Legal Complaint Filed in Germany Against Axel Springer Over Yad2\u2019s Promotion of Illegal Land Grabs in Palestine\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Five Palestinian plaintiffs, along with the villages of Iskaka, Marda, and Taybeh in the occupied Palestinian territory, represented by the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre (JLAC<\/a>),\u00a0have filed a landmark legal complaint against major German media publishing group Axel Springer S.E.<\/strong>, alleging violations of German law on corporate due diligence obligations. The complaint accuses Axel Springer of contributing to land grabbing and human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) through their Israeli subsidiary that operates the classified ads platform Yad2.\u00a0According to JLAC, Yad2 facilitates the majority of real estate transactions in the occupied Palestinian territory<\/strong>, including East Jerusalem, at a time when forced displacement, annexation, and Israeli settler violence have dramatically intensified.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The legal action, which is supported by Law for Palestine (L4P<\/a>), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC<\/a>), and the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD<\/a>), under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, signals a significant step toward holding international corporations accountable for their involvement in Israeli crimes against Palestinians.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n BDS Austria against Municipality of\u00a0Vienna recognised as Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation by Coalition Against SLAPPs In Europe\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The legal action initiated by the Municipality of Vienna against an activist member of BDS Austria has now been\u00a0officially recognised<\/a>\u00a0as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) by CASE, a coalition of non-governmental organisations across Europe united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by SLAPPs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To add to its shameful affront to democracy and rights, the Municipality of Vienna had proposed a settlement requesting the activist to pay 17.000 euros \u2013 the total amount of damages previously asked, including legal fees. Additionally, the Municipality demands that the activist refrain from claiming\u00a0 it had brought \u201cSLAPP suits\u201d against BDS.\u00a0Against this backdrop, this official recognition by CASE is an important success for the activists who have been facing legal challenges since 2021<\/strong>\u00a0and are still in\u00a0legal proceedings<\/a>\u00a0as the Municipality of Vienna refuses to give up on their unreasonable claims. The case is currently pending before the Austrian Supreme Court.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Additional Evidence Filed Against Booking.com for Profiting from Illegal Settlements\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On 18 December 2024, a consortium of civil society organisations submitted new evidence to the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in support of their original criminal complaint against Booking.com B.V. The complaint, filed on 8 November 2023, accuses the company of laundering profits from activities in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).\u00a0With no substantive response from the Dutch authorities to date, this filing underscores how Booking.com has not only continued its operations in these settlements but has significantly expanded them.<\/strong>Evidence collected reveals that the number of listings in illegal settlements has risen sharply since the original complaint, particularly in East Jerusalem, where the number has risen from 13 to 39 within a year, from 9 November 2023 to 9 November 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In our complaint, we argue that by promoting and listing properties in illegal settlements, Booking.com directly supports the normalisation and economic sustainability of these unlawful practices.\u00a0The company provides financial backing to settlers and their enterprises, furthering the displacement of Palestinians and solidifying settlement expansion. This conduct sustains Israel\u2019s settler-colonial regime and violations of international law<\/strong>, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits population transfer into occupied territories. We have substantiated our claims thoroughly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Milan Court once again confirms ruling in favor of Karem Rohana vs. Maurizio Molinari\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Court of Milan upheld the ruling in favor of Karem Rohana against former La Repubblica editor-in-chief Maurizio Molinari. The latter had filed a complaint requesting the removal of Rohana’s social media posts and videos, which were deemed defamatory, a penalty for non-compliance, and publication of the order in the media. The court rejected the complaint, recognising Rohana’s statements as a legitimate exercise of the right to criticism and pointing out that there is no causal link between her posts and the alleged consequences complained of by Molinari. In addition, Molinari was ordered to pay 3,500 euros in court costs. The ruling represents an important victory for the protection of freedom of expression and a curb on legal actions aimed at censoring activists and civil society voices, especially in support of Palestinian solidarity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Court Ruling Leaves Dutch Arms Export Policy Intact\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On 13 December 2024, the District Court of The Hague dismissed a case brought by\u00a0Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations<\/a>\u00a0urging the Dutch State to align its arms export policies and trade relations with international law. Despite acknowledging the State\u2019s legal obligations under international law, the court upheld the current practice of individually assessing arms export licenses, rejecting calls for a blanket ban on military and dual-use goods exports.\u00a0This ruling leaves a critical gap, as it allows for the possibility that exported goods could indirectly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law<\/strong>. The court also accepted the State\u2019s so-called “discouragement policy” toward trade with illegal Israeli settlements but failed to evaluate its actual effectiveness. This decision contrasts with the July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion, which called on all nations, to take active measures to end trade and investment relations that sustain illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The coalition is reviewing the decision and considering an appeal, warning that the current approach risks perpetuating international crimes, including forced displacement, annexation, and apartheid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n VOLUNTEER TO MONITOR REPRESSION IN ITALY<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Throughout 2024, ELSC has worked tirelessly to protect the solidarity movement with Palestine through hundreds of legal cases, advocacy campaigns, and critical monitoring efforts.\u00a0Our work goes beyond legal support; it also involves documenting forms\u00a0of repression in the countries where we operate to uncover and highlight the patterns behind them<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In 2025, we aim to expand our efforts and record even more cases of repression targeting the solidarity movement with Palestine, as well as activists, academics, and journalists facing censorship, defamation, and silencing for standing with the Palestinian cause.\u00a0To achieve this, we are looking for new volunteers to help monitor the situation in Italy<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Do you speak Italian and want to help us record forms\u00a0of repression in your country? Send an e-mail to our colleague Laila (laila@elsc.support<\/a>) and she will give you all the information you need to become a volunteer with the ELSC monitor team!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n SUPPORT THE LEGAL AID FUND<\/mark><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Setting up a small monthly donation to our legal aid fund can go a long way to ensure ELSC\u2019s stability and security at this critical time where we face an all-time-high number of repression cases. We cannot do this alone, and we need your help to continue supporting the movement!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n ELSC EVENTS<\/mark><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On 14\u00a0December 2024<\/em> December 2024<\/strong> 2nd February<\/strong> ELSC IN THE MEDIA<\/mark><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Journalist Hannah El-Hitami spoke to\u00a0ELSC lawyer Alexander<\/strong>\u00a0for Amnesty International about Germany\u2019s weaponisation of racist policy, surveillance, and law enforcement to repress solidarity with Palestine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image.png\")
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Know\u00a0Your\u00a0Rights\u00a0Workshop Anti-Palestinain Repression\u00a0In Schools<\/strong>
The\u00a0ELSC in partnership with Team Eye4Palestine and the association 4Neukoelln+Berlin\u00a0organised a Know Your Rights event in Berlin, this time focusing on\u00a0repression in German schools<\/strong>. Lawyer Yal\u00e7\u0131n Tekino\u011flu delivered a\u00a045-minute lecture on repressive policies and ways to recognise and counter them,\u00a0followed by an engaging Q&A with the audience.\u00a0The event also provided a space to share\u00a0experiences and strengthen\u00a0networks within the community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/image-2-819x1024.png\")
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<\/em>Our team in Germany, Jasmin, Nadija, Tobias, and Alexander, spoke at a number of events in December 2024, sharing insights and reflections\u00a0about the new German resolution against antisemitism<\/a>, the\u00a0criminalisation of the movement<\/a>\u00a0in solidarity with Palestine and\u00a0legal repercussions of silencing and disinformation<\/a>,\u00a0developments leading to a\u00a0German Mc Carthy era<\/a>, and\u00a0Know Your Rights resources\u00a0<\/a>and practices.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/em>Our Senior Legal Officer Nadija\u00a0will be holding a lecture\u00a0in Frankfurt am Main<\/a>,\u00a0examining the complex intersections between international law, Germanys’ reason of state<\/strong>, and legal questions concerning Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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