Attorney-General: Judea and Samaria Might Be "Occupied"
Attorney-General Meni Mazuz has decided to recommend the "careful examination" of the option of applying Geneva Convention principles to Judea, Samaria and Gaza. This means that for the first time, Israel would formally agree that Yesha is in fact occupied territory.
Mazuz has thus decided, Haaretz reports, to accept the conclusion of a team of government lawyers headed by Deputy Attorney-General Shavit Matias.
Applying the Geneva Charter would mean that Israel is not permitted to house its citizens in Yesha - and could even give such residents the international status of "war criminals." Israel has always claimed that it did not conquer the areas from a sovereign nation, as Jordan's control of the areas from 1949-1967 was recognized by no one except for Great Britain and Pakistan.
Politicians from left and right assailed Mazuz's decision. Yuval Shteinitz, Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that Mazuz does not understand enough of foreign affairs to make such recommendations, while Labor MK Matan Vilnai also said this morning that Israel should not rush to apply Geneva to Yesha.
International Law Prof. Talia Einhorn said today that Judea and Samaria are not "occupied territory," according to international law. See article.
Attorney-General Meni Mazuz has decided to recommend the "careful examination" of the option of applying Geneva Convention principles to Judea, Samaria and Gaza. This means that for the first time, Israel would formally agree that Yesha is in fact occupied territory.
Mazuz has thus decided, Haaretz reports, to accept the conclusion of a team of government lawyers headed by Deputy Attorney-General Shavit Matias.
Applying the Geneva Charter would mean that Israel is not permitted to house its citizens in Yesha - and could even give such residents the international status of "war criminals." Israel has always claimed that it did not conquer the areas from a sovereign nation, as Jordan's control of the areas from 1949-1967 was recognized by no one except for Great Britain and Pakistan.
Politicians from left and right assailed Mazuz's decision. Yuval Shteinitz, Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that Mazuz does not understand enough of foreign affairs to make such recommendations, while Labor MK Matan Vilnai also said this morning that Israel should not rush to apply Geneva to Yesha.
International Law Prof. Talia Einhorn said today that Judea and Samaria are not "occupied territory," according to international law. See article.