In June 2018, a new Reform came into effect in the Judea and Samaria Area (the West Bank; hereinafter “the Area”). For the first time, victims of terror activity that was adjudicated in military courts in the Area, acting under international law, were given statutory rights. These victims were awarded new procedural rights, including the right to receive information regarding the proceedings against the defendant, updates regarding plea bargains, release from prison, and pardon. The rights that crime victims are now entitled to, following the Reform, will allow them to state their opinion on and take part in the proceeding, though not entirely so.
The article describes the new Reform regarding victims of terrorism in the Area. It explains the legal, international, and social factors that were at the basis of the Reform. It portrays how these changes are compliant with principles of international law and of foreign legal systems relating to enhancing the protection of crime victims. The article then explores the normative changes expected as a result of the Reform and performs a preliminary evaluation of future developments resulting from its application, de facto. Simultaneously, the article poses criticism to certain aspects of the Reform, such as regarding the enforcement of compensation awarded to victims of terrorism in the Area, and offers suggestions for improvement.
The Juvenile Military Court (JMC), established in 2009 in the West Bank, handles offenses perpetrated by Palestinian minors, consisting mostly of security-related violations. With the establishment of the JMC, and a subsequent three-stage legal reform in handling juvenile offenders, Palestinian minor suspects and defendants have been accorded various procedural rights. This study addresses the impact of these rights on the criminal careers of Palestinian minors appearing in the JMC. It first reviews the demographic profile of 8,301 minors handled by the JMC between 2000 and 2018, describes their offenses, and offense transition between their initial and second arrest. Using trend analysis, the study compares minors’ reoffending level in the years before and after the reform. The findings suggest significant differences in minors’ reoffending level between the years preceding and following the legal reform. Possible explanations for the findings are offered, and the article concludes with policy implications and directions for future research.
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