The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel

2010-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Learn More about the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel (.pdf)

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Works to Ensure Zionist Values in Israeli Education

2010-07-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

For some time The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has been aware that post-Zionist organizations are working to introduce their values into the national school system.

Several months ago we discovered that Bruria Beker, chair of the national cultural basket for the past 22 years, had been forcing schools to accept anti-Zionist and morally inappropriate materials as part of the cultural basket subsidized by the Ministry of Education. The national cultural basket, with its annual budget of NIS 40 million, is an educational program operating in schools throughout Israel.

The Legal Forum turned to Minister of Education, Gideon Sa'ar, who investigated the matter. Beker was removed from her position and later retired.

As a result, the Ministry of Education has decided to establish a committee to review educational content and ultimately, reform the cultural activities basket. It has also established procedures through which private companies can submit proposals to compete for the management of the basket. And finally, a proper search is underway for a new director.

In a separate incident, the Legal Forum recently learned that an organization calling itself "The Bereaved Families Association" has been giving lectures to 11^th and 12^th grade students in preparation for their imminent induction to the IDF. In Israel, bereaved families of IDF fallen soldiers carry a unique status and are entitled to special rights and sensitive treatment. However, this organization's full name is the "The Israeli -Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace", not nearly as educationally or politically innocuous as "The Bereaved Families Association - the Family Circle". Their lectures carry a post-Zionist message, encouraging impressionable high school students to avoid serving in the IDF.

In a letter dated May 17, 2010, the Legal Forum's CEO Nahi Eyal wrote to the Minister of Education outlining the Association's mission statement and detailing its controversial activities which include cooperation with Palestinian civilians during Operation Cast Lead, and meetings with wanted Palestinian terrorists, all in the name of tolerance and conciliation.

Eyal raised the point that "the Ministry of Education must ensure that educational activities held in the school system be in keeping with Israel's Zionist values…" and insisted " that the ministry take a stand forbidding such post-Zionist activities within the schools and requesting school principals not to allow The Bereaved Parents Association into their schools."

Last week, the Legal Forum was notified by Dr. Shimshon Shoshani, Director General of the Ministry of Education, that in response to our letter concerning The Bereaved Parents Association, a special inquiry is now underway to determine which associations are permitted to speak in schools. In addition, educational standards are being developed and must be met by any group wishing to speak in an Israeli school.

Legal Forum Protests SC Rejection of Construction Freeze Petitions; SC Criticizes the Government for Failure to Effect Proper Compensation

2010-04-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM, April 21, 2010 - The Supreme Court rejected today the petition of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, the Regional Council of Judea and Samaria and residents that were injured by the freeze, and decided that it will not involve itself in the decision of the government which constitutes a clear policy matter.

The key lines of the decision, which was made by a committee of three judges, Judges Benisch, Proziah and Hendel stated:

We examined the whole of the petitioners’ claims and we came to the overall conclusion that the petitions did not indicate a defect that occurred in the decision of the political-security cabinet as well as in the effects of the postponement order which justify our involvement.

The postponement decision - the subject of the petition - is a clear policy decision approved by the political-security cabinet and which, according to what arises from the response of the State, is designed to bring to advancement the purpose that the government sees as one of its central purposes – "advancing the political process vis-à-vis the Palestinians by means of direct negotiations without preconditions, based on an aspiration to arrive at the conclusion of the conflict and to a permanent peace agreement."

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel protested the decision harshly. The general Director of the Forum Nachi Ayal said that “the rejection of the petition teaches that in the eyes of the judges the human rights of the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria is less important than infringing the rights of geese for fattening.”

While, as the Court noted, the freeze order was alleged to advance important political goals, the Legal Forum believes that the rights of residents of disputed territories, as citizens of Israel, are protected by law and should be protected by the judiciary, just as any other citizen’s rights would be, even in the face of important political goals. According to Basic Law: Human Dignity & Liberty and the Supreme Court’s dicta in in Gaza Shore Regional Council v. The Knesset (2005) (dealing with the Disengagement) even a resident of a settlement has the right “to shape his life and his fate encompasses the essentials of his life, how he will live, with what will he work, with whom will he live” and that cutting an “Israeli from his house, his surroundings” violates that right. While the Disengagement was approved by the Knesset in accordance with the exception carved into Basic Law: Human Dignity & Liberty, the construction freeze was only approved by a portion of the cabinet and should not therefore have the power to override the protections of Basic Law: Human Dignity & Liberty. (For more on see The American Legal Forum’s Op-ed in the Jerusalem Post, entitled “A Right to Build”).

Still, the Court’s decision was not a complete failure for the petitioners. Attorney Itzhak Bam, the representative of the Legal Forum who argued its petition before the Court in late November said that following the petition, the order was reduced and limited. In addition, Bam noted that in the decision the Court leveled criticism on the State for rushing into the freeze but did not rush to establish and to activate a mechanism of compensation and to set criteria for compensation.

In the decision the Court said that:

In circumstances in which even the State agrees that a compensation mechanism is an important component in reducing the damages caused by the order, it was possible to expect that the State will act to advance the execution of this mechanism into practice. This was not the way things were from the start, since what actually happened was that at the date of bringing the response of the respondents from 3.22.2010, the Committee of Complaints has not yet began its activities. It should be noted that from the complementary response of the State from 3.22.2010 it arises that only in the beginning of the month of March the respondents crystallized criterions for giving compensation, and there is hope that within a short time all the necessary preparations will be completed, so that the compensation mechanism will begin to continuously treat the matters of the petitioners and others like them.

Legal Forum Condemns Restraining Order Banning Yitzhar Resident from his Community (4.15.2010)

2010-04-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM, April 15, 2010 - The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel condemned the restraining order against Elchanan Gruner from his home community of Yitzhar, in Samaria, on Tuesday morning, April 13 issued by the Central District's Commanding Officer

Legal Forum Attorney Itzhak Bam said that "the restraining orders issued are a serious and intolerable violation of human rights, based solely on the Military Commander's arbitrary decisions and lacking any legal basis."

"If there is any proof of Mr. Gruner committing a crime, he should be tried in a court of law, and not arbitrarily denied basic human rights," Bam said.

LF Releases Report on Plight of Palestinian Collaborators (4.08.10)

2010-04-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has released a report on the poor living conditions of thousands of Palestinian “collaborators” – those of who assisted Israel in some way or another and are at risk because of it. The report suggests broadening the official definition of “collaborator” to expand the number of people who receive assistance as collaborators and the creation of a special Knesset committee to follow their conditions.

The Jerusalem Post published an article on the report, “Report highlights collaborators’ plight” (April 8, 2010).

The Legal Forum has long advocated for the protection of Palestinian collaborators, who are often sentenced to death by Palestinian courts. The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel published an article about such death sentences in the conservative online magazine, The American Thinker.

Legal Forum Attorney Itzhik Bam Interviewed by Hamodia (12.02.2009)

2009-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

December 2, 2009 - Itzhik Bam, an attorney for the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, was interviewed by the Hamodia newspaper, a Jewish daily which is popular in Haredi and Hasidic communities.

In the interview, Bam discussed his involvement with the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, including petitions against the appointment of a corrupt chief inspector of the police, against Shimon Peres for illegal campaign activities, the Olmert government's handover of Sergei's Court to the Russia, a suit against the Army's requirement that soldiers serving in Army Radio (Galgaltz) work on Shabbat, as well as his views on the Disengagement and judicial reform in Israel.

The article was written by Hamodia National News editor Avraham Y. Heschel.

