June 28th, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA—Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) and the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) announces its upcoming mission of legal scholars to Israel, set to take place from July 3-10, 2016.
This year’s delegation includes: Daniel Abebe (University of Chicago Law School); Laurie Blank (Emory University School of Law); Geoffrey Corn (South Texas College of Law); Maxine Goodman (South Texas College of Law); Jonathan Hafetz (Seton Hall University School of Law); Kristine A. Huskey (James E. Rogers College of Law – University of Arizona); Eric Jensen (The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University); Julian Ku (The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University); Peter Margulies (Roger Williams Law School); Margaret E. McGuiness (St. John’s University School of Law); David Moore (The J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University); David Sloss (Santa Clara University School of Law); Ilya Somin (Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University); Ryan Vogel (Utah Valley University). Also accompanying the law deans to Israel will be Lauri Regan (White Case, LLP), a member of the SPME Board of Directors, and Alyza D. Lewin (Lewin & Lewin, LLP; President, AAJLJ).
Both SPME and AAJLJ are dedicated to fostering and strengthening academic ties between the U.S. and Israel, something the organizations believe is critical to combating the growing anti-Israel/anti Semitic sentiment found on many campuses throughout North America. Additionally, since the assaults against Israel on campuses and elsewhere frequently now involve calls for boycotts, divestments, and sanctions, as well as lawfare and other legal tactics for weakening and marginalizing Israel in the world community, both organizations believe that legal training can, and should, include familiarity with the Israeli legal system.
“Participants in the trip will meet with Arab and Jewish members of Israel’s judiciary, including a Justice of the Israeli Supreme Court, members of Israel’s parliament, and leading international law scholars from Israel’s Justice Ministry, Foreign Ministry and military. In addition, the delegation will visit Israel’s northern border, the border with Gaza, Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv-Jaffa, and will see examples of Israel’s high tech industry. ” said Alyza Lewin, President of AAJLJ. “The program will also include visits to points of historical, cultural, and religious interest throughout Israel.”
“Overall,” said Asaf Romirowsky, Executive Director of SPME, “it is hoped that this mission will provide the participants with a deeper understanding of Israel, and its surrounding, sometimes dangerous, neighborhood —not only from a legal perspective, but also through its religious, political, economic, social, and geographical dimensions, all while gaining a fuller appreciation for why Israel’s democracy is one state in the Middle East where the rule of law is both evident and thriving.”
“This innovative and productive visit is designed to increase awareness and understanding in American law schools of the Israeli legal system and to foster relationships between legal academics in the United States and their counterparts in Israel,” said Dr. Richard L. Cravatts, president of SPME. “Based on previous missions, these relationships have already generated collaborative programs between American law schools and Israeli legal institutions, and we expect that this third mission will result in the same productive collaboration and common understanding.”
For further information please contact:
Asaf Romirowsky, PhD at Aromirowsky@spme.org
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
or
Alyza Lewin, Esq at alyza@lewinlewin.com
American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
