Al-Haq is pleased to announce that on 18 and 19 June 2009, the UK Divisional Court in London will be hearing the preliminary motions of the case brought by Al-Haq, in cooperation with solicitor Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), challenging the UK government over its failure to fulfil its obligations under international law with respect to Israel’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
On 1 April 2009, Sir Andrew Collins of the High Court of Justice in London requested a preliminary hearing by the Divisional Court to address Al-Haq’s ability to judicially review UK’s foreign policy towards the State of Israel, particularly in light of Operation Cast Lead. The hearing will address the issue of justiciability, as the UK Government has argued that the UK courts should not rule on matters of foreign policy. The Court will be asked to reject this argument as outdated and accept that the case is seeking adjudication on the legality of the UK Government’s actions, and inaction, in the relation to egregious and established breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by the State of Israel.
