A senior lecturer in physical education (PhD) in the Khodori University in Tulkarem was invited to attend an international conference on the advancement of culture and sport in Palestinian universities, held in the Jordan University in Amman. On May 2008, the lecturer set out to a similar conference, with no particular problem; a year later, however, Israel prevented his departure abroad, at the Allenby Bridge border crossing. On May 20, 2010, as soon as his participation in the conference was accepted, he inquired with the Israeli District Coordination Office (DCO) in Jenin, whether he is "precluded from travel abroad". The DCO informed him that he is in fact under such preclusion, without supplying a reason or an explanation for it. The lecturer challenged this decision, according to the
procedure for processing requests by Palestinians to travel abroad. However, the procedure stipulates a maximum period of eight weeks in which to review the challenge; and the conference was to be held 4 weeks after the challenge was submitted. On May 25, 2010, HaMoked appealed to the head of the Jenin DCO, Lieutenant Colonel Adel Masalha, stressing the urgency and importance of the matter, and requesting to expedite the handling of the request. HaMoked stated also that the applicant followed the procedure; however, the procedure does not address urgent circumstances and the need for a swift reply.
Without a reply from the DCO, and with the opening of the conference approaching, HaMoked filed an
urgent petition to the High Court of Justice, to allow the lecture's departure to Jordan, or alternately, that the military would show cause for the preclusion. The grounds of the petition is Israel's duty to guarantee normal life for the residents of the Occupied Territories, and the military's duty to reply to appeals with due promptness and to provide the reasons thereto. HaMoked further added that the DCO's delay in replying to the applicant's appeal infringes on his rights to freedom of movement, free choice of employment and to earn a decent living.
A mere two days after the petition was filed, HaMoked received a letter from the state attorney's office concerning the lecturer, stating that, inter alia, "a security official informed that there is no security preclusion in the case of petitioner at the present time, therefore, he may to travel abroad".
The lecturer then set out to the conference in Jordan. HaMoked deleted the petition.