A copy of the first page of the interview can be found here.

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Petitions Israeli Supreme Court to Stop Construction Freeze (11.30.2009)

2009-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

November 30, 2009, JERUSALEM - The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to stop the 10-month freeze on Jewish building in the disputed territory of Judea and Samaria ("the West Bank").

The Forum's petition states that the Government did not go through the proper procedure in approving the freeze since only a part of the Cabinet - what is known as the "Security Cabinet" - was convened to approve the move.

In the Forum's appeal, attorney Yossi Fuchs wrote that "[a] decision likely to bring serious harm to the assets of Israeli citizens and is unrelated to security cannot be made in an underhanded, covert way, by a secret security cabinet or predetermined without any chance for ministers to appeal."

"The mini-Cabinet did not even claim that this was a security decision, but rather stated vaguely that its purpose is to encourage the renewal of talks with the PA," Fuchs said.

The announcement of the freeze came on November 22, 2009, after months of sustained pressure from the Obama Administration to "end settlements."

The Forum's petition has been covered in several major news sources including Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Ynetnews.com, and Arutz Sheva, as well as theJewish Telegraphic Agency.

Legal Forum: Interim Report of State Commission on Handling of Disengagement Evacuees Proves Our Petitions Correct (9.29.09)

2009-09-29T11:27:00.001-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel: The interim report on the handling of Gaza evacuees proves that the Sharon administration committed a crime, that the petitions we brought to the Supreme Court before the Disengagement which were denied were proved correct, and that the Supreme Court, which could have prevented this miscarriage of justice was guilty of misappropriating its responsibilities.

Attorney Yossi Fuchs of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel states that the interim report of the State Commission of Inquiry into the Handling by the Authorized Authorities of the Evacuees from Gush Katif and Northern Samaria proves that the conduct of the administration in the execution of the Disengagement was criminal conduct, that brought irreversible damage to the expelled former residents of the Gush Katif communities.

“The interim report supports all the hundreds of petitions and appeals submitted by the evacuees against the government.

“The chapters of the report could have been taken directly from many of the Legal Forum's appeals to the Supreme Court prior to the Disengagement in which we warned about what would happen – but the judges shut their eyes."

International Law Prof. Louis Rene Beres Joins the American Legal Forum (8.26.09)

2009-08-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Professor of International Law Louis Rene Beres has joined the Board of Advisors of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.

Beres received his Ph.D. from Princeton and teaches at Purdue University. He has authored several books and is a widely published commenatator on international and legal affairs. His articles have been published in the Jerusalem Post, U.S. News & World Report, The Los Angelos Times, Front Page Magazine and many more.

Selected Articles by Professor Louis Rene Beres:

Marwan Barghouti Should not be Freed (Jerusalem Post, Aug. 20, 2009)
Why a Palestinian State can never be made Contingent on Demilitarization (Jerusalem Post, June 15, 2009)
Obama and the "Two-State Solution" (Frontpagemagazine.com, June 11, 2009)
Agreeing to a Toothless State would be no less Dangerous (Jerusalem Post, April 15, 2009)
Genocide (Frontpagemagazine.com, Sept. 3, 2003)

Mini-Revolution in Composition of Israel's Supreme Court (8.24.09)

2009-08-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Aug. 24, 2009 - After considerable effort from the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Israel's Supreme Court has undergone a mini revolution with the appointment of two Orthodox judges not initially approved by Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch.

The appointment of the judges was part of a deal which made the appointment of three new judges possible. The judges were: Tel Aviv District Court Judge Uzi Fogelman who was one of Beinisch's favored candidates, Haifa District Court Judge Yitzhak Amit and US-born Beersheba District Court Judge Neal Hendel who wears a kippa and attended Yeshiva of Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY.

Initially, the Judicial Selection Committee was considering Fogelman and another judge favored by Beinisch, Beersheba District Court Judge Yosef Elon. Elon, despite his Orthodox upbringing and relation to the former MK Benny Elon (National Union) is considered to be politically to the far Left. In a recent case, he dismissed the appeals of 60 anti-Disengagement protestors against their detention in a single decision.

The Legal Forum had opposed the appointment of both Fogelman and Elon, stating on August 18th that their appointment would demonstrate to the public that the Supreme Court is a social club and would hurt already low public confidence in the Court.

The deal was made possible by the Legal Forum's earlier success in lobbying for the appointment of MK Uri Ariel (National Union) to the nine-member Judicial Selection Committee. The committee is made up of two Knesset members, two government representatives, three Supreme Court judges and two members of the Israeli bar association.

In addition, Supreme Court Judge Edmond Levy, one of three Supreme Court judges on the committee, broke ranks with his fellow judges on the committee. Levy was the only Supreme Court judge to dissent from the Court's decision upholding the Disengagement in 2005.

News stories:

Three new Supreme Court Justices Appointed (Jerusalem Post, Aug. 24, 2009)
MK Ariel: These are the best appointments we could have gotten (Arutz Sheva, Aug. 23, 2009)
The Supreme Court is no Social Club by Legal Forum Attorney Itzik Baum (Haaretz, Aug. 24, 2009)

Legal Forum Seeks Closer Scrutiny of Leftist Judges Nominated to the Supreme Court (8.18.09)

2009-08-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel asked Justice Minister Yaacov Neeman to examine more closely the candidacies of Judges U. Fogelman and Y. Alon for the Supreme Court.

The Legal Forum complained that Judge U. Fogelman is a long-time friend of Supreme Court President Dorit Benisch who has a vote on the Judicial Selection Committee. “The appearance of a policy of a friend brings a friend . . . will contribute substantially to the growing attrition of public confidence in the justice system,” Nachi Eyal the General Director of the Forum said.

Such a policy, Eyal said, leads the public to believe that “the ‘entrance ticket’ to the Supreme Court is more accessible to the circle of acquaintances of the President Beinisch.

As for Judge Y. Alon, Eyal stated that Alon has already “demonstrated a lack of judicial sensitivity when he decided on continuing the detention of 60 youngsters, including some minors, in a quick hearing in which 60 youngsters where sentenced in one strike.” That decision was criticized from the Right and Left.

For the Forum's Letter, click here.

Legal Forum Requests Investigation of MK Tibi for Racist Remarks against Settlers (8.04.09)

2009-08-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel requested Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to open investigation of MK Ahmed Tibi for his calling for the disputed territories to be “cleansed” of Jewish settlers.

The Forum said the remarks were racist incitement and that if such a declaration came from a Jewish member of Knesset regarding Arabs an investigation would certainly be opened.

For an English translation of the Legal Forum's letter, click here.

Legal Forum: Investigate and Punish Police Brutality against Pro-Settlement Demonstrators (7.21.09)

2009-07-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Legal Forum Attorney Hila Cohen appealed today to the Minister of Internal Security, the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the Border Police [MAGAV], demanding that they investigate the unnecessary brutality of border police officer Tal Yamini against demonstrators near Camp Horon yesterday. The Forum wants the officer to be detained until an investigation can be completed.

"Such an inexplicable event should be investigated and the most severe measures taken to ensure that such an action never occurs again," said Cohen. "It is also important that the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions."

According to the Legal Forum, the photos and videos from the demonstration have already been published by the media. "It is clear from that evidence that the officer and his subordinates carried-out the brutal arrest of a young person and in the process, broke his nose.

"They also refused to let ambulances provide the youngster with immediate medical treatment."

It has been reported, that following the assault, the young person was taken into custody and only later, taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

The policemen were also photographed attacking the young person verbally and physically pressing their fingers into his eyes, grabbing his face and forcing his head to the ground despite his pleading for them to stop. They were also photographed holding him to the ground with their feet and tying his hands behind his back.

