Objectives

The thematic report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Michael Lynk, to the Human Rights Council at its March 2022 session will focus on whether Israel's conduct of its occupation of the Palestinian territory is in breach of the prohibition against apartheid in international law.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

To inform his report, Mr. Lynk welcomes contributions from States, local and regional governments, national human rights institutions, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, academics, UN agencies and other stakeholders, on any of the following issues:

• Are international legal standards and principles related to the prohibition of apartheid applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza), given the current facts on the ground? If so, why? If not, why not?

• What are the facts on the ground in the OPT which either point to the existence of apartheid, or dissuade such a conclusion?

• A number of recent reports and articles have examined the question as to whether apartheid exists in the OPT. Some have concluded that apartheid is present, and others have concluded that it is not. What are the respective strengths and weaknesses of these reports and articles?

• What are the experiences and lessons regarding the existence of apartheid elsewhere in recent history (i.e., South Africa, Namibia, etc.) which are applicable, or not, to the OPT?

• Does the existence of different civil, political and legal rights available to Jewish citizens of Israel living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to the Palestinians living under occupation lead to a conclusion that apartheid is present, or not, in the OPT?

• Does the existence of different social, economic and cultural rights available to Jewish citizens of Israel living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to the Palestinians living under occupation lead to a conclusion that apartheid is present, or not, in the OPT?

• If apartheid does exist in the OPT, what would be some of the appropriate recommendations that should be made to Israel, the United Nations and the international community to address and eradicate its presence?

• Any other relevant information, which would assist the Special Rapporteur in drafting the report.

How and where to submit inputs/comments

Submissions of various lengths are welcomed. Summaries of, and hyperlinks to, relevant documents, statistical data, reports, articles, books, public statements, organizational and state pronouncements are particularly useful.

The SR would appreciate any inputs you may have on this by 3 January 2022