2 No. 78 JUSTICE would like to dedicate this President’s Message to the memory of Daniel Reisner, of blessed memory. Daniel served as Deputy President of the IJL from the beginning of my term as President. I mentored Daniel, and hoped that in due course he would succeed me as President. A number of years ago, Daniel was diagnosed with a serious illness, which he confronted with extraordinary courage. Until almost his final breath, Daniel continued his professional work as a lawyer, and in particular on behalf of our organization. For me, Daniel’s passing also means the loss of a close friend of more than forty years. Daniel’s contribution to our organization was immense. He led our work in the field of public international law, particularly our complex submissions to international tribunals, including the ICC and the ICJ. This year, for the first time in its history, the IJL will confer its prestigious Founders’ Award. Following Daniel’s death, the IJL Board has decided to present the award to his family, in recognition of Daniel’s outstanding contribution to the organization and to the cause he served. May his memory be a blessing. I write these words on the evening following Simchat Torah, 5787. Three years ago, according to the Hebrew calendar, Hamas carried out its mass murder of civilians and soldiers in the communities bordering Gaza. The war in Gaza and on other fronts followed, and we are still engaged in a war for Israel’s survival. The fighting in Gaza is extraordinarily difficult, not least because it is taking place in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hamas, an organization that arose in Gaza and whose terrorist fighters are themselves Gazans, has used public buildings, including hospitals and mosques, as well as civilian homes, for military purposes and as human shields. At the same time, Hamas has shown little regard for its own civilian population not involved in the fighting, including women, the elderly and children. Hamas has sought to turn civilian suffering into a weapon, using it to undermine Israel’s legitimacy in the eyes of the world. This terrible war in Gaza has profoundly affected the standing of the State of Israel and the international legitimacy on which every state depends. Many governments and many people around the world find it difficult to comprehend the scale of the destruction of civilian structures and the large number of civilian casualties. In this respect, Hamas, though it may be defeated on the battlefield, has achieved gains on the diplomatic and legal fronts. The delegitimization of Israel also has grave consequences for Jews throughout the Diaspora. We are witnessing an unprecedented resurgence of antisemitism. President’s Message I Meir Linzen Photo: Idan Gross
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