[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention, and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week]
News
"Pro-Palestine Speakers at Brooklyn College Attract Protests Outside", Vivian Yee
The New York Times reports on a lecture by Judith Butler and Omar Barghouti at Brooklyn College on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement, concurrent protests outside the lecture, and the larger controversy surrounding the college`s sponsorship of the lecture.
"Brennan Nomination Exposes Criticism on Targeted Killings and Secret Saudi Base", Greg Miller, Karen DeYoung
Miller and DeYoung, writing for The Washington Post, report on the opposition of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and civil liberties groups to CIA nominee John O. Brennan, describing the Obama Administration`s secrecy regarding its drone program as a key point of contention.
"Lawmakers Propose Giving Federal Judges Role in Drone Strikes, but Hurdles Await", Greg Miller
Miller writes of Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and others` proposal for a "drone court" of federal judges that would impose accountability on targeted killings involving drones. Miller identifies opposition from the executive branch as a political obstacle making the idea unlikely.
"Justice Department Memo Reveals Legal Case for Drone Strikes on Americans", Michael Isikoff
NBC News` National Investigative Correspondent reports on a 16-page Justice Department memo arguing the U.S. government may order the targeted killing of American citizens in circumstances where al-Qaeda involvement is suspected, identifying such individuals as "imminent threats" even if no intelligence exists "indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.".
"Israel Must Withdraw all Settlers or Face ICC, says UN Report", Harriet Sherwood
The United Nations Human Rights Council has released a report identifying Israel`s settlement activity in the West Bank as violating article 49 of the fourth Geneva convention, which bans transfer of civilians to occupied territory, and has threatened ICC prosecution should Israel not withdraw all settlers from the West Bank.
"France May begin Mali Pull-Out Next Month, says Foreign Minister", Associated Press
Laurient Fabius, France`s foreign minister, has suggested that French troops will hand over operations to an all-African force as soon as March, following the capture of Kidal by troops from France and Chad.
"Obama to Visit Israel in Spring; Mideast Peace, Iran on Agenda", Matt Spetalnick
President Obama has indicated plans to visit Israel, the West Bank and Jordan this spring, amid rumors that his administration may be planning a new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative.
"International Court Demands Custody of Qaddafi`s Intelligence Chief", Marlise Simons
Despite the Libyan government`s insistence on trying Abdullah al-Senussi, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi`s former intelligence chief, in their own courts, the International Criminal Court has ordered Libya turn him over to their custody.
Blogs
"Did Bing Maps Capture the Top Secret U.S. Drone Base in Saudi Arabia?", Casey Chan
Gizmodo reports on satellite images on Bing Maps revealing an enigmatic air base in Saudi Arabia that may be used to launch drone attacks in Yemen; the base is located on the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and appears similar to other known US drone bases. Chan describes the base as "expertly hidden", requiring a sophisticated level of satellite imagery to locate, and notes that the base cannot be located on Google Maps.
"Libya`s Remarkable Contempt for the OPCD - Ex Parte Version", Kevin Jon Heller
Heller comments on Libya`s recent motion that Saif al-Senussi`s lawyers should not be permitted to view the Libyan government`s evidence in favor of its admissibility challenge, writing this ex parte request is designed to prevent al-Senussi`s lawyers from effectively arguing against Libya`s effort to try al-Senussi in Libya. Heller argues these and other recent efforts of Libya at the ICC make plain its "contempt for…Saif`s right to a fair trial"
"Detention, Prosecution, and Interrogation in Mali", Robert Chesney
Chesney, writing on Lawfare, writes of two answers to the question of what might happen to persons captured by anti-Islamist forces in Mali: domestic prosecution inside Mali or interrogation at the hands of local groups in coordination with France. Both options, Chesney writes, "run very much with the grain of larger trends in how the United States is calibrating its response to terrorism these days"
"Gaza Farmers Launch Call to Boycott Israeli Produce", Joe Catron
Electronic Intifada reports on protests organized by a number of Palestinian agricultural organizations to support boycotts of Israeli agricultural products. Also detailed are hardships suffered by Palestinian farmers and fishermen at the hands of Israel`s siege of Gaza, including military attacks on fishermen and farms and limits on exporting outside Gaza.
