Israel’s Separation Barrier Challenges to the rule of law and human rights International Commission of Jurists, Geneva 1 / 59 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................3 PART I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................10 1. OBJECT AND PURPOSE OF THE OPINION..........................................................................................................10 2. BASIC FEATURES OF THE SEPARATION BARRIER...........................................................................................11 2.1. Structure and course of the Separation Barrier ...................................................................................11 2.2. The legal regime of the Separation Barrier..........................................................................................13 PART II: SOURCES AND SCOPE OF APPLICABLE INTERNATIONAL LAW...................................16 1. INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ..........................................................................................................16 1.1. Obligations as State Party to the Geneva Conventions........................................................................16 1.2. Humanitarian law reflecting international customary law..................................................................18 1.3. Application to the West Bank and East Jerusalem...............................................................................19 2. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW...........................................................................................................20 2.1. Extraterritorial applicability.................................................................................................................21 2.2. Concurrent applicability with humanitarian law .................................................................................24 2.3. The fight against terrorist acts and the applicable law........................................................................26 PART III: VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW....................................30 1. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ...............................................................................................................................30 1.1. Movement restrictions under international human rights law.............................................................30 1.2. Freedom of movement under international humanitarian law ............................................................35 1.3. Prohibitions under international humanitarian law affected by movement restrictions ....................37 2. PROPERTY CONFISCATION, REQUISITION AND DESTRUCTION .......................................................................39 2.1. Confiscation of private and public land and property .........................................................................39 2.2. Destruction and appropriation of property ..........................................................................................42 2.3. Possible future appropriation of land...................................................................................................43 3. FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY INTERFERENCE INTO HOME AND FAMILY LIFE ................................................43 4. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS .................................................................................................45 4.1. State responsibility under the ICESCR .................................................................................................45 4.2. Scope of Israel’s state responsibility in respect to the Occupied Territories......................................46 4.3. Violations of economic, social and cultural rights by the Separation Barrier....................................47 5. RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND DUE PROCESS......................................................................................50 5.1. Administrative procedures.....................................................................................................................50 5.2. Effective remedies and the right to an independent tribunal ...............................................................51 5.3. Effective remedy.....................................................................................................................................52 6. PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION .................................................................................................................53 7. THE SEPARATION BARRIER IN LIGHT OF THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION........................54 PART IV: CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................................56 2 / 59 Executive summary This document summarizes an analysis undertaken by the International Commission of Jurists of Israel’s Separation Barrier (hereafter: Barrier) in light of international law, in particular international human rights and humanitarian law. Background of Israel’s Separation Barrier The construction of the Barrier started in June 2002 following a decision by the Government of Israel to approve its first phase. Further plans for the construction of the Barrier in the West Bank were approved on 1 October 2003. While some parts of the Barrier have already been completed, its construction is a continuous process. The exact route may be subject to changes, but it is planned to stretch to approximately 660 kilometres in length. The Barrier is built largely within the Occupied Territories and a majority of Israeli settlements will be included on the Israeli side of the Barrier. The Barrier creates Palestinian enclaves within the Occupied Territories and prevents the access by Palestinians to considerable parts of the Occupied Territories. The Barrier separates not only Israelis from Palestinians but also Palestinians from Palestinians. It severely reduces access to land, workplaces and markets, as well as access to education and health institutions within the Occupied Territories, creating harsh repercussions on the wellbeing of the Palestinian population. Israelis, even those not residing in Israel, continue to enjoy their freedom of movement, while Palestinians’ access to their land or workplace is limited by a system of gates regulated by a restrictive regime of special permits. Objective of International Commission of Jurists’ legal memorandum In light of the current public discussion on the Barrier and the arguments raised in the debates in the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council and before the International Court of Justice, the International Commission of Jurists considers it necessary to reiterate some basic principles regarding the scope and applicability of humanitarian law and in particular human rights law. This legal memorandum seeks to place the debate on the legitimacy of the Barrier on a more objective basis, namely that of the rule of law and of international human rights and humanitarian law. It is also motivated by the fact that the Barrier is likely to affect the human rights situation within the Occupied Territories for a significant period of time. The International Commission of Jurists also hopes that its analysis of key legal principles with regard to the Barrier may provide some guidance to the legal community in Israel and the Occupied Territories, where a number of important legal challenges to the construction of the Barrier are pending. International human rights and humanitarian law both apply in the Occupied Territories. The Barrier in its present route and projection and with the set of rules and regulations that govern its construction and operation constitutes a severe violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. In particular, it interferes disproportionately with a range of fundamental rights and freedoms. In its present form, the Barrier cannot be justified under international law. Israel is therefore under an obligation to cease the construction of the Barrier in the Occupied Territories and to restitute property requisitioned for its construction. 3 / 59 Main conclusions and findings 1. The applicable legal framework includes international human rights law. The respect for human rights and the rule of law is imperative for the legitimacy of the Barrier. Contrary to the position taken by the Israeli Government, the international legal framework governing the Barrier includes not only international humanitarian law but also international human rights law. Israel is bound by human rights and humanitarian law obligations found in international treaties and in customary international law. Obligations under international humanitarian law include the obligations set forth in the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as the 1907 Hague Regulations. Both Conventions apply to the West Bank as well as to East Jerusalem. Israel’s obligations under international human rights law are found most relevantly in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It is well established on universal as well as regional level that human rights treaties apply concurrently with international humanitarian law. While international humanitarian law occasionally provides a more specialized rule