Palestinian Activists Seek New Strategies to Confront Israel
Palestinian activists look for alternatives to international law to hold Israel accountable for its settlement policies.
RAMALLAH — June 5 will mark the 46th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem following the 1967 war.
After decades of Israeli colonialism, settlement expansion and land confiscation, Israel’s hold on the Palestinian territories appears ironclad. One of the country’s most right-wing and pro-settler governments is at the helm, the so-called “peace process” negotiations have been stalled for years and Israeli settlements continue to swallow up more Palestinian land.
Frustrated by this reality, and by the international community and Palestinian leadership’s inability to hold Israel accountable, Palestinians are searching for alternatives, including both direct and third-party appeals to international tribunals and foregoing the longstanding strategy of using international humanitarian law to protect Palestinian rights.
“International humanitarian law is not sufficient. It has some positive elements, but it’s not sufficient. It shouldn’t be the only legal term of reference for the Palestinians,” said Zakaria Odeh, director of the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem.
