Al-Zaytouna Centre and the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) are Holding Conference On The State of Palestine’s Accession to the International Criminal Court

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On Thursday, 23/10/2014, Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultation and the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness) will hold a conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Beirut, titled The State of Palestine’s Accession to the International Criminal Court and Possible Outcomes. The event will be attended by a number of academics and experts on international law, and figures interested in Palestinian affairs.

The seminar will open with a keynote address delivered by Prof. Dr. Mohsen Mohammad Saleh, general-manager of Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultation. The seminar will then discuss six working papers.

In the first session, moderated by Lawyer and Legal Consultant Dr. Bassem ‘Alem, Director-General of Witness, Dr. Mahmud Hanafi will speak on the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories (The Gaza Strip -GS- as a model); while Deputy Director of Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, Nadim Houry, will speak about the role of international human rights organizations in promoting international justice (Human Rights Watch as a model). Writer and Legal Scholar Dr. Suhail al-Natour will then speak about the Israeli violations during the Israeli aggression on GS and their classification according to international law.

In the second session, which will be moderated by Arab nationalist political writer and thinker Mo‘in Bashur, International Law Professor Dr. Shafik al-Masri will speak on the State of Palestine’s accession to the Rome Statute, its advantages and disadvantages, and the best ways to deal with the issue. Legal researcher in the context of Palestinian affairs ‘Ammar Milhim will speak about the opportunities of prosecuting Israel and its leaders, while International Law Professor Dr. ‘Abdul-Rahman ‘Ali will speak on Palestine and the International Criminal Court: the best way to do justice by the victims.

The third session will include presentations and discussions on the practical value of Palestine’s accession to the International Criminal Court, assessing the role of the Court and its capacity to deliver, and the prospects of prosecuting the leaders of the Palestinian resistance, as well as the best ways to deal with the criminal court.