The Zachor Legal Institute is a research institute working on legal approaches to countering and suing pro-Palestine movements in the USA. Their main objective is to stop the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, which is falsely accused by pro-Israel organizations such as Zachor of being “anti-Semitic”. Zachor has adopted two approaches in countering anti-Israel activism:1
• Defensive:
Using legal methods to stop organizations, governmental bodies and academic institutions from accepting and adopting BDS principles.
• Offensive:
Using federal and state laws such as “anti-terrorism laws” to threaten and put financial and media pressure on BDS activists and funders, punishing them with fines and jail.
The President of the Zachor Legal Institute, Marc Greendorfer has stated:
“Today’s anti-Semitism is particularly potent online. Our New Antisemites report demonstrates how it breeds new forms of the age-old hatred manifesting in the delegitimization campaign against Israel which is blatantly anti-Semitic according to the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism. Hate speech and hate crimes are highly correlated. Social media platforms must assume responsibility to protect users and combat this inciteful hatred. The volume and velocity at which anti-Semitism grows online require greater responsibility on behalf of the platforms that enable them to spread. There is no free pass to amplifying anti-Semitism. We’re not just fighting hate speech; we’re fighting for people’s safety.”2
