The UN, international law and the question of Palestine

The podcast examines the legal and political dynamics surrounding Palestine’s engagement with international law, focusing on Ardi Imseis' book, The United Nations and the Question of Palestine: Rule by Law and the Structure of International Legal Subalternity. Moderated by Jeff Handmaker, the discussion explores how the United Nations has historically approached the question of Palestine, the legal mechanisms it has employed, and the shifting standards that have shaped Palestinian legal claims.

The conversation highlights key moments in the UN’s treatment of Palestine, from the 1947 partition plan to the present-day occupation, and critically assesses the selective application of international law. It also delves into the concept of legal subalternity, examining how marginalised groups, including Palestinians, navigate an international legal system that often reinforces existing power structures. The episode further considers the role of the International Court of Justice, particularly in light of its recent advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Through this discussion, the episode provides a critical perspective on the intersection of law and politics in the UN’s handling of Palestine, questioning whether international law serves as a tool for justice or as an instrument of control.

Speakers