All this was done despite the fact that the young person was seen lying on passively the ground. "The actions of the MAGAV police officers, led by Tal Yamini, where harsh, excessive and without just cause," said Cohen.

"This is not the first time that the officer in question has acted violently while carrying out his duties. There was even one time when he behaved violently with a member of the Knesset. Such an officer is not worthy to serve in the framework of MAGAV and, most assuredly not capable of commanding a police team. The actions of the officer and his subordinates constitute a social and public danger."

The Legal Forum is demanding that the authorities carry out a thorough investigation of the 20 July events and that all the police officers involved be brought to justice. It is also recommending that security officials assess the moral parameters of such police units so that they can implement more positive approaches to similar situations in the future.

The Legal Forum claims in their letter that the commanding officer should be detained immediately until such time as there is a clear picture of the events of the day. It is unreasonable, they say, that someone suspected of such grave actions should continue to command an active combat unit.

Legal Forum Protests Supreme Court Order to take Initial Steps Towards the Demolition of War Hero's Home (7.15.09)

2009-07-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel protested Israel's Supreme Court's decision to order the Defense Ministry to take preliminary steps towards the destruction of 12 homes in the Samaria town of Eli. One of the homes belongs to IDF Major Roi Klein who was killed in action during the Second Lebanon War. Klein's widow and children currently reside in the home.

The Legal Forum called on Defense Minister Ehud Barak to resolve any problems by making Klein's home legal, a status which is dependent solely on the Defense Minister's authorization.

"Will your hand, as that responsible for destroying the home of this hero of Israel, not tremble as you sign the demolition order?" said Nachi Eyal, director of the Legal Forum.

Klein was killed when he used his body to shield his soldier's from a grenade explosion. His last words were said to be "Shema Yisrael" ("Listen O'Israel [Hashem is Our God Hashem is One]"), the famous last words of many Jewish martyrs such as Rabbi Akiva and the Jewish prayer recited three times a day.

The Petitions to destroy the homes were brought by the leftist organizations Peace Now and Yesh Din.

More information:

Family of Golani Hero may lose Home (Jerusalem Post, July 17, 2009)

Legal Forum to Clinton: U.S. Must Respect Previous Commitments to Major Jewish Populations Centers in Judea & Samaria (6.10.09)

2009-06-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attacking the U.S. administration’s demand for an absolute freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria.

“It is unreasonable to expect the Israeli government to fulfill the obligations undertaken by its predecessors while disregarding the commitment of President Bush to the inclusion of [Jewish] population blocs,” Legal Forum Director Nachi Eyal wrote.

On April 14, 2009 President George W. Bush openly said in a letter to then Prime Israeli Minister Ariel Sharon and later in a press conference that it is unreasonable to expect Israel to destroy its major Jewish population centers in Judea and Samaria.

Eyal disputed the Palestinian claims of “occupation” arguing that “the land on which these communities were built has never been legally held by any sovereign state other than Israel, nor was it inhabited by Palestinian individuals.”

Eyal asked Clinton how it could the U.S. demand, in the 21st century, that a judenrein state be created via the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of Jews, while 1.2 million Arabs lived freely in the State of Israel.

For the entire letter please click here.

Legal Forum Candidate Elected to Judicial Selection Committee (6.09.09)

2009-06-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Knesset elected MK Uri Ariel (National Union) to the Judicial Selection Committee this past Tuesday in a secret ballot by a vote of 59-58.

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel had endorsed MK Ariel and lobbied for his appointment to the Committee.

The nine member committeem which includes three Supreme Court judges is responsible for appointing judges, including the judges of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is potentially the most powerful body in the State of Israel because it has ruled that it has the strike laws of the Knesset.

The Legal Forum considers the election of MK Ariel an important step in reversing the leftward trend of Israel’s judiciary.

For more information see:

Judicial Selection Committee Balances Out, Arutz Sheva, June 10, 2009 (article and video with Legal Forum attorney Yossi Fuchs).
Vote on key c'tee seen as litmus test for PM, Jerusalem Post, June 7, 2009.
Crucial Knesset Vote for High Court Selection Committee, Arutz Sheva, June 8, 2009

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Requests the Closure of Areas to Prevent Anarchists Activities (6.02.09)

2009-06-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

In its battle against foreign anarchist activists, Legal Forum for the Land of Israel requested IDF Major General Gadi Shamni of the GOC Central Command to close the areas of Nahalin and Bi’lin to prevent demonstrations against Israel’s security barrier which have lead to physical harm and even death.

According to the Legal Forum, pro-Palestinian groups like the International Solidarity Movement, incite local Arabs and participate in lawless demonstrations and interfere with IDF activities.

The Legal Forum, which has previously requested Interior Minister Eli Yishai to ban foreign anarchists activists as is done in other democratic countries like Great Britain, turned to Major General Shamni because Shamni is dealing with a similar situation with the group MachsomWatch (literally, “check point watch”). In response to the group’s interference with IDF operations Shamni closed off certain areas as “closed military areas.”

For an english translation of the Legal Forum's request click here.

Legal Forum Protests Evacuation of Shvut Ami over Shavuot Holiday & Shabbat (5.31.09)

2009-05-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel protested over the evacuation of the Shvut Ami outpost during the Shabuot Holiday in violation of IDF directives, which prohibit non-essential operations on the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.

In addition, preparation for a second round of evacuation and destruction of outpost housing was conducted over the Shabbat also in violation of IDF directives.

In the Legal Forum’s letter of protest, send to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi and Chief Military Rabbi Avichai Rontzki, Legal Forum Attorney Roy Azrad pointed out that such violations had occurred before, for example, with Homesh in January 2009 and the Anata neighborhood in October 2008.

Azrad requested that appropriate steps be taken to prevent further violations.

For an English copy of the letter click here.

Legal Forum: Investigate Shevut Ami Destruction Timing, Arutz Sheva, May 31, 2009

Legal Forum Requests Urgent Meeting of Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee over the Flow of Money into Gaza (5.26.09)

2009-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel took another step in its battle to stop the transfer of money into Hamas-controlled Gaza-strip, by turning to MK Tzachi Hanegbi (Kadima) requesting that the Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, which Hanegbi chairs, meet to discuss the issue.

Recently, the Israeli government allowed the transfer of millions of dollars to Gazan banks citing the Palestinian Authority’s need to pay its employee’s salaries and a lack of capital available to banks in the area.

At the time the Legal Forum had protested on the grounds that funds transferred into banks would enable any account holders to withdraw money including members of terrorist groups, and the money would easily find its way to Hamas’s Islamic National Bank.

The Legal Forum also filed a law suit to stop the transfers with the Israeli Supreme Court, which is pending.

In contrast to the government’s claims regarding the need to pay Palestinian Authority employees, Yediot Aharonot reported that based on documents from the Prime Minister's office, the Palestinian Authority did in fact have enough funds to pay its employees, without the government transfers.

By transferring the money, Legal Forum director Nachi Eyal wrote that the “Israeli government was lending a hand to the strengthening of Hamas” and might have aided in terrorists’ acquisition of missiles which would eventually land in Israeli cities.

For an English copy of Eyal's letter, click here.

Legal Forum Asks Interior Minister Eli Yishai to Expel International Solidarity Movement "Anarchists" for Lawless Actions (5.22.09)

2009-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Attorny Itzhik Baum requested Interior Minister Eli Yishai to use his authority to expel what Baum called foreign “anarchists” who came to Israel as “volunteers” of the pro-Palestinian group International Solidarity Movement.

