Location: Europe Reports to: Executive Director Line Management: Senior Legal Officers – currently five in various locations across Europe Contract: Full-time, with flexible working available Salary Package:
€57,894 – €60,000 per year, depending on experience
€2,000 End of Year Bonus
€750 Staff Support Fund and support with home working equipment Start Date: 1 April 2025, or as soon as possible
How to Apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Chief Legal Officer.”
Deadline: February 28, 2025
About the European Legal Support Centre
The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) is an initiative of the Palestinian NGO Network, comprising 200 Palestinian civil society organisations, developed in response to the widespread repression in Europe of advocacy for Palestinian rights. Founded in January 2019, we provide free legal advice and assistance to individuals who face unjust smears, disciplinary investigations, criminal sanctions, and other repressive measures aimed at shrinking the space for Palestinian rights advocacy in mainland Europe and Britain.
We are movement lawyers. In every case we take on, we are accountable not only to the individual client but also to our civil society partners; and we work hand in hand with local stakeholders in the movement, from trade unions to civil liberties groups. We aim to defend and empower the movement to organise for justice without fear of repression.
We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, or social class. We particularly welcome applications from Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora. ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.
Main Purpose of the Role
As the Chief Legal Officer, you will coordinate and oversee the legal strategy, caseload, and be the Department Head of the ELSC Legal Department. The role is a senior management level role and will join the Executive Management Committee. You will line-manage the Senior Legal Officers who coordinate the ELSC work teams: Germany, The Netherlands, Britain, Europe, and Crimes and Complicity Work Teams.
You will convene and lead the Senior Legal Committee and Legal Department meetings. The role will supervise and drive the implementation of an ambitious 2025 Sectors of Repression Strategy for each work team. You will maintain legal strategy alignment and connection across work teams by attending work team meetings where necessary, identifying gaps in resources, and connecting legal officers with external partners and legal networks.
Required Experience and Skills
Three years executive management and line-management experience of legal staff.
Four years experience as a practicing lawyer/solicitor/barrister in a relevant jurisdiction (The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, England and Wales).
Law degree (LLB) and/or Master’s (LLM) in a relevant jurisdiction.
Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions, and counsel, preferably within a law firm or an NGO specialising in strategic litigation.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.
An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives.
Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics, and civil society organisations.
Highly organised with strong attention to detail, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
Other Requirements
Willingness to travel and work occasional out-of-business hours as needed.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities.
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to the well-being of the staff.
Excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft packages.
Knowledge and understanding of the Palestinian solidarity movement and of movement lawyering.
Desirable Experience and Skills
Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.
Job Description
Oversee and lead the ELSC Legal Department.
Line-manage Senior Legal Officers.
Member of the Executive Management Committee.
Supervise the implementation of the Sectors of Repression Strategy for each work team.
Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal networks, partners, and experts.
Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.
Attend online work team meetings where necessary.
Maintain legal strategy alignment and connection across work teams by identifying understaffed areas and providing them with the appropriate resources.
Where necessary, meet in-person with team members in Amsterdam, London, and Berlin offices.
Facilitate a yearly in-person departmental retreat for the ELSC Legal Department.
Convene and lead the Senior Legal Committee and Legal Department Meetings.
Support Senior Legal Officers to undertake comprehensive risk assessment of campaigns and cases.
Maintain a comprehensive overview of the legal work using the ELSC Case Management System (CMS) and prepare reports for the ELSC Board where necessary.
Facilitate exchanges between work teams on similar legal matters.
Review legal opinions, notes, memos, and summaries in coordination with the Senior Legal Officers.
Maintain effective communication with each work team.
Application Process
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Chief Legal Officer.”
Deadline: February 28, 2025.
This position presents an opportunity to lead legal strategies at a pivotal time. We look forward to receiving your application.
Deadline to apply Applications are due by 10 February 2025
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
We are seeking motivated candidates to join our team as Junior Legal Officers for an initial period of one year. This role provides a unique opportunity to gain practical experience and contribute to our legal strategy under the guidance of experienced professionals.
At the conclusion of the first year of employment (March 2026), successful candidates must be available and willing to undertake a legal traineeship with an ELSC partner law firm in the Netherlands. This traineeship is a vital step towards meeting the qualifications required to become a fully licensed lawyer. The traineeship will span two years, culminating in a three-year pathway to full professional qualification.
This structured program is designed to provide candidates with comprehensive exposure to legal practice, equipping them with the skills and experience needed for a successful legal career.
Overall purpose for this role
To undertake a wide variety of paralegal tasks.
Coordinate incoming cases with the Advocacy and Communications Officer and the Monitoring Officer of the Netherlands work team.
Main duties and responsibilities
Case Management & Legal Research
Effectively manage the intake and referral of cases in coordination with the ELSC staff members in The Netherlands work team.
Ensure accurate information and instructions are obtained from clients and accurate records are maintained in the ELSC Case Management System.
Ensure documents and copies of correspondence are kept up to date and filed.
Case intake and closure.
Conduct legal research on relevant areas of law such as:
Employment law
Administrative law
Articles 10, 11, and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Draft legal documents and case summaries.
Liaise with Dutch lawyers in our network and coordinate referral of cases.
Ensure that urgent matters are escalated and referred to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
Communicate with clients/other parties as and when necessary, in a professional, respectful, and efficient manner.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Genuine interest in working with European Legal Support Centre and passionate about defending Palestinian solidarity and providing access to justice to all.
Good academic background with legal qualifications (recognised degree from a law school at an accredited Dutch University (WO) or an equivalent academic qualification acquired outside the Netherlands that has been recognised by the Dutch Orde van Advocaten); the candidate has the necessary requirements for starting a legal traineeship in a law firm, i.e. including civiele effect). For more information, see more here (in Dutch).
Previous experience in a legal firm, chambers and/or legal clinic or law centre.
Ability to manage own workload in a busy environment to a consistently high standard and timely manner.
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to client care.
Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders.
Experience with dealing with clients sensitively and managing difficult conversations.
Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment.
Proficient user of Microsoft Office Teams.
Proficiency in English and Dutch with excellent written and spoken communication skills in Dutch. English is the working language of the ELSC and fluency in Dutch is required by the Dutch Bar Association (Orde van Advocaten).
Desirable
Candidates who have completed a thesis on topics related to our work such as freedom of expression and principle of anti-discrimination under national/international law, data protection law, counter-terrorism legislations are encouraged to apply.
Previous professional/practical experience in a law firm/moot court experience or legal clinic would represent a strong asset.
Experience of being involved with campaigns, in grassroots or non-profit organizations.
Familiar with the Palestine solidarity network in the Netherlands.
Arabic speaking.
Understanding of movement lawyering.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and cover letter (max 2 pages) to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Junior Legal Officer – NL”
Deadline:10 February 2025
Vacature: Junior Legal Officer voor Nederland
Functie Junior Officer – NL Legal Officer
Locatie Amsterdam
Lijnmanager Chief Legal Officer
Fulltime
Salaris
9.3 – 9.5 Junior functies
€30,000 – €34,890 jaarlijks
€750 extra beschikbaar voor ondersteuning welzijn personeel
Assistentie voor benodigdheden om thuis te werken
Begindatum 1 maart 2025
Deadline om te solliciteren Uiterlijk 10 februari 2025
Belangrijkste doel van de functie
Wij zijn op zoek naar gemotiveerde kandidaten om ons team te versterken als Junior Legal Officer voor eerst een periode van één jaar. Deze functie biedt een unieke kans om praktische ervaring op te doen en bij te dragen aan onze juridische strategie onder begeleiding van ervaren professionals.
Na afloop van het eerste jaar (maart 2026) ben je beschikbaar en bereid om een legal traineeship te doen bij een advocatenkantoor en ELSC-partner in Nederland. Deze stage is een belangrijke stap op weg naar de kwalificaties die nodig zijn om advocaat te worden. De traineeship duurt twee jaar en dus zal je rol als Junior Legal Officer bij het ELSC een driejarig traject naar volledige beroepskwalificatie beslaan.
Dit gestructureerde programma is ontworpen om kandidaten uitgebreid kennis te laten maken met de juridische praktijk en hen uit te rusten met de vaardigheden en ervaring die nodig zijn voor een succesvolle juridische carrière.
