[This is the second post in my series on my mission to Israel. Part 1 is here.]
I'll put my cards on the table. I've long had a cynical perspective of international law. I was completely unmoved by the notion that foreign tribunals, with systems of government completely alien to our own, could establish "norms" and "customary" international law. I always saw international law as a ruse for progressive lawyers to give their policy preferences the patina of some sort of quasi-binding law. My mission to Israel has reinforced that perspective in ways I could not have even fathomed.
The World Jewish Congress, to its credit, did an admirable job in lining up a series of legal experts from across the spectrum. We met with, among others, a former Attorney General, a Dean of an Israeli law faculty, two Israeli military lawyers (known as Military Advocate General, or MAG), a lawyer at an NGO working on returning the hostages, a lawyer who participates in proceedings before the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, and more. All of these jurists provided a thorough overview of how international law operates with regard to Israel. They also entertained all of my questions, even some that were a bit hostile. I was thankful for this opportunity. My conclusion: the primary effect, if not purpose, of international law, is to use lawfare to punish Israel, and by extension, the United States. If you're bothered by that statement, please stop reading.
