Bio
George E. Bisharat was a trial lawyer for the Office of the Public Defender in San Francisco before joining the UC Law SF faculty in 1991. Professor Bisharat studied law, anthropology, and Middle East studies at Harvard, and wrote a book about Palestinian lawyers working under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank. He writes frequently on law and politics in the Middle East, both for academic audiences and for major media sources in the U.S. and abroad. Professor Bisharat is an avid fly fisher, sometimes in such exotic locations as Russia and New Zealand, and also writes articles for fly fishing magazines. He is a singer, songwriter, and blues harmonica player specializing in the chromatic harmonica, and as “Big Harp George” has recorded two albums that earned award nominations and critical acclaim . His wife, Jaleh Bisharat, is a business marketing executive working in high tech.
Selected Scholarship
Books
Ìý(Univ. of Texas Press 1989).
Journal Articles
Apersistência das desigualdades raciais no sistema de justiça criminal dos EUA, 21ÌýJuris PoiesisÌý256 (2018) (in Portugese).Ìý
Mobilizing International Law in the Palestinian Struggle for Justice, 18ÌýGlobal JuristÌý(2018) (with Jeff Handmaker, Ghada Karmi & Alaa Tartir).Ìý
Law Against the People/The Empire Strikes Back, 42ÌýRevista ´¡²Ô³Ù°ù´Ç±è´Ç±ôóپ±³¦²¹Ìý296 (2017).ÌýÌý
Re-centering Justice as the End Goal of Our Struggle, 20ÌýPalestine Y.B. Int’l L.Ìý(2017).
Stumbling Forward in Syria, 37ÌýHastings Int’l & Comp. L. Rev.Ìý159 (2014).Ìý
The Plea Bargain Machine, 7ÌýDilemasÌý767 (2014).ÌýÌý
Anthropology & Law as Two Sibling Rivals, 34Ìý´¡²Ô³Ù°ù´Ç±è´Ç±ôóپ±³¦²¹Ìý121 (2013).Ìý
Re-Democratizing Palestinian Politics, 17ÌýUCLA J. Int’l L. & Foreign Aff.Ìý1 (2013).Ìý
Violence’s Law: Israel’s Campaign to Transform International Legal Norms