High-Level Side Event in the UNHRC “Examining the implications of the apartheid framework to Israel’s repressive rule over Palestinians"
High-Level Side Event in Parallel to the UN HRC Item 7 on Israeli Apartheid
On 22 March 2022, Al-Haq, represented by its General Director Shawan Jabarin, participated in a side event held by 23 civil society organizations and the missions of Malaysia, Namibia, Pakistan, Palestine, and South Africa on ‘examining the applicability and implications of the apartheid framework to Israel’s repressive rule over the Palestinian people.’
Attended in person by over forty representatives of states, OHCHR, and civil society, the event included Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk’s presentation of his latest report finding that Israel is imposing an apartheid regime on Palestinians in the OPT.
Alongside representatives from CIHRS, Al Mezan, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. Shawan Jabarin explained the historic background that led to Israel’s apartheid regime, based on Zionist settler colonialism, as one of the root causes of the ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian people’s rights, including their inalienable rights to self-determination and return. Additionally, Jabarin elaborated on Israel’s policy of fragmenting of the Palestinians people into separate geographic, legal, and administrative categories as a central strategy to maintain Israel’s control and apartheid regime.