Israel Int'l Human Rights

1 Credit · Level: Undergraduate

This course will focus on analyzing the main issues in the field of human rights in International relations and the challenges that the protection of human rights poses to the international community. It will examine Israel as a case study. We will discuss the evolution of the idea of human rights and the salient milestones in the development of the international human rights regime. We will review the establishment of the tribunals for war crimes, the International Criminal Court (ICC), universal jurisdiction, international humanitarian intervention, cultural relativism, and transitional justice. The course will address the rights of the Arab minority in Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank as well as the role of human rights organizations. Emphasis will be given to the recent decision by the ICC regarding Israel and the dilemma of protecting human rights while fighting terrorism. We will also examine the role of human rights in the foreign policies of Israel and the United States. The course will include discussions with Israeli human rights activists and the instructor will share his experiences in the field as an Israeli diplomat for over 40 years. The 1-credit course takes place from 9:30am - noon for the five Wednesdays in September (September 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29).