Adalah Demands Cancellation of Travel Ban Imposed by Israel on Khalil Tufakji, a Prominent Palestinian Planner and Resident of Jerusalem

On 8 February 2010, Adalah sent a letter to the Minister of the Interior demanding the cancellation of a six-month travel ban imposed on Mr. Khalil Tufakji, a prominent Palestinian planner and geographer and a resident of Jerusalem. The ban prevents Mr. Tufakji from leaving the country before 2 August 2010. Adalah also requested all the materials the ministry had relied upon in making the decision to impose the ban.

Adalah Attorney Haneen Naamnih stated in the letter that Mr. Tufakji is an expert in geography and a researcher in the fields of land, planning and the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He has served in many positions, including as director of the department of mapping in the Society of Arab Studies and a member of the Palestinian delegation to the final status negotiations in 1991-2001. He currently works as a member of the Palestinian Authority presidential commission for real estate. His positions require him to travel abroad several times a year to participate in various conferences and events.

 In the letter, Adalah protested against the fact that Mr. Tufakji had not been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against him at a hearing, as prescribed by law. Adalah emphasized that the travel ban constitutes a blatant violation of Mr. Tufakji’s constitutional right to leave the country, which is protected by the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom.