Past Events

Federal Judge Roy Altman Visits GMU to Deliver Talk on the History of Israel in the Wake of October 7

Judge Roy Altman of the Southern District of Florida delivered a powerful talk on the history of the Jewish people, the founding of the state of Israel, and the various misconceptions surrounding Israel in the wake of October 7. The entire talk may be found here.

 

CMEIL Hosts Event on Religious Discrimination at the Temple Mount

June 14, 2022

The Temple Mount continues to draw international attention as a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The question of whether Jews should be permitted to worship at their holiest site is central to dispute. Many say that Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount amounts to a violation of the unwritten “status quo” at the site. We will examine the dispute in light of international law, especially with regards to international religious freedom. Are there well-regarded international precedents for human rights law tolerating the banning of worship by a particular religion? This event will feature commentary from Professor Brett Scharffs of Brigham Young University’s Reuben Clark Law School and Professor Eugene Kontorovich, Director of CMEIL.

CMEIL Hosts Conference on Turkish Population Transfers in Northern Syria

April 6, 2022

Turkey’s 2018 incursion into Syria garnered international attention, but what has occurred since hasn’t. Not only does Turkey occupy large swaths of Syrian territory, but it also has resettled thousands of people into areas it occupies and in ways that significantly affect the ethnic demographics of the region. This conference examined these possible population transfers from the perspective of international law. Featuring Professor Ryan Gingeras (Naval Postgraduate School), Aykan Erdemir (Foundation for the Defense of Democracies), Dr. Edy Cohen (Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies), Professor Chris Jenks (Southern Methodist University), Dr. Kurt Werthmuller (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom), and Professor Eugene Kontorovich (George Mason University, CMEIL). Panels moderated by Sally Alghazali (Scalia Law ’22) and Erielle Davidson (Associate Director of CMEIL). Both the abbreviated version and the extended version of the conference can be found here.

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EXTENDED VERSION:

 

CMEIL, in Conjunction with the George Mason International Law Journal (ILJ), Holds Panel on U.S. Recognition Policies

December 2021

On December 16, 2021, CMEIL and ILJ held a joint event to discuss the United States’ emerging approach to recognizing a state’s de jure sovereignty over a contested territory, particularly in the wake of U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. With introductions by ILJ’s Editor-in-Chief Sally Alghazali and moderated by CMEIL Director Professor Eugene Kontorovich, this panel featured insights from Professor Avi Bell (University of San Diego School of Law), Professor Julian Ku (Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law), and Professor Milena Sterio (Cleveland-Marshall College of Law).

 

 

CMEIL Holds Panel on the Constitutionality of Anti-BDS Laws

October 2021

In the past seven years, over thirty states have passed “anti-BDS laws.” These laws characterize boycotts of persons or companies based on their Israeli identity as a form of discrimination – and restrict state contracting or investment with companies that engage in such conduct. They have been challenged on Free Speech ground in several cases across the country. The Eight Circuit has recently heard arguments en banc on the issue, and its ruling will be the most significant judicial pronouncement on the issue.

On October 26, 2021, CMEIL hosted a panel to discuss the impending en banc decision. This panel, featuring Professor Amanda Shanor (University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School), Professor Eugene Volokh (UCLA Law School), and Seth Waxman (WilmerHale, former U.S. Solicitor General) debated the legal issues involved, with CMEIL’s Director Professor Eugene Kontorovich moderating.