Tracking Lawfare
FMEP’s research and documentation on the campaign to exploit U.S. laws and courts to quash American activism for Palestinian rights.
What is “lawfare”?
Lawfare seeks to exploit U.S. laws and courts to quash criticism and activism challenging Israeli policies, to delegitimize Palestinian organizations and the Palestinian cause, and to undermine and even criminalize support for and/or solidarity with the Palestinian people. FMEP President Lara Friedman has been researching and documenting lawfare efforts related to Israel-Palestine for years. Read her overview of this phenomenon in The University of the Pacific Law Review or dig into the results of her research—in the form of regularly updated databases, reports, analyses, and op-eds—below.
New
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Targeting Free Speech & Redefining Antisemitism
Lara Friedman's article in The University of the Pacific Law Review documenting the origins, strategies, forces behind, and impact of efforts to harness U.S. laws to the cause of attacking and suppressing Palestinian activism and solidarity. Learn More
Research Data
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Anti-Boycott Legislation - Israel/Palestine
Data tables containing all legislation and executive orders targeting boycotts of Israel and/or settlements that have been introduced since 2014. Includes info about what passed/failed, what they target, and related media and commentary. Learn More
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Defining Criticism of Israel as Antisemitism
Data tables containing all legislation and executive orders which seek to define legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitism that have been introduced since 2016. Learn More
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Lawfare Constitutionality Issues: Expert Views
Expert opinion/analysis regarding constitutionality/free speech concerns raised by lawfare efforts, including details of court challenges to anti-boycott laws.
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Challenging the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism – Expert Views & Resources
A compendium of expert views and other resources laying out concerns/objections to the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Learn More
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Lawfare/IHRA - Targeting Academia
Data table containing information on complaints and lawsuits seeking to delegitimize and stifle Palestine-related free speech and activism on US campuses. Learn More
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Lawfare-Related Research & Data - Other Organizations
Links to important and valuable work by other organizations.
Podcasts & Events
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The "Occupied Thoughts" Podcast and FMEP-Sponsored Webinars
Find all episodes of the "Occupied Thoughts" podcast, and watch recordings of FMEP events, which discuss lawfare.
Commentary & Analysis
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Targeting Free Speech & Redefining Antisemitism
Lara Friedman's article in The University of the Pacific Law Review documenting the origins, strategies, forces behind, and impact of efforts to harness U.S. laws to the cause of attacking and suppressing Palestinian activism and solidarity. Learn More
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Op-eds & Commentary from FMEP Staff
A collection of all of FMEP's published commentary and op-eds relating to lawfare.