On this day in 1967, the Israeli Army occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, claiming emergency powers with a military decree that greatly restricts the rights of the occupied. The ongoing occupation is the longest in the modern era.

The Israeli Army action took place in the context of the Six Day War, fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states. The status of the West Bank as a militarily occupied territory has been affirmed by the International Court of Justice and, with the exception of East Jerusalem, by the Israeli Supreme Court.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the military proclamation issued by the Israeli Army on June 7th, 1967 permitted the application of the Defense (Emergency) Regulations of 1945.

These regulations empowered, and continue to empower, authorities to declare as an "unlawful association" groups that advocate for "bringing into hatred or contempt, or the exciting of disaffection against" the authorities, and criminalize membership in or possession of material belonging to or affiliated, even indirectly, with these groups.

HRW goes on to state that these and other broad restrictions on the occupied population violate international law: "The Israeli army has for over 50 years used broadly worded military orders to arrest Palestinian journalists, activists and others for their speech and activities - much of it non-violent - protesting, criticizing or opposing Israeli policies. These orders are written so broadly that they violate the obligation of states under international human rights law to clearly spell out conduct that could result in criminal sanction."

Following the military occupation of the West Bank, Israel began expropriating the land and facilitating Israeli settlements in the area, broadly considered a violation of international law. While Israelis in the West Bank are subject to Israeli law and given representation in the Israeli Knesset, Palestinian civilians, mostly confined to scattered enclaves, are subject to martial law and are not permitted to vote in Israel's national elections.

This two-tiered system has inspired comparisons to apartheid, likening the dense disconnected pockets that Palestinians are relegated to with the segregated Bantustans that previously existed in South Africa when the country was still under white supremacist rule.

Born Without Civil Rights: Israel’s Use of Draconian Military Orders to Repress Palestinians in the West Bank - Humansrightswatch

Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal: UN rights commission

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  • Freeanotherday [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    8years ago I got myself into a wee bit of legal trouble. I ended up getting a really good deal from the judge that pretty much ammounted up 5 years or probation (and big financial fines obviously) if I stayed out of trouble my charges would be hidden from my record outside of any future legal issues.

    A year+ into my sentence I said fuck the Police and went AWOL. It was dumb but I have my reasons.

    Yesterday morning after ~7 of being a fugitive I turned myself in @ 6am. After about 7 hours of sitting in city cells I was content with my decision and ready for the wrath of some chud judge.

    Around 5 pm the Sargent yells at me in my cell to get up. I incorrectly guess I am about tomget on the phone with a JP and get bail/court date or told I am waiting in city cells.

    The Sargent is clear not happy. All he says is my charges were stayed. Literally brings me out a side door into the parking lot, drops my belongings onto the cement and leaves.

    :party-cat: I am obviously confused but pretty hyped. I call my lawyer who at that time has no fucking idea what happened.

    Turns out they fucked paperwork of the breach charges years ago. I can go into more details later. This post already long.

    My lawyer informs me I have a horseshoe up my ass. I agree and smile. She says I don't understand....

    Remember the good deal I mentioned at the start? Well when they stayed my breaches I completed my 5 years of probation without ever bending a rule. :data-laughing:

    My lawyer is correct, I am so lucky cops are so stupid. :dancing-roach: