Current Developments in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The link to sign up for the webinars can be found below.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is having huge negative implications for communities all over the world. Unfortunately, despite these difficulties, violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses don’t stop. During this webinar series two highly relevant developments, the potential upcoming annexation as well as settlement economy, will be discussed by experts in the field. Specific attention will be paid to the role of the Netherlands and the EU and clear policy-recommendations will be provided. Of course there will be opportunities to ask questions to the speakers. You can sign up for the webinars here.

Webinar 1: Forthcoming Annexation?

With the new unity government between Netanyahu and Gantz in place, the pathway to de jure annexation of (parts of) the West Bank seems to be paved. Both parties have openly talked about annexation during their election campaigns and is part of the agreement. This webinar will shed more light on the current state of affairs including timeline, potential consequences on the ground as well as policy recommendations to the Netherlands and the EU to prevent this.

Thursday, June 4, 15.00 CET.

Speakers:

• Mr. Jamie McGoldrick, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
• Dr. Munir Nusseibeh, Director of the Community Action Center at the Al-Quds University
• Ms. Sharona Weiss, Head of International Advocacy Department Yesh Din

Webinar 2: Settlement Economy

This webinar will focus on understanding business activities related to illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as a major human rights problem, and presenting ways to end the complicity of Dutch/European economic and political actors with the settlement economy.

Sub-topics:

1. UN Database re. business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
2. Lack of transparency on trade relations with settlement economy
3. Public procurement in the Netherlands of goods and services offered by companies that are part of the settlement economy

Introductions of sub-topics will be provided by Gerard Jonkman, Executive Director of the Rights Forum and Pauline Overeem, Senior Researcher at SOMO.

Tuesday, June 16, 15.00 CET.

Speakers:

• Maha Abdallah, International Advocacy Officer at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CHIRS) Brussels Office
• David Kattenburg, Canadian educator, journalist, activist
• Sadet Karabulut, Dutch MP for the Socialist Party (SP)