These volunteers, Baum said, actually take part in inciting and preparing illegal assaults on the property of Jewish residents in disputed territory.

Baum also cited risks to the activists own lives since in the past they have entered dangerous areas and have been injured by IDF fire. The volunteers then sue the IDF and cause damages to Israel’s image abroad.

Baum suggested that the anarchists simply be expelled before they cause such trouble. Baum cited the example of Great Britain who has publically denied entry to persons it has deemed dangerous to their national security. Such persons included the head of the Manhigut Yehudit (“Jewish Leadership”) faction of the Likud and Knesset candidate Moshe Feiglin as well as American radio show host Michael Savage.

For the English translation of Baum's letter click here.

Legal Forum to Barak: Enforce the Law Against Arabs Too (5.21.09)

2009-05-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

In response to Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s declaration that he would destroy illegal Jewish outposts in Judea and Samaria out of commitment to the law, Legal Forum for the Land of Israel director Nachi Eyal asked Barak not to selectively apply that commitment to Jews.

Eyal pointed out that according to the Civil Administration, which administers the disputed territory of Judea and Samaria is part of the Defense Ministry, 646 illegal Arab structures were identified by inspectors in 2008 – more than twice the number of illegal Jewish structures.

Though the number of illegal Arab structures in the area doubled that of Jewish ones, enforcement against Jews was twice as harsh: One-third of Jewish illegal structures were demolished while only one-sixth of the Arab structures was demolished.

In addition, according to the Director of the Inspections Unit of the Civil Administration, Marco Ben-Shabbat “[t]he level of inspection on the Israeli sector is several times tighter then on the Palestinian one, and this is mostly due to high sensitivity and the politics of enforcement.”

“Selective enforcement is not a trait of a law-abiding State,” Eyal told Barak.

For an English translation of Eyal's letter to Barak click here.

American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Lobbies Knesset Members (5.20.09)

2009-05-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel President Daniel Tauber and Vice President Dr. Avraham Goldstein participated in a Knesset lobbying trip with the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel’s director Nachi Eyal and one of its attorneys Roy Azrad.

The group met with several Knesset members to discuss legislation which would prevent the expulsion of Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria and other activities of the Legal Forum.

The group met with MK Danny Danon (Likud), MK Yariv Levin (Likud), MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) and MK Nissim Ze’ev (Shas).

Pictures from the trip:

From Left: Nachi Eyal, Director of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel; Daniel Tauber; MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union); Dr. Avraham Goldstein; Legal Forum Attorney Roy Azrad.

with MK Danny Danon (Likud)

with MK Yariv Levin(Likud)

with MK Nissim Ze'ev (Shas)

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel to Bibi: Stop Transfer of $12 Million to Gaza Banks (5.07.09)

2009-05-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel has requested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the transfer of NIS 54 million (approximately $12 million) to Gaza banks, which he authorized Wednesday, stating the money will go towards the salaries of Palestinian Authority employees in Gaza.

“All the cash which enters the Gaza Strip adds up to the cash balance of the branches of the banks, which absorb the money . . . the cash finds its way to the whole banking system in Gaza, including the National Islamic Bank which Hamas has opened last month,” Nachi Eyal, the General Director of the Legal Forum, told Netanyahu.

“The moment that the money is in the bank, anyone having an account can draw cash from his account.”

This means, Eyal said, “that the Government of Israel is lending a hand to the strengthening of Hamas, and is aiding the terrorist organization which seeks [Israel’s] destruction, by, amongst other things, providing salaries to the Hamas personnel.”

Eyal said that “most importantly, the cash is used to pay for the goods, smuggled through the tunnels of the Philadelphia line, and perhaps even for the weapons which will return to Israel, mostly to Sderot, Ashkelon, and the belt around Gaza, in the form of Qassam rockets.”

Eyal said that Netanyahu, who had previously opposed such transfers, had received a mandate from the public to lead the government in a different direction than it had been under the previous administration “in which Israel subsidized Hamas,” which in turn attacked Israeli citizens.

“Stopping Israeli participation in this process,” Eyal said, “will send a clear message against terrorism and against the possibility of arming Hamas and the renewal of the war against us in the south.”

###

Please see the English translation of the Legal Forum's letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the transfer.

The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel advocates for "Jewish rights to and in the Land of Israel," fundraises for legal projects in Israel and is affiliated with the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel. For more information please visit http://www.americanlegalforum.org.

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel works to protect civil rights in Israel, for government reform, and the national interests of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. For more information on the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel visit http://www.haforum.org.il (Hebrew) or http://www.americanlegalforum.org.

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Praises Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai for Revoking Citizenship of Arabs Involved in Terrorism (5.05.09)

2009-05-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM, May 5, 2009 – The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel praised today Interior Minister Eli Yishai’s decision to revoke of the citizenship of four Israeli Arabs living abroad for decades in “enemy” states and have been working against the State of Israel and were involved in terror attacks.

Legal Forum representative attorney Yossi Fuchs said that Yishai’s decision is an important precedent which should be turned into a standard procedure.

“It can not be that an Israel Citizen would work against the security of the State and his privileges would still be preserved. Citizenship is a privilege and anyone, who raises his hand against the State and hurts its security gives-up his privilege of being its citizen.”

Attorney Fuchs calls upon Yishai to revoke citizenship of dozens of terrorists who work against the State and its security but today enjoy all the benefits of an Israeli citizen.

For more information on the story please see Dan Izenberg, Yishai to annul citizenship of 4 Arabs, JERUSALEM POST, May 5, 2009.

Issues List

2009-04-28T06:49:00.001-07:00

There are many issues and challenges facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel in which the United States has a tremendous effect:

For general information on the issue cclick the question mark.

ISSUE	GENERAL INFO	SAMPLE LETTER
The Jewish Right to the Land of Israel / Settlements
Jerusalem
Hevron
Temple Mount
Jewish Access to Holy Sites in Israel
Palestinian Death Sentences
Terrorist Releases
Anti-Jewish Incitement
Palestinian Authority & Human Rights
Jonathan Pollard

For a sample letter which you can send to your local representative or which you can use as a starting point for writing your own letter click the letter image.To contact your representative in the U.S. government, clickhere.

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Seeks Investigation of MK Sarsur for Meeting with Hamas Associate (4.27.09)

2009-04-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
Monday, April 27, 2009
Contact: Dr. Avraham Goldstein, Executive Vice President of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel
Phone: 212-631-5840 ext. 1
E-mail: press@americanlegalforum.org

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, an Israeli civil rights and government watchdog group, has requested Israeli Attorney General Menahem Mazuz to order a police investigation of Member of Knesset Ibraham Sarsur for reportedly meeting with Sheikh Hamid Khadair Al-Baitawi, an Islamic cleric closely associated with Hamas.

Al-Baitawi was once deported from Israel and has publically called for suicide attacks against Israelis. The Associated Press quoted Al-Baitwai in June 2002 as stating "As long as the Israeli occupation is killing our people, we have the right from the sky to kill its civilians" (Prominent Palestinians Condemn Suicide Bombings (Associated Press, June 19, 2002)).

The Israeli news agency Arutz Sheva reported that Sarsur, along with members of the Islamic Movement, met with Al-Baitwai on April 25, 2009 as part of a solidarity mission (Sarsur met with Hamas Leadership in Shechem (Arutz Sheva, April 27, 2009) in Hebrew).

