"Israel and the International Law" in the Latest Release by Al-Zaytouna Centre

Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations has released its most recent titles “Israel and the International Law”. In its 466 pages, this edited volume discusses the various aspects of the Israeli violations of international law, in twenty chapters prepared by specialized intellectuals in this domain. The book first presents the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in the context of international law, including most importantly the right of return, compensation, and resistance. The book then deals with the Israeli violations related to perpetuating war crimes, aggression and occupation, and violations related to forced displacement, denial of the right of return, siege, house demolitions, land expropriation, settlement construction, the separation wall, the annexation of Jerusalem and its Judaization attempts, extrajudicial assassinations, and crimes against children, women and prisoners. In addition, the book discusses the role of legal organizations in legally pursuing Israel for its violations of the international law.

        

 The release of this book crowns the efforts of a whole year in preparation and editing of the working papers that were presented in the international conference organizaed by Al-Zaytouna Centre under the same title during 4-5/11/2009, with the participation of a select of intellectuals in international law. In addition, some significant chapters were later prepared and added to the book.

The book calls for giving better attention to the international aspect of the Palestinian issue, in the light of unbalanced –if not to say failed- negotiation and mediation talks, and in the light of continuous Israeli violations in pursue of changing the status quo and imposing new facts on the ground. The book reveals the ugly face of the occupation, and assists in exploring the possible opportunities of legally pursuing it and holding it responsible and accountable based on international law.

Participants in the book are: Dr. Abdelrahman Mohamad Ali, Dr. Abdullah al-Ash‘al, Prof. Dr. Alain Pellet, Dr. Anis Fawzi Qassem, Dr. Curtis F.J. Doebbler, Dr. Haitham Manna, Mr. Hasan Ahmad Umar, Prof. Dr. Iain Scobbie, Prof. Dr. Jean Salmon, Prof. Dr. John Dugard, Dr. Maher Idriss al-Banna, Dr. Mahmud al-Mubarak, Prof. Dr. Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, Dr. Muhammad Abu al-Haija, Prof. Dr. Muhammad al-Majzoub, Dr. Najwa Hassawi, Prof. Dr. Paul De Waart, Prof. Dr. Shafiq Masri, Ms. Silvia Nicolaou-Garcia, and Prof. Dr. Vera Gowlland-Debbas.

Finally it goes without say that this book is an essential updated reference for all those concerned with the rights of the Palestinian people, and international law, and human rights, both intellectuals and activists.

The English version of this book is expected in 2011.