| Summary: | One of the unique features of Israel's legal, military, and political
control over the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) has been the review by
the Supreme
Court of Israel of the actions and decisions of the authorities in
those territories. Sitting as a High Court of Justice that has the competence to
review the actions of all persons exercising public functions under law, the
Court has entertained thousands of petitions relating to the legality of such
varied actions as house demolitions, deportations, land requisition, entry
permits, and establishment of settlements. There can be little doubt that the
very existence of judicial review has had a restraining effect on the
authorities. While the Court has not ruled against the government that often,
and has provided legitimization for acts of dubious legality, such as punitive
house demolitions and deportations, it has handed down some important
rulings on questions of principle. Furthermore, in the shadow of the
Court, many petitions have been settled without a court ruling, allowing for a
full or partial remedy for the Palestinian petitioner.
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