Chapter 3 Suppression of Palestinian Civil Society, Identity and Culture Suppression of Palestinian Civil Society Legal Framework The ICCPR, to which Israel is a signatory, contains provisions essential to the protection of a free civil society. Articles 19, 21, and 22(1) uphold the rights to hold opinions without interference, to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. These articles stipulate that restrictions may be placed on these rights only if they are necessary for “national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”281 This stipulation, particularly in reference to national security, is commonly invoked by Israel to justify its violation of the aforementioned rights. However, the invocation of national security itself is subject to heavy restrictions.282 The Siracusa Principles that define the ICCPR’s limitation clauses specifically emphasize in Article 32 that “A state responsible for [violations of human rights] shall not invoke national security as a justification for measures aimed at suppressing opposition to such violation or at perpetrating repressive practices against its population.”283 Another justification for the violation of these rights invoked by Israel is that it is currently in a state of emergency, and Article 4 allows States to derogate 281 ICCPR, Article 22 282 Novact – International Institute for Nonviolent Actions, Human Rights Defenders in Israel and Palestine: A Group in Risk, February 2016, pages 5-6. Available at: http://novact.org/wp-content/ uploads/2016/03/The-Right-to-Defend-Human-Rights-in-the-oPt.pdf 283 UN Commission on Human Rights, The Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (E/CN.4/1985/4), 28 September 1984, Article 32. Available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4672bc122.html 79