Jurists for Palestine Forum – Season 2

Panel discussion 2 – Online | For and Against Palestinians: Lawfare within the US Judicial System

Jurists for Palestine Forum, one of Law for Palestine’s projects and the widest international network for legal professionals interested in the Question of Palestine, and in partnership with the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), are pleased to announce a webinar on the lawfare for and against Palestinians within the US judicial system.

Main Information:

• Date: Tuesday 31st May 2022.
• Time: 7:00-9:00 PM (Jerusalem Time), At 5:00-7:00 PM (GMT).
• Location: Online – Participants will be provided with a link prior to the webinar time.
• Language: The webinar will be conducted in English. Simultaneous translation into Arabic will be available.
• Registration is required: The webinar is open for the members of Jurists for Palestine Forum (You are not a member? Register here).

Background

International legal work for Palestinian rights faces escalating obstacles. In the U.S.A, Palestinians and their supporters have been investigated, prosecuted, fired from their jobs, faced intimidation, and were disciplined for their views and protests over Israeli violation of Palestinian human rights. From U.S. anti-boycott legislations to anti-Semitism policies in campuses, schools, and public venues, activists for Palestine have been facing widespread suppression of their right to free speech and other constitutional guarantees.

On the other hand, U.S. has been reluctant to bring international crimes before its court system; issues related to subject matter and personal jurisdictions, together with issues related to political and diplomatic obstacles have prevented the prosecution of crimes against U.S. citizens in Palestine or crimes of an international nature committed using U.S. weapons or funds. Although the US is a Geneva Conventions state party, it has failed to stand up to its international responsibilities of trying crimes of an international nature.

Now, after the killing of the Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, questions related to US extraterritorial jurisdiction arise, including its duties towards its citizens killed abroad, duties to prosecute and prevent human rights violations committed using its funds and military assistance, and duties under international law to prevent and prosecute international crimes and human rights violations.

In light of this background, Law for Palestine, within its Jurists for Palestine monthly webinars, and in partnership with the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), seeks to explore legal and judicial venues within the U.S. court system to bring justice to Palestinian victims, and to address these issues:

• What are the boundaries of the lawfare for and against Palestinians in US Courts? and to what extent does the first constitutional amendment guarantee advocacy for Palestine in the US?
• How far did anti-BDS legislations go in US courts?
• What effect does the fact that Abu Akleh held a US citizenship have on targeting her by Israeli forces?
• What judicial venues and choices do Palestinian victims of Israeli violations have in US court system?
• Can lawsuits against US companies participating in human rights violations in the OPT especially apartheid be brought to US courts?

The Panel Guests:

Speakers:

• Abed Awad: American-Palestinian lawyer and former adjunct law professor at Rutgers Law School (2003-2019). Awad testified, consulted and provided expert reports for courts and attorneys throughout the United States, Canada and England. He lectures on subjects ranging from law, politics, gender, religion, and culture internationally, and he has more than 200 television and radio appearances as a political and/or legal commentator for numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, ABC, CNN, Palestine TV, Al-Jazeera, and BBC.
• Lamis Deek: is a NY based internationally practicing attorney whose work  ranges from litigation, compliance and  policy work related to human rights, corruption, commercial and charitable activity. She focuses on cases related to anti-Palestinian state/institutional practices in the US and abroad, including recently securing several victories against anti-Palestinian IHRA measures in several jurisdictions. In addition, she defended against manufactured terrorism charges accusing Palestinians. Lamis is an advisor to numerous political, community and charitable organizations, and regularly represents and advises students and academics facing repression for their identity and for constitutionally protected activity.

The discussion will be moderated by:

Dalaal Jaber: Researcher at Law for Palestine, international law lawyer and activist in the US. Jaber holds an LLM from the U.S. and an LLB from Palestine. She works as a Policy and Advocacy Associate in Washington, D.C.