This month's issue of the IDI Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter discusses four recent developments related to Israel's fight against terrorism: We address two reports of investigative bodies examining the conduct of the IDF during "Operation Cast Lead" (the recent conflict in Gaza) – the first report (or series of reports) was issued by the IDF and is the product of a series of internal investigations; the second report was issued by a Board of Inquiry appointed by the UN Secretary General to investigate incidents in which UN facilities or personnel were harmed. Perhaps not surprisingly, the two reports reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the legality of IDF counter-terrorism operations in Gaza (and differ also in their legal premises). The third item describes the recent decision of Israeli NGOs to withdraw the petitions that they had filed with the Supreme Court of Israel, which challenge the constitutionality of a new detention law governing security offenses, following the Court's decision to review secret evidence ex parte. Finally, we discuss a few new developments in the Spanish investigation of a number of Israeli high ranking officials for their involvement in a targeted killing operation in Gaza in 2002.
The monthly IDI 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. 5, May 2009