CERD Concluding Observations on Israel 2012

The UN’s independent body monitoring implementation of the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination has concluded its review of Israel and concluded that the State party must reform its laws and policies to be compliant with the global standard of combatting racism and racial discrimination. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) also focused on Israel’s practice of discrimination in housing, land and residency on the basis of religious affiliation. CERD recalled its previous observations and urged Israel “to give full effect to” the Convention’s obligation for State parties to combat apartheid, and to eradicate all forms of segregation between Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

In its diplomatic language, CERD also strongly recommended that Israel ensure equal access to land and property, including to end, abrogate, or rescind any legislation that does not comply with the principle of nondiscrimination. Specifically, CERD determined that Israel “should withdraw the 2012 discriminatory proposed Law for the Regulation of the Bedouin Settlement in the Negev, which would legalize the ongoing policy of home demolitions and forced displacement of the indigenous Bedouin communities.”

CERD further ruled that Israel “should fully respect the norms of humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, rescind its blockade policy and urgently allow all construction materials necessary for rebuilding homes and civilian infrastructures into the Gaza Strip so as to ensure respect for Palestinians’ right to housing, education, health, water and sanitation in compliance with the Convention.”

Download CERD Concluding Observations CERD/C/ISR/CO/14–16