The Extent to which Iinternational Agreements Relating to the Environment are Enforceable on the Palestinian Territories and the Obstacles to their Implementation رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

In recent years, interest in the environment has increased. Countries and specialists in environmental and health issues have begun to show increasing concern about the environmental changes caused directly and indirectly by human, which threatens the

health of individuals and societies.

This increased interest prompted me to examine the extent to which the Palestinian areas under the Israeli occupation and its control are affected by environmental changes. Israeli policies and settlement activities constitute the greatest threat to the Palestinian land, air, water and natural resources. Also, the military activities of the Israeli occupation forces and the separation wall are considered challenges that have a special

impact on the Palestinian environment.

Accordingly, I addressed Israel’s responsibility to protect the Palestinian environment, by presenting a set of environmental agreements, international principles and customary rules for environmental protection. In addition, I discussed the rules and principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights related to environmental protection and public health as Palestine has been under a long-term

occupation since 1967.

In the end, by addressing the various judicial, legal and political mechanisms available in international law, I presented a set of options that Palestine has in order to push Israel towards implementing environmental agreements and carrying out its duties

under these agreements.

This research concludes that the Israeli measures represented in the confiscation and

control of Palestinian lands for the purposes of building the apartheid wall and Israeli settlements, are considered major causes of the deterioration and destruction of the Palestinian environment and constitute an obstacle to the environmental advancement in

the Palestinian territories.

Furthermore, the options that Palestine has in order to push Israel towards implementing environmental agreements and carrying out its imposed duties seem few. They also have limited impact due to the specificity of the existing international system, and the obstacles that surround the work of the binding mechanisms provided by public

international law.