The following verdicts published in the last few days from various courts across Israel can provide an insight into the work done by members of the Legal Forum.
Three attorneys, members of the Forum achieved significant personal success in their private practices through methodical and determined legal work. These successes reflect the vision of the Legal Forum - creating a strategic change in the governmental authorities through the legal arena.
In the first case, the Jerusalem Magistrate Court acquitted a resident of Bet El who entered Area A in Judea and Samaria which is under Palestinian Rule, after it became clear that the IDF does not prevent Arab citizens from entering that same area since 2000. Attorney Yitzchak Bam represented the defendant, and argued that the travel ban for Jewish citizens is biased and racial. Judge Dov Pollack who presided over the case determined that “The military order which prevents Jews from entering this area is discriminatory and violates the principle of justice and equality and the court will not punish victims of this discrimination”.
The second case set a precedent when a military court sentenced terrorist Ali Saada to two life sentences and another 58 years for the murder of Asher and Yonatan Palmer in 2011, and for a string of security offences. In addition, the judge awarded to the victims’ family punitive damages the amount of 3.5 million NIS. Attorney Adrian Agassi, a member of the Legal Forum represented the Palmer family, and due to attorney Agassi’s thorough reading of the security law he was able to present the case successfully which resulted in the unprecedented verdict. It should be noted that Israeli civilian courts in similar cases are capped in granting punitive damages beyond NIS 200,000.
In the third case attorney Avi Har Zahav represented Rabbis from the Binyamin Region who filed a libel lawsuit against Yossi Even Kama a former student at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, who in 2010 displayed an exhibition portraying an imaginary future in which Israel’s political and religious right stages a violent revolution and takes over the country, creating the “state of Judah” in its place. During the revolution as portrayed by Even-Kama, the religious right incites to civil war and carries out bombings in which dozens are killed, and Even Kama included the names of several Rabbis in the display and attributed to them calls to murder Jews who do not follow the Torah law. The court awarded the plaintiffs damages and ordered Even Kama and the College to pay court costs and attorney fees. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138739
These three cases reflect the legal activity of members of the Legal Forum which challenge the systems with professional tools and are an example of the work which must continue to be advanced in order to create real change within the judicial system.
