Lawfare Project opposes Irish bill discriminating against Israeli goods originating in the territories
The Lawfare Project, a U.S.-based think tank and litigation fund that fights anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli discrimination around the world, has taken legal action against what experts and advocates are describing as the most aggressive boycott measure targeting Israel in European history. The action has been initiated by The Lawfare Project with the assistance of UK Lawyers for Israel.
The “Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018” passed its initial vote in the Irish senate on Wednesday. The measure would make it a criminal offense in Ireland, punishable by a fine of up to €250,000 ($292,000) or up to five years in prison, for a person “to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied territory or to extract resources from an occupied territory in certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.”
The bill seeks to outlaw the supply of any goods or services produced even only partially by any Israeli when he is present, even temporarily, beyond the pre-1967 lines. It applies not only to supplies in Ireland but also to supplies anywhere in the world if any person involved is an Irish citizen or resident or an Irish company.
If it becomes law, the bill could have significant implications for major American companies with Irish divisions or subsidiaries, such as Airbnb and Apple, whose global sales outside the United States are taxed in Ireland, and whose Irish subsidiary, “Apple Distribution International LTD”, paid $1.5 billion Irish corporation tax from 2014–2016. Complying with an Irish ban on commerce with Israeli settlements would violate U.S. anti-boycott laws, which require American firms to refuse participation in foreign boycotts that the U.S. does not sanction, and could result in substantial fines for those companies.
When the bill was debated in the Irish senate earlier this year, The Lawfare Project’s Spanish counsel, Ignacio Palacios, filed a complaint—which garnered wide circulation—arguing that the Irish bill, if enacted, would violate foreign trade competences that belong exclusively to the European Union. In the aftermath of Wednesday’s vote, The Lawfare Project will continue to pursue legal action: Palacios will submit further arguments, developed together with Jonathan Turner of UK Lawyers for Israel.
“The Irish bill would enact an official, highly aggressive anti-Israel boycott policy within a national government that targets individuals not based on their conduct, but on their national origin and place of residence. That specific scenario had not materialized before,” Palacios said. “If there is no outside pressure against this bill, it might likely pass, as it has the support of most of the lawmakers in Ireland’s senate. That is why The Lawfare Project is committed to bringing legal actions addressing this crucial issue.”
Addressing the legislation’s impact on American commerce, Palacios explained, “The presence and taxes paid by the subsidiaries of U.S. technology companies are critical for the economy of Ireland: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Dell, Oracle, and SanDisk are ranked high among the top 20 Irish companies, with total turnouts of €192.5 billion in 2016. Those companies would face an impossible position between abiding by an Irish law that would mandate discriminatory business conduct against foreign individuals under the threat of imprisonment, and compliance with the anti-boycott provisions of the US. Departments of Commerce and Treasury.”
Lawfare Project Executive Director, Brooke Goldstein, said, “We are determined to expose the illegality of the Irish boycott bill under European law, as well as the unnecessary damage that it will inflict on U.S. companies operating in Ireland. Commercial discrimination on the basis of nationality is shameful in any form, but it is particularly frightening when it emanates from the halls of government—from the same lawmakers who were elected to protect the legal rights of their constituents. We will do everything in our power to prevent this unprecedented state-sanctioned discrimination from becoming law in Ireland.” — From the Lawfare Project
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20 young invitees from around the world participate in Jerusalem Film Workshop
The Jerusalem Film Workshop (JWF) on June 24 commenced a six-week program that will conclude August 3 for 20 young filmmakers from around the world, including the United States, Mexico, Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Poland. Participants were selected from hundreds of applicants, have been invited to Jerusalem to study filmmaking and experience local culture.
The JFW is an immersive and transformative resume building experience that gives the participants an opportunity to develop and advance their cinematography, editing, screenwriting, and directing skills as well as expand their professional network with Israel’s top producers and directors, all while learning more about the country and the its culture.
The Jerusalem Film Workshop focuses on documentary filmmaking and will end with the premiere of five produced documentary films at the Jerusalem Film Festival. The JFW is partnering with several film festivals from around the world, who each choose a number of promising filmmakers to come to the Holy City and bring their individual styles and insights.
Jonathan Lan, an award-winning short filmmaker and JWF participant from Mexico City, says: “Meeting Jerusalem in a documentary style is an amazing experience. It’s something that you cannot have in any other place in the world. Because when you do a documentary, you experience the place, you take a real taste of its people. So, for me, to do it in such a mysterious city, it’s having so many magical elements and putting them into a film. You make new friends from all around the world, you meet local characters, you meet professional mentors who are so experienced and so devoted to you. This workshop has a really unique approach to it, and it’s very well structured. I think there is no better way to learn.”
The Jerusalem Film Workshop is run by a number of Israel’s brightest filmmaking talents including founders Gal Greenspan & Roi Kurland (Greenproductions Israel), director and documentary filmmaker Elad Laor (Cluster), and Adi Bar Yossef and Maya Fischer (Head of Film & TV Department at Greenproductions Israel). Mentors for the workshop include director Michal Aharonson (Grace), producer Eyal Blachson (Town on a Wire), director and cinematographer Abigail Shperber (Probation), editor Tamar Gan Zvi (How Much Love) and sound mixer Sharon Luzon (All That Remains). – From Jerusalem Film Workshop
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Israel’s Athena Fund, which promotes Israel’s teachers, receives United Nations’ recognition
Israel’s Athena Fund has announced that it received special consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
ECOSOC is the main body coordinating the UN’s economic and social activities. It serves as a central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy and recommendations in this field.
The new status will allow representatives of the Athena Fund to participate in meetings of ECOSOC and its committees, and to submit proposals and work papers to the council and its committees. Athena Fund representatives will also be able to meet official government delegations and representatives of other NGOs, as well as participate in various discussions, dialogs and meetings.
“The Athena Fund’s new status represents international recognition of the fund’s quality and its activities to promote Israel’s teachers, including special education teachers,” said Uri Ben-Ari, Athena Fund’s founder and president. “Having received this prestigious status, the Athena Fund will be able to contribute internationally from its extensive experience, and to develop professional relations with various organizations worldwide. It should be noted that even before receiving the new status, Athena’s activities generated considerable interest worldwide and the fund was asked to present in various international education forums.” — From the Athena Fund
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Senate committee adopts legislation to make it easier to sue terrorists
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, on Thursday welcomed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s passage of bipartisan legislation that seeks to strengthen the U.S. fight against international terrorism and provide justice to American victims.
The “Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act,” S. 2946, would restore Congress’ intent from the 1992 “Anti-Terrorism Act,” which gave U.S. citizens the right to sue terrorists for terror attacks regardless of where they occurred. Since then, however, terrorists and their supporters have tried to get around the law by claiming various exceptions.
The 2018 act was introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Ia.) and is co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Bill Nelson (D-Fl.), Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).
The Orthodox Union supported the 1992 legislation and submitted a letter this week in support of the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act. Several other Jewish and pro-Israel groups also backed the new bill, as did thousands of veterans and 50,000 Americans who signed a petition urging the bill’s swift approval. The legislation will next be considered by the full Senate.
OU Advocacy Center Executive Director Nathan Diament stated:
“It is incumbent upon us as a nation to ensure that terrorists and their supporters who carry out attacks on Americans are brought to justice, regardless of jurisdiction. This new legislation not only fortifies existing law, but sends a message to terrorists across that globe that they cannot exploit U.S. laws to avoid punishment.” — From Orthodox Union
Preceding culled from news releases sent to editor@sdjewishworld.com