International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists

The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (IJL) is an international professional association established in 1969 for lawyers, judges, judicial officers, and academic jurists who support its legal and human-rights objectives. Although the organization focuses particularly on matters affecting Jewish communities and the State of Israel, membership is open to legal professionals of all faiths who share its aims. The association presents its work as a combination of legal advocacy, professional cooperation, public education, and international engagement. Its stated objectives include advancing human rights, strengthening the rule of law, preventing war crimes, bringing war criminals to justice, opposing weapons of mass destruction, and encouraging compliance with international treaties and conventions. It also gives special attention to combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and efforts to delegitimize or eliminate the State of Israel. IJL was founded by prominent legal and public figures including Haim Cohn, who served as Israel's attorney general and later as a Supreme Court justice; Arthur Goldberg, a former United States Supreme Court justice and United States ambassador to the United Nations; and René Cassin, the French jurist and human-rights advocate who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968 for his contribution to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These origins gave the association a distinctly international and institutionally oriented character. A central part of IJL's international role is its special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Through this status, its representatives may participate in discussions involving UN bodies and related forums. The association has been particularly active around the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, where it has addressed issues involving human rights, antisemitism, Israel, and allegations it considers legally or factually unfounded. The association also undertakes litigation-related and policy activities. Past initiatives described by IJL materials have included legal efforts connected with terrorist financing, proceedings involving Iranian officials, attempts to counter universal-jurisdiction cases against Israeli officials, and advocacy concerning antisemitic publications and incitement. Its work is generally framed as legal advocacy rather than commercial service delivery. It has also organized international conferences and commemorative events, including programs relating to Jewish lawyers and jurists persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust. In 2019, IJL established the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism. The center was created in response to the association's assessment that antisemitic hostility was increasing internationally. Led by Adv. Avraham Yishai, it seeks to provide a legal channel for documenting, reporting, and challenging anti-Jewish hatred and to connect people and organizations engaged in that work across countries. IJL publishes Justice Magazine, which covers legal, human-rights, and current-affairs topics for an international readership of lawyers and jurists. The association's executive committee, board, and president serve voluntarily. Its leadership has included Israeli judges, government lawyers, and private practitioners, as well as internationally connected legal professionals. The current president identified in the supplied reference material is Adv. Meir Linzen. The association remains an advocacy and professional network rather than a listed company, commercial brand, or corporate group.

The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists was founded in 1969 during a period when international legal institutions were becoming increasingly important to debates over human rights, war crimes, state responsibility, and the protection of minorities. Its founding circle included jurists with experience in national courts, government, diplomacy, international organizations, and human-rights work. Haim Cohn represented Israel's legal establishment, Arthur Goldberg brought experience from the United States Supreme Court and the United Nations, and René Cassin contributed the authority of a leading European human-rights jurist and principal figure associated with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From the beginning, IJL combined a universal legal vocabulary with a specifically Jewish agenda. Its stated mission encompasses human rights everywhere, prevention and punishment of war crimes, opposition to weapons of mass destruction, and international cooperation governed by law. At the same time, the association concentrates on antisemitism, Holocaust denial, racism, xenophobia, and challenges to the legitimacy or security of Israel. The organization describes these priorities as complementary: the protection of Jewish communities is pursued through legal principles that are intended to apply across national and ethnic boundaries. The association's membership is composed of lawyers, judges, judicial officers, and academic jurists. It is not restricted to Jewish professionals; rather, people of any faith may join if they support its purposes. Members and officers participate in local and international activity as issues arise. The president, board, and executive committee serve voluntarily, reinforcing the association's character as a professional and civic organization rather than a commercial enterprise. IJL obtained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This status provides a channel for participation in discussions involving UN institutions and allows the association to submit its views in relevant international settings. Its representatives have been particularly engaged with the Human Rights Committee in Geneva and related bodies. Over time, this international platform has been used to contest allegations the association regards as politically motivated or legally unsound, to raise concerns about antisemitism, and to advocate for human-rights protections. The association has also pursued legal initiatives outside the UN system. During Alex Hertman's presidency, IJL was involved in actions concerning organizations alleged to support or finance terrorism and in proceedings associated with Iran and Iranian officials. It also worked to counter efforts to arrest or prosecute Israeli officials in countries using universal-jurisdiction mechanisms. These activities reflected IJL's view that international law should be used both to prosecute serious crimes and to prevent politically selective legal proceedings. Leadership under Hadassa Ben-Itto placed particular emphasis on antisemitism and Holocaust denial. Ben-Itto, an Israeli judge and author of a major study of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, argued that legal systems should be able to restrict blatant racial incitement. During her tenure, IJL supported public and legal responses to Holocaust denial and other forms of anti-Jewish propaganda. Later leadership broadened the organization's work through conferences, international litigation, human-rights advocacy, and cooperation with Jewish and governmental institutions. The association has also maintained a commemorative and educational dimension. Together with Yad Vashem, it organized a ceremony in Hungary honoring Jewish lawyers and jurists who were barred from practicing and later murdered during the Holocaust. Its conferences in cities including London and Madrid have addressed Israel's legal system, international humanitarian law, and the legal justification of military conduct. Justice Magazine provides another vehicle for discussion, publishing material on legal and contemporary issues for an international readership. In 2019, IJL established the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism under the direction of Avraham Yishai. The center was intended to respond to the international growth of antisemitic hostility, including online activity, by connecting documentation, reporting, public advocacy, and potential legal remedies. Under president Meir Linzen, the association has continued to present itself as a legal arm for protecting Jewish communities while also asserting a broader commitment to human rights and the rule of law. It remains an active international professional association with no stock-market listing, corporate parent, or commercial product portfolio.

