Israel’s Land Theft Law Just Tip of Settlement Iceberg

by Haggai Matar The Knesset on Monday night passed the “formalization law” (also translated as the “normalization law”), which retroactively legalizes dozens of settlement outposts in the West Bank — almost 4,000 housing units. The law essentially formalizes settler theft… Continue Reading

The Litigious Society’s Latest Take on Terrorism

by Paul R. Pillar The recent passage by the U.S. Senate of a bill labeled the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act elicited cheers from those wanting to see any kind of significant bipartisan action in Congress. The bill is intended… Continue Reading

The Obama Administration Is Right to Reject the “Settlements=Israel” Conflation

by Lara Friedman Attention is finally focusing on a bill pending in Congress that would make it U.S. policy to defend and support Israeli settlements. Known as the Customs Bill, this legislation regulates U.S. trade relations with foreign countries and… Continue Reading

Crisis of Confidence: How Washington Lost Faith in America’s Courts

Reposted by arrangement with Tom Dispatch By Karen J. Greenberg As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the unexpected extent of the damage Americans have done to themselves and their institutions is coming into better focus.  The event that “changed… Continue Reading