Letter of Concern - Government of Israel’s Non-Compliance with the Open Government Declaration

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz

Letter of Concern dated 26 September 2025 addresses practices by the Government of Israel that are inconsistent with the Open Government Declaration and urges activation of the OGP Response Policy. It connects alleged conduct within recognized borders and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to international obligations under the Hague Regulations and Fourth Geneva Convention. The letter cites evidence reported by human-rights organizations, UN bodies, and monitors, linking concerns to OGP commitments on inclusive participation, transparency, access to information, accountability, and respect for human rights, including impacts on settlements, planning, policing, NGOs, media freedom, and violence accountability.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Letter of Concern

Purpose and scope

International legal framework

Alleged non-compliance mapped to OGP principles

Inclusive civic participation & non-discrimination

Transparency and access to information

26 September 2025 Letter of Concern – Government of Israel’s Non-Compliance with the Open Government Declaration Dear Open Government Partnership Steering Committee This Letter of Concern addresses a range of practices by the Government of Israel that are inconsistent with the values and principles of the Open Government Declaration and therefore calls for the Response Policy to be triggered. I am submitting this request in my position as a member of the Steering Committee of OGPas is enabled by the procedures of OGP. The practices of concern extend both to the Israeli government’s conduct within Israel’s recognized borders and to its conduct in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. Under international law, the responsibilities of an occupying power are set out primarily in the Hague Regulations of 1907 (Articles 42–56) and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. These rules establish that an occupying force does not gain sovereignty over the territory but instead assumes temporary authority with the duty to administer it in the interests of the civilian population. The occupier must maintain public order and civil life, respect existing laws unless absolutely prevented, and ensure the provision of food, medical supplies, and essential services. The population under occupation must be protected from violence, collective punishment, and forced displacement. Additionally, the occupying power has a duty to safeguard fundamental human rights and to refrain from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the occupied territory (Article 49, Fourth Geneva Convention) . The occupier may not exploit resources or alter the territory for its own benefit but must act as a steward until lawful sovereignty is restored. In short, the legal framework emphasizes protection, preservation, and non-exploitation of the local population and their environment, reflecting the principle that occupation is temporary and must prioritize the welfare and rights of the occupied people. Taken together, credible international and Israeli human-rights organisations, UN bodies, and independent monitors have documented a pattern of government policies and practices—especially regarding settlements, planning, policing, NGO regulation, judicial changes, and accountability for violence—that are inconsistent with OGP commitments to transparency, inclusive participation, accountability, and respect for human rights. The following is the evidence and the link from each practice to specific OGP principles. 1) OGP principle—Inclusive civic participation & non-discrimination B’Tselem and other human-rights organisations document that Israel’s land-, planning-and housing-policies in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and for Palestinian citizens inside Israel have been implemented in ways that systematically disadvantage Palestinians—limiting their ability to participate on equal terms in planning and to benefit from public services.1 The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports that the expansion of settlements and related planning decisions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) are unlawful under international law and have major negative human-rights consequences for Palestinians’ rights to housing, livelihoods, and participation.2 These actions are in conflict with the OGP requirements of inclusive participatory government practices grounded in respect for human rights. Systematic exclusion of a population from planning and public decision-making is directly inconsistent with “open government” commitments to inclusive participation and non-discrimination. 2) OGP principle—Transparency and access to information The concerns regarding transparency and openness within Israel are not new. A 2016 NGO transparency/foreign-funding law for example, requires disclosure and labelling of foreign-funded civil-society organisations. Critics argued the law and

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Letter of Concern?

It highlights practices by the Government of Israel that are inconsistent with the values and principles of the Open Government Declaration and calls for the OGP Response Policy to be triggered.

Which areas does the letter say the concerns cover?

The letter states the concerns extend to Israel’s conduct within recognized borders and to its conduct in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

How does the letter connect issues to OGP principles?

It maps evidence and links for specific practices to OGP commitments, particularly inclusive participation and non-discrimination, and transparency and access to information, including restrictions affecting journalists and civil-society operations.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz