Between 6 and 10 May 2019, Al-Haq carried out a series of meetings and briefings, along with partner organisations in the United States (U.S.), with the United Nations (UN) offices, diplomats and U.S. Congressional offices. On Monday, 6 May 2019, Al-Haq, along with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), briefed approximately 20 Member States of the European Union (EU) Delegation to the UN in New York on the continued violations committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including in regards to the Great Return March, the prolonged closure and continued military offensives carried out against Palestinians therein. Al-Haq highlighted the plight of Palestinians in realising their basic rights, including the right to life, dignity, and an adequate standard of living, persistently denied as a result of Israel’s prolonged military occupation. Al-Haq also highlighted the role that the EU should take in ensuring accountability, particularly for acts committed by Israel during the Great Return March which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A year ago, the United States (U.S.) opened its embassy in occupied Jerusalem after moving it from Tel Aviv. The move was preceded by U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017, running counter to decades of established U.S. policy and peremptory rules of international law. Since that time, and as the international community anticipates the upcoming release of a new U.S. Middle East peace plan, the U.S. has also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan, and has remained silent[1] as to possible action should Israel annex the occupied West Bank, as threatened by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during the 2019 election campaign.

Paris, le 16 mai 2019 – A l’issue d’une intense campagne de mobilisation, nos organisations se félicitent aujourd’hui du retrait d’ALSTOM de l’appel d’offre pour l’extension du réseau de tramway à Jérusalem-Est, outil de la politique de colonisation et d’annexion israélienne à Jérusalem. Après le retrait en juin de Systra, filiale de la SNCF et de la RATP, nous demandons à la dernière entreprise française historiquement impliquée dans le projet : la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations via sa filiale EGIS, de s’en retirer pour ne pas se rendre complice de violations du droit international. Nous demandons à l’État de jouer son rôle au titre de ses responsabilités en matière de relations internationales comme d’investisseur.

As the world’s largest and most protracted displaced population,[1] Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) today number 8.7 Million,[2] constituting 66.7 percent of the Palestinian people. Yet, neither the internationally mandated bodies nor the international community, have taken any measures to adequately address this ongoing Nakba (catastrophe) by the provision of just and durable solutions as stipulated by international law,[3] and as embodied in UNGA Resolution 194 of 1948 and UNSC Resolution 337 of 1967.