Israel

Countering Iran requires gains “on the ground” from tangible measures such as sanctions and, where necessary, the use of force, and also requires gaining the moral high ground of legitimacy in the war of ideas. 

In light of press reports that President Trump may have revealed sensitive counterterrorism information originating from the Israeli government to Russian officials, it’s useful to take a step back and run through what foreign liaison relationships do and why they are important to U.S. counterterrorism.

Pnina Sharvit Baruch analyzes the Report issued in 2015 by the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the 2014 Gaza conflict and finds its investigative methodologies, legal analyses of international humanitarian law, and specific conclusions underwhelming at best. 

The Israeli Knesset has passed an amendment to ban entry of foreign nationals who have publically called to boycott Israel, or act on behalf of organizations that have done so. This is not the first time Israeli law has imposed sanctions on the basis of speech in the framework of Israel’s anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign. Previous legislation in this vein—part of Israel’s anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign—has largely survived judicial review and it is likely this new amendment will as well.