Palestinian resident puts Israeli "settler" on trial, in the first lawsuit ever submitted against a settler in the Palestinian national courts
Headline: “The [PA] minister of justice: A resident of Burin will submit a lawsuit to the Nablus Trial Court against a settler who attacked his home”
“[PA] Minister of Justice Muhammad Al-Shalaldeh announced that a resident [Muntasir Mahmoud] of the village of Burin submitted a compensation claim yesterday [Nov. 8, 2020] to the Nablus Trial Court against a settler who attacked his home that is still under construction, which caused material and immaterial damages.
Al-Shalaldeh explained that this lawsuit is the first that is being submitted against a settler in the [Palestinian] national courts and that is based on the international conventions and laws, especially the Hague Convention. He called on citizens to submit lawsuits to the national, regional, and international courts in order to put on trial those who are violating our rights, and this is in accordance with [UN] Security Council Resolution No. 2334 (see note below –Ed.), which deals with the settlements.”
UN Resolution 2334 condemned the establishment of Israeli "settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem," saying it "has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace." It demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” in the area. The resolution further said “it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines” other than changes made through negotiations, in reference to the 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries following Israel's 1948 War of Independence. The resolution called “upon all States… to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It also called "to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation and destruction... and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism," and noted the obligation of "the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities." The resolution was adopted during US President Barack Obama’s final weeks in office and reflected a change in the longstanding US policy of averting UN Security Council resolutions that prejudice or negatively influence direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.