Concord - Research Center for the Interplay between International Norms and Israeli Law

<body> <img src="images/simpleLogo.gif"> The Research Center for the Harmonization between International Norms and Israeli Law, the College of Management, Academic Studies. The Center is designed to organize and conduct research and engage in a variety of related academic activities on the interplay between international and Israeli standards. </p> <p align="justify" class="text">The current era is characterized by globalization and the concomitant intensification of the legal intercourse between members of the international community. The growing interest in international law, in general, and the expanded role of international legal instruments and institutions, in particular, serves as a vehicle to promote greater international cooperation and increased acceptance of universal goals and values. One of the major elements on the road towards greater international legal harmony and the introduction of an “international rule of law”, concerns the relations between international and national law. The ability of the former to directly influence the lives of individuals and the conduct of public officials largely depends upon cooperation by the state and its willingness to incorporate international norms in the domestic legal system. Such cooperation might not always be forthcoming, if domestic laws and institutions pursue political and legal agendas and espouse values incompatible with those prescribed by international law. </p> <p class="text">The potential incompatibility between international and domestic standards is not unique to Israel. It is, however, particularly acute in Israel: While international customary law is automatically part of the Israel legal system, international treaties do not automatically become part of the law of the land and need to be incorporated through specific acts of legislation. This, alas, does not always occur, sometimes on purpose, but more often due to oversight. At the same time, Israel denies neither the importance of international law, nor the potential benefits ensuing from behavior according to its standards, and accepts, albeit at times reluctantly, that international law provides important insights and solutions to many of its current problems. Still, the implication of international law being binding in Israeli law – both treaty and customary law – is not fully understood by many in Israel and it is crucial that the extent of the incompatibility between the legal systems be explored. </p> <span class="text"> <p>Concord was established in order to minimize divergences between international and Israeli law. In order to achieve this mission, Concord members engage primarily in research designed to identify systematic and occasional gaps between the two legal systems and to thereby serve as a focal point and as a catalyst for efforts to remedy the situation. Concord's founders envision the center as a hub of information on normative divergences between International and Israeli Law; as a delineator and evaluator of normative gaps; and as a unique non-political player, capable of promoting greater congruence between international and national law. The founders of Concord all share not only a vision but also a commitment to bring their academic research to bear on the public discourse. <br> <a href="missionsAndGoals.htm">Our Missions and Goals</a><br> <a href="canorBio.htm">Canor</a><br> <a href="franckBio.htm">Franck</a><br> <a href="chazournesBio.htm">Chazournes</a><br> <a href="hirschBio.htm">Hirsch</a><br> <a href="lapidothBio.htm">Lapidoth</a><br> <a href="radayBio.htm">Raday</a><br> <a href="ratnerBio.htm">Rathner</a><br> <a href="activities.htm">Activities</a><br> <a href="bennaftaliBio.htm">Bennaftali</a><br> <a href="commentary.asp">Commentary</a><br> <a href="contactUs.htm">Contact Us</a><br> <a href="disclaimer.htm">Disclaimer</a><br> <a href="linksAcademicWebsites.asp">Academic websites</a><br> <a href="linksDatabases.asp">Databases</a><br> <a href="linksIntCourtsTribunals.asp">International Courts and Tribunals</a><br> <a href="linksIntOrganizations.asp">International Organizations</a><br> <a href="linksIsrWebsites.asp">Israeli Websites</a><br> <a href="main.asp">Concord</a><br> <a href="mccormackBio.htm">McCormack</a><br> <a href="mission.htm">Mission Statement</a><br> <a href="newsArchive.asp">Archive</a><br> <a href="researchAndPub.asp">Reaserch and Publications</a><br> <a href="ResearchProjectAbstract1.htm">Project Abscract</a><br> <a href="ResearchProjectAbstract2.htm">Project Abstract</a><br> <a href="sandsBio.htm">Sands</a><br> <a href="schermersBio.htm">Schermer</a><br> <a href="shanyBio.htm">Shany</a><br> <a href="thurerBio.htm">Thurner</a><br> <a href="weilerBio.htm">Weiler</a><br> <a href="sep_main.htm">Separation Barrier Case</a><br> </body>