Israel refuses to reveal the evidence against the six Palestinian organizations it has designated as "terrorist organizations"
Following the demand of the six Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations that Israel designated as “terrorist organizations”, the Military Attorney responded this week that it would allow the groups to review only the unclassified information that underlies the bases of the designations. The military stated in its response that "the core of the declarations is based on classified, cross-checked and reliable intelligence information that cannot be disclosed” as it may harm national security. According to the Military Attorney, these confidential materials indicate that the organizations "are in fact an arm of a terrorist organization."
This response indicates that the organizations will not be provided with the evidence directed against them, and thus, they are afforded no due process rights. This response also reinforces the organizations' argument that the Israeli authorities have no evidence linking them with illegal acts and that this move amounts to the political persecution of human rights defenders.
CLICK HERE to read the response from the Military Attorney [English Translation]
CLICK HERE to read the response from the Military Attorney [Hebrew]
On 16 December 2021, the organizations’ legal team sent a letter to the military demanding the disclosure of all the evidence that forms the basis for the designations. In its response, the Military Attorney’s office, added that the military commander had extended the deadline for submitting an appeal against declaring them "unlawful associations" until 18 January 2022.
CLICK HERE to read Adalah’s letter [English Translation]
CLICK HERE to read Adalah’s letter [Hebrew]
In response, Adalah stated:
“The Israeli security apparatus has declared in its response, that the process, by which it outlaws human rights and civil society organizations, is entirely based on secret material, and thus, these groups do not have any possibility to defend themselves. There is no stronger evidence that this persecution contradicts all basic principles of due process and fairness, and is carried out by means that characterize repressive authoritarian regimes.
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Background
On 19 October 2021, Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz designated six leading Palestinian human rights and civil society groups as "terrorist organizations" under Israel's domestic Counter-Terrorism (Anti-Terror) Law (2016). The six groups are: Addameer, Al-Haq, Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), and the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees (UPWC). The Israeli military commander also outlawed all six groups under the 1945 Emergency (Defense) Regulations, declaring them "unlawful associations".
The six organizations are currently represented by Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Attorney Michael Sfard, and Attorney Avigdor Feldman.
CLICK HERE to read Adalah’s initial response to the designations
CLICK HERE for more details on Adalah’s legal actions in the case
Related documents:
Adalah’s Expert Opinion:
Israel’s 2016 Counter-Terrorism Law and 1945 Emergency Regulations Regarding the Outlawing of Six Palestinian Human Rights and Civil Society Groups 23 November 2021
Adalah’s Position Paper:
Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Law 31 October 2016 / UPDATED 29 November 2021
Related press releases
Joint call by Israeli civil society organizations to donors of designated Palestinian NGOs, 12 January 2022
The Palestinian Six Organizations Officially Demand that Israeli security Authorities Reveal the Evidence 27 December 2021
In an expert opinion, Adalah analyzes Israel’s legal measures to outlaw Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations 25 November 2021
Joint Statement of Israeli Civil Society Organizations, “Draconian Measure”, 5 November 2021
Adalah's initial response to Israel's declaration of 6 Palestinian human rights groups as ‘terrorist organizations’ 22 October 2021
Joint Statement of Palestinian NGOs in Israel 25 October 2021
