The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel – founded in 2004 in order to protect the rights of residents of Gush Katif and northern Samaria in the wake of the Disengagement – is today at the forefront of the legal activism needed to protect the Zionist enterprise. The Forum’s small legal and administrative staff coordinates a very large range of projects in the field, with the support of an active volunteer membership numbering 370 legal professionals. With the help of these volunteers, the Forum’s in-house attorneys draft policy reports, lobby Knesset members, appeal Supreme Court rulings, and appear in the media.
The Forum has already had a significant impact. It has raised awareness of judicial bias, improved transparency in sensitive appointments, and helped to establish the precedents and procedures that are promoting a more appropriate level of judicial influence within Israeli democracy in order to ensure justice for all. Cooperating with officials from across the political spectrum and from the highest levels of government, the Forum does not simply respond to legal challenges – it pro-actively frames the conversation about Jewish rights, thereby creating a more resilient foundation for Israel’s long-term security.
