May 2023 | thinc.Bulletin | 23/5
IN THIS thinc.BULLETIN
∞ Help us defend Israel
∞ Two states for two peoples? Event at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
∞ Looking back | Israel on Trial Conference
∞ Current developments | Reading recommendations
∞ Follow us | thinc. social media channels
HELP US DEFEND ISRAEL
Please join us in the legal battle for Jerusalem.
“Israel is an apartheid state”. “Israel is a racist, colonial enterprise”. “Israel was established at the expense of the indigenous Palestinians”. These are the allegations made daily on university campuses and in the secular media.
- A member of the Parliament in New South Wales (Australia) recently declared that the State of Israel was established at the expense of the Palestinians. “Israel was established, and the indigenous Palestinians were erased as a consequence.”. Moreover, he argued, “since 1967 the Palestinians have been denied their right to statehood.”
- On 12th May, City University of New York (CUNY) law school gave a platform to Fatima Mousa Mohammed to vilify Israel, accusing Israel of indiscriminately murdering Palestinians, condemning “settler colonialism”, and calling for boycott and sanctions against Israel.
thinc. – The Hague Initiative for International Cooperation – is a global community of lawyers fighting to defend the democratic State of Israel – a state for Jews, Arabs, Druze, Bedouins, Muslims, Christians and others.
We are the only international organization based in The Hague that is defending Israel against one-sided and biased condemnations of Israel.
The international courts in The Hague are now being weaponized to attack Israel. Most recently, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has manipulated the UN General Assembly to seek an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) condemning Israel’s “prolonged occupation”. The request contains a biased and distorted twisting of the law and facts. And yet there is a strong likelihood the Court will acquiesce.
We are fighting the battle for truth and justice to defend Israel in international institutions like the UN and European Union.
Through research, education and advocacy, our team of experts supports politicians, policymakers and others to understand international law – what it is, and what it isn’t – empowering those who strive for truth to counter the misuse of law against Israel.
Currently, we are working with the governments of several states to make submissions to the ICJ International Court of Justice in support of Israel. We are fighting the EU rules on labeling of products from the “occupied territories”. We are developing training programs for lawyers from around the world to become effective advocates. And much more.
The truth is: Israel is not an apartheid state. Israel is not a colonial enterprise. Israel was not established at the expense of the indigenous people. Israel is a democratic and legitimate state…
We invite you to support our work. Please make a donation today.
Donate now! Your impact starts here.
Two states for two peoples?
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs Discussion Event on May 14
Since the 1970s, the EU has been the leading advocate of the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state in eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza as the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This policy has failed the test of history. Today, EU policy no longer aligns with the realities on the ground or the EU’s own interests. Addressing the historical, legal and political dimensions of the “Two-State” policy, thinc. published a report in December 2022 which provides a thorough reassessment of the EU’s Middle East policies.
On May 14, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs hosted Andrew Tucker, our director. Amb. Alan Baker moderated the discussion. Andrew summarized the conclusions of thinc.’s new book Two States for Two Peoples: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, International Law and European Union Policy, co-authored with Profs. Wolfgang Bock and Gregory Rose, to an audience of Jerusalem Center fellows, scholars, and associates.
Click here to read an article by JNS about the event
Click here to buy the report ‘Two States for Two Peoples?’
LOOKING BACK | ISRAEL ON TRIAL CONFERENCE
In recognition of Israel’s 75th anniversary, we recently organized the inaugural Israel on Trial conference in The Hague (29-30 March). Legal experts from around the world gathered to deliberate on the phenomenon of “lawfare” against Israel. It was concluded that the one-sided criticism and condemnation of Israel is not only unfair, it undermines Israel’s right to territorial integrity, misplaces the causes of conflict, and only serves to harden extreme positions on all sides. International institutions such as the ICJ and ICC should refuse to allow themselves to be used as instruments in politically-motivated proceedings that undermine the sovereignty of the State of Israel.
Today, we are pleased to share with you a taster of the conference, as well as two more speeches, by Steven Zipperstein (thinc.) and Natasha Hausdorff (Barrister, UKLFI)
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS | READING RECOMMENDATIONS
Biden’s antisemitism plan adopts the IHRA definition – by Arsen Ostrovsky and Mark Goldfeder. Last Thursday, the Biden administration released its long-awaited National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism. The plan is bold, comprehensive and impressive, but one point must be immediately highlighted. Continue reading >> here <<
Does Israel have a legitimate claim of sovereignty over the West Bank? – By John Strawson and Natasha Hausdorff. Two experts voice their opposing views on the status of Israel’s possible annexation of the Westbank. Continue reading >> here <<
Legal Framing and Lawfare in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – by Steven Zipperstein and published in the Israeli Journal of Foreign Affairs. Continue reading >> here <<
