Agencies-Gazapost
American Bar Association condemns Israel’s labeling of six Palestinian NGOs as “terrorist”
The American Bar Association (ABA) has written to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet to express its opposition to six Palestinian civil society organizations being labeled “terrorist” last year.
“We request that you review the concerns some in the international community have expressed questioning whether the procedures utilized [in making this designation] inappropriately deprive persons or organizations of their rights,” ABA President Reginald M. Turner wrote in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
“Advancing the rule of law is one of the ABA’s four goals,” Turner continued, “the objectives of which include working for just laws, including human rights and a fair legal process; ensuring meaningful access to justice for all persons; preserving the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary; and preserving the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary.”
Al-Haq, Addameer, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International-Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees are among the six organizations targeted. “A number of groups and authorities have voiced concern that these designations are based on imprecise or uncorroborated charges and target legitimate human rights activity,” Turner said.
The letter highlights Israel’s skewed legal system. The American Bar Association has so added to the growing chorus of condemnation of Israel’s apartheid laws, policies, and practices, as well as the State Department’s silence on the issue.
“In the circumstances, questions have been raised regarding whether an impartial and objective administrative examination of the military order against the six organizations is possible.” While the Israeli Supreme Court can hear a last appeal, this may be insufficient protection because the organizations will likely not have had access to the facts that the military order was based on, and there may be no written judgment or record for the Court to review.”
