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Natasha Hausdorff

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Natasha Hausdorff
Natasha Hausdorff in 2022
BornOctober 1989 (age 35)
CitizenshipBritish
Alma mater
OccupationBarrister
Years active2013–present
Employer6 Pump Court Chambers
OrganizationUK Lawyers for Israel
Known forSpecialist in international law
RelativesAzriel Zelig Hausdorf

Natasha Hausdorff (born October 1989) is a British barrister, international law expert, and member of pro-Israel lobbying group UK Lawyers for Israel.[1][2][3]

She is a barrister with 6 Pump Court Chambers out of London. A graduate of Oxford University and Tel Aviv University, Hausdorff practised with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and clerked for the chief justice of the Israeli Supreme Court. She was a former fellow at Columbia Law School in the National Security Law Program. She is also the legal director of the NGO UKLFI Charitable Trust.

Early life

Hausdorff grew up in Kensington, a borough of London, England.[4][5] Her Israeli father was born in Tel Aviv.[4][5] According to Hausdorff, her family "goes back eight generations in the Land of Israel".[6] Her paternal ancestor Azriel Zelig Hausdorf was born in Myslovitz[7] and emigrated to Jerusalem, by way of London, in 1847.[4] Her parents met in Israel.[8][2]

She attended the Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, West London.[9] Hausdorff is fluent in German.[10]

University and law school

Hausdorff holds law degrees from Oxford University (Lincoln College, in 2012) and from Tel Aviv University, from which she graduated with an LL.M. magna cum laude in international public law and the law of armed conflict in 2016.[11][2][12][13] In 2018, as a Pegasus Scholar she was a Fellow in the National Security Law Program at Columbia Law School.[12][13]

Hausdorff specialises in commercial, regulatory and international law, and is a barrister with 6 Pump Court Chambers in London since 2016.[8][12] Before coming to the Bar, Hausdorff qualified as a solicitor in 2015, with the United States multinational commercial law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, with whom she practised in London and Brussels from 2013 to 2015.[11][13] Hausdorff clerked for the president of the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem, Chief Justice Miriam Naor, from June until August 2016.[14][8]

Hausdorff’s practice includes commercial litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters, and public international law. She represents domestic and international clients, including private companies and government departments, both as sole counsel and junior to leading counsel.[13]

Israel advocacy

On a volunteer pro bono basis, Hausdorff is the legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust.[1][12][8][2] She speaks for Israel on a pro bono basis, and has spoken about the international law that applies to the status of the territory of Israel, and the rule of customary international law of uti possidetis juris.[8][15] Hausdorff appeared on the debate programme "Intelligence Squared," and has spoken at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College Dublin, Trinity College, and Durham University.[2] Hausdorff has stated that she opposes the creation of an independent Palestinian state, arguing it has no foundation in international law, and that Israel is the legitimate sovereign power over the West Bank.[3]

"Lawfare"

Hausdorff has stated that because Israel's opponents had concluded that warfare and terror attacks had not achieved their goal of eliminating the state, they had taken a different approach to attack Israel in the international legal arena.[16] She categorized this conclusion, meaning the abuse of the law for political means, under the detractor's framing of the term lawfare and referred to it as such.[16] She is of the opinion that many of the charges brought against Israel before international bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are based on falsehoods and the manipulation of international law.[16] She said that even though these cases may not ultimately be successful, those bringing the false charges do so for the public relations agenda they pursue, as they generate negative media attention about Israel.[16] She believes as well that "lawfare" discredits "real international law and generates a double standard concerning the Jewish state."[16]

International commentator

Hausdorff has appeared as a commentator on legal matters for international media, including the BBC,[17] Sky News,[18] Talk TV,[19] Fox News,[20] CNN, and GB News.[13] She has also written for The Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, The Times,The Law Society Gazette, and The Algemeiner.[21][22][13] She has briefed politicians and international organisations, and has spoken at European parliaments and at the United Nations.[13] She has been a keynote speaker on aspects of public international law, foreign affairs, and national security policy.[13]

ICJ ruling

In January 2024, Hausdorff discussed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling explaining that this provisional measures order by the Court simply determined whether South Africa claimed “plausible rights”, namely whether it raised a case that engaged the Genocide Convention and therefore fell for the consideration of the Court. "[23] She said that the "provisional measures" that the court said Israel was obligated to undertake, were those that Israel was clear it was already in compliance with. She also addressed the quotes that South Africa had advanced as part of its case alleging "incitement to genocide comments", which she says had been misrepresented and manipulated, including by South Africa allegedly having left out context which supposedly demonstrated the quotations referred to Hamas.[23]

