Israeli NGOs release report on security administrative detention in Israel

The Israeli human rights NGOs B’tselem and Hamoked published a detailed report analysing and criticizing the legal regime and practical use of administrative detention on security grounds in Israel. The report calls on the government of Israel to immediately cease using the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law and to take action to repeal it.

Interesting articles

Beth van Schaack – International Criminal Law & its Enforcement
This chapter, to appear in the 2nd edition of Beth Van Schaack & Ron Slye’s International Criminal Law & Its Enforcement (Foundation Press 2010), covers the crime of torture under international criminal law. It begins with a doctrinal discussion of the elements of torture as elucidated [...]

Mossad declassifies a document for the first time in its history

(Intel news)The secretive spy agency agreed to release its official founding charter in the context of a year-long legal battle with two Israeli daily newspapers, Yedioth Ahronoth and Ha’aretz. Last year, the two papers filed a petition with Israel’s High Court of Justice, claiming that the Mossad, as well as Israel’s internal spy agency Shin [...]

Annual Report of the UN Committee against Torture – Terrorism related issues

Read the 380 pages report here.
Consideration of reports submitted by state parties under article 19 CAT.
On China
p.27: The Committee appreciates the information on the importance given by the State party to anti-terrorist work and the information on their attempts to strengthen anti-terrorism legislation and other relevant measures, including international cooperation against terrorism. Notwithstanding this information, [...]

Israel: Review of Internment of Unlawful Combatant

On August 30, 2009, the Supreme Court of Israel rejected an appeal by a Gaza resident of a decree issued against him for continued detention following the completion of his term of imprisonment for committing the offenses of membership in an unlawful association (the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) and attempted murder. The [...]

Israeli agents to screen judges before appointment

Israel’s internal security service has been given a de facto veto over the appointment of judges in an unprecedented decision that has the country’s embattled liberals up in arms, the Independent reports.

Israel devising new anti-terror act resembling US Patriot Act

Defense, Justice ministries along with Mossad, Shin Bet and police are said to be working on new, comprehensive anti-terror legislation to resemble US’ Patriot Act. “Israel’s anti-terror act will have some 100 articles and will consist of new directives as well as updated existing orders, such as the Defense (Emergency) Regulations, the Prevention of Terror [...]

Academic articles of interest

Amos N.Guiora – Religious Extremism: A Fundamental Danger Nikos Lavranos – Judicial Review of UN Sanctions by the European Court of JusticeDevika Hovell – A House of Kadis? Recent Challenges to the UN Sanctions Regime and the Continuing Response to the ECJ Decision in KadiLiza Goitein – Preventive Detention in a Different Kind of [...]

CFR Reports on AQIM, Jemaah Islamiyah and Hizbullah

Backgrounder on Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) or L’Organisation Al-Qaeada au Maghreb Islamique (Formerly Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat or Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le Combat) by Andrew Hansen and Lauren Vriens
Backgrounder on Jemaah Islamiyah (a.k.a. Jemaah Islamiah)
Backgrounder Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu’llah)

Amnesty: Israel – Misuse of Drones Killed Civilians in Gaza

Israeli attacks with guided missiles fired from aerial drones killed civilians during the recent Gaza fighting in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said in a recent report. The attacks with one of the most precise weapons in Israel’s arsenal killed civilians who were not taking part in hostilities and were far [...]