Algemeen doel voor deze functie
Een grote verscheidenheid aan paralegal taken uitvoeren.
Inkomende zaken coördineren met de Advocacy and Communications Officer en de Monitoring Officer van het Nederlandse werkteam.
Belangrijkste taken en verantwoordelijkheden
Case-management & juridisch onderzoek
Effectief beheren van de intake en doorverwijzing van zaken in coördinatie met de ELSC-medewerkers van het Nederlandse werkteam.
Nauwkeurige informatie en instructies ophalen bij cliënten en het nauwkeurig bijhouden van dossiers in het ELSC Case Management System.
Ervoor zorgen dat documenten en kopieën van correspondentie worden bijgehouden en gearchiveerd.
Intake en afsluiting van zaken.
Juridisch onderzoek doen naar relevante rechtsgebieden zoals:
Arbeidsrecht
Bestuursrecht
Artikelen 10, 11 en 14 van het Europees Verdrag voor de Rechten van de Mens
Juridische documenten en zaaksamenvattingen opstellen.
Contact onderhouden met Nederlandse advocaten in ons netwerk en het doorverwijzen van zaken coördineren.
Ervoor zorgen dat urgente zaken tijdig worden geëscaleerd en doorverwezen naar de juiste persoon.
Communiceren met cliënten/andere partijen waar en wanneer nodig, op een professionele, respectvolle en efficiënte manier.
Vereiste ervaring en vaardigheden
Oprechte interesse in het werken met het European Legal Support Centre en een passie voor het verdedigen van solidariteit met Palestina en strijden voor rechtvaardigheid.
Goede academische achtergrond met juridische kwalificaties (erkend diploma van een rechtenfaculteit aan een geaccrediteerde Nederlandse universiteit (WO) of een buiten Nederland verworven gelijkwaardige academische kwalificatie die is erkend door de Orde van Advocaten; de kandidaat beschikt over de noodzakelijke vereisten voor het starten van een juridische stage bij een advocatenkantoor, d.w.z. inclusief civiel effect). Zie voor meer informatie hier.
Eerdere ervaring in een advocatenkantoor, advocatenkamer en/of juridische kliniek of rechtencentrum.
Het vermogen om de eigen werklast in een drukke omgeving te beheren en werk te leveren volgens een consistent hoge, tijdige standaard.
Aantoonbaar begrip en betrokkenheid bij de zorg voor cliënten.
Bewezen vermogen om nauwkeurig, duidelijk en beknopt te communiceren, zowel mondeling als schriftelijk met een breed scala aan cliënten en diverse belanghebbenden.
Ervaring met het omgaan met cliënten op een empathische, integere manier inclusief het voeren van moeilijke gesprekken.
Bewezen vermogen om te werken en bij te dragen in een teamomgeving.
Bekwame gebruiker van Microsoft Office Teams.
Goede beheersing van het Engels en Nederlands met uitstekende schriftelijke en mondelinge communicatievaardigheden in het Nederlands. Engels is de werktaal van het ELSC en beheersing van de Nederlandse taal wordt vereist door de Orde van Advocaten.
Gewenst
Kandidaten die een scriptie hebben afgerond over onderwerpen die verband houden met ons werk, zoals de vrijheid van meningsuiting en de beginselen van anti-discriminatie onder nationaal/internationaal recht, gegevensbeschermingswetgeving en antiterrorismewetgeving, worden aangemoedigd te solliciteren.
Eerdere professionele/praktische ervaring in een advocatenkantoor/rechtbank of juridische kliniek is een sterke troef.
Ervaring met campagnes in grassroots- of non-profitorganisaties.
Actief in de solidariteitsbeweging met Palestina in Nederland.
Beheersing van het Arabisch.
Begrip van movement lawyering.
Solliciteren
Stuur je CV en motivatiebrief (max 2 pagina’s) naar application@elsc.support met als onderwerpregel: “Junior Legal Officer – NL”
Employment Terms Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant
Salary Package
€36,000 – €38,000, depending on experience
€1,000 End of Year Bonus
€750 Staff Support (including assistance with home working equipment)
Start Date 1 March 2025
How to Apply Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support, with the subject line ‘Germany Monitor Officer’. Applications are due by 5 PM CET, Friday, 31 January 2024.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
This role supports the ELSC Monitoring & Research Department by:
Conducting mapping, outreach, and networking with relevant movement partners and stakeholders in Germany (NGOs, activists, lawyers, and academics).
Collaborating with the Monitoring Project Manager to oversee and coordinate data collection and storage for the Database of Repression.
Ensuring high-quality and coherent data collection and research.
The Monitoring and Research department documents and analyzes restrictive measures that create a “shrinking space” for civil society defending Palestinian Rights across Europe.
We are seeking a professional who can:
Ensure accuracy and detail in all collected information, reviewing data for errors.
Effectively supervise and line-manage volunteers and junior monitoring officers.
Assess specific research needs, demonstrate excellent networking skills, and work efficiently within a remote, pan-European team.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Proven ability to manage one’s own workload and time.
Experience managing collaborative research relationships with partner organizations.
Commitment to the Palestinian solidarity movement.
Strong administrative skills to manage projects.
Project management and leadership skills to oversee junior monitor officers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation abilities.
Language proficiency: Fluent in German, Arabic, and English.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Understanding of ELSC’s role and mission.
Experience in political campaigns, grassroots initiatives, or non-profit organizations.
Legal education background or familiarity with repressive policies.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Demonstrated commitment to ELSC’s aims and objectives.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities.
Willingness to travel and occasionally work unsocial hours.
Flexibility to adapt within the broad remit of the post.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Monitor Officer, Germany
MANAGEMENT
Line-manage Junior Monitor Officers to ensure efficient data collection, storage, and management of the incident reporting process for Germany.
Oversee the coordination of volunteers in Germany to conduct fieldwork and monitor social and mass media.
RESEARCH
Deliver monitoring and research objectives aligned with the broader goals of the ELSC Database Project.
Execute projects and research proposals tailored to the needs of the ELSC German Work Team (Legal, Advocacy, and Research).
Apply academic knowledge to research and external activities.
Write or contribute to research requests and publications, disseminating findings through appropriate media.
Assess, interpret, and evaluate research outcomes.
Communicate complex ideas to various audiences, from peers to those unfamiliar with the Palestinian solidarity movement.
Ensure the delivery of German research goals as agreed with the Monitoring Project Manager.
LIAISON AND NETWORKING
Actively collaborate within and outside the ELSC to deliver monitoring and research projects.
Develop connections with partner organizations, trade unions, activist groups, faith-based groups, and research bodies.
d cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line: “Junior Officer – DE Monitoring Officer.” Deadline: 24 January 2025
Job Title: Chief of Advocacy & Communications Department: Lead of the A&C Department Location: Europe or Britain Start Date: As soon as possible Reports to: Executive Management Committee
Line Management • A&C Officers for Germany, Britain, The Netherlands, Strategic Litigation • A&C Officer for the EU Team (starting 2025) • Senior Communication Officer (starting 2025)
Contract Full-time, with flexible working arrangements
How to Apply Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support, using the subject line ‘Chief of Advocacy & Communications’.
Application Deadline Applications are due by 09:00 CET on 22 Nov 2024.
