Special - Justice Under Occupation: Michael Sfard on Israel, Palestine, and International Law

In this episode, I speak with Michael Sfard, one of Israel’s most prominent human rights lawyers. As legal advisor to groups like Yesh Din and Peace Now, he has spent decades challenging Israel’s occupation policies — from settlement expansion and land grabs to military practices — often through Israel’s own courts.He is the author of The Wall and the Gate, a groundbreaking book exploring how law can both resist and entrench occupation. For Sfard, legal tools are no silver bullet — but they can delay injustice, document abuses, and carry symbolic weight.Sfard reflects critically on Germany’s crackdown on Palestinian solidarity, including restrictions on speech and protest. He warns of the dangers when dissent is silenced — whether in Israel or abroad.Guest: Michael SfardHost: Shai HoffmannListen, share, and subscribe.Produced by Gesellschaft im Wandel gGmbH and funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.Special thanks to OFEK: The Israeli Center for Public Affairs, Simon Eichinger (post-production), Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas (editorial support) and Jordi Kuragari (video), 🔗 LinksHaaretz (2018)972MagHaaretz (2025)Jewish Voice for Labour_________________________________________________________________________In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Michael Sfard, einem der führenden Menschenrechtsanwälte Israels. Er berät NGOs wie Yesh Din und Peace Now und hat zahlreiche Fälle zu Siedlungen, Enteignungen und Militärrecht vor Gericht gebracht.Wir sprechen über Völkerrecht, internationale Gerichte, die schrumpfende Zivilgesellschaft in Israel und Deutschlands Umgang mit all dem. Sfard erklärt, warum juristische Arbeit trotz Rückschlägen weiter wichtig bleibt — und was ihm Hoffnung gibt.Mit Dank an OFEK, Jordi Kuragari, Simon Eichinger, Lea Volz & 365 Sherpas