Nachi Eyal, the General Director of the Legal Forum told the Attorney General that the meeting "constituted a violation of having a contact with a foreign agent according to the Article 114 of the Penal Law from 1977." That law punishes, with 15 years in prison, a person who intentionally meets with a "foreign agent," a designation which includes members and associates of terrorist organizations.

In his letter, Eyal referred to the controversy in Israel surrounding the actions of former Arab MK Azmi Bishara (Balad) who was accused of treason and espionage for spying on Israel for Hezbollah during Israelis war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006. Bishara left Israel in 2007.

"Especially in the light of the grievous story of ex-MK Bishara who was suspected in committing severe violations but escaped from Israel without any punishment, it is essential that you be sensitive to this matter," Eyal told Mazuz.

Last week, the Legal Forum requested MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud), the Speaker of the Knesset, to take action regarding Arab MK Jamal Zehalka's (National Democratic Assembly) participation in the Durban Conference on Racism. Israel and several other countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and Holland, boycotted the conference because of its unfair targeting of Israel.

Sarsur is a member of the United Arab List, an Israeli-Arab political party with four members in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. A total of 13 Arabs serve in the Knesset.

In March 2007 Sarsur notably called for the liberation of Jerusalem stating it was an even more important task than the struggle in Iraq or Kashmir. “Just as the Muslims liberated Jerusalem from the Crusaders, so we must believe that today, too, the liberation of Jerusalem is not an impossible mission,” Sarsur was quoted as saying. “Muslims around the world need to concentrate their energies on Jerusalem, not on Iraq or Kashmir or any other place, because Jerusalem is the central and most dangerous issue and thus must form the banner and the framework for the struggle of Muslims and Arabs around the world" (MK Sarsur: We Must act Together to Liberate Jerusalem (Ynetnews.com, March 18, 2009) ).

###

Please see the attached English translation of the Legal Forum's letter regarding MK Sarsur (in .pdf).

The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel advocates for "Jewish rights to and in the Land of Israel," fundraises for legal projects in Israel and is affiliated with the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel. For more information please visit http://www.americanlegalforum.org.

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel works to protect civil rights in Israel, for government reform, and the national interests of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. For more information on the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel visit http://www.haforum.org.il (Hebrew) or http://www.americanlegalforum.org.

This Press Release in a .pdf.

Legal Forum Demands Action from Knesset to Stop MK Zahalka's Participation in Durban II (4.19.09)

2009-04-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2009 – The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel on Sunday requested Speaker of the Knesset Reuven Rivlin to take action regarding the participation of MK Jamal Zahalka, the Chairman of the Arab Balad party, in the Durban II Conference on Racism. The Legal Forum also asked the Knesset Ethics Committee to take up the issue as well.

“In his participation in the Durban II Conference, which the State of Israel is making every effort to prevent participation in by states of the world, the abovementioned filled the seah” (a Biblical measure of grain), Nachi Eyal, the General Director of the Legal Forum, told Rivlin.

Eyal added that “[w]ith his actions and by his giving legitimacy to the Conference from the part of a member of the Israeli parliament, MK Zahalka contributed to those who seek to turn the State of Israel and the Knesset into the lepers of the international arena.”

Eyal said that this violates a Member of Knesset’s responsibilities. “MK Zahalka’s behavior is not befitting that of a Member of Knesset. A Member of Knesset is supposed to work for the benefit of the State and not to assist those who seek to harm it and display it as a disgusting outcast in the international arena.”

Eyal closed the letter asking that Rivlin take action. “The Knesset and its Chairperson should not remain silently dumbstruck in light of his grievous actions. . . .As speaker of the Knesset, it is your obligation to warn the abovementioned about the severity of his actions and to work in every way in order to stop his participation in that place by clarifying that this issue is one of severe harm to the State."

For an English translation of the letter, click here.

For Arutz Sheva's news brief on the Legal Forum's demand, click here.

Events

2009-04-13T00:00:00.001-07:00

News

2009-04-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Article: The IDF's "War on Beards" By Daniel Tauber & Dr. Avraham Goldstein in The Jewish Press (4.07.09)

2009-04-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

By DANIEL TAUBER & DR. AVRAHAM GOLDSTEIN

Published in The Jewish Press on April 7, 2009.

An identifying mark of the Jew has been, and for many still is, his beard. The foundation for this is the commandment in the Torah: “You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27).

The Second Book of Samuel provides an early example of the importance of the beard. There, the Ammonite King shaves off half the beards of King David’s messengers to insult David. The messengers were so embarrassed that David instructed them to wait until their beards grew back before returning to Jerusalem.

Medieval Biblical commentator Rabbi David Kimhi notes that implicit in the story is the fact that the messengers’ other option – shaving off the other half of their beards – was too humiliating to contemplate.

The beard is also a sign of piousness and the wisdom that comes with age. The Hebrew word for beard and elder is derived from the same root letters of “Z-K-N” (זקן). In Jewish liturgy, the beard is a recurrent symbol when describing a pious or a wise man.

In modern times, many religious Jews would not shave off or even trim their beards, actions strictly forbidden by Hasidic and Kabbalistic teachings.

The Jew’s beard also made an easy target for anti-Semites. In 19th century Poland, then controlled by the Russian Empire, a government decree banned Jews from having beards and payot (side-locks). Many Hasidic Jews were heroically ready to face prison or exile rather than comply. Fortunately, a group of Jewish rabbis and community leaders convinced Polish and Russian authorities to annul the decree.

Despite the significance of a beard for many Jews, the IDF has initiated a “war on beards,” as a headline in the major Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Acharonot put it, announcing new regulations restricting the ability of soldiers to grow and keep beards.

Previously, the IDF placed no restrictions on a religious soldier’s ability to grow a beard. The old order (Directive 33.0118) states that “a soldier, observing a religious lifestyle, can grow a beard for religious reasons.”

Under the new rules, however, a soldier must obtain a recommendation from the Rabbi of his unit and then a permit from a Lieutenant Colonel.

If the soldier transfers to another unit he must renew his permit in the new unit. And, if the soldier shaves his beard or if he is tried for a disciplinary violation of the new regulations, he must wait a year before obtaining a new permit.

In the memorandum sent to all soldiers announcing the new regulations, Lt. Cl. Avishai Azulai explained that growing beards outside the regulations violates the “image of IDF soldiers in the eyes of the citizens of the state.”

These new guidelines place considerable obstacles in the path of a religious soldier wishing to observe what he considers central to his identity. They violate soldiers’ religious freedom. At the very least, they force the IDF to question soldiers’ religious beliefs and pass judgments on religious sincerity. How will the IDF pass such judgments? For example, if a soldier only recently became religious – how long must he wait to show his religious sincerity before growing a beard? If a soldier observes Shabbat and Kashrus, but not other mitzvot – is he sufficiently religious to grow a beard? What if a soldier is only traditional?

Having such judgments made by the IDF, in and of itself, requires state intrusion into a person’s belief system.

Further, there are no guidelines for the Lieutenant Colonel who issues the permit. He, sadly, may be hostile to or have little-to-no understanding of Judaism. As a result, soldiers in different battalions will face different and unfair requirements.

The requirements imposed by the directives are themselves no small obstacles, especially for young and impressionable teenagers. A soldier should not be forced to request official approval for and embarrassingly attempt to prove his religious sincerity to the IDF. As the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, an Israeli civil rights organization, wrote in a letter of protest to the Chief of the General Staff on March 2:

[A] soldier, especially a young or freshman soldier in a combat unit, does not easily approach an officer of the Lieutenant Colonel rank . . . for any purpose. . . . [T]here is a real concern that religious or traditional soldiers . . . will be afraid to obtain a permit to grow a beard under the stated conditions.