Salary
• Scale: Level 11 – 11.2 • Range: €49,000 – €54,000 (dependent on experience) • Annual progression on the scale after each performance review • End-of-year bonus • Generous annual and additional leave policies • €750 well-being allowance • Assistance with home office equipment
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Chief of Advocacy and Communications (COA) is the department lead, responsible for implementing the ELSC Advocacy and Communications strategy. This role oversees the development and execution of advocacy and communications strategies across relevant work teams (Germany, Britain, Netherlands, Strategic Litigation, EU). The COA line-manages the A&C officers, provides strategic guidance, and is responsible for approving ELSC advocacy and communication materials. The COA reports to and is part of the Executive Management Committee, which includes each Department Lead (Legal, Operations, Development, Research & Monitor, Advocacy & Communications) and the Executive Director.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience with line management • Experience in campaigning, working with activist groups, grassroots or non-profit organisations, and Palestine solidarity or anti-colonial and anti-racist groups • Experience in convening coalitions and networks, building relationships • Public speaking experience • Commitment to social justice and human rights, particularly regarding Palestinian rights and related intersectional struggles
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
• Proven skills in communications and advocacy work management and delivery • Strong line-management experience with large, remote teams and excellent interpersonal communication • Executive management experience • Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken skills (ELSC’s working language) • Solid understanding of the political and human rights situation in Palestine • Strong teamwork skills, flexibility, time management, and ability to handle competing priorities • Highly organized with strong attention to detail, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills • Ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage a heavy workload • Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practices, and equal opportunities • Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as needed • Flexibility within the role’s broad remit
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
• Graduate in International Relations, Political Science, Communications, Journalism, Law, Sociology, or related fields • Master’s Degree in a related field • Basic knowledge of International and European law • Proficiency in Arabic • Budget allocation experience • Skills in web development, graphic design, social media management, or other digital communications
MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS
• Line-manage Advocacy & Communications Officers and the Senior Communications Officer • Schedule 1:1 meetings with A&C Officers, guide task division, and monitor workload • Lead ELSC’s A&C strategy implementation within work teams • Review team strategies and publications, providing advice and support • Ensure ELSC branding and content consistency with the Senior Communications Officer • Convene weekly A&C team meetings and yearly in-person gatherings • Attend Executive Management Committee meetings and communicate updates as needed • Manage A&C budget, liaising with the finance committee for departmental needs • Oversee A&C activities and publication schedules with the Senior Communications Officer • Participate in outreach, fundraising, panels, and seminars in coordination with work teams • Ensure timely handling of media requests • Coordinate recruitment for A&C staff, in conjunction with the Chief of Operations (COO) • Update the ELSC A&C Onboarding Guide • Conduct annual reviews and quarterly check-ins with A&C officers • Provide pastoral care and monitor the mental health of A&C officers with COO and HR
Apply now Send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support, using the subject line ‘Chief of Advocacy & Communications’.
Spread the word! Know someone who would be the ideal fit? Share this opportunity with them!
In the past month, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of victories, which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter, along with some useful resources to continue mobilising for Palestine.
VICTORIES
NETHERLANDS: A VICTORY AGAINST ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM IN THE WORKPLACE
The Dutch Human Rights Board (College voor de Rechten van de Mens) ruled that software company Speakap discriminated against N. A., an IT specialist from Gaza, when it fired him for condemning Israel’s crimes on LinkedIn. N. A. reached out to the ELSC, and we connected him with lawyer Şeyma Arikan. The Human Rights Board found that Speakap directly discriminated against N. A. based on political affiliation. This decision is an important step towardsholding companies accountable that silence and deploy punitive measures against employees speaking out for Palestine.
BRITAIN UPDATE: KAMNA PATEL RESIGNS FROM UKRI
ELSC proudly supported Dr Kate Sang of Heriot-Watt University, and Kamna Patel of UCL, throughout the UKRI’s shameful suspension and investigation procedure, which was concluded in March 2024.
👏🏽A victory for freedom of expression! UK Minister fully withdraws false allegations against academic members of the @UKRI_News’s newly established advisory board on equality, diversity and inclusion and pays damages! /1
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) March 7, 2024
Last month, in June 2024, Dr Patel resigned as Chair of UKRI’s Expert Advisory Group on equality, diversity and inclusion, taking a firm stance against the UK government’s authoritarian attacks on academic freedom and shameful attempts to silence dissenting voices. She writes:
I’m mindful that in all this what is lost are my original words (misquoted by the Secretary of State), which I said from a deep sense of civic responsibility and rooted in postcolonial scholarship – there is an ongoing genocide and practice of apartheid against Palestinians, a reference to a 76-year project of elimination by the Israeli state, now taking a most deadly turn. Since the Secretary of State’s claim these words constitute “extreme views”, the International Court of Justice concluded genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is a plausible risk, a view supported by renowned scholars of genocide, including Israelis. To this I add, it is emboldened by disgraceful efforts by the UK government to silence all dissent, including those rooted in scholarship and evidence. Over the past few months, we have seen the playbook of lobbing unfounded allegations and stoking an investigation into anybody critical of the Israeli state’s policies as a sufficient action to malign and silence them, irrespective of any evidence underpinning the charge or the outcome of any investigation. It is to this playbook that you have (been) played.
Dr Patel resigned
Together with BRISMES Campaigns and London Region UCU Reps, we put together a toolkit for higher education employees in Britain. If you work at a university in Britain and have questions about your rights, or concerns when advocating for Palestine, this guide will offer some helpful answers!
STUDENTS IN AMSTERDAM GOT THEIR SANCTIONS WITHDRAWN
In February 2024, Amsterdam University College (AUC) imposed sanctions (including suspension and formal warnings) on six students for their involvement in Palestine student protests on campus. The Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP) and ELSC assisted these students with sending objections to the university’s management. AUC has now informed the students that all sanctions have been withdrawn. This is an important move for the broader student movement. Freedom to demonstrate and freedom of expression do not stop at the entrance to the university building!
We are proud to have supported prominent activist Michel Legrand (President of ECCP and treasurer of CPJPO) in his case creating a promising precedent for the freedom of speech of Palestinian rights defenders in Luxembourg.
🚨 Remember our case against @LloydsBank? We are now at court, representing Afra Sohail and Aunngbeen Khalid, alongside @FranckMagennis of Garden Court Chambers, after they have been silenced & sanctioned for speaking out on Palestine. https://t.co/lqaQT4E4vW /1
— European Legal Support Center (ELSC) (@elsclegal) July 13, 2024
We are proud to be supporting Afra Sohail and Aunngbeen Khalid, who are now standing their ground at the Employment Tribunal. The hearings will continue until 17 July. Follow us for more updates on the hearings soon
OUR COLLECTIVE PUSH BACK AGAINST THE DEFUNDING OF PALESTINIAN ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR ALLIES
One of our missions at ELSC is to support organisations whose funding is cut or restricted. Together with EuroMed Rights we provide an insight into the European context in a new FAQ published on our website
The defunding of Palestinian organisations is a deliberate tactic to suppress Palestinian voices and shield Israel from accountability for its genocidal onslaught on Gaza and continuous attacks against Palestinian life and land. We at ELSC are committed to monitoring the working of this tactic and supporting defunded Palestinian organisations. If you’ve faced similar issues, contact us elsc.support/intake
BOOKING: MAJOR ORGANISATION TERMINATES ITS BOOKING.COM SPONSOR DEAL
Last month, the COC, the oldest interest group for the LGBTI+ community in the world, has officially terminated its Booking.com sponsor deal, due to Booking.com’s continued profiteering from illegal Israeli settlements.
Your support of our legal action, along with other recent initiatives to raise awareness against Booking.com’s illegal practices, has had a notable impact, and the pressure on Booking.com is mounting. Together we can end the corporate impunity and complicity with Israel’s colonial enterprise
NO MORE WEAPONS FOR GENOCIDE: FURTHER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GERMANY’S WAR WEAPONS DELIVERIES TO ISRAEL
The Lawyers Collective (Anwält:innenkollektiv) supported by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) and Forensis (Forensic Architecture Berlin) has paved the way for further legal action against Germany’s deliveries of war weapons to Israel. We will now dedicate our resources to prevent Germany from illegally selling weapons to Israel.
Using legal avenues implies huge financial costs for the solidarity movement. Legal fees are unfortunately infamously sky high; we ask you to please consider putting aside whatever amount you’re able to contribute to the steadfast movement’s efforts to hold Germany accountable. Funds raised will be used to cover court and lawyer fees amongst other administrative costs related to how the case progresses.
All forms of repression that are reported to us helps us in developing our legal and communication strategies to defend the Palestine solidarity movement. Your story is important, we cannot allow these patterns of repression to be normalised. Let’s expose those responsible for our repression and hold them accountable together!
Setting up a small monthly donation to our legal aid fund can go a long way to ensure ELSC’s stability and security at this critical time where we face an unprecedented all-time-high number of repression cases. We cannot do this alone and we need your help to continue supporting the movement!