• 2019

  Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism established

  [2]International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists official websiteijl.org

  IJL created a specialized center to coordinate legal responses to antisemitism and hostility toward Jews worldwide.

• 2010

  Irit Kohn assumes leadership

  [1]International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristsen.wikipedia.org

  Irit Kohn, formerly responsible for international criminal matters in Israel's State Attorney's Office, led the association's legal and public activities.

• 2004

  Ben-Itto becomes honorary president

  [1]International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristsen.wikipedia.org

  After leaving the presidency, Hadassa Ben-Itto was elected honorary president.

• 1988

  Hadassa Ben-Itto begins presidency

  [1]International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristsen.wikipedia.org

  Ben-Itto began a long presidency focused on antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and legal responses to racial incitement.

• 1969

  Association founded

  [1]International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristsen.wikipedia.org

  The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists was established by an international group of prominent lawyers and jurists, including Haim Cohn, Arthur Goldberg, and René Cassin.

A global legal and human-rights advocacy network that combines professional cooperation with defense against antisemitism, Holocaust denial, terrorism, and perceived legal attacks on Jewish communities and Israel.

• Legal and human-rights publication

  Justice Magazine

  IJL's publication examines legal developments, human-rights questions, antisemitism, international affairs, and issues affecting Jewish communities and Israel. It is distributed to lawyers and jurists internationally and functions as an educational and professional communication channel rather than a commercial consumer product.

• Legal advocacy program · 2019

  Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism

  Established in 2019, the center is intended to act as a legal resource against antisemitic incitement and hostility. Its work includes connecting communities, documenting incidents, supporting reporting, and exploring legal responses to anti-Jewish activity in different jurisdictions.

• 2019Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism

  International · Online

  IJL launched a specialized initiative to respond to the reported rise of antisemitism worldwide and to build an international network for documenting and challenging anti-Jewish hostility.

  Outcome. The center became an ongoing component of IJL's advocacy work.

  Source
• Campaigns against Holocaust denial and antisemitic propaganda

  International

  Under Hadassa Ben-Itto and subsequent leaders, IJL pursued public and legal responses to Holocaust denial, fabricated antisemitic material, racial incitement, and efforts to normalize anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.

  Source
• Advocacy against universal-jurisdiction proceedings targeting Israeli officials

  United Kingdom · Spain · International

  During Alex Hertman's presidency, IJL worked to counter arrests and legal proceedings against Israeli officials in foreign jurisdictions and presented arguments concerning Israel's legal system and military conduct.

  Source
• Commemoration of Jewish lawyers and jurists murdered in Hungary

  Hungary

  IJL and Yad Vashem organized a ceremony honoring Hungarian Jewish legal professionals who were excluded from the profession and later murdered during the Holocaust.

  Outcome. The event brought together representatives of Hungary's legal institutions and supported historical remembrance.

  Source

• 2019

  Creation of a dedicated antisemitism legal centerStrategy

  Background

  IJL identified a need for a more focused response to increasing antisemitic activity across countries and on digital platforms.

  Action taken

  The association established the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism under Avraham Yishai.

  Aftermath

  The center became part of IJL's continuing international advocacy and community-coordination structure.

  Source

1. 1International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Juristsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists official websiteijl.org