TEL AVIV - The World Jewish Congress (WJC) arrived in Israel this week for a fact-finding mission for leading legal academics at American universities. Institutions represented included New York University, Boston College, University of Maryland, Indiana University, Duquesne University, University of San Diego, South Texas College of Law, Southern Illinois University, George Mason University, and University of New Hampshire.
The four-day agenda broadened the delegation’s understanding of the impact that the October 7 Hamas massacre has had on Israel, as well as the resilience of the country’s legal system both domestically and in the context of international courts such as the ICC and ICJ.
Delegation members have visited key sites in Israel, including the Tekumah car graveyard for a briefing from the IDF's Spokesperson's Office and Kibbutz Nir Oz. They met with Sharon Lifshitz, daughter of former hostage Yocheved Lifshitz, and Nir Metzger, son of former hostages Tamar Metzger and Yoram Metzger, who were murdered in captivity. The professors were also briefed by Dr. Omri Sender, Partner and Chair of Public International Law Practice at S. Horowitz & Co., as well as the IDF’s International Law Department, to better understand the legal implications of the military campaign against Hamas.
World Jewish Congress Chief Marketing Officer Sara Friedman, who headed up the group, emphasized the initiative’s significance. “This mission is crucial not only for understanding the complexities of Israeli law, but also for exploring the profound impacts of the October 7 Hamas massacre on the legal system and the laws of war,” said Friedman.
“By bringing together the bright minds in the field of legal education, we aim to foster a long-term commitment to upholding human rights and addressing antisemitism through informed, impactful advocacy,” she added.
The group held additional meetings with professors at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, NGO Monitor’s Gerald Steinberg, and Yana Naftalieva, president of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS).
The World Jewish Congress has facilitated numerous fact-finding missions to Israel since the October 7th attacks, including a delegation of 14 federal judges from the United States as well as groups of legal professionals.