As a member of our community of supporters, you will also get early access to ELSC volunteer opportunities and community events and an opportunity to brainstorm with us in the future about how to scale up the ELSC and better serve the Palestine solidarity movement.Click here to join our community of supporters with a monthly contribution!
Last month, new localities made steps to comply with their obligations to uphold international law. Following the City Council of Bologna, the Legislative Assembly of the Emilia-Romagna Region also voted for the adoption of an ethical procurement policy to exclude contracts with companies involved in violations of human rights and international law. This paves the way to target companies complicit in Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza and its crimes all over Palestine.
The Municipality of Copenhagen cut ties with companies involved in Israeli settlements, including Booking.com, Expedia Group and Airbnb. Mayor Sophie Haestorp Andersen stated: “As a large investor, we have a responsibility for things like human rights. That’s why I don’t think we should invest in companies that have to do with illegal settlements.”
Lasty, the Province of Utrecht decided not to award their profitable contracts to Dutch company EBS Public Transportation. ELSC, among others – including BDS activists – had called on the province to cut such ties because of the involvement of its parent Israeli company (Egged) in serious human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
ELSC IN THE MEDIA
Widespread media coverage on our criminal complaint against Booking.com continues, with a recent piece published by ABC News Australia where our Senior Legal Officer Daan recalls that colonies established in the West Bank are war crimes and that Booking.com is profiting from war crimes by listing accommodations in these settlements: “So our argument is that any money derived from those settlements is also indirectly derived from those war crimes”.
One of our Germany lawyers and expert on migration law, Alexander Gorski, talks about the most recent developments in Germany’s racist legislation and their implications with regards to surveillance and attacks on freedom of expression. Read more about it in German here, and here.
In June, we held our first ‘Know You Rights’ session in Italy at the university of Milan. Two lawyers from our legal network provided Palestine solidarity activists with advice on how to protect themselves from increasing repression as they continue to mobilise for divestment and an end to complicity with Israel’s most recent genocidal onslaught on Gaza and the ongoing colonisation of Palestine.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SESSION WITH STUDENTS IN BERLIN
Together with three lawyers from our Solidarity Lawyers Network in Berlin, we organised a Know Your Rights Session with about 40 students mobilising at universities in Berlin. We provided legal advice and strategies to collectively move against the growing repression of student activism in Germany.
COMMUNITY EVENT IN BERLIN
We held our second Berlin Community Event on Saturday, 22nd June, at Haus der Demokratie, to collectively reflect on the current political context and to think through strategic collaborations and needed priorities for the ELSC to effectively support the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany. The event was attended by over 50 activists including student activists, journalists, and movement lawyers.
At our event this year we also presented our unique, extensive Monitoring Database on anti-Palestinian repression across Europe which is soon to be launched. In the past years, our Monitor Team has collected, documented and exposed forms of repression, policies, legislation and case law related to the criminalisation of the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe.
PALESTINE SOLIDARITY ONLINE
Watch our Germany Senior Legal Officer Nadija speak at the United Nations about the intensifying repression against Palestine solidarity in the country and the importance of continued collective mobilisation (12min40):
……….
Our Senior Legal Officer Kiran and Advocacy & Communications Manager Alice gave a workshop to the “community of practice” of Systemic justice where we presented our work and our vision for Movement lawyering in the context of the Palestinian struggle for liberation
USEFUL RESOURCES
GERMANY: RESOURCES OF SUPPORT AGAINST FINES & TRIALS
If you are facing fines or trials for speaking out and mobilising for Palestine, here are some organisations that you can reach out to for support! Resources include free legal advice, open consultation hours for people experiencing racial profiling and racist police violence, contacts with lawyers in solidarity, trial support or financial aid. You are not alone in this, and we will not let the state repression get us down.
EXPOSING TIES BETWEEN THE FILM INDUSTRY AND THE ISRAELI STATE & MILITARY
Camera4Palestine, a film industry initiative investigating links between the film industry and the Israeli state, has published a new report, which investigates the international supply routes for Israeli state propaganda. Read More
CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS
Would you like to join our team? We are currently seeking an Advocacy & Communications Officer for the Netherlands. The deadline for applications is 18 July 2024. For more details about the position and how to apply, please follow the link below!
Our comrades at The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) are seeking an Advocacy & Campaigning officer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Find out more here
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy and Communication Officer for the Netherlands & Strategic Litigation.
Title: Advocacy and Communication Officer- NL & Strategic litigation Location: Amsterdam Reports to: Chief of Advocacy and Communications Line Management: None Contract: Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant Salary: Salary 10-10.1 €36,000 – 38,000 with progression up the scale after each annual review 750 EURO available to support staff well-being Assistance with home office equipment
Start date: September 2024
How to apply: Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘Advocacy Officer – NL & Strategic litigation’
Applications are due by 18 July 2024.
We are scheduling interviews as applications come in, don’t miss your chance and apply now!
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As the Advocacy Officer for the Netherlands & Strategic litigation, you will be part of the Advocacy & Communication Team and:
Half of your time, work with the Senior Legal Officer and Monitor for The Netherlands to engage in public outreach; build campaigns to boost specific legal cases; get media coverage to achieve visibility and narrative change; make sure our victories are visible; grow and mobilise our network of supporters; coalition building and establishing relationships with activists on the ground in the Netherlands;
The other half will be dedicated to develop public outreach on strategic litigation cases pertaining to our de-funding and de-risking work (Palestinian and European organisations or individuals facing the suspension or cutting of funding, and facing bank de-risking, i.e. the restrictions on their bank accounts, transfers etc.), or cases aiming to hold private and public actors accountable for their complicity with war crimes in Palestine (for instance our case against Booking.com).
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with campaigning, involvement in activist groups, grassroots or non-profit organisations, in particular with Palestine solidarity groups and / or other anti-colonial and anti-racist groups in the Netherlands.
Experience in convening and driving coalitions and networks and building relationships.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and human rights, in particular the rights of the Palestinian people and the intersectional struggles connected to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Basic knowledge of Dutch and European Union law.
Demonstrated skills in communications and advocacy work.
Proficiency in English and Dutch with excellent written and spoken communication skills. English is the working language of the ELSC.
Good understanding and knowledge of the political and human rights situation in Palestine.
Teamwork skills and flexibility, ability to manage time and competing priorities, according to the current demands of the organisation.
Highly organised, strong attention to detail, driven, can work independently without direction.
Ability to prioritise tasks and manage a busy workload.
Commitment to anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.
To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Graduate in International Relations, Political Science, Communications, Journalism, Law, Sociology or other relevant fields.
Master’s Degree in a related field.
Proficiency in Arabic.
Experience with web development, graphic design, social media management or other digital communications experience and skills.
MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS
In coordination with the Advocacy and Communication Team, develop and implement public outreach campaigns strategies, social media and media outreach, building and coordinating partners coalition, coordinating with the legal team etc.
Maintain and expand our network of support in the Netherlands through maintaining effective communication with activists and partner organisations.
Organise and facilitate in-person community events and/or workshops with activists, academics, students and lawyers.
Draft and publish case summaries/updates on the ELSC website, in coordination with the relevant legal officers for the Netherlands, De-funding-De-risking and strategic litigation.
Support the Digital Communications Officer to design and monitor relevant social media content: text, visuals and potential videos/reels.
Organise and promote ELSC public events in the Netherlands.
Represent the ELSC in public events and interviews in the Netherlands.
Maintain and expand the ELSC network of journalists and media outlets in the Netherlands.
Maintain Dutch contact lists.
Assist with content production for the ELSC monthly Newsletter.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer) for Britain.
Title: Associate Solicitor (Senior Legal Officer) Location: London with remote working with colleagues across Europe Reports to: Executive Director Line Management: Legal Officer and Junior Legal Officer Contract: One year consultancy contract, full-time with likelihood of extension and migration to permanent employment contract. We offer flexible hours, with a hybrid onsite London office /remote working. Salary: [Officer 10.6 – 10.7] £48,000 – £50,500 depending on PQE experience, with progression up the scale after each annual review. 750 EURO available to support staff well-being. Assistance with home office equipment.