The new directives also provide no exception for soldiers who only refrain from shaving during specific times of the year as prescribed by Halakhah. Those soldiers will have to go through an arduous process several times a year, and a Lieutenant Colonel who does not understand or even disdains the Halakhah may simply reject such requests. The Legal Forum therefore requested that the new directives be clarified to include such exceptions.

The mandatory one year waiting period before applying to grow a beard after shaving a beard is itself a judgment on religious sincerity. Here, the IDF falsely concludes that someone who shaves their beard once must not have a sincere religious motivation for growing a beard after that, regardless of any other facts.

The mandatory one-year waiting period imposed for a violation of the directives, implies that the IDF will use prohibitions on religious practices as a method of punishment for disciplinary violations.

As a symbolic matter, intentionally or unintentionally, the regulations send a message of hostility to the Jewish character of IDF and the State.

The IDF, the primary arm of the state, has immense social, political and even religious relevance to Israeli and world Jewry. For world Jewry, the IDF is a Jewish military, unique in modern history, the last line of defense against another Holocaust, the reversal of the Jew’s historical position as the helpless victim, and heir to the Jewish military tradition of antiquities. For Israeli Jewry, the IDF is a right of passage, a social training ground, where many form social, business, and political connections that can endure a lifetime, and society’s protector against terrorism and war. The enactment of new anti-beard regulations send an official message of disparagement toward traditional religious practices symbolized by beards, which Lt. Col. Azulai implied are not in keeping with “the image of the IDF.”

In any case, Azulai’s implied assertion that beards violate the IDF’s image is plainly false. Half of the young combat officers are religious and 40% of all graduating officers in 2007 were religious. Recently, Operation Cast-Lead produced many pictures of religious soldiers sporting beards, kippot, and payot, in uniform, sometimes in combat and often while praying. The religious soldier – beard and all – is, in fact, fast becoming the real image of the IDF.

In addition, many religious soldiers were very recently forced to question their assumptions about the IDF due to the IDF’s participation in expelling 8,000 Jews from their homes and barring all Jews from part of the homeland as well as recent threats to disband Hesder units, which combine Army service with religious study. The new regulations can readily be viewed as insulting, if not as a direct assault on religious soldiers.

But any public relations problems posed by the new directives to the national-religious sector are dwarfed in comparison to the potential for damage with Israel’s growing Haredi community, a large portion of which views the State of Israel and the IDF as anti-religious institutions.

Practically 100% of the Haredi community, constituting 11.5% of each year’s enlistment, does not enlist for IDF service for religious reasons. In order to reverse this problem, in 1999, the IDF, in cooperation with a group of rabbis, created Nahal Haredi as a venue for young, nationalistically inclined Haredi men to serve in the IDF while adhering to the highest religious standards. From a small unit of 30 soldiers, Nahal Haredi has grown into a full battalion with close to 1,000 troops, already aiming to grow to a fully operative infantry brigade.

The new anti-beard regulations, however, could set back the public relations gains made with Nahal Haredi. They will only enforce Haredi perceptions and arguments that the IDF and the state are hostile to Judaism. Taken together with newly proposed reductions in exemptions for Haredim, the regulations could spark even greater Haredi resentment toward the IDF and the State.

Lastly, the regulations are unnecessarily overbroad and arbitrary. Purportedly, they were enacted in response to data showing a rise in soldiers who grew beards in violation of regulations. But if this is the case, then all that is really needed is improved enforcement of the old regulations, not onerous restrictions which impinge on religious freedom.

A better rule would be, as the Legal Forum has recommended, to simply accept “a soldier’s declaration that he grows a beard on a regular basis for religious purposes or that he grows a beard temporarily for religious purposes.” Absent evidence that the soldier is lying, an onus should never be placed on a newly drafted young Jewish soldier to justify his religious sincerity.

[For more information click here.]

Protecting Freedom of Access to Holy Places

2009-04-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

"Access to Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, Hevron, the Tomb of Joseph; the Cave of Machpelah, the Tomb of Rachel and all other Jewish holy sites and cities should be open for all Jews, in accordance with the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, the Palestine Mandate, the Palestine Order-in-Council, and general international and universal principles of freedom of religion and human rights" (By-Laws of The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Art. I, sec. 4 (V) ).

The requirement that free access to religious sites in the Land of Israel be protected is practically part of customary international law. The Palastine Mandate, which was approved by the League of Nations and was the first real step by the international community towards the creation of the State of Israel and developing Palestine required that the Mandatory be absolutely responsible "in connection with the Holy Places and religious buildings or sites in Palestine, including that of preserving existing rights and of securing free access to the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites and the free exercise of worship" (Palestine Mandate (1922) Art. 13).

The Mandate also provided protection for freedom of worship which includes the right to visit holy sites for religious purposes. It states that "The Mandatory shall see that complete freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals, are ensured to all" (Art. 15). This language was mirrored and expanded in the Palestine Order-in-Council (1922) which functioned as the Constitution of the Mandatory Regime and still has the force of law in the State of Israel. It states that "All persons in Palestine shall enjoy full liberty of conscience, and the free exercise of their forms of worship subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals" ( Art. 83).

In addition the Mandate also stated that "No discrimination of any kind shall be made between the inhabitants of Palestine on the ground of race, religion or language" (Art. 15). Thus barring Jews from Jewish Holy sites violates this clause of the Mandate as well.

The League of Nations considered freedom of access to Holy sites so important that it called for in Article 14 of the Mandate the creation of a special commission, to "define and determine the rights and claims in connection with the Holy Places and the rights and claims relating to the different religious communities in Palestine." (The commission was never set up).

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel (1 LSI 1, 1948), Israel's first law, reaffirmed the guarantee of freedom of access. The Declaration states that the State of Israel "will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience . . . it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions."

Legal Forum Petitions Court to Stop Eviction of 37 Gaza Evacuee Families (3.30.09)

2009-04-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

Tovah Lazaroff, THE JERUSALEM POST

The Legal Forum for Israel on Monday petitioned The High Court of Justice to prevent the evacuation of 37 Gaza evacuees' families from their temporary homes in Kibbutz Karimya.

The families, who have lived there since October 2005, are still in negotiations with the Disengagement Authority to receive plots of land for their permanent homes, their attorney Yuval Ganan told The Jerusalem Post.

The families are worried that the Kibbutz will not extend the contracts on their temporary homes in the Kibbutz, which will run out this year, he said. The petitioners are asking the court to force the Disengagement Authority to take responsibility for ensuring the contracts are extended. The petition also asks that the relevant ministers take responsibility for the families once the Disengagement Authority closes at the start of 2010.

http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1238423643495&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

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2009-04-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

Protecting the Jewish Character of the Jewish State

2009-04-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

"Judaism is the national culture of the Jewish people, has sustained them for thousands of years and gave rise the Zionist movement. The State of Israel has an undeniably Jewish character, which must be fostered rather than suppressed. The Torah, a universally recognized and acclaimed document of moral, legal, and religious principles, is the founding document of the Jewish people and deserves official recognition by the State of Israel as such." (By-Laws of The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Art. I. Sec. 4 (VI) ).

News

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Protecting Jerusalem

2009-04-02T20:54:00.001-07:00

"Jerusalem, united and complete under the sovereignty of the State of Israel, is the eternal capital of the State of Israel" (Bylaws of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Art. I Sec. 4 (IV)).

News

Legal Forum Congratulates Justice Minister Neeman on his Appointment, Requests Resumption of Judicial Appointments and Friedmann Reforms (4.1.09)

2009-04-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel congratulated Professor Yaakov Neeman on his appointment as Justice Minister and reminded him of the need to convene the Judicial Nominations Committee as soon as possible, to combat the severe shortage of judges.

“It has already been over five months that the Committee has not assembled,” Nachi Eyal, the General Director of the Legal Forum told Neeman.

Prior to the elections, Israel Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch requested Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann to suspend the Judicial Nominations Committee, stating that the government was a “transitional” one which did not have the authority to make such decisions.

It is believed that Beinisch, who has often spoken out against Friedmann because of his opposition to the growth in the Supreme Court’s power, merely wanted Friedmann gone before new judges were approved.

Eyal cited Judge Hila Gerstl, President of the Central District Court, as having described the situation as so bad that she feared it could reach the point that criminal defendants could be detained for “many months without their trial even starting . . . due to the fact that there are no additional Judges who can hear these cases.”

Eyal also requested that Neeman continue with reforms initiated by Friedmann, citing the lack of public confidence in the justice system and the need to strengthen the Jewish and democratic nature of the state.

Friedmann’s reforms included not only appointing new judges, but legislation which would add more democratic representatives to the Judicial Nomination Committee (only four of its nine members are appointed by the Government and Knesset), and delineating how and when the Supreme Court could use the power of judicial review, which it currently does despite Israel’s lack of a written constitution.

Click here for the English translation of the Letter.

Israeli Police Bar Illegal PA Jerusalem Event after Protest from the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel (3.21.09)

2009-03-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

After the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel protested Palestinian Authority plans to hold a Jerusalem day event which would declared Jerusalem as the "capital of Arab culture in 2009,” the police barred the event.

The event would have violated the Oslo Accords which prohibit Palestinian Authority activity within Jerusalem.

"To the best of my understanding, this is an attempt to demonstrate Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem in an illegal manner," said Nachi Eyal, the head of the Legal Forum. The event included plans to fly a banner with the colors of the Palestinian flag over the walls of the old city of Jerusalem.

After the Legal Forum’s protest police barred the event and took extra security precautions.

News Articles:

Police disperse 'Palestinian Culture Festival' events (Haaretz, March 21, 2009)
PA plans to fly glider painted in Palestinian colors over Jerusalem (Haaretz, March 19, 2009)

Legal Forum for the Land of Israel Protests New IDF Regulations on Beards as Discriminating Against Religious Soldiers (3.02.09)

2009-03-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2009

On March 2, 2009, the Israel Defense Forces announced new regulations on soldiers' ability to grow beards. Previously, the regulations allowed a soldier to grow a beard for religious reasons without any restrictions. Under the new rules, however, a soldier who wants to grow a beard for religious reasons will have to get a recommendation from a military rabbi and then a permit from a officer in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or above. In addition, the rules mandate an automatic one year waiting period for growing a beard on a soldier who was tried for disciplinary charges for violating the new regulations and a soldier who shaved his beard.

According to the memorandum announcing the regulations, growing a beard in violation of the new restrictions violates the image of the IDF in the eyes of the nation. The truth, however, is that these new violations violate the image and character of the IDF as a Jewish army of a Jewish state as well as the religious liberty of Jewish soldiers and sends an anti-religious message to the both the national-religious sector, which makes up an large proportion of the IDF's officer corp., and the Haredi-sector which on the other side of the spectrum already resists IDF service because it views the state as anti-religious.

The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel calls on the IDF to reinstate the exemptions for soldiers growing beards for religious purposes and allow the soldier's declaration to satisfy the initial burden of proof of his religious purpose, absent evidence that his declaration is false.

Selected Documents

The IDF's "War on Beards" (Jewish Press, April 8, 2009) by Daniel Tauber, President of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel & Dr. Avraham Goldstein, Executive Vice President of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.

Letter from the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel to the IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi and IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rabbi Avichai Ronski regarding the new regulations (.pdf).

The IDF Goes to War on Beards (Yediot Aharonot, March 2, 2009). Translated from Hebrew by Dr. Avraham Goldstein, Executive Vice President of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel (.pdf).

Appeal to the Chief of Staff: Let the Religious Grow Beards (Yediot Aharonot, March 2, 2009). Translated from Hebrew by Dr. Avraham Goldstein, Executive Vice President of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel (.pdf).

News

2009-03-01T18:14:00.001-08:00

3.04.09	Stopping Israel's Cycle of Self-Destruction: Lecture with Moshe Eyal Director of Development for the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.

3.02.09	Legal Forum Protests New IDF Regulations Restricting Soldier's Ability to Grow Beards.

2.25.09	*Article: Adoption & the Law of Return by Daniel Tauber (Jewish Press), officer of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.*

2.06.09	*Article: PA Death Sentences Symbolize a Return to Arafat by Daniel Tauber (American Thinker), officer of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.*

1.25.09	Letter on PA Death Sentences from Nachi Eyal, Director of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak (.pdf)

Wednesday, March 4th, 7:30 pm: Stopping Israel's Cycle of Self-Destruction w/Moshe Eyal of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel

2009-03-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

present

WHO REALLY CONTROLS ISRAEL?

WHAT CAN BE DONE

TO STOP

THE SELF DESTRUCTION?

With guest speaker

Moshe Eyal

Director of Development and International Spokesman

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel

“Even if a nationalist government is formed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Leftist bureaucracy will continue to pursue its pro-Arab agenda in every sphere of Israeli society. The Legal Forum is fighting back, through Israel's legislative and judicial branches to protect Jewish rights and protect the Land of Israel.”

--Moshe Eyal

Wednesday March 4th, 7:30 P.M

Edmond J. Safra Synagogue

11 E 63rd St., Between 5th and Madison Ave. NYC

Admission is Free

Please RSVP to AFSI (afsi@rcn.com or 212-828-2424) or Daniel Tauber (daniel.tauber@gmail.com or 917-497-7358)

The Legal Form for the Land of Israel began as a grassroots organization seeking to alleviate via the courts the woes of thousands of Israeli evacuees resulting from the Disengagement from the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria in August 2005. It has since become a full-fledged institution. The Forum's activities are carried out by volunteer attorneys and legal experts, in Israeli courts and the Knesset.

PA Death Sentences

2009-02-16T09:28:00.001-08:00

Since 1995 the Palestinian Authority has sentenced over 75 people to death, many of them for the crime of collaborating with Israel in terror operations, a crime which the Palestinian Authority is itself required to do by its own agreements with the Israeli government and international law. The United States which provides the Palestinian Authority with hundreds of millions of dolalrs, must demand that the Palestinian Authority reverse the convictions and its policy.
Legal Forum Documents
•	Daniel Tauber, PA Death Sentences Symbolize Return to Arafat (The American Thinker, February 6, 2009).
•	Letter from Nachi Eyal, Director of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel to Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak on PA Death Sentence in Hebron (Jan. 26, 2009).
Information & Documents from Human Rights Groups
•	Statistics on the Death Penalty in the Palestinian Authority (B’tselem, Nov. 30, 2008) Providing a timeline of the PA’s use of the death penalty from 1995 through Nov. 30, 2008.
•	Death Penalty under the Palestinian National Authority (Position Paper, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Sept. 14, 2006).
•	Death Penalty in the Palestinian Authority (Background information from B’tselem)
•	Military Court in Hebron Sentences a Palestinian to Death; PCHR Calls upon Palestinian President Not to Ratify the Sentence and Demands the Abolishment of Death Penalty from Palestinian Law (Palestinian Center for Human Rights Press Release, Jan. 26, 2009).
•	Palestinian Authority: Death Sentences Surge in West Bank, Gaza, 11 Sentenced to Death in December 2008 (Human Rights Watch Press Release, Dec. 15, 2008) (also available at UN Council on Human Rights).
•	Document - Palestinian Authority: Death penalty / Fear of imminent execution: Tha’er Mahmoud Husni Rmailat (m) (Press Release, Amnesty International, April 16, 2008).
•	Palestinian Authority: Amnesty International calls for halt to death penalty as four executed in Gaza (Amnesty International Australia, Aug. 26, 2005).

