Click here to read the Balfour Project statement on the Rule of Law.
Day 1 Tuesday 25 May
Welcome – Sir Vincent Fean & Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC
Why the rule of law matters – Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond
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Israel/Palestine: recent developments at the ICJ and ICC – Philippe Sands QC
Followed by Discussion with Balfour Project Trustee John McHugo and Dominic Grieve QC
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Why a rights-based approach makes a just, lasting political solution more likely, and why now – Zaha Hassan
The dual legal system in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the role of the Supreme Court of Israel – Michael Sfard
Discussion between Zaha Hassan and Michael Sfard, moderated by Dominic Grieve QC
Remarks by Dominic Grieve QC
Forward look to Day 2 with Sir Vincent Fean
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Wednesday 26 May
Welcome – Andrew Whitley
International Law: indispensable in the search for a just Middle East peace – Prof Michael Lynk
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Case studies introduced by Michael Lynk:
Gaza – Issam Younis
The settlement project – Hagit Ofran
Palestinian children in Israeli military detention – Sahar Francis
Accountability – Nada Kiswanson
Followed by panel discussion and Q&A
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Can international law prevail in Israel/Palestine, and if so, how? The role of the UK – Rt Hon Jack Straw
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Parliamentary panel discussion – Jack Straw, Wayne David MP, Layla Moran MP, Joanna Cherry QC MP, moderated by Lord Alderdice
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Andrew Whitley concludes the conference with the Balfour Project statement
Click here to read the concluding statement.
Suggested Further Reading
Breaking the Israel/Palestine Status Quo – Report by conference speaker Zaha Hassan, as well as Daniel Levy, Hallaamal Keir & Marwan Muasher
B’Tselem Report: This is Ours – And This, Too: Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank
Human Rights Watch Report: A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
Prime Minister Boris Johnson Confirms UK Opposition to ICC Investigation into Israel
Palestinian peace must rest on international law – Mary Robinson, published in The Financial Times on 15 March 2021
Conference on Jerusalem – Session II: International Law and Human Rights – October 2020
Vincent Fean on Annexation, International Law and Recognition