Start date: August 2024 or as soon as possible
How to apply: Applications should be sent to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR’
Applications are due by 12 July 2024.
We are scheduling interviews as applications come in, don’t miss your chance and apply now!
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Associate Solicitor will lead our legal team in Britain and oversee our cases in England and Wales.
The role requires a qualified solicitor with experience of running litigious cases. Our main practice areas in Britain are: (i) public law and human rights; (ii) employment and discrimination and (iii) defamation law. The post-holder will have particular expertise in one of these areas. Our cases also involve data rights, freedom of information, criminal law, actions against the police, charity law, education law, international humanitarian law, and immigration issues.
The post holder will manage a growing team that consists of a Legal Officer and a Junior Legal Officer. In addition, our British work team has an advocacy and communication officer and two researchers who monitor anti-Palestinian racism.
We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, LGBT or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, or social class. We particularly welcome applications from Palestinians and those who identify as part of the Palestinian diaspora.
ELSC recognises that applicants from marginalised communities are less likely to apply for jobs if they do not fulfil every single qualification. We encourage you to consider applying even if you do not meet every attribute listed. Our priority is to find the right candidate for the position.
Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee all litigious and advisory casework in Britain alongside our junior legal staff and legal network. Provide expert legal advice and representation, to individual clients and movement partners.
Manage our legal officers, providing training and feedback to them as appropriate. Collaborate closely with our legal network of solicitors and counsel with the goal of strengthening the wider movement.
Develop and advance new legal strategies for challenging state and non-state repression of advocacy for Palestine in consultation with our legal network, national partners and experts.
Support the development of effective advocacy campaigns to increase the impact of litigation outside the courtroom.
Support ELSC’s outreach and public engagement initiatives.
Required experience, knowledge and skills
3 years + post-qualified experience (PQE) and admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Experience leading on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in public, employment and/or defamation law.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise legal advice on complex issues in a comprehensible and appropriate format.
An ability to engage with the law critically and develop strategies that serve broader political objectives. Track record of collaborating well with other lawyers, academics and civil society organisations.
Excellent client care skills, particularly in relation to vulnerable or marginalised clients.
Experience in a role which requires coordination of multiple projects and/or workstreams concurrently, and the ability to manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.
High level of English-language proficiency.
Commitment to the Palestinian liberation and solidarity movement.
Desirable experience, skills and knowledge
Dual-qualified in Scotland and/or Northern Ireland.
Ideal candidate will already have LAA Supervisor status or meet the requirements to do so
Experience working with campaigning and advocacy organisations.
Experience with management and organisational development.
Understanding of and experience working with a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
Other Requirements
Demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity to the ELSC aims and objectives.
Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.
Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices and legal requirements.
Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, donors and supporters, staff, and projects.
In the past weeks and months, we have joined forces with many of you who are mobilising tirelessly for an end to Israel’s heinous crimes against Gaza. In the first 2 months of 2024 alone, we’ve fought some crucial battles and secured a number of victories for the movement – which we bring to you in this month’s newsletter.
JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability Now: Palestinians Sue German Government Officials for Enabling the Genocide in Gaza
Last month, we supported a group of German lawyers – representing families of two Gazans – who filed a criminal complaint against German Government officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for the crime aiding and abetting genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza by providing Israel with weapons and other material support. We continue to make clear that the time for impunity is over.
We have joined forces with activist groups and organisations coming together in the Kufiya Network in a collective call against the repression of the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany. Together, we reject the construction of a ‘reason of state’ that forces on us ‘an unconditional solidarity’ with war crimes, and the criminalisation of any resistance to the occupation.
Accountability for EU Complicity with Israeli Illegal Settlements: A New Legal Victory Highlights the EU Commission’s Shortcomings
After discovering that the European Commission (EC) was violating its own rules around the funding of projects involving Israeli entities, an activist with ICAHD Finland, with the support of the ELSC, recently got the EU Ombudsman to issue an important decision which confirmed that any entity established in the Israeli illegal settlements in the OPT should be excluded from EU cooperation projects. It highlights the failure of the EC in making sure that those responsible for violating these principles are properly held accountable.
Science Secretary withdraws allegations against members of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for expressing solidarity with Palestinians and will be forced to pay damages! Professor Kate Sang and Dr Kamna Patel of UKRI were baselessly accused by the Science Secretary Michelle Donelan of sharing ‘extremist views’ for reposting a Guardian article about the aftermath of 7 October and for expressing concern over Israel’s actions in Palestine on their social media, solely drawing from smears published by lobby group Policy Exchange. They reached out to the ELSC and we connected them with lawyers on the ground who helped them take legal action against the Science Secretary for her unfounded and outrageous allegations. UKRI has now concluded they were not in breach of the terms of their appointment.
Jewish Chronicle is once again forced to apologise to Palestinian scholar Nimer Sultany for publicly smearing him! Dr Sultany’s emblematic victory back in December 2023 continues to expose the ongoing pattern of character assassinations aimed at silencing Palestinian and allied voices. The Jewish Chronicle rectified the article that drummed up false allegations against Dr Sultany and were forced to apologise to him after he filed a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) with ELSC support.
In this difficult moment, our collective mobilisation is more crucial than ever.
Toolkits to empower the UK solidarity movement! Together with the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) and University and College Union (UCU) representatives, we have produced a toolkit to ensure safeguarding your rights as employees in Higher Education in England and Wales.
Amena El Ashkar’s struggle against the UK government!Join us in solidarity with Amena, a third-generation Palestinian refugee and highly respected journalist, who is challenging the Home Secretary’s denial of her student visa. Despite receiving a full scholarship to continue her PhD studies at LSE, her visa denial was “certified personally” by Suella Braverman on the basis that her presence in the UK would not be in the public interest.
Amena shared that her acceptance into the PhD programme at LSE ‘was a source of immense pride, not just my family and friends, but for the entire community in the camp’.
Shatila Camp drawn by Matt Chun. For more see: http://mattchun.com.
But on 30 January 2024, a High Court judge publicly “rebuked” the Home Secretary’s ‘grave’ and ‘shockingly poor’ conduct in handling the visa challenge of Amena. We are now waiting for the UK Home Secretary to issue a fresh decision.
FIGHTING REPRESION IN THE NETHERLANDS AND SWITZERLAND
Support two Palestine activists arrested in The Hague! Two activists of the solidarity movement in the Netherlands who were recently arrested by Dutch police during a sit in at The Hague train station are challenging their chargeswith the help of a lawyer. One of them, a Palestinian woman, was arrested for criticising the police as they tried to take away her megaphone. The other activist was stopped when shouting “Free Palestine” as she walked through the station. By challenging their charges, we send a message to The Hague’s police department that they cannot interfere with our right to speak up and protest genocide!
NGO worker is challenging his unfair dismissal after denouncing ethnic cleansing on X! After speaking out via a X (formerly Twitter) on his personal capacity, posting in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the first days of Israel’s genocidal campaign, Ousman Noor’s employment contract was terminated. The reasons for dismissal were never clarified. Ousman has now filed a lawsuit against his former employer. Share his call. Ousman is almost there with crowdfunding the necessary funds to cover his legal fees but needs a last little push. If you want to help him, donate here – the crowdfunding expires on 18 March!
MORE VICTORIES FOR OUR MOVEMENT
Our rallying cry “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” is once again unable to be suppressed! In Prague, activists won another legal battle against the attempts to censor “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” (see here about attempts in Germany and recent victories). In December 2023, the City of Prague banned a demonstration because the slogan would be used, but activists pushed back and went to court. The court has since ruled that this slogan cannot be understood as violent and antisemitic, and that the Municipality had no right to ban the demonstration. Read their statement here.
The Netherlands forced to stop export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel! Last month, the Court of Appeal in The Hague ordered the State to stop the export of F-35 fighter jet spare parts to Israel. This is a big win for the tireless advocacy of organisations like The Rights Forum, PAX for peace, and Oxfam! The court ruled that the State should have revoked the export license in light of Israel’s violations of basic principles of humanitarian law in its assault on Gaza. Importantly, the Court also held that political or economic considerations cannot play a role in assessing the revocation of such export licenses.
