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{{Short description|Israeli lawyer and activist (born 1972)}}
[[File:מיכאל ספרד באולפן רדיו תל אביב.jpg|thumb|Michael Sfard]]
'''Michael Sfard''' ({{langx|he|מיכאל ספרד}}; born 1972) is an Israeli lawyer and political activist specializing in international [[human rights]] law and the laws of war. He has served as counsel in various cases on these topics in [[Israel]]. Sfard has represented a variety of [[Israelis|Israeli]] and [[Palestinian Arabs|Palestinian]] human rights and peace organizations, movements and activists at the [[Israeli Supreme Court]].<ref name=nyt20120727/><ref name=h-profile>{{cite news|title=Michael Sfard|url=http://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/michael-sfard-1.436147|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref>

==Life and work==
Michael Sfard was born in 1972 in the Rehov Brazil public housing complex in [[Kiryat HaYovel]], [[Jerusalem]].<ref name=jp20090918>{{cite news|title=Young Israelis of the year: Michael Sfard, 37: A lawyer and a gentleman|url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Article.aspx?id=155432|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=18 September 2009|author=Dan Izenberg}}</ref>

Sfard is the grandchild of Holocaust survivor [[Zygmunt Bauman]].<ref>Meron Rapoport, Michael Sfard, [https://www.972mag.com/israel-genocide-icj-michael-sfard/ 'Will the ICJ find Israel guilty of genocide?,'] [[+972 magazine]] 11 January 2024.</ref> His parents had been expelled from Poland for their involvement in the [[University of Warsaw]] student uprisings against the Communist Government in 1968.<ref name="NYTSfard">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/world/middleeast/in-israel-michael-sfard-fights-for-the-displaced.html |title=A Champion for the Displaced in Israel |last=Rudoren |first=Jodi |date=27 Jul 2012 |work=New York Times}}</ref><ref name="HaaretzBauman">{{Cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/polish-jewish-sociologist-compares-west-bank-separation-fence-to-warsaw-ghetto-walls-1.381828 |title=Polish-Jewish Sociologist Compares West Bank Separation Fence to Warsaw Ghetto Walls |last=Frister |first=Roman |date=1 September 2011 |work=Haaretz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4468424,00.html |title=Lawyer Michael Sfard is effective voice for Palestinians |date=23 December 2013 |work=Ynet |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> When he was five, his family moved to an apartment building in [[Ma'alot Dafna]] that was home to many journalists.<ref name=jp20090918/><ref name=jv/>

Sfard completed a law degree ([[LLB]]) at [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]].<ref name=LoA>{{cite web|title=List of Attorneys|url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/jerusalem/328666/acs/attorney-list-2012.pdf|publisher=U.S. Consulate General, Jerusalem|page=6|date=July 2012}}</ref>

He was a reservist for the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] (IDF) in the [[Gaza Strip]] while at law school.<ref name=forward0512>{{cite news|title=Lone Lawyer Battles Illegal Settlements|author=Nathan Jeffay|url=http://forward.com/articles/155677/lone-lawyer-battles-illegal-settlements/?p=all|newspaper=Forward|date=6 May 2012}}</ref> He served in the [[Nahal Brigade]] of the IDF, mostly in Lebanon, as a military paramedic.<ref name=nyt20120727/><ref name=jv>{{cite web|title=Interview with Michael Sfard|url=http://www.justvision.org/portrait/99695/interview|publisher=[[Just Vision]]}}</ref> According to Sfard, before his reserve duty in Gaza, he believed "left-wing soldiers" should agree to patrol the Palestinian territories "to stop bad things from happening" rather than be conscientious objectors.<ref name=forward0512/>

While serving in Gaza his views changed, and in a later reservist session, Sfard became a conscientious objector and spent three weeks in military prison due to his refusal to serve as escort for Israeli settlers in [[Hebron]].<ref name=nyt20120727/><ref name=forward0512/><ref name=Kidron2004>{{cite book|title=Refusenik!: Israel's Soldiers of Conscience|year=2004|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1842774519|author=Peretz Kidron|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781842774519/page/83 83]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781842774519/page/83}}</ref> He was released from the army in 1994 and attended a course on Jewish-Arab encounters at [[Neve Shalom]]. He started his legal apprenticeship with [[Avigdor Feldman]] in 1998 and worked with him for several years as an attorney.<ref name=jv/>

