Ramallah: A Top Israeli human rights Lawyer on Monday an alleged “threat“His work for a Palestinian NGO from the country’s defense ministry was labeled a terrorist group by the state.
Attorney Michael Sfard represents al hakiOne in six Palestinian organizations killed under the designation “terrorist” Israel In October.
Nine European governments said last week that they would continue to cooperate with NGOs, on the grounds that “no sufficient information” was presented to support the designations.
Sfard published a letter on Monday from a defense ministry lawyer, which referred to him receiving charges from “terrorist organisations”.
“We draw your attention to the provisions of section 32(d)(1) of the law relating to legal avenues of transaction in terrorist assets,” said the letter dated July 14, seen by AFP.
In a written reply, Sfard said the letter suggested he could face seven years in prison for representing al-Haq.
He interpreted it as “a government intimidation made against a lawyer wholly engaged in legal work”.
The letter came in response to an appeal by Sfard and other lawyers to designate three NGOs.
The Defense Ministry said the note was sent as a “regular procedure”.
“This letter does not constitute intimidation of any kind, it only refers to the instructions that apply to lawyers to receive their fees,” the ministry said in a statement to AFP.
Such notes have been sent to “all lawyers representing designated terrorist organizations”, the statement said.
In response to the letter, Sfard warned that if the ministry did not withdraw it, it would consider requesting to adjourn the appeal hearing to July 20.
Speaking to AFP on Monday, the lawyer said: “My representation is compromised if it is done under circumstances in which I am under threat.”
In more than a decade representing such organizations, Sfard said it was the first time he had received such a letter.
In the case of the six NGOs, Israel ruled that they had ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. Israel has not publicly shared any evidence related to its decision.
Attorney Michael Sfard represents al hakiOne in six Palestinian organizations killed under the designation “terrorist” Israel In October.
Nine European governments said last week that they would continue to cooperate with NGOs, on the grounds that “no sufficient information” was presented to support the designations.
Sfard published a letter on Monday from a defense ministry lawyer, which referred to him receiving charges from “terrorist organisations”.
“We draw your attention to the provisions of section 32(d)(1) of the law relating to legal avenues of transaction in terrorist assets,” said the letter dated July 14, seen by AFP.
In a written reply, Sfard said the letter suggested he could face seven years in prison for representing al-Haq.
He interpreted it as “a government intimidation made against a lawyer wholly engaged in legal work”.
The letter came in response to an appeal by Sfard and other lawyers to designate three NGOs.
The Defense Ministry said the note was sent as a “regular procedure”.
“This letter does not constitute intimidation of any kind, it only refers to the instructions that apply to lawyers to receive their fees,” the ministry said in a statement to AFP.
Such notes have been sent to “all lawyers representing designated terrorist organizations”, the statement said.
In response to the letter, Sfard warned that if the ministry did not withdraw it, it would consider requesting to adjourn the appeal hearing to July 20.
Speaking to AFP on Monday, the lawyer said: “My representation is compromised if it is done under circumstances in which I am under threat.”
In more than a decade representing such organizations, Sfard said it was the first time he had received such a letter.
In the case of the six NGOs, Israel ruled that they had ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. Israel has not publicly shared any evidence related to its decision.