Let’s connect our monitoring efforts to build strong and effective advocacy strategies across countries! In the past years, the ELSC has established a monitoring database that tracks and reveals all forms of anti-Palestinian repression in numbers, patterns, mechanisms, actors, and detrimental effects. It builds on a comprehensive glossary of terms, definitions and concrete examples, as well as a developed methodology for analysis to expose patterns and scandalise anti-Palestinian racism, colonial narratives, and Zionist disinformation. Let’s Join forces across countries!
Protest photo credits: Rasha Al Jundi. For more on Al Jundi’s work see here: https://www.rashajundi.com.
We have been running a series of Know Your Rights online sessions for people in Germany, featuring our Germany Legal Officer and lawyers from our network. Hundreds of people across Germany joined us to learn collectively about our rights when it comes to protests, the use of Palestine solidarity slogans, police violence, residency status and more.
‘A land without peace’ – University of Milan
We have participated in a seminar organised by the University of Milan on the 5th of March, where we presented our legal work within the wider context of the Palestine solidarity movement and the growing repression across Europe post 7 October.
No country for Palestinians: a chronicle of suppression and resistance in Germany
German state and police response to Palestinian solidarity protests since 7 October, especially in the first weeks, has been unabashedly severe. From 11 to 20 October alone, we counted 600 detentions in Berlin, including of minors among those showing solidarity with Palestine, alongside a series of criminal and administrative proceedings.
The historical and systematic censorship of Palestinian narratives and lived realities is often framed in the language of individual and isolated cases. In collaboration with our Monitor Project, Untold Stories Media has visualised our data to shed light on colonial and orientalist roots of anti-Palestinian repression in Germany, and (hi)stories of Palestinian resistance and steadfast defiance. Written by Nora Ragab.
Rai News: Spotlight. Affairs, politics and rights in the West Bank
Our empower work has appeared on the Italian TV programme RaiNews ‘Spotlight’, where our legal officer spoke about the ‘Don’t buy into Occupation’report and the complicity of European financial institutions in colonies in the West Bank.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer for Britain.
Title: Advocacy & Communication Officer – Britain Full-time, with flexible working, contract offer as consultant
Location: London – with the possibility of remote working in Britain and remote working will colleagues across Europe.
Reports to: Chief of Advocacy and Communications.
Line Management: None
Salary: Salary range is £37,500 – £40,000 depending on experience and with progression up the pay scale after each annual review. 750 EURO available to support staff well-being. Assistance with home office equipment.
Start date: 1 April 2024 or as soon as possible.
How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to application@elsc.support with the subject line [UK ACO OFFICER]. Applications are due by 23:59 CET Sunday 17 March 2024.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As the Advocacy Officer for Britain, you will be in the Advocacy & Communication Team and work with our Legal Officers in Britain and partners to design and implement public outreach strategies (including engaging with the press and use social media, in particular) to achieve visibility for our legal work and narrative change; crowdfund to cover legal costs; build campaigns, grow and mobilise our network of supporters; and establish relationships with activists on the ground in Britain.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
2-3 years experience working in a similar role (or equivalent) with a good eye for a story and clear instincts about audience, channels, and purpose, and a track record of successfully placing stories in the media, including: pitching stories, writing press releases, and placing op eds.
Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist organising, in particular the rights of the Palestinian people and the intersectional struggles connected to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Experience (professional or volunteer) with campaigning; involvement in activist groups, grassroots, non-profit or electoral political organisations.
Experience convening coalitions and building relationships.
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
Basic knowledge of common law/human rights principles, the law of England & Wales, or direct experience with the British legal system.
Demonstrated ability to distil complex legal and policy issues into compelling and accurate copy for a range of channels and audiences.
Demonstrated skills in communications/ advocacy work.
Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills. English is the working language of the ELSC.
Good understanding and knowledge of British politics on the question of Palestine.
Teamwork skills and flexibility; ability to manage time and prioritise with a busy workload.
Highly organised, strong attention to detail, driven, can work independently without direction.
Commitment to anti-racism and anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial hours as required.
To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
A Master’s degree in a related field.
Proficiency in Arabic.
Experience with web development, graphic design, social media management or other digital communications experience and skills.
MAIN DUTIES AND TASKS
In coordination with the Advocacy and Communication Team, produce and implement public outreach strategies that fit with the legal strategies of the individuals and groups we are supporting; provide them with expert media advice.
Develop, maintain and proactively use contacts with British, international print and broadcast media to identify opportunities for and secure, immediate and long-term media coverage in print and broadcast media.
Pitch stories, produce/ review media materials on ELSC’s work, respond to queries from journalists and coordinate and carry out appropriate interviews.
Draft and publish case summaries/updates on the ELSC website, in coordination with the relevant legal officers, and assist with the production and distribution of the ELSC monthly Newsletter.
Support the Digital Communication Officer to design and monitor relevant social media content: text, visuals and potential videos/reels.
Maintain and expand our network of support in Britain through maintaining effective communication with activists and partner organisations.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Administration Officer (Finance Manager) and an Administration Officer (Development and Operations)
About the roles:
Finance Manager: The Finance Manager has overall management responsibility for the finance and accounting functions, budgeting, controlling and managing the organisational financial systems and operating budget. The post holder will be a proactive and highly organised individual who takes initiative and is flexible and creative in planning and problem solving. You will be detail-oriented, with a strong understanding of standard accounting practices and budgeting.
Find more information about the position and how to apply here.
Administration Officer (Development and Operations): The Administration Officer will support our Development (Fundraising) Team and Operations Team – two teams that keep the ELSC surviving and thriving. The Development team brings in funding from the smallest individual donors, grants, and individual major donors. The Operations team is a recently established team and will be running the recruitment and onboarding for over 20 new ELSC staff in the coming year. The post holder for this role will work across the two teams, providing administrative and operational support, including maintaining the fundraising database. We’re looking for someone with great people skills, as well as drive, initiative and determination.
Find more information about the position and how to apply here.
The applications deadline for both positions is 12th February 2024.
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking a Paralegal for the UK.
Job title: Paralegal
Department: UK Legal Defence Team
Office location: Remote working
Reporting to: UK Legal Officer – Team Leader
Hours: 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. Some flexibility is required from time to time to meet the professional requirements of the role.
Contract: Short term contract – ends 31 Dec 2023, start as soon as possible, Full-time – £2000 – £2500 depending on experience
The Role
Overall purpose for this role
To provide a reliable and efficient support service for UK Legal Officer and assist with general administration of cases of repression;
To undertake a wide variety of paralegal and administrative tasks as set out below.
Main duties and responsibilities
Case Management
To effectively manage the intake and referral of cases and ensure that accurate information and instructions are obtained from clients and accurate records are maintained;
Assist with drafting documents, client liaison including interviewing clients and taking instructions, research work and provide general administrative support;
Sort and review records, drafting case summaries, liaise with solicitors, barristers and third parties;
Ensure that urgent matters are escalated and referred to appropriate person in a timely manner.
Client/ 3rd party management
Communicate with clients/ other parties as and when necessary, in a professional, courteous and efficient manner;
Document/ Data management
Ensure documents and copies of correspondence are kept up to date and filed;
Ensure accuracy when updating client information on the relevant databases;
Ensure database information is updated and maintained in accordance with instructions and in line with relevant processes;
Open new files and close old files as required.
Person specification
Genuine interest in working with European Legal Support Centre and passionate about defending Palestinian solidarity and providing access to justice to all;
Good academic background with legal qualifications (Law Degree or GDL required; LPC/SQE or BPTC not required);
Previous experience in a legal firm, chambers and/or legal clinic or law centre
Ability to manage own workload in a busy environment to a consistently high standard and timely manner;
Demonstrable understanding of and commitment to client care;
Proven ability to communicate accurately, clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with a wide range of clients and various stakeholders;
Experience with dealing with clients sensitively and managing difficult conversations;
Proven ability to work and contribute in a team environment;
Proficient user of Microsoft Office Teams
Desirable
Experience in interviewing and liaising with clients and taking witness statements
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is seeking an Advocacy Officer for Germany.