Gaza Health Ministry casualty figures

Hausdorff has been skeptical of the casualty figures coming from the Gaza Ministry of Health, claiming that inflated casualty numbers from the initial reports of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion were never reduced in the official tally. The Health Ministry additionally does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, she argues, as a way to obfuscate high combatant death counts.[23]

United Nations

Hausdorff has said that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has a Standing Agenda Item 7 covering "Human rights violations and implications of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories", and has alleged that no other country in the world is subjected by the UNHRC to a stand-alone focus on the UNHRC permanent agenda.[16] She also said that the so called "UN blacklist" of firms singles out Israeli companies and companies operating in the Israeli-occupied territories. In 2024, Hausdorff participated in a panel at the 79th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, focusing on proportionality in armed conflict.[24]

ICC

Speaking in May 2024 about International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Kahn having requested the issuance of arrest warrants against leaders of Hamas as well as against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, she said: "[T]here should not have been any threat from the criminal court, because it has no jurisdiction to investigate the events taking place on the soil of Israel or Gaza. The court's jurisdiction is limited to conflicts that occur on the territory of countries that are signatories to the Treaty of Rome that established the ICC ... or to actions for which a complaint has been filed by a member state.... Since Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Convention and has never recognized the jurisdiction of the court, [the ICC] cannot deal with what is happening on [Israel's] territory. Since a Palestinian state does not exist, he cannot discuss its claims either.... Therefore, it is easy to see that the motives of the criminal court and prosecutor ... are distinctly political."[25]

Hezbollah pager attack

After the Hezbollah pager attack in September 2024, in which over 3,000 pagers intended for use by Hezbollah militants exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and Syria, Hausdorff said that if Israel was responsible, then on the information that was available the attack appeared to be "incredibly precise. Rules on targeting are principally necessity, distinction, and proportionality.[26] It is hard to imagine a better means of targeting Hezbollah operatives."[27][26]

Submissions to parliaments

Hausdorff has made submissions to a number of different legislatures including the Irish,[28] Czech,[29] and UK parliaments.[30] In turn, she has also been quoted by British lawmakers.[31]

Submissions to international courts

Through the NGO UKLFI, Hausdorff has made multiple submissions to international courts and tribunals.[32][33]

On 24 April 2024, Hausdorff gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on the "relevant legal, political and military issues impacting UK arms exports to Israel".[34]

Debating

At university, Hausdorff was active in debate.[35] In June 2024, she partnered with Douglas Murray,[36] at the Munk Debate,[37] debating against Mehdi Hasan and Gideon Levy, and she and Murray convinced two-thirds of the audience that antisemitism and anti-Zionism are the same; 61% of the audience already believed this before the debate.[38][39][40]

In November 2024, she participated in a debate at Oxford University. The event caused much controversy with several Oxford academics writing to “unequivocally condemn the incendiary remarks made by some speakers in support of Hamas and terrorist violence." The Oxford Union ended up voting for the proposition that "Israel is an apartheid state that is committing genocide" with 278 votes for and only 59 votes against.[41]

Personal

Hausdorff's ancestor Azriel Zelig Hausdorf was a Zionist who came to Jerusalem in 1847.[42] He was responsible for philanthropic building projects in the Old City of Jerusalem, including a shelter and hospitality project[43][44] and the construction of a hospital. As a leading member of Jerusalem's Jewish community in 1866 he was authorized by the Prussian consul to act as a defense attorney for Jews in legal proceedings.[45]

In October 2024, The Jerusalem Post named Hausdorff the #2 young "2024 ViZionary," that being the #2 most influential young Zionist, and a "prominent advocate for Israel's legal rights on the global stage."[1]

