The January issue of the 2011 IDI Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter includes five articles. The first article presents Part One of the findings of the Public Commission to Examine the Maritime Incident of 31 May 2010 (the Turkel Commission). The Commission found that the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and the military operation designed to stop a flotilla of ships that attempted to run the blockade did not violate the relevant rules of international law. The second article discusses an NGO report regarding restrictions placed on Palestinian detainees suspected by the Israel Security Agency (ISA) of security offenses from seeking immediate legal counsel. The third article reviews a recent decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice rejecting a petition for disclosure of statistics on ISA orders preventing attorney-client meetings in security interrogation cases. The fourth article relates to a new government bill seeking to extend the postponement time period for meetings between prisoners and certain lawyers and adding new counter-terrorism grounds that would authorize the prison and state authorities to postpone such meetings. The final article surveys a recent report by the ISA regarding terrorist activity during 2010. The report chronicles the continued decrease in terrorist attacks against Israelis during 2010.
IDI’s monthly Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter aims to shed light on some relatively unknown measures and policies adopted by Israel or related to Israel, and to foster discussion on the balance between security interests on one hand, and democratic principles and human rights on the other. It surveys recent developments in Israeli law and practices that are intended to reduce or suppress terrorist threats. IDI believes that a better understanding of Israel's experience in this area may be of value to other societies. We also believe that engaging in international and comparative discourse about Israel's experience is valuable to Israeli society.
Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter: Issue No. 25, January 2011