The Role
As the Advocacy Officer for Germany, you will work mainly with the Advocacy Officers and the Legal Officer for Germany. Please note that long-term commitment is requested from the applicants since this position is envisaged as such:
1. A training phase of 6 months based in Amsterdam, with 1 to 3 trips in Berlin – Ideal starting date: November 2023 / Latest starting date: January 2024.
2. After a period of 5 months, an assessment will be made with your supervisors (Advocacy & Communication Manager, Legal Officer for Germany and the ELSC Director). If the traineeship is successful, a long-term position as the Advocacy Officer for Germany based in Berlin will be offered, entailing more responsibilities.
Specific tasks, for the training phase, can include support in:
Designing and implementing public outreach campaigns.
Drafting and publishing case summaries/updates on the website (in coordination with the legal officers).
Drafting and posting social media content: text, visuals, videos/reels.
Drafting, sending and publishing the monthly Newsletter.
Maintaining and expanding our network of support in Germany.
Organising and facilitating in-person community events and/or workshops with activists, academics, students and lawyers.
Drafting content crowdfunding campaigns.
Organising and promoting ELSC public events.
The second phase (long-term position) will include the above tasks that concern Germany, in line with the yearly country strategy developed by the Legal Officer for Germany and the ACO team – more autonomy on these tasks will be expected from you than during the training phase. On the long-term, the following additional tasks will be expected:
Representing the ELSC in public events and interviews.
Maintaining and expanding our network of journalists in Germany.
To read the full job description and requirements, please click here.
How to apply
Please send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work with the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, in English, to alice@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ELSC Vacancy ACO Germany’. The deadline for applications is 8 October 2023.
The ELSC is seeking a Chief Legal Officer based in Amsterdam to oversee the legal team on all cases and projects emanating (mainly) from Germany, The Netherlands and the UK.
The role will cover five main areas of work:
managing the legal team consisting of three Legal Officers in their daily activities;
supervising the legal team’s casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates throughout Europe and mainly in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK;
providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under domestic law and European human rights law;
devising and advising on strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies; and
overseeing the legal team’s organisation and participation in workshops and advocacy events.
Location: The position would be based in Amsterdam. Remote-working will be considered.
To read the full job description, please clickhere.
How to apply
Please send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, in English, to application@elsc.support including the subject line ‘ELSC Chief Legal Officer’.
The deadline for applications is 30 December 2022. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial (online) interview during the second week of January. Prior to the interview, candidates will be asked to complete a short assignment.
Start date and training period: The shadow position will commence between 01 February 2023 and 01 March 2023. The successful candidate will be required to undertake 3 or 4 months of training (32 hours per week) before taking over the role of Chief Legal Officer in June 2023 (this position is 36-40 hours per week). Training will involve working alongside the current Chief Legal Officer on the specific tasks outlined above to ensure the candidate has the requisite expertise and knowledge to successfully manage the legal team.
We are proud to launch a Fellowship Programme for young Palestinian law graduates in order to encourage the centrality of the Palestinian voice in our collective work for justice. The program will equip fellows with further training on the use of legal mechanisms, advocacy, media and other tools to support grass-roots movements and advance social justice causes.
As an ELSC-Human Rights Practitioner fellow, you will work to develop legal memos, devise strategies, conduct research and assist clients with their rights as well as monitor developments of attacks against advocates for Palestinian rights. The work is conducted in partnership with human rights lawyers and NGOs of different European countries.
As part of our strategy to monitor, defend and empower Palestinian rights advocates, in this role, you will:
a) assist with research to monitor the repression of Palestinian rights advocates;
b) provide legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under European human rights law;
c) develop strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies
d) analyse relevant legislation and jurisprudence under EU law regarding cases of limits to freedom of expression and human rights advocacy.
To read the full Programme description, requirements and practical matters, please click here.
To apply for this position, send your CV, a one-page cover letter in English outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, to application@elsc.support with the subject line “Human Rights Practitioners Fellowship” by Tuesday 1st of November 2022.
Dear friend, This month was marked by Women’s Rights Day as well as the Israeli Apartheid Week, where many students and activists organised events and protests to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and raise awareness about the Israeli apartheid. This week was not free from censorship, especially on campus, as shown by an incident in The Netherlands. We also share updates from the European Citizens’ Initiative Campaign as well as news from Germany, Austria, and a vacancy to work with us in the UK!
A GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITY IN THE UK
We are seeking a Legal Officer to oversee our cases and projects emanating from the UK. If you want to join a young and dynamic team and you’re passionate about defending Palestinian rights advocacy and UK law, apply before 17 April 2022.
The role will cover: a) overseeing casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates in the UK; b) providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under UK domestic law and European human rights law; c) developing strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies; d) analysing relevant legislation and jurisprudence under UK and EU law; and e) organising and participating in workshops and advocacy events.
Two months after the hearing in Vienna, BDS Austria is still waiting for a ruling by the Court on the lawsuit filed by the Municipality of Vienna over a social media post of the famous “Visit Apartheid” poster. The anti-SLAPP task force Protect the Protest interviewed BDS Austria about the SLAPP they are facing. The group shared a strong message:
“continue doing the work, build networks, and seek international support”
BDS Austria stands strong and keeps protesting against Israeli apartheid and against the attempts to silence them. It is time now to reinforce the pressure. Email directly the Mayor of Vienna to ask him to end this lawsuit.
Students for Palestine, a group of activist students in The Hague, organised a panel discussion on apartheid in Leiden University with South African and Palestinian scholars. Only a few days before the date of the event planned for the beginning of the Israeli Apartheid Week, the University refused to host the event, alleging that the chair – the well-respected scholar in anthropology and law Dina Zbeidy – was “not neutral”.
After hundreds of academics and students protested this breach of academic freedom and raised concerns of anti-Palestinian racism, the University accepted to host the event on a different campus, but again, required to replace the chair. As the students refused to give in to the pressure, Leiden University cancelled again the event, which eventually took place in a cultural venue in The Hague. This incident caught the attention of BIJ1 MP Sylvana Simons who raised a question in Parliament.
Read more here and join the 1700 students and scholars who signed the letter to Leiden University.
Following the dismissal of 7 journalists and the publication of an extremely biased investigation by the Deutsche Welle (DW), Palestinian-Jordanian Farah Maraqa took the German state broadcaster to court and had a first hearing. Farah Maraqa, who the ELSC is supporting, is determined to pursue her legal battle against her unsubstantiated termination.
The DW has set a very dangerous precedent for the freedom of the press in Germany. The fact that the IHRA definition was used as a frame of the investigation shows, again, the very worrying chilling effect of the definition on freedom of expression and on accurate reporting on Israel-Palestine.
Nevertheless, legal battles are worth undertaking since, in the past years, we have observed a coherent and positive case law on anti-BDS policies in Germany. In 8 decisions, German courts have consistently upheld the right of activists to use public facilities for BDS-related events, thus reaffirming the legitimacy of BDS.
This reinforces the lawsuit of the Bundestag 3 for Palestine (BT3P) aiming to repeal the German Parliament’s anti-BDS resolution and end this tactic of repression targeting Palestinian rights advocates.
More than 170 organisations, including the ELSC, Human Rights Watch, Friends of the Earth, Avaaz and many others, joined the Stop Settlements Coalition calling to sign the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) petition. We need 1 million signatures to push the EU to enact a ban on trade with illegal settlements in occupied territories, in line with its international law and EU trade obligations.
CHALLENGING REPRESSION OF PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND APARTHEID
In a joint letter with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, we asked key EU institutions and Member States to uphold international law at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. We asked, in particular, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to condemn Israel’s apartheid and to call on Israel to revoke the unsubstantiated designation of the 6 prominent Palestinian CSOs.
At the occasion of the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the OPT Michael Lynk also published its report. It concludes that Israel has been imposing an apartheid regime over the Palestinian people and acknowledges the settler-colonial nature of Israel’s occupation and apartheid.
If you are interested in empowering the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Europe, we welcome your one-time or monthly donations to the ELSC. For any inquiries, contact us at info@elsc.support. If you are a legal practitioner or a volunteer who wants to be part of our movement in support of Palestinian rights advocates, please contact us at info@elsc.support.