News Stories
•	Hamas executes suspected Fatah traitors in Gaza (San Fransico Chronicle, Jan. 22, 2009).
•	Hamas asserts control in Gaza, seeks "collaborators" (Reuters, Jan. 21, 2009.
•	PA court sentences two to death for 'collaboration' (Jerusalem Post, July 15, 2008).
•	Hamas condemns collaborator to death (Jerusalem Post, July 20, 2008)

Issues

2009-02-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon!

Take Action for the Jewish People & the Land of Israel!

2009-02-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

Please take a moment to contact your representative in the U.S. One phone call from a concerned constituent can go a long way in a congressperson's considerations.

The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel is currently working to pressure the Palestinian Authority to reverse the death sentances issued to Palestinian-Arabs convicted of collaborating with Israel. Such action is counterproductive to fighting terror and violates the human rights of the convict who faces execution for fulfilling his moral obligation to stop attacks on civilians.

Sample Letter on PA Death Sentences for Collaboration

The United States weilds tremendous influence with the Palestinian Authority and provides it with hundreds of millions of the dollars every year. U.S. aid should not be allowed to fund human rights violations or terror-supporting policies. Please contact your representative and express your concern and request that something be done to save the lives of these brave Arabs who are striving to achieve real peace with Israel.

Click here for a information and sample letters on other issues with which you may be particularly concerned and want to discuss with your representative.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Below please find the contact information for the President, your local Congressperson or Senator.

PRESIDENT

Phone	202-456-1111
Fax	202-456-2461
By Mail	The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
E-mail/ Webform	http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

CONGRESS

Look up your local Congressman here. You'll need your Zip Code + the 4 digit extension code. If you don't know the last four digits don't worry. Its on any piece of mail that has been sent to you, or you can click here to find your 4 digit Zip Code extention code from the U.S. Post Office.

SENATE
Look up your Senator by your State or click here for a full listing of the U.S Senate.

Donate

2009-02-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Help us fight for the Jewish Right to the Land of Israel. Your donation will go towards both our public affairs activities in the United States and legal actions in Israel to protect Jewish rights.

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To donate by mail, make out a check and mail to:
The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel
1751 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10128-5363

Contact us

2009-02-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

Mailing Address:
The American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel
1751 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10128-5363

Phone: (212) 631-5840
Fax: (212) 828-1717
Website: www.americanlegalforum.org

E-mail:
General Inquiries: info@americanlegalforum.org
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Article: PA Death Sentences Symbolize a Return to Arafat by Daniel Tauber (2.06.09)

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By Daniel Tauber
The American Thinker
February 6, 2009

On the eve of former U.S. Senator George Mitchell's mission to Israel as U.S. envoy in the aftermath of Israel's recent anti-terror Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, a Palestinian Authority military court in Hebron sentenced a former member of the Palestinian Authority presidential security service, Force 17, to death for the crime of collaborating with Israel in anti-terror operations.

In two other instances, in April and July of 2008, a Palestinian Authority court in Jenin sentenced three other Palestinian-Arabs to death for collaborating with Israel as well. According to Human Rights Watch, Palestinian Authority courts have sentenced at least 11 Palestinian-Arabs to death in 2008 alone.

Thus, far from fulfilling its obligations to fight terror of its own accord or by cooperating with Israel, the Palestinian Authority punishes, in the worst way possible, those who do.

The courts' verdicts recall the extremist policies of the Palestinian Authority once practiced under terror-chief Yasser Arafat. Between 1994 and 2005 (Arafat died in November of 2004), the Palestinian Authority issued 74 death sentences. And this is aside from the numerous other human rights violations under his rule.

The issuing of the verdicts by courts of the supposedly moderate Fatah-run side of the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank") also parallel those currently practiced by the Hamas-run side of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. In July, a Hamas-run Palestinian Authority court in Gaza sentenced a Palestinian-Arab to death for informing Israel of the whereabouts of Palestinian terrorists, later killed by the I.D.F. In fact, during Israel's recent operation in Gaza, Hamas executed over 19 Palestinians and brutally tortured and maimed over 60 others whom Hamas suspected of collaboration with Israel. Just as Israel ceased its operations in Gaza and withdrew its forces Hamas said that its first order of business would be to round up collaborators.

In order to be carried-out, death sentences issued by Palestinian Authority courts must be approved by the Palestinian Authority President, currently Mahmaoud Abbas. The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, an Israeli civil rights and government reform group, wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday, urging them to pressure Abbas not to give his approval.

"It is your moral obligation," Legal Forum Director Nachi Eyal wrote, "to clarify to [Abbas] that approving the sentence will have a grave meaning from Israel's point of view."

The section of the penal code of the Palestinian Authority which contains the death penalty dates back to 1979, when the Authority was still the Palestinian Liberation Organization, a recognized terrorist group led by Arafat which hijacked airplanes, threw a wheelchair-bound American citizen off the side of a boat into the ocean, killed Israeli athletes in Munich and committed scores of other horrific and murderous acts.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, in a press release regarding the death sentence, argued that the Palestinian Authority's use of the death penalty constituted a violation of international law and called on the Palestinian Authority to enact a "penal code that conforms to the spirit of international human rights instruments."

Before newly inaugurated President Barack Obama and his envoy Senator Mitchell even consider asking Israel to make security concessions which will undoubtedly enable terrorists to attack Israeli civilians and use rockets to shut down entire Israeli cities, they must demand an end to the obvious cause of violence - the official approval of terrorism and anti-Israelism and corresponding condemnation of helping Israel fight terrorism.

More than asking Abbas to merely not approve death sentences, the U.S. must demand that Abbas pardon the men and remove sections of the Palestinian Authority penal code which criminalize fighting terror in collaboration with Israel. Anything less would leave those convicted with a court approved stigma of evil for doing what the United States has been demanding for years and would serve as a deterrent to those who would otherwise assist Israel in the future.

Over the last 8 years, U.S. aid to the Palestinians totaled almost $2.3 billion, hundreds of millions of which went directly to the Palestinian Authority. Ultimately, and more to the root of the problem, the U.S. must seriously reconsider its funding of an organization which executes people for fighting terror in "collaboration" with Israel, names stadiums after homicide bombers or riflemen who target women and children, uses textbooks to promote anti-Semitism to school children, and whose constituency fired rifles in the air in celebration of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

As former Republican Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain said over and over during the presidential campaign, its time we stopped sending billions of dollars to people who don't like us very much. This includes - perhaps more than any other entity which currently receives U.S. aid - the Palestinian Authority.

Eyal made a similar point in his letter to Olmert and Barak: not only does the execution of collaborators with Israel symbolize a "return to the uncivilized norms that typified the rule of Yasser Arafat," but it "shows that whoever trusts the PA and gives it weapons and armored cars is behaving irresponsibly."

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/02/palestinian_death_sentences_sy.html

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