The March 2011 issue of IDI’s Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter includes four articles. The first summarizes the report of the special investigatory commission on the targeted killing of Hamas military leader Salah Shehadeh in Gaza in 2002. The Commission found that despite the fact that the operation caused disproportionate harm, such harm was unanticipated. As a result, the operation was legal and no criminal liability should be imposed on the individuals that planned, authorized and executed it. The second article discusses the two-year extension of a temporary law dealing with security detentions (Security Detention Order). The renewed legislation includes some modifications in the aftermath of the Israeli Supreme Court decision, which struck down a past version of the temporary law. The third article gives a brief overview of the periodic reports submitted by the Justice Ministry to the Knesset on the implementation of the above mentioned Security Detention Order. The fourth article reviews the Supreme Court's recently published reasoning for overturning a Knesset Elections Committee decision to disqualify two Israeli-Arab political parties from participating in the 2009 general elections on grounds of condoning terrorism.
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 hand. It surveys recent developments in Israeli law and practices that are intended to reduce or repress terrorist threats. IDI believes that a greater knowledge 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. 27, March 2011