JUSTICE - No. 66

2 No. 66 JUSTICE s these lines are written on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot, Israel finds itself in the midst of “Operation Guardian of the Walls”aimed at putting a halt to Hamas and terrorist Islamic Jihad attacks. Thousands of rockets have been launched against Israel, many of them from sites deliberately located near homes, schools, and in the midst of civilian populations, using them as human shields. This time, even states and organizations which have in the past shown themselves to have a degree of sympathy for the Israeli side, have moved toward joining Israel’s most bitter critics who claim that Israel’s defense against indiscriminate attacks on its citizens is an illegal act of aggression. This situation underscores the importance of our work at IJL. As I commence my second term as IJL President, my vision is for the IJL to defend against illegitimate and unjustified legal claims against Israeli actions. Many of the charges are, we believe, tainted by antisemitic motives on the part of the accusers. Beyond this, we intend to be proactive and move forward to initiate and pursue legal cases in Europe, with our primary aim of redressing wrongdoings against the Jewish people. Among IJL's initiatives this pa st year: n Agen Ami : In response to rising antisemitism and reports of attacks against Jews in Europe, the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism initiated “Agen Ami”— a legal strategy to enhance the personal security of Jews in their communities. 1 This project maintains a hotline offering Jews under threat or attack immediate access for reporting such events and legal solutions to deal with them. It is envisaged that every Jewish community in Europe will have its own Community Representative who will maintain a 24/7 hotline for community members to report antisemitic offenses that they personally experienced or witnessed in real time. The Community Representative will inform IJL about such offenses, and after each case is examined, a local criminal lawyer will be assigned to the victims. This project started operating in Barcelona and Riga. Many more Jewish communities across Europe are expected to follow. n As Iran threatens the existence of the State of Israel, we are exploring legal initiatives that can serve as deterrence. n At the UN Human Rights Council, IJL continues to raise relevant issues, including freedom of religion and expression, alongside the prohibition of racial discrimination and xenophobia, as well as hate speech and antisemitism via online platforms. We have and will continue to raise the issue of enforced disappearances, especially regarding Israeli civilians who are being held incommunicado in the Gaza Strip. Lastly, as the infamous item 7 of the Council’s agenda continues to be used as a one- sided propaganda tool against Israel, the IJL will continue to stand up and protect Israel and act against this item. We can also expect that in the upcoming sessions of the Council, accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity will be levelled against Israel for its operations in the Gaza Strip. The IJL will strive to ensure that this will not be a one-sided discussion focusing on Israel alone. n United Nations Side Event: At the United Nations in NewYork, IJL for the first time initiated a Side Event marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, featuring legal scholars and historians. We are grateful to Richard Horowitz, IJL's representative at the United Nations for suggesting and implementing this ground-breaking event, in collaboration with the United Nations and the Holocaust Outreach Programme, co-sponsored by the German and Israeli missions to the United Nations in NewYork. Particular thanks are due to Tracey Petersen, Manager of the United Nations Holocaust Education Outreach Programme, and her assistant, OlgaYatskevich, for hosting and making this event possible. Remembrance entails fighting Holocaust denial as well as ensuring the memory of the Holocaust. This is an important task that the IJL proudly undertakes. I President ’ s Message A Meir Linzen Photo: Ami Erlich