In 2000, Sfard and his wife moved to [[London]] so that he could pursue a master's degree, but he says it was also "to get away" from Israel.<ref name=jv/><ref name=forward0512/> He studied international human rights law, "discovered the subject [he] wanted to work in" and returned the following year having decided that emigration from Israel was "a tragedy".<ref name=jv/><ref name=forward0512/>

He completed his [[Master of Laws]] at [[University College London]].<ref name=LoA/> Shortly after Sfard returned, he attended the first conference of the group [[Courage to Refuse]], "saw 200 people who thought and felt like [he] did", and decided to be an activist.<ref name=jv/> In early 2004, Sfard opened his own office in [[Tel Aviv]].<ref name=forward0512/>

Sfard has described [[Shulamit Aloni]] as a "major influence" who introduced him through her activities to the world of human rights in Israel.<ref name=jv/>

Sfard's has expressed his views on the role the [[Mass Media|media]] play in his work. He feels that "the media are an important part of the work. They are a tool." In addition, he said that media can influence or create the debate. But, he also said that "I, as any lawyer, have a fear of cameras entering the sanctified zone between the lawyer and the client."<ref name=jv/>

Articles by Sfard have been published by ''[[Haaretz]]'',<ref name=h-ms1>
*{{cite news|title=Either High Court, or House of Lords|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/either-high-court-or-house-of-lords-1.169810|newspaper=Haaretz|date=14 September 2005|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=Welcome to year 41|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/welcome-to-year-41-1.247234|newspaper=Haaretz|date=5 June 2008|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=The legal tsunami is on its way|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-legal-tsunami-is-on-its-way-1.358758|newspaper=Haaretz|date=29 April 2011|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=In his father's name|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/in-his-father-s-name-1.377528|newspaper=Haaretz|date=8 August 2011|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=Occupation double-speak|url=http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/occupation-double-speak.premium-1.435982|newspaper=Haaretz|date=12 June 2012|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=Occupation no more|url=http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/occupation-no-more-1.450251|newspaper=Haaretz|date=10 July 2012|author=Michael Sfard}}
*{{cite news|title=Israel's crackdown on UN aid organization part of an assault on democracy|url=http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/israel-s-crackdown-on-un-aid-organization-part-of-an-assault-on-democracy-1.453430|newspaper=Haaretz|date=25 July 2012|author=Michael Sfard}}
</ref> ''[[The Independent]]''<ref name=i-ms1>{{cite news|title=Michael Sfard: Laws of conflict do not allow for killing civilians in this way|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/michael-sfard-laws-of-conflict-do-not-allow-for-killing-civilians-in-this-way-1887631.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/michael-sfard-laws-of-conflict-do-not-allow-for-killing-civilians-in-this-way-1887631.html |archive-date=2022-05-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent|date=3 February 2010|author=Michael Sfard}}</ref> and ''[[The Observer]]''.<ref name=o-ms1>{{cite news|title=Why Israel's 'seruvniks' say enough is enough|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/19/1|newspaper=The Observer|date=19 May 2002|author=Michael Sfard}}</ref>

Sfard is the grandson of [[sociology|sociologist]] [[Zygmunt Bauman]] and writer [[Janina Bauman]] on his mother's side and of [[Polish communism|Communist]] [[Yiddish]] author David Sfard and Cinema Studies Professor Regina Dreyer on his father's side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/924674.html|title=Interview with Zygmunt Bauman}}</ref> His father Leon is a mathematician and his mother [[Anna Sfard]] is a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Education at the [[University of Haifa]].<ref>[https://www.msu.edu/~sfard/ Anna Sfard]</ref>

===Legal activities===
Sfard has represented a variety of [[Israelis|Israeli]] and [[Palestinian Arabs|Palestinian]] human rights and peace organizations, movements and activists at the [[Israeli Supreme Court]].<ref name=h-profile/> His clients are "mostly Palestinians who live in the West Bank and need permits to come into Israel."<ref name=nyt20120727/>

