Foreign legalists to defend Israel abroad?

Foreign Ministry conference attended by 170 legal experts from 32 countries aims to fight de-legitimization against Jewish state

Itamar Eichner|Published: 08.30.10 , 11:44

Despite the strike and the distance from the media, the Foreign Ministry on Sunday opened a first-of-its-kind conference which included 170 legalists from 32 countries who arrived in Israel to discuss tactics to handle the de-legitimization being waged against the Jewish state.

Jerusalem hopes to recruit reputable legal experts from around the globe to help combat the growing criticism against Israel.

The conference's goal was to outline to the foreign legalists the issues Israel is facing in the filed of international law, and also to learn from them how to adapt the Israeli legal arguments to the international community.

The foreign guests are slated to meet with Supreme Court judges, military prosecution heads, ministers and Knesset members.

"The conference's participants have a great thirst for what is happening here, and they feel that the issues are too complex and lack the knowledge and understanding of the Israeli arguments and the legal complexities," said Daniel Taub, the Foreign Ministry's deputy legal advisor.

"This reflects the understanding that we need allies abroad," he added.

The Foreign Ministry is not hiding the fact that it hopes these legalists will become advocates of Israel after returning to their countries. "We are currently in the midst of an extensive and planned war of de-legitimization against Israel," said Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon on Sunday, opening the conference.

"Seekers of justice must unite and fight against the network of terror and its supporters."