The following information was obtained from the Executive Director of Human Rights Internet in Ottawa. This organization has been active for 25 years and publishes and disseminates information on human rights groups around the world. Human Rights Internet is also actively involved in establishing communication channels between human rights Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) internationally (15 Oct. 1993).

The Society of St-Yves was created in 1990 under the auspices of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and has an interest in the activities of Christian communities in Israel and the Occupied Territories (Ibid.). The Society provides the diocese with a permanent organization of lawyers who provide legal assistance to the poor (Ibid.). Through test cases it seeks to introduce frameworks and concepts of jurisprudence not currently found in the Israeli justice system (Ibid.). The Society brings test cases before the High Court of Justice, as well as individual cases of concern (Ibid.). These cases seek to obtain building permits for houses in areas defined as agricultural land in the West Bank; to prevent the demolition of homes by Israeli authorities; to assist with the reunification of families; and to obtain specialized medical care which has been withheld in the Occupied Territories (Ibid.). The Society does not become involved in criminal or overtly political cases for the time being (Ibid.). The Society is a serious and prominent organization that promotes human rights issues (Ibid.).

The Editor in Chief of News From Within, a newsletter based in Jerusalem covering socio-political issues occurring in the Israeli and Palestinian society, stated that the Society of St-Yves is a human rights organization that mainly focus on the legal aspect of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank (21 Oct. 1993). Recently the Society has expanded its activities and is now able to provide legal expertise on labour laws and women's rights in Israel and the West Bank (Ibid.). The Society is a secular and progressive organization which is currently staffed by Israeli lawyers (Ibid.). The Editor added that the Society aims to reunite Jews and Palestinians and tries to accomplish that objective by hiring members of the two groups (Ibid.).

A representative of the Society of St-Yves stated that there are two permanent Israeli lawyers in the organization, one is an Orthodox Jew and the other a Christian, both members of the Israeli Bar (7 Oct. 1993). The Israeli lawyer of the Christian faith, who is the Executive Director of the Society, is a graduate of the Hebrew University School of Law in Jerusalem and has worked on immigration cases and residency status of non-Jews (mainly Christian) from Europe, some of them from the former Soviet Union (Ibid.). Therefore, this lawyer has experience with integration problems in Israel and their legal implications for non-Jews (Ibid.). Although the main clientele is Palestinian (Muslim or Christian), the Society has interest in the fate of Eastern European Christian communities in Israel (Ibid.). For example, the Society had to provide assistance to Romanian foreign workers of Christian faith in Israel (Ibid.).

An Israeli lawyer, member of the Israeli Bar Association and a former colleague of the Executive Director of the Society, stated that he worked with the Executive Director of the Society on labour and immigration cases in Israel (20 Oct. 1993). The immigration cases were related to problems facing non-Jews (Christians) from the former Soviet Union (Ibid.). The lawyer added that both the Executive Director and the Society of St-Yves are accomplishing important and serious legal work for people in need (Ibid.). Another Israeli lawyer in Jerusalem mentioned that the Executive Director of the Society is a member of the Israeli Bar Association and has handled important high level cases in the past (20 Oct. 1993). The lawyer added that the Executive Director has also handled immigration cases of people from Scandinavia in the past (Ibid.).

The Chairman (a Jewish Rabbi) of the Israeli and Palestinians for Non-Violence and Peace, a Jewish/Palestinian organization that promotes a non-violent resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stated that the Executive Director of the Society of St-Yves is a leading advocate of human rights issues in the Israeli court system and tackles controversial cases (20 Oct. 1993). The Executive Director is well informed on legal immigration problems and related matters (Ibid.). For example, she successfully petitioned the Israeli High Court in spring 1993 to reverse a deportation order (Ibid.). The Chairman mentioned that the deportation case was not related to the members of Hamas (Ibid.).

Please find attached the official pamphlet describing the Society of St-Yves.

Human Rights Internet, Ottawa. 15 October 1993. Telephone interview with Executive Director.

Society of St-Yves, Jerusalem. 7 October 1993. Telephone interview with representative.

Former colleague of the Executive Director of the Society of St.-Yves, Israel, Jerusalem. 20 October 1993. Telephone interview.

Las Lawyer, Israel, Jerusalem. 20 October 1993. Telephone interview.

News from Within, Israel, Jerusalem. 21 October 1993. Telephone interview with Editor in Chief.

Israeli and Palestinians for Non-Violence and Peace, Jerusalem. 20 October 1993. Telephone interview with Chairman.

Society of St-Yves, Jerusalem. 1993. "Legal Resource Center for Human Rights". Notre Dame Center. (Pamphlet sent to the DIRB).