Research and Report
ELSC Reports & Legal Analysis
Europe’s Proscription of Palestine Solidarity
This report documents how European governments instrumentalise counterterrorism measures to criminalise Palestine solidarity groups. Drawing on legal frameworks and case studies from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and France, it exposes a convergent pattern of repression to demobilise opposition to…
New Website With Overview of Ties Between Dutch Universities and Israel
Access the website here: https://academiccomplicity.nl DUTCH VERSION BELOW Joint Press Release by European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Stop Arms Trade, Solid Sustainability Research, The Rights Forum – Amsterdam, 7 June 2024 Relations with Israel’s military-industrial complex and Israeli human rights…
Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom in UK Higher Education: The Adverse Impact of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism
A new report reveals that the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism has restricted free speech in UK universities, silencing criticism of Israel and harming academic freedom, student wellbeing, and open discussion about Palestinian rights.
Suppressing Palestinian Rights Advocacy through the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
The ELSC’s new report reveals how the IHRA definition of antisemitism is weaponized to silence Palestinian rights advocacy, violating freedom of expression and assembly across the EU and UK. Read the full report here.
When the Notion of “Israel’s Right to Exist” is Used to Target Palestinian Rights Advocates with Unfounded Allegations: Expert Reports
UK-based organisation CAGE published two expert reports signed by leading scholars, Professor John Dugard SC [1] and Professor Avi Shlaim [2] on the notion of “Israel’s right to exist”. As observed in several cases of suppression of Palestinian rights advocacy,…
The European Commission “Handbook” Promoting the Controversial IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism: A Legal Analysis
On 7 January 2021, the European Commission (“EC”) published a “Handbook for the practical use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism” (hereafter: Handbook), notwithstanding the widespread criticism and concerns surrounding the International Holocaust Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism (hereafter:…
Can Data Protection Laws Prevent the Surveillance of Critical Voices in Germany?
European courts and national data protection authorities dealt with the so-called “journalistic exemption” rule when the Data Protection Directive, preceding the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’), came into force. The aim of this legal exemption is to relieve journalistic, academic,…
German Case Law: A Coherent Set of Principles for Challenging Anti-BDS Resolutions
In recent years, activists for Palestinian human rights in Germany have had to turn to the courts to defend their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly against their cities, which seek to impose the anti-BDS resolutions adopted by…
Legal Opinion on the Vienna anti-BDS Motion
The ELSC publishes a legal opinion on “The negative impact of the ‘anti-BDS motion’ adopted by the Vienna City Council on 27 June 2018 on the fundamental rights of freedoms of expression, association and assembly”, signed by renowned scholars Xavier…
The Attempt to Chill Palestinian Rights Advocacy in the Netherlands
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has, for the first time, documented attempts to suppress advocacy for Palestinian rights in the Netherlands. The report reveals how unfounded allegations of antisemitism and support for terrorism are used to silence human rights…