"International law and the economic aspects of the occupation: Considerations for the international

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"International law and the economic aspects of
the occupation Considerations for the
international community, Israel, the PA and
investors" Grietje Baars, Legal Adviser,
Diakonia
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ICJ Wall dictum three operative legal
obligations for donors operating in the oPt

• Not to recognise the illegal situation resulting
  from the construction of the Wall
• Not to render aid or assistance towards
  maintaining the situation created by such
  construction, and
• To take action to end the impediments to
  Palestinian self-determination resulting from the
  construction of the Wall and to ensure Israels
  compliace with the Fourth GC.

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Self-determination

• All peoples have the right to freely determine
  their political status and freely pursue their
  economic, social and cultural development."

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UNGA Resolution 1803 Permanent Sovereignty over
Natural Resources

• 1. The right of peoples and nations to permanent
  sovereignty over their natural wealth and
  resources must be exercised in the interest of
  their national development and of the well-being
  of the people of the State concerned.
• 2. The exploration, development and disposition
  of such resources, as well as the import of the
  foreign capital required for these purposes,
  should be in conformity with the rules and
  conditions which the peoples and nations freely
  consider to be necessary or desirable with
  regard to the authorization, restriction or
  prohibition of such activities.

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• 6. International co-operation for the economic
  development of developing countries, whether in
  the form of public or private capital
  investments, exchange of goods and services,
  technical assistance, or exchange of scientific
  information, shall be such as to further their
  independent national development and shall be
  based upon respect for their sovereignty over
  their natural wealth and resources.
• 7. Violation of the rights of peoples and nations
  to sovereignty over their natural wealth and
  resources is contrary to the spirit and
  principles of the Charter of the United Nations
  and hinders the development of international
  co-operation and the maintenance of peace.

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• The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund's ethical
  council is considering whether to recommend the
  fund sell its 107 million kroner (20 million) of
  bonds in Israel Electric Corp. because of an
  alleged participation in a blockade of the Gaza
  Strip.
• "Information that the Israeli government is using
  this company to cut electricity supplies to Gaza,
  and thereby worsening the situation for civilians
  there, has made Finance Minister Kristin
  Halvorsen ask the ethics council to investigate
  the company."

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World Council of Churches Committee Statement
22/2/8

• Operative part
• F. Commends churches and church-related
  organizations working to stop third-party
  governments, such as the European Union and the
  United States, from providing financial
  assistance to the occupying power for actions
  concerning Gaza that are wrongful and illegal
  under international law and further recommends
  that other churches take up such entreaties to
  governments involved

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• Appeal granted in UK Arms trade case

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Emma C. Murphy

• Since 1967, Israeli policy has been to capture
  the economies of the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
  using political and military control to transform
  the existing mostly agrarian-economies into
  captive markets for Israeli produce and sources
  of cheap, unprotected labor. The expropriation of
  Palestinian land and water resources, the
  restriction of banking and credit facilities,
  quasi-legal impediments to the establishment of
  productive ventures, and tight import and export
  controls, all serve to make the Occupied
  Territories economically dependent on, and
  subservient to, Israels own economy.