"Imagine No Israel Lobby", MJ Rosenberg
Rosenberg compares recent Senate hearings to confirm Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary and John Brennan as CIA Director, describing AIPAC and other elements of the Israel lobby as heavily involved in the former and relatively absent from the latter. The lobby`s non-involvement in the Brennan hearing allowed a "serious discussion of issues", Rosenberg argues, while the Hagel hearing became "an opportunity to audition in front of current or potential donors".
Commentary
"Death By Drone, and the Sliding Scale of Presidential Power", Frank James
James attempts to put the Obama Administration`s drone program in historical context, writing that in "times of crisis", the general response of Presidents has been to ramp up policies at odds with civil liberties.
"Judith Butler`s Remarks to Brooklyn College on BDS", Judith Butler
The Nation prints the text of Judith Butler`s remarks at a lecture on Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions at Brooklyn College, thanking those who defended the event under the principle of academic freedom and commenting on BDS` potential to provide a non-violent critique of Israeli injustice while transcending traditional language of being "`pro` Palestine or `anti" Israel".
"More than 50 Countries Helped the CIA Outsource Torture", Spencer Ackerman
Ackerman reports on an Open Society Foundation study detailing the CIA`s extraordinary rendition practices, finding that 50 nations, including Qaddafi`s Libya and Assad`s Syria, tortured al Qaeda suspects on behalf of the United States under the policy.
"How Do You Explain Drone Killings? With Post-Orwellian `Newsspeak`", Andrew O`Hehir
O`Hehir argues in Salon that recent defenses of targeted killing with drones from the "White Paper" and John Brennan`s answers at his confirmation hearing are poor defenses that largely rely on a vaguely defined war with al-Qaeda and a distorted definition of "imminence" that allows the government to define every al-Qaeda member as perpetually presenting an "imminent threat" to the United States.
Reports
"Lawfulness of a Lethal Operation Directed Against a U.S. Citizen Who Is a Senior Operational Leader of al-Qa`ida or An Associated Force", Unsigned
A Department of Justice "White Paper" asserting the legality of the U.S. government ordering the killing of American citizens in Al-Qaeda should the citizen be considered an "imminent threat".
"PCHR Submits an Individual Complaint to the UN Special Rapportuer on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights", PCHR
This Palestinian Centre for Human Rights document contains a legal briefing note shedding light on the case of Ramadan Abdel Bari, a Palestinian factory owner forced to close his business due to and unable to find new employment as a result of Israel`s closure of the Gaza Strip.
"Agenda Item 7: Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories", Human Rights Council
The UN Human Rights Council`s report on Israeli settlements and their impact on human rights in Occupied Palestinian Territory; the report details numerous violations of international law on the part of Israeli settlers and threatens International Criminal Court action if the settlements are not abandoned.
Conferences
"Britain Tortures Too Conference"; 15-16 February 2013; University of Brighton; Register here.
"International Law Congress of Youth"; 19-20 March 2013; Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey; Call for papers here.
On Jadaliyya
"Lawfare and Armed Conflict: Comparing Israeli and US Targeted Killing Policies and Challenges against Them", Lisa Hajjar
"Tires over Tyre: US Ambassador Ruins Ruins", Emily O`Dell
"Email Exchange between Glenn Greenwald and Alan Dershowitz", Jadaliyya Reports
"Obama`s Drone Leaks: New Imminence, Old Tactics", Noura Erakat
"National Students for Justice in Palestine Stands in Solidarity with Brooklyn College", Jadaliyya Reports
"Fixing the Paris Protocol Twenty Years Later: Frequently Asked Questions for Diehard Reformers", Hiba I. Husseini and Raja Khalidi
"Why Students in Solidarity with Palestine Should Not Join The Olive Tree Initiative", Rahim Kurwa
"نجوان درويش بطاقة هوية وأشعار أخرى", Najwan Darwish
"Military Justice? Palestinians in Israeli Courts (Video)", Jadaliyya Reports
"موسم السياحة 2013: فلسطين المحتلة، زوروها وافرحوا بها", Haneen Naamnih
"International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory", Jadaliyya Reports
"Regarding the Torture of Others in "Zero Dark Thirty", Elisabeth Jaquette
"Slaying Saints and Torching Texts", Emily O`Dell
"UN Counter-Terrorism Expert Launches Inquiry into the Civilian Impact of Drones and Other Forms of Targeted Killing", Jadaliyya Reports
"Setting New Precedents: Israel Boycotts Human Rights Session", Noura Erakat