Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus:
Georgia's Options at the Abkhaz Border
New Eastern Europe, February 21, 2017
Georgians are now at a crossroads as they contemplate the potential effects of a Trump-Putin détente for their country. The United States has long supported Georgia, as Russian influence creeped further and further into Georgian territory via the so-called “frozen conflicts” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Another Russian Annexation on Crimea's Anniversary
The Interpreter, March 19, 2015
On the anniversary of Crimea’s annexation, Russia is poised for yet another self-proclaimed legally compliant land grab; this time of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region.
Ukrainian nationalists strive to shake off allegations of anti-Semitism
Haaretz, February 28, 2014
Anti-government protesters say Nazi name-calling is propaganda designed to undermine their movement.
Immigration Stories:
States can't refuse Syrian refugees, but they sure can make them feel unwanted
The Guardian, November 17, 2015
The 26 US states that have refused to accept Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks are playing political football.
Immigration reform would help Detroit
The Detroit News, November 5, 2015
Large scale immigration reform is doomed to be merely a talking point until the 2016 presidential election.
Backlogs & bureaucracy are no excuse for the US to fail asylum-seekers
The Guardian, September 9, 2015
A miles-long waiting list continues to plague immigration judges and keeps people who are fleeing war zones in limbo.
Don't blame 'sanctuary city' policies for violent crime,
The Detroit News, August 3, 2015
The current debate criminalizes immigrants unfairly and local law enforcement will suffer in Detroit and Ann Arbor, among other "sanctuary cities."
The US has a responsibility to Syrian refugees that it can no longer shirk
The Guardian, June 9, 2015
Temporary Protected Status doesn’t fix much for those people fleeing violence in Syria – and it doesn’t help the communities in which they settle.
Asylum/Refugee Stories:
In Europe, the Word 'Migrant" Is Not the Problem
Huffington Post, September 2, 2015
If the current international response is any indication, singling out refugees from other groups of people who relocate is slamming doors shut instead of paving paths towards safety and security.
Refugees or Migrants? The distinction is important and often misunderstood
The World - PRX, August 18, 2015
The motivation for moving does not easily fall into “forced” or “voluntary” categories. A person can simultaneously flee persecution and still seek opportunity.
Israel-Palestine:
A city with no sovereign: The Jerusalem passport case
+972 Magazine, June 10, 2015
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the State Department can continue refusing to print ‘Israel’ as the place of birth for American citizens born in Jerusalem.
Leveraging the ICC to push for Palestinian statehood at the UN
+972 Magazine, March 25, 2015
Could a shift in U.S.-Israeli relations lay the groundwork for bolder legal and diplomatic moves in the international arena against Israel and the occupation?
Palestinian 'lawfare': Toward brinksmanship or progress?
+972 Magazine, January 10, 2015
Palestine’s accession to the International Criminal Court is a new battleground in the conflict with Israel; settlements will be the thorniest legal issue in the courtroom (if it ever gets there).
The time is ripe for a UN resolution on Gaza
+972 Magazine, August 6, 2014
With a ceasefire now in effect between Israel and Hamas, diplomacy can begin to take root.
Israeli, Hamas war crimes becoming increasingly harder to distinguish
+972 Magazine, July 25, 2014
Both sides are guilty of violating international law but the source of an attack on a Gaza UN school could be a game changer.
Opinion: Constructive unilateralism - Israel's insurance policy
Haaretz, August 8, 2013
Relocating 100,000 settlers would both complement peace talks and set the foundation for a two-state solution should talks fail.
Drawing Palestinians and Israelis together, with the stroke of a video paintbrush
Haaretz, May 16, 2013
Blake Shaw's 'video painting' project in Israel-Palestine uses cutting-edge technology to build bridges.
Pro-Israeli Egyptian activist receives hostile welcome in Tel Aviv
Haaretz, January 3, 2013
Egyptian peace blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad gets heckled and insulted by Arab-Israeli protesters.
Panetta: U.S. prepared to implement 'other options' to prevent a nuclear Iran
Haaretz, August 1, 2012 (contributed to report)
During a tour of Iron Dome system in Ashkelon with Barak, U.S. Defense Secretary says the U.S. ' respects Israel's sovereignty to decide what's in their best interest.'
Art/Culture Stories:
The Best Part of Waking Up,
Popcorn: The Literary Blog of Sense Writing, August 3, 2014
An ode to coffee.
The Detroit Institute of Arts and city workers unite against creditors
Medium, May 6, 2014
A landmark agreement regarding pension cuts could help resolve Detroit’s historic bankruptcy and safeguard its art collection.
Billy Rose Art Garden at the Israel Museum
Haaretz, February 24, 2014
The Israel Museum’s outdoor sculpture collection offers an opportunity for adventuresome art appreciation.
Tourist Tip / The Holon Design Museum
Haaretz, February 24, 2013
The museum building itself is a tribute to beauty and functionality.
International Law Publications And
Book Chapters:
Representing Clients in Immigration Court
5th Ed. (Paperback – January 1, 2018)
Author/Editor: CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network); Issuing Body: American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
The Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court
Indian Journal of International Law, Vol.54, January 2016
An overview of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court, its organizational set-up, role in appointing judges, and efforts in promoting universality, cooperation, and complementarity.