According to the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'', he has brought many cases to challenge the [[Israeli-occupied territories|Israeli occupation]] of the Palestinian territories, represented hundreds of Israeli soldiers who have refused to serve, with the work mostly being financed "by Israel's premier left-wing nonprofit organizations, which in turn are financed in part by European governments".<ref name=nyt20120727/> Sfard and his law office provide legal counsel for [[Yesh Din]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yesh-din.org/geninfo.asp?gencatid=16|title=Yesh Din Website}}</ref> Sfard is legal counsel for [[Peace Now]].<ref name=forward0512/><ref>[http://peacenow.org/entries/peace_nows_lawyer_on_israels_illegal_outpost_policy Peace Now's Lawyer on Israel's Illegal Outpost Policy], peacenow.org; accessed 9 June 2017.</ref>

Cases which Sfard has handled include:
* Sfard filed a petition on behalf of a group of Israeli Human Rights organizations against the IDF decision to reduce the size of the humanitarian "safety zone" during bombardments of Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phr.org.il/.../ENP%20submission%202011%20PHR-Israel.doc|title=Gaza Petition}}</ref>
* Sfard has litigated a case on behalf of the Israeli human rights organization [[HaMoked|Hamoked]], against the "permit system" which governs the area between the [[Separation barrier#Israel|separation fence]] and the [[1949 Armistice Agreements|1949 armistice line]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hamoked.org.il/items/7090.pdf|title=Text of Speech about Separation Barrier Case}}</ref>
* Sfard represented [[Peace Now]] in a petition against settlement outposts. Sfard litigated the case for the demolition of nine houses built illegally on Palestinian private land, in the outpost known as "[[Amona, Mateh Binyamin|Amona]]"<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Izenberg |first1=Dan |last2=Lazaroff |first2=Tovah |date=25 November 2008 |title=Palestinians petition to dismantle Amona |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/palestinians-petition-to-dismantle-amona |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>. He also litigated the case n which Peace Now demands to evacuate an outpost called "[[Migron, Mateh Binyamin|Migron]]".<ref name=ap20081104>{{cite news|title=Government proposes relocating Migron outpost to Adam settlement|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/government-proposes-relocating-migron-outpost-to-adam-settlement-1.256573|newspaper=Haaretz|date=4 November 2008|agency=The Associated Press}}</ref>
* A case involving the [[International Solidarity Movement]]'s [[Brian Avery (activist)|Brian Avery]], who was wounded during the course of his activities in [[Jenin|Jenin.]] Avery was injured in the head by IDF soldiers. Avery accepted a settlement for NIS 600,000 (US$150,000) from the state of Israel in exchange for dropping the lawsuit. Shlomo Lecker was his Israeli lawyer and Sfard represented him as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Izenberg |first=Dan |date=20 September 2006 |title=Court to hear petition on Avery shooting |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/court-to-hear-petition-on-avery-shooting |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>
* Sfard and co-counsel Carmel Pomerantz, represented 17 [[Bedouin]], who lived near [[Beer Sheva]], claiming the land they were on, including [[Al-Araqeeb]], belonged to them rather than to the State of Israel. The judge ruled in favor of the State saying that the land was not "assigned to the plaintiffs, nor held by them under conditions required by law" and that they still had to "prove their rights to the land by proof of its registration in the [[Tapu (Ottoman law)|Tabu]]". Furthermore, the judge said that the Bedouin knew they were supposed to register, but didn't, saying "although the complainants are not entitled to compensation, it has been willing to negotiate with them…it is a shame that these negotiations did not reach any agreement." The court ordered the Bedouins to pay legal costs of NIS 50,000.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=262501 Court rejects 6 Beduin Negev land lawsuits], jpost.com; accessed 9 June 2017.</ref>
* Defense of Jonathan (Yoni) Ben Artzi who refused to enlist for military service.<ref>{{Cite web |others=International Federation for Human Rights, World Organisation Against Torture |title=Israel: Conscientious Objection Tackled by Military Justice, Ben Artzi Trial (7 - 10 October 2003) |url=https://www.refworld.org/reference/countryrep/ifhr/2003/en/49166 |website=Refworld}}</ref> Ben Artzi considered himself a pacifist and total conscientious objector and therefore objected to serving in the army in any capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGreal |first=Chris |date=11 March 2003 |title='I realised the stupidity of it' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/11/israel |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Reception==
''The New York Times'' described Sfard as "the left’s leading lawyer in Israel".<ref name=nyt20120727>{{cite news|title=A Champion for the Displaced in Israel|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/world/middleeast/in-israel-michael-sfard-fights-for-the-displaced.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&|newspaper=The New York Times|date=27 July 2012|author=Jodi Rudoren}}</ref>

