Is Israel’s war with Iran legal under international law, or is it a war of aggression?
In this episode of “Basic Law,” international law expert Professor Avi Bell joins host Aylana Meisel to unpack the legal justification behind Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear program. Together, they examine the laws of armed conflict, the principle of self-defense, proportionality and how international legal frameworks apply to the war currently shaking the Middle East.
Aylana Meisel, executive director of the Israel Law & Liberty Forum, hosts this high-stakes conversation with Professor Avi Bell, renowned international law scholar at Bar-Ilan University, the University of San Diego and a fellow at the Kohelet Policy Forum. As Israel faces global criticism for a sweeping military campaign, including targeted assassinations, strikes on nuclear enrichment facilities and critical infrastructure, this episode offers viewers the essential legal lens through which to understand the unfolding war.
The episode covers key legal frameworks, including “jus ad bellum” (the legal grounds for going to war) and “jus in bello” (the legality of conduct during war). Does Iran’s sponsorship of terror through proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah change the legal equation? Are nuclear scientists and oil depots legitimate targets? How does international law define proportionality, and does Israel meet that standard?
Bell argues that Israel is not starting a new war but responding within an ongoing armed conflict initiated by Tehran.
Tune in to understand how international law is being manipulated—or misunderstood—by Israel’s critics and what it truly says about the right to self-defense in modern warfare.
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The Israel Law & Liberty Forum is proud to partner with JNS to offer a platform for conservative and classical liberal legal thought from within Israel. Any opinions stated are those of the speaker and not meant to represent the positions of the forum or JNS. The forum is an organization that fosters thoughtful conversation and debate on key issues in Israeli law and democracy. The forum takes no official position regarding any specific policy issue, nor does it advance specific policies.