Hausdorff lit a torch on Israel's 77th Independence Day in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of Israel.[46][47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "25 ViZionaries: Natasha Hausdorff - No. 2; Prominent advocate for Israel’s legal rights on the global stage. " The Jerusalem Post, 1 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Matan Hasidim (3 July 2024). "Natasha Hausdorff: The British attorney who fights Israel's wars – and sounds alarm on a UK Labour government," Israel HaYom.
  3. ^ a b "Senior British MP rages at 'delusional' pro-Israel lawyer in parliament meeting". Middle East Eye. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Karen Glaser (March 2, 2023). "Meet the brilliant barrister battling lies about Israel," The Jewish Chronicle.
  5. ^ a b Matan Hasidim (July 3, 2024). "Natasha Hausdorff: The British attorney who fights Israel's wars – and sounds alarm on a UK Labour government," Israel HaYom.
  6. ^ Katten, Brenda (21 December 2024). "It's Time for the Hausdorff Perspective - Interview". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Hausdorf, Azriel Zelig". Encyclopaedia Judaica. 1971. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Karen Glaser (2 March 2023). "Meet the brilliant barrister battling lies about Israel," The Jewish Chronicle.
  9. ^ "MP dons toga for history protest". BBC News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Six Pump Court". Legal 500. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Natasha Hausdorff," Legal500.
  12. ^ a b c d "Natasha Hausdorff," Algemeiner.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Natasha Hausdorff," Six Pump Court.
  14. ^ "A few minutes with… Natasha Hausdorff". Mishpacha. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Does Israel have a legitimate claim of sovereignty over the West Bank?". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Bonny Feldman (October 2, 2023). "Abuse of the law for political motives: ‘Lawfare’ is the new form of warfare against Israel," The Cape Jewish Chronicle.
  17. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff corrects the reporting of the ICJ's Order of 24 May & developments in Rafah". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff on the 'misinformed analysis' surrounding Hezbollah pager attacks". Sky News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff discusses Iran and Israel with Julia Hartley-Brewer on Talk TV". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff discusses the Hezbollah pagers and rising antisemitism on Fox News". YouTube. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b c "ICJ ruling ‘nonevent’: lawyer," Jewish Independent, February 9, 2024
  24. ^ Congress, World Jewish. "World Jewish Congress". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  25. ^ מתן חסידים (June 19, 2024). "עורכת הדין הבריטית נטשה האוסדורף מושיבה את האג על ספסל הנאשמים", מָקוֹר רִאשׁוֹן.
  26. ^ a b "Israel accused of violating international law for ‘incredibly precise’ pager attack on Hezbollah'; “It is hard to imagine a better means of targeting Hezbollah operatives, whoever is behind the exploding devices,” Natasha Hausdorff, of UK Lawyers for Israel, told JNS" JNS, September 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff on the ‘misinformed analysis’ surrounding Hezbollah pager attacks," Sky News Australia, September 22, 2024.
  28. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (13 May 2021). "Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence debate - Thursday, 13 May 2021". www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  29. ^ "The Czech and Jewish peoples - a deep bond - Christians for Israel International". Christians for Israel International. 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Business and Trade Committee Oral evidence: UK arms exports to Israel, HC 690". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Lords Chamber - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  32. ^ "UK Lawyers for Israel warns ICC Prosecutor of breaching rules for warrants against Israeli leaders". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  33. ^ "UKLFI warns ICC Prosecutor that he is breaching professional rules". UKLFI. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  34. ^ "24 April 2024 - UK arms exports to Israel – Oral evidence". UK Parliament. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Law, Lies, and Justice: An Interview with Natasha Hausdorff on Israel's Legal Battles". Mizrachi. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Douglas Murray | Factsheet: Islamophobia | the Bridge Initiative".
  37. ^ "Natasha Hausdorff". Mizrachi. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  38. ^ "Munk Debate on Anti Zionism". Munk Debate. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  39. ^ Ari David Blaff (June 18, 2024). "Majority at Munk Debates say anti-Zionism equals antisemitism," The National Post.
  40. ^ Yvette Alt Miller (June 23, 2024). "The Munk Debate: Is Anti-Zionism Antisemitism?," Aish.
  41. ^ "After debate, Oxford Union votes Israel is 'apartheid' state committing 'genocide'". The Times of Israel.
  42. ^ "Encyclopedia of the Founders and Builders of Israel". Tidhar. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  43. ^ "בתי מחסה". Meda. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  44. ^ "המגיד⁩, 11 מאי 1859⁩ — על דבר בנין בתי מחסה לעניים והכנסת אורחים על הר ציון בירושלים". National Library Israel. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Quote from Cathedra 1998 - files from the archives of the German Consulate in Israel (11) Nefos books (3)". Cathedra and Nefos Books.
  46. ^ "Intl. lawyer Natasha Hausdorff chosen to light torch on Independence Day". Israel National News. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  47. ^ "Israel announces torchbearers for 77th Independence Day". IsraelHayom. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
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