The [[New America (organization)|New America Foundation]] described Sfard as "Israel's pre-eminent legal expert on settlements and the challenges posed by the broader infrastructure of Israeli occupation to the daily life of Palestinians, to the two-state solution, to American policy and to Israel's democracy" and "Israel's most respected human rights lawyer".<ref name=naf20090715>{{cite web|title=Settlements and the Occupation: An Israeli Legal Perspective|url=http://www.newamerica.net/events/2009/settlements_and_occupation|publisher=[[New America Foundation]]|date=15 July 2009}}</ref>

In 2011, a settler from [[Kiryat Arba]] was indicted after calling for his assassination in an Internet posting.<ref name=nyt20120727/>

Israeli [[Knesset]] Member [[Danny Danon]] of the right-wing [[Likud]] party accused Sfard of "trying to bypass democracy" through promoting ideas in the Israeli "legal system because his ideas are not welcome in Israeli society."<ref name="forward0512" />

[[Gerald Steinberg]], president of [[NGO Monitor]], said that Sfard "sees the courts as the way to force the changes that he perceives as necessary for Israel, [b]ut he doesn't convince the Israeli public. In any democratic process, you can't use just the legal system to impose an ideology."<ref name=nyt20120727/>

Naftali Balanson, Managing Editor of NGO Monitor, said Sfard "is at the center of the NGO industry that exploits the rhetoric of human rights in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict."<ref name=forward0512/>

==Books==
*[[Dov Khenin|Dov Hanin]], Michael Sfard, [[Sharon Rotbard]], editors, The Refusenik Trials: The Military Prosecution of Hagai Matar, Matan Kaminer, Noam Bahat Shimri Tsameret, Adam Maor. The Military Prosecution of Yonatan Ben-Artzi, Babel, 2004.
*''The Last Spy'' (2007), the biography of the Soviet spy [[Marcus Klingberg]], written by Klingberg with Sfard.<ref name=h20071025>{{cite news|title=Not afraid to go all the way|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/not-afraid-to-go-all-the-way-1.231923|newspaper=Haaretz|date=25 October 2007|author=Yitzhak Laor}}</ref>
*''Homa v'mehdal'' (English title ''The Wall of Folly'') (2008), about the [[West Bank barrier]], written by Reserves Brigadier General [[Shaul Arieli]] and Sfard.<ref name=h20080605>{{cite news|title=Waste not, wall not|url=http://www.haaretz.com/waste-not-wall-not-1.247322|newspaper=Haaretz|date=5 June 2008|author=Shuki Sadeh}}</ref>
*''The Wall and the Gate: Israel, Palestine, and the Legal Battle for Human Rights'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3TN9K2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1|title=The Wall and the Gate: Israel, Palestine, and the Legal Battle for Human Rights|date=23 January 2018}}</ref>
*''The ABC of the OPT: A Legal Lexicon of the Israeli Control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory (2018).'' Written by Orna Ben-Naftali, Michael Sfard, Hedi Viterbo. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316661376.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite news|title=Interview: Michael Sfard, the Israeli lawyer battling illegal settlements|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/World/Middle-East/2012/0517/Interview-Michael-Sfard-the-Israeli-lawyer-battling-illegal-settlements|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=17 May 2012|author=Ben Lynfield}}
*{{Twitter|id=sfardm|name=Michael Sfard}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sfard, Michael}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Israeli lawyers]]
[[Category:Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of University College London]]
[[Category:Activists from Jerusalem]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Jerusalem]]
[[Category:Israeli soldiers]]

Michael Sfard - Revision history

imported>Citation bot: Altered others. Add: authors 1-1. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Jay8g | Category:CS1 maint: extra punctuation | #UCB_Category 3/4