty of apartheid and to declare the “root causes” of “conflict” to be Jewish infringement of Muslim rights. The commission’s plan is to falsely accuse Israel of racism, to validate criminal prosecutions of Israelis and to call upon “third states” and “business enterprises” to boycott, divest and sanction Israel.
Also, the three members of this Commission are anything but independent. The head of the commission, Navi Pillay, was a key leader of the 2001 UN Durban World Conference against Racism which called Israel a racist state. As United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 2008-9 and 2014 Gaza wars, Pillay played a pivotal role in promoting the Goldstone report and the outrageous slander that Israel targeted and murdered children. Since leaving office, she’s made a habit of promoting BDS and accusing Israel of apartheid. In addition, the two other members of the committee, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti, both hold anti-Israel extremism and Palestinian partisanship records.
The result of this witch hunt is a foregone conclusion. Therefore we demand the Human Rights Council to revoke the resolution forming this commission.
Human Shields = UN War Crimes
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning Hamas’s actions during Protective Edge Operation (the 2014 Gaza war) was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 6th of March 2017. We argued that a full investigation of crimes committed within the Palestinian territories should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of Hamas, for his role in the commission of war crimes during the 2014 Gaza war. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
There were two primary war crimes committed by Hamas militants during the war within the Gaza strip. First, they consistently used civilians for military protection and purposes, placing the Gazan population in grave danger as “human shields.” This was done by firing rockets and mortars from densely populated areas, by encouraging (and sometimes forcing) civilians to remain in potential military targets, and by storing rockets in schools, hospitals, mosques, and other civilian structures. Second, the rockets Hamas used during the war are inherently indiscriminate under international law, and were therefore unlawful to use. These rockets are unable to be controlled, and therefore could not accurately be fired at lawful military targets.
These heinous crimes reoccurred during the most recent Gaza conflict in May 2021– Hamas fired more than 4,360 rockets and mortars from residential areas. Of those, approximately 680 misfired and fell into the Gaza Strip, killing Palestinians and damaging Palestinian property, and 3,570 of the remaining rockets struck Israeli towns and cities. Thirteen Israelis were killed, and hundreds were injured. These war crimes are also considered criminal activity pursuant to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – “War Crime of Using Protected Persons as Shields”.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by Hamas and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
JUSTICE, THE BIBLE, AND US
Operating in the only democracy in the Middle East, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice uses the law to seek equality and fair treatment. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the country has been striving to find a balance between democratic values and its nature as a Jewish State.
We sometimes find a disparity between the law and political interests. For example, since the state’s beginnings, Jewish Ultra-Orthodox political factions have had a monopoly on matters of faith, deciding who is a Jew and who receives religious and civil rights. This creates huge challenges for other streams of Judaism and for those who profess any other faith, highlighting the need for the services provided by JIJ.
As an Israeli human and civil rights organization, JIJ draws its working principles from two monuments of thought. These are monuments that have decisively impacted western civilization. The first of course is the Bible, the second, which was written after the Holocaust, is the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
The Bible expresses God’s heart for the world, teaching us as it says in Micah 6:8, to walk humbly, pursue justice, love mercy, to have a proper regard for each person and to influence the development of a better society.
The rabbis in the Talmud say that the Torah begins and ends with justice. (Exodus Rabbah 30:19). But what is Justice? In Judaism, justice is the equal and right application of God’s law and morality for mankind.
In Hebrew, there is a clear connection between
- Justice-Tzedek,
- A righteous person- Tzadik,
- And acts of righteousness- Tzedakah
These terms are rooted in wisdom. The base of these words are three letters (tzadik, dalet and kuf) צ-ד-ק.
The only difference between the words is the addition of letters י(yud) and ה (heh) which both represent in Jewish tradition the full name of the Lord. Here we see the centrality of God in justice.
- To bring justice צדק,
- a godly person, צדיק,
- must perform godly acts, צדקה
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was based on Judeo-Christian values, mirrors the principles of human dignity, our responsibility to each other and personal freedoms.
Part 2 – coming soon
Defunding Terror - Hamas
Jerusalem Institute of Justice is proud to sign on to this amicus brief, petitioning the US Supreme Court to hear the case in which National Westminster Bank transferred money that was knowingly going to the US designated terror organization, Hamas.
Amicus Brief Introduction:
The raison d’etre of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, known by its acronym “Hamas,” is—as explicitly stated in Hamas’ Charter of 1988 and often repeated by its leadership—the murder of Jews and the violent expulsion of #Jews from their biblical ancestral homeland, the Land of #Israel. Petitioners and their loved ones were injured or killed in Hamas’ pursuit of its goals. And Respondent National Westminster Bank PLC (NatWest) knowingly aided and abetted those goals, through its facilitation of financial transactions for Interpal, knowing of Interpal’s connections to Hamas, and the foreseeable consequences of those financial transactions.