[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention, and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week]
News
"Minister: Autopsy Shows Torture Killed Jaradat," Ma`an News
Ma`an News reports on the PA Minister of Detainee Affairs` announcement that an autopsy conducted in Israel revealed Arafat Jaradat, a Palestinian man who died in Israeli custody, did not die of cardiac arrest as reported by the Israeli Prison Authority. Moreover, the autopsy showed that Jaradat has six broken bones in his neck, spine, arms, and legs, corroborating reports that he died as a result of Israeli torture.
"Israel `Palestinian Only` Bus Lines Launched In West Bank, Security Risks Cited," Huffington Post
The Huffington Post reports on the Israeli Transportation Ministry`s plans to operate bus lines designated "Palestinian only," citing concerns about "security" and "overcrowding" due to the increase in Palestinians receiving work permits.
"US Air Force Stops Reporting Data on Afghan Drone Strikes," Reuters
The U.S. Central Command has announced in a statement that its monthly air power summaries will no longer contain data related to air strikes carried out by drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles, writing that such information disproportionately reflects the nature of air power provided in Afghanistan.
"Egypt-Gaza Tunnels Must Be Destroyed: Cairo Court," Reuters
Aiming to stem the flow of smuggled weapons, an Egyptian Court has ordered the destruction of tunnels between Egypt in the Gaza Strip. Critics of the ruling argue the tunnels are a "lifeline" for Palestinians, noting thirty percent of goods that reach the Gaza Strip arrive through such tunnels.
"Revealed: Pentagon`s Link to Iraqi Torture Centers," Mona Mahmood, Maggie O`Kane, Chavala Madlena, Teresa Smith
A Guardian-BBC Arabic investigation links the US military, for the first time, to human rights abuses at the hands of Iraq police and militia units in Iraq, alleging Col. James Steele was sent to oversee Iraqi units in establishing a "network of detention and torture centers" and reported directly to then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
"Palestinian Refugees Flee War in Syria," Associated Press
Associated Press reports on the flight of thousands of Palestinian refugees from the Yarmouk camp in Syria to Lebanon, seeking to avoid becoming part of the conflict, as well as Lebanese efforts to accommodate and integrate the refugees.
"Karzai Chides U.S. During Hagel`s Afghanistan Visit," Ernesto Londono, Kevin Sieff
Londono and Sieff report that Hamid Karzai has accused the United States military of harassing Afghan students as well as colluding with the Taliban to provoke violence and justify a long-term military presence in a recent television interview; such remarks cast a dim light on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel`s recent trip to Afghanistan.
"Cornell NYC Tech`s Alarming Ties to the Israeli Occupation," Adam Hudson
Hudson, writing for The Nation, reports on ties between Cornell University`s planned technology University on Roosevelt Island, NYC and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, an Israeli University known for its research and development efforts in the area of military technology, much of which is used by Israel to support its occupation efforts in Gaza and the West Bank.
"British Suspects quietly Stripped of Citizenship…then Killed by Drones," Chris Woods, Alice K. Ross, Oliver Wright
The Independent reports on the British government`s practice of quietly revoking the passports of British citizens on "national security grounds" who are later killed in US drone strikes, a practice critics of the program charge allows the UK to "wash their hands" of British nationals who could be subjected to torture, illegal detention, or targeted killing.
Commentary
"The Indecent Testing of Israeli Citizens of Gaza," Haaretz Editorial
Haaretz criticizes the Israeli government for planning to implement a policy requiring Israeli citizens living in Gaza to confirm their identities via tissue-culture testing in order to be granted permission to enter Israel, writing that such a practice is "invasive" and violates human rights.
"Why the Invasion of Iraq Was the Single Worst Foreign Policy Decision in American History," Peter van Buren
Writing ahead of the tenth anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, van Buren criticizes the reconstruction of Iraq as ineffective and blind to basic concerns of Iraqi citizens and describes the invasion itself as fostering a legacy of "a chaotic and unstable Middle East."
"How to Become a Drone Target," Cora Currier
Currier, writing for ProPublica, outlines the evidence required to authorize a signature strike in both Pakistan and Yemen; in Pakistan, as little as "large groups of armed men" may be needed to justify a strike, while in Yemen stricter rules are in place.
"Drones: A Weapon that Needs a Holster," David Ignatius
Ignatius writes for The Washington Post`s opinion page that the debate of the legality of drones is tantamount to the morally problematic nature of the practice, and that ethical concerns require the establishment severe limitations regarding its use.
"Repeal the Military Force Law," The New York Times
The New York Times editorial page argues for the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force, approved by Congress three days after the September 11th, 2001 attacks, writing it has "warped" into a justification for unseemly practices, including but not limited to extraordinary rendition, the invasion of Iraq, and targeted killings by way of drone strikes.
Blogs
"The NYT Grants David Barron and Marty Lederman a Mulligan on 18 USC 1119," Marcy Wheeler
Wheeler criticizes a recent New York Times piece on the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki as giving a free pass to the authors of the OLC memo on the killing by making unchallenged assertions that the paper is legally sound and not a "Bush-style theory…of sweeping presidential war powers."
"A Counterproductive Response To A Rocket," Sari Bashi
Responding to Israel`s closing of the Gaza crossing in response to a rocket fired from Gaza last week, Bashi writes that the closing could not have been motivated by security concerns and inflicts harsh penalties on Gazan citizens who had nothing to do with the launch of the rocket.
Reports
"Learning from Iraq: A Final Report From the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction," Stuart W. Bowen, Jr.
Bowen, in a 171-page report to Congress on the reconstruction of Iraq, criticizes the tendency of the United States forces to "do it all and do it our way" with regards to most major projects in the war`s wake, writing that the Americans "quickly wore out [their] welcome" by doing so.
"Israel: Gaza Airstrikes Violated Laws of War," Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch publishes the results of a detailed investigation into Israel`s attacks on Gaza in November 2012, finding eighteen Israeli airstrikes in violation of the laws of war and fourteen strikes for which no legitimate military target appeared to exist.
Conferences
"Legal Tradition in a Diverse World: Second Annual Conference of the Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law", 18-19 May 2013; Cambridge University; Register here.
"21st Century Warfare: Law, the Enemy, and the Battlefield"; 18 March, 2013; McNally Ampitheater at Fordham Law School; Register here.
On Jadaliyya
A Profile From the Archives,,"ملف من الأرشيف: فدوى طوقان"
"Brooklyn College, BDS, and Palestinian Rights," Jadaliyya Reports
"في تلك المستعمرة السعيدة ليس لنا من الأشياء إلا أسماءها," Muhammad al-asaad
"Open Letter from Family of Jailed Palestinian Cartoonist Mohammed Saba`na," Jadaliyya Reports
"مقطع من رواية رام الله الشقراء," Abbad Yahya
"New Texts Out Now: Rachel Beckles Willson, Orientalism and Musical Mission: Palestine and the West," Rachel Beckles Wilson
"New Texts Out Now: Ilana Feldman, The Challenge of Categories: UNRWA and the Definition of a "Palestine Refugee," Ilana Feldman
"The Turkel Report: A Preliminary Analysis," Adalah
"The Unequal Right to Water in Unrecognized Bedouin Villages," Sawsan Zaher
"What was at Stake at Brooklyn College?," Max Ajl
"United Nations OHCHR Calls for Investigation into Death of Palestinian Prisoner Undergoing Israeli Interrogation," Jadaliyya Reports
"The Legal Framework of Second Class Citizenship," Nadeem Sehadeh