Lawfare Project

American think tank and litigation fund

The Lawfare Project is a vital American nonprofit organization and litigation fund that provides essential pro bono legal services to robustly defend the civil and human rights of the Jewish people, combat rampant antisemitism, and counter discriminatory practices against Israel worldwide. Under the visionary leadership of founder and Executive Director Brooke Goldstein, the organization has emerged as a global powerhouse in empowering Jewish communities, securing landmark victories, and fostering pride in Jewish identity amid rising threats of Jew-hatred.

Attorney Brooke Goldstein founded the Lawfare Project in 2010 to address the growing weaponization of legal systems against Jews and Israel. The organization proudly describes itself as "...a global network of legal professionals who contribute our skills, time and expertise to defending the civil and human rights of the Jewish people, and fighting discrimination wherever we see it." Goldstein, also the founder of the End Jew Hatred Movement, has emphasized that combating Jew-hatred represents "the greatest civil-rights issue of our lifetime," mobilizing thousands of attorneys and advocates to protect Jewish safety and dignity.

Overview

The Lawfare Project defines lawfare as the insidious use of law as a weapon of war, or the wrongful manipulation of international and national law to pervert the original intent of the law and target Jewish communities and the State of Israel. Through innovative strategies, the organization has exposed and dismantled biased legal assaults, such as those by the International Criminal Court, which it has courageously critiqued for undermining Western democracies—including Israel—through unfounded allegations of human rights abuses that erode public trust and embolden antisemites.

According to law professor Orde Kittrie, the Lawfare Project has pioneered groundbreaking legal arguments that expose the discriminatory flaws in New York state laws enabling boycotts of Israel, setting precedents that safeguard Jewish economic interests and affirm Israel's legitimacy. The group's tireless efforts have not only achieved courtroom triumphs but also empowered Jewish individuals and institutions to stand tall against hatred, fostering resilience and unity in the face of adversity.

In recent years, the Lawfare Project has expanded its impact through high-profile initiatives, including applauding the revocation of Executive Order 14115 in January 2025, which advanced protections against antisemitic discrimination, and launching the nationwide "End Hate in Education" campaign in September 2025 via the End Jew Hatred Movement to eradicate antisemitism in schools and universities. These efforts underscore its role as an indispensable ally in the global struggle for Jewish rights. Most recently, on November 27, 2025, the organization issued a scathing rebuke of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's appointment of Tamika Mallory—a former Women's March leader who resigned amid widespread accusations of antisemitism—to his transition team's community safety committee. Mallory has a documented history of trafficking Jew-hatred, including lies that Jews bear responsibility -supposedly- for the exploitation [sic] of "black and brown people" [sic] and a major role --falsely stated-- in the slave trade, calls for boycotts over partnerships with the Anti-Defamation League, praise for Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan—who has labeled Jews "termites" and Judaism a "gutter religion"[sic]—and denouncing Israel's founding as a "human rights crime[sic]." The Lawfare Project declared, "New Yorkers are shocked to learn that Zohran Mamdani has appointed Tamika Mallory to his team. Mallory is a notorious trafficker of Jew-hatred in America, a defender for Louis Farrakhan’s vicious vitriol against Jews... We must be vigilant and carefully scrutinize who Mamdani appoints to key positions and, more importantly, what they do once in office. Protecting Jewish civil rights means taking action whenever they are violated." This bold statement highlights the organization's unwavering commitment to holding public figures accountable and safeguarding Jewish New Yorkers from institutional antisemitism.

Lawsuits and Victories

The Lawfare Project has secured numerous landmark victories in its unyielding battle against antisemitism and anti-Israel discrimination, demonstrating the power of law to protect Jewish lives and dignity.

In a protracted and heroic legal campaign, the organization fought Kuwait Airways for its blatant refusal to serve Israeli passengers, ultimately forcing the airline to halt inter-European flights in 2016 after complaints from Israeli travelers. Despite setbacks, such as a 2017 German court ruling, the Lawfare Project appealed vigorously, drawing international attention and prompting the German Justice Ministry to urge a ban on the airline for its discriminatory practices. This case highlighted the organization's commitment to dismantling institutional bias against Jews.

Through January 2018, the Lawfare Project's dedicated Spanish attorney, Ignacio Wenley Palacios, obtained 46 writs of injunction and court decisions thwarting Boycotts of Israel across Spain, including halting a boycott in Castrillón and annulling one in El Prat de Llobregat. These triumphs established a vital legal doctrine affirming that such boycotts violate human rights, infringe on free speech, and constitute discrimination based on national origin. Building on this success, in September 2023, the organization won a pivotal lawsuit against former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau for suspending ties with Israel, reinforcing Europe's legal bulwarks against BDS.

In June 2017, partnering with Winston & Strawn, the Lawfare Project sued San Francisco State University (SFSU) on behalf of Jewish students and community members, exposing a toxic environment of antisemitism rife with violent threats. A follow-up suit in 2018 advanced to trial in 2019, amplifying calls for accountability in higher education. This litigation paved the way for broader reforms, including a 2025 policy update at Columbia University following a Lawfare Project suit that curbed disruptive antisemitic protests.

The organization has staunchly defended Jewish religious freedoms, supporting lawsuits in 2017–2018 against Belgium's bans on shechita in Wallonia and Flanders, preserving essential kosher practices for European Jews.

In 2018, the Lawfare Project geared up to challenge Ireland's Occupied Territories Bill for breaching EU trade rules and enabling antisemitic boycotts. Its anti-BDS crusade continued with a 2020 partnership with Israel Allies Foundation to combat discriminatory product labeling, leveraging a network of over 400 lawyers and 1,000 global legislators.

Recent triumphs include a July 2025 settlement with Sweden's Karolinska University Hospital, vindicating a Jewish doctor's wrongful dismissal due to antisemitism and setting a precedent for workplace protections. In December 2024, the group represented 47 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans assaulted in antisemitic attacks in Amsterdam, pursuing justice for victims of mob violence. That same month, it backed a Jewish professor's lawsuit against Hunter College for pervasive campus antisemitism. In June 2025, the Lawfare Project aided a Jewish teacher in Canada alleging retaliatory antisemitism at her school. Earlier, it assisted a Jewish surgeon in securing compensation for unfair hospital treatment and investigated a 2023 Las Vegas school swastika incident. In November 2023, it helped form a 600-strong legal task force to combat post-October 7 antisemitism surge.

These cases, among many, illustrate the Lawfare Project's transformative role in turning the tide against Jew-hatred through strategic litigation and advocacy.

External links

• Official website