Law
by EA Sophie – 5 min read
‘While the courts offer an illusion of proper judicial conduct, they mask one of the most injurious apparatuses of the occupation. In these courts, the judges and prosecutors are always Israeli soldiers in uniform. The Palestinians are always either suspects or defendants, and are almost always convicted for violating orders issued by the occupation regime. As such, these courts simply cannot be an impartial, neutral arbitrator. They are firmly entrenched on the Israeli side of the power imbalance, and serve as one of the central systems maintaining its control over the Palestinian people.’ (B’Tselem)
About 800,000 Palestinian men, women and children have been detained since the occupation began in 1967. They are prosecuted under Israeli military law and tried by soldiers in a military court. Their treatment contrasts starkly with that of Israelis and Israeli settlers living illegally in the occupied West Bank, both of whom are prosecuted under Israeli civil law. Civil law secures their right, for example, to a fair trial, to due process, and to access bail.
The low conviction rate for Israeli settlers contrasts with a 95 per cent conviction rate for Palestinians. This asymmetrical system makes it almost impossible for Palestinians to see justice.
Some statistics on law enforcement for settlers in occupied Palestine:
(Source Yesh Din)