The ELSC is seeking a Legal Officer based in the UK to carry out ELSC’s activities in the UK and expand its team.
The UK Legal Officer will be responsible for overseeing all cases and projects emanating from the UK. The role will cover five main areas of work:
a) overseeing casework and research on the repression of Palestinian rights advocates in the UK;
b) providing legal advice to ELSC clients on their rights under UK domestic law and European human rights law;
c) developing strategies and guides to defend those affected by restrictive policies;
d) analysing relevant legislation and jurisprudence under UK and EU law; and
e) organising and participating in workshops and advocacy events.
To read the full job description, please click here.
To apply for this position, send your CV, a one-page cover letter outlining why you want to work for the ELSC and how you meet our requirements, and a legal writing sample, in English, to application@elsc.support with the subject line “ELSC UK Legal Officer Application” by Sunday 17 April.
This month we share with you news on our work to push back against the criminalisation of Palestinian civil society by Israel as well as our new report on shrinking space and Palestinian rights advocacy in the Netherlands. We also share good news from the UK where the authorities rejected unfounded allegations by a lawfare group, updates from the BT3P team who challenged the German Parliament in Court, and new job and traineeship opportunities with the ELSC.
Latest Israeli Attempt to Suppress Palestinian Civil Society
After the Israeli government’s latest attempt to criminalise six prominent Palestinian CSOs by designating them as “terrorist”, we signed a joint letter to express solidarity and collectively urge the international community to take all necessary measures to protect them. We also published a statement calling on the EU and its member states to reject the designation, to publicly oppose the repression of Palestinian civil society, and to continue their financial support to their Palestinian partners. A number of international actors have also firmly rejected the Israeli decision, you can keep track of these reactions here.
First ELSC Monitoring Report on Chilling Palestinian Rights Advocacy in the Netherlands
The attacks against Palestinian civil society are part of a global strategy of the Israeli authorities and their allies to silence Palestinian voices and this echoes with what we have been observing in Europe. On the 12th of October, we released our first monitoring report on the attempt to chill Palestinian rights advocacy in the Netherlands, which sheds light on the actors responsible for incidents of repression, including Israel-advocacy groups along with enabling actors such as Dutch right-wing media outlets and political parties. The report documents 76 cases of repression and the tactics used to repress Palestinian rights advocates.
BT3P vs. the Anti-BDS Motion of the German Bundestag: German Court Dismisses the Complaint
Since 2020, the ELSC has been supporting Palestinian-Jewish-German initiative Bundestag 3 for Palestine (BT3P) with lawyer Ahmed Abed to challenge the German Bundestag’s anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution that condemns the movement as antisemitic. Read our case summary. On October 7, the Berlin Administrative Court held the first hearing on the complaint. The Court ruled that the fundamental rights of the complainants have not been violated and the Bundestag is allowed to use the controversial IHRA definition as a parameter to assess antisemitism and therefore dismissed the case at this stage. Nevertheless, the Court recognised both its jurisdiction on the case and BT3P’s legal standing to challenge the resolution. Amir Ali, one of the plaintiffs, said in response to this decision: “We will appeal. With this complaint we are opposing the systematic suppression of human rights work for Palestinians in Germany”. Lawyer Abed added: “We see good chances for the next instance.”
UK Government Dismisses Attempt by UK Lawyers for Israel to Harm Palestinian Civil Society
In one of its latest attempt to delegitimise Palestinian civil society, UKLFI submitted a complaint to the UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (UK NCP) against PricewaterhouseCoopers Palestine Limited (PwC Palestine) for an alleged violation of the OECD Guidelines. In response, the UK NCP concluded that the complaint was unfounded as PwC Palestine “had appropriate policies and procedures in place to obtain reasonable assurance that its clients were upholding appropriate legal, compliance and ethical standards and also conducted reasonable investigations following the allegations by UKLFI.” Such a decision plays a crucial role in the struggle of global civil society against the phenomenon of shrinking civic space, as it exposes the groundlessness and unreliability of the accusations that lawfare actors such as UKLFI use to interrupt the activities of human rights organisations. Read more here.
Resources & News from Around Europe and Palestine
From Palestine, The Arab Center for Social Media – 7amleh just launched its Palestinian Digital Rights Violations Monitor 7or. If you are a Palestinian activist or a supporter of the Palestinian cause and you have had your social media account suspended or content taken down, faced online hate speech or other digital rights violations, report here and 7amleh will contact social media companies and follow up on your case.
This month, the French Platform of NGOs for Palestine also launched a report on the delegitimisation strategies employed against defenders of Palestinian human rights including attacks and defamation, with a focus on France. The ELSC contributed with some advice.
Other ELSC News
The ELSC is offering new job and traineeship opportunities. We are seeking a Development Officer to lead fundraising and administrative work, including management of human resources and strategic planning. The deadline to apply is 21 November. See the call for applications.
We are also very happy to launch our Movement Lawyering Traineeship that aims to educate the next generation of human rights lawyers and advocates by rooting their legal training, experience and practice in the Palestine solidarity movement. We accept application on a rolling basis for three positions:
We are currently welcoming applications for the positions of Junior Legal Officer: Monitor and Defend starting from 15th of July 2022 and Junior Advocacy Officer starting from May 2022.Read more and apply here.
We are now on Instagram! Follow us on our account elsclegal for updates on our work in promoting the right to advocate, and defending Palestinian rights advocates in Europe!
If you have faced repression for Palestinian rights advocacy whether at university, work, or during a protest in a public space or online, make sure to fill out our incident report form. This information enables us to track how Palestinian advocacy is attacked and silenced, helping us to better defend activists in times of need and push back against shrinking civic space.
You can join our movement to ensure that defenders of Palestinian rights receive free legal advice and support by making a one time or monthly donation to the ELSC. Any donation would empower our fight for Palestinian rights in Europe. If it is not possible to make a donation at this time, you could follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, share our posts and spread the word about repression of civic spaces for advocates of Palestinian rights.
The ELSC launches its Movement Lawyering Traineeship that aims to educate the next generation of human rights lawyers and advocates by rooting their legal training, experience and practice in the Palestine solidarity movement.
As part of the programme you will learn how to use legal mechanisms, advocacy, media and other tools to support grass-roots movements and advance social justice causes. The programme will allow participants to build foundational knowledge and experience for working as a legal practitioner in the human rights law firms and in NGOs.
You will be an active member of the ELSC team, working alongside programme staff to gain practical legal and advocacy experience to support Palestinian rights activists. ELSC movement lawyering trainees have the choice of joining one of our project teams.
The Movement Lawyering Traineeship accepts application on a rolling basis afor three positions:
We are currently welcoming applications forthe positions of: – One Junior Legal Officer: Monitor and Defend starting from 15th of July 2022 – One Junior Advocacy Officer starting from May 2022 – One Junior Advocacy Officer starting from November 2022 – One Junior Legal Officer: Monitor and Defend starting fromJanuary 2023
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview where they will be requested to complete a short assignment. Trainees under this programme with receive a monthly stipend of €1100 and will be invited join the ELSC team in Amsterdam.
We invite young lawyers and legal activists who want to join our efforts to further progressive human rights work to apply for the programme. Further details on candidate requirements are listed in the individual job descriptions at the link above.
We further welcome applications from students seeking to pursue the programme as part of their studies in accordance with the Erasmus+ and Erasmus Trainee programmes. If you would like more information on how to complete this programme alongside an Erasmus scheme, please contact us at application@elsc.support.
Do you want to join the movement lawyering traineeship? Send your CV and cover letter (max 250 words) to application@elsc.support. In your cover letter, please explain: 1. Why you are interested in a particular position of the programme and the ELSC’s mission 2. Your ideal starting and finishing date.
Minimum duration of the traineeship should be 6 months. We review applications on rolling bases.
We are seeking a part-time Project Officer to lead our work in the Netherlands.
As a Project Officer, you will connect with individuals, groups and organisations affected by repressions and censorship to document incidents and advise them on possible legal support available either within the ELSC or with an external legal partner.
Send your CV and a short motivation (max 250 words) detailing why you are interested in this role and the ELSC’s work to application@elsc.support with the subject line “Application: Project Officer Netherlands” by Sunday 29 August.
