In recent months, Palestinians in the occupied territory have once again been feeling the devastating impact of a barrage of Israeli airstrikes, forced evictions, and mass arrests. Placing this latest episode in the context of decades of structural and direct violence by Israel against Palestinians, two panels hosted by the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute of the University of Manchester will consider what is most significant about the current situation, will explore what constitutes a violation of international law, and why (despite widespread condemnations) the United Nations once again seems unable to respond adequately. Further issues for discussion include the impact and significance of the mobilization of Palestinians inside Israel who are demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Terrorities and what it reveals of their citizenship; how dynamics might change in the future; and what opportunities there are for an international response that goes beyond just a ceasefire.
 

Roundtable 1: 1:00-2:45 p.m. BST (8:00-9:35 a.m. EST)

Suhad Bishara is a senior lawyer in Israel, and director of the Land and Planning Rights Unit at Adalah, the Arab Center for Minority Rights in Israel.

Diana Buttu is a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer. She was a legal adviser to the PLO and participant in the peace negotiations.

Michael Lynk is the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights Situation in the Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967, and associate professor of law at the University of Western Ontario.

Raji Sourani is a human rights lawyer in the Gaza Strip and director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza City.
 

Roundtable 2: 3.00-4:45 p.m. BST (10:00-11:45 a.m. EST)

Valentina Azarova is a research fellow at the International Law Centre, University of Manchester; and a founding member of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN).

Katherine Gallagher is a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, NYC, USA.

Ardi Imseis is an assistant professor of law at Queen’s University, Canada.

Shawan Jabarin is a human rights lawyer based in Ramallah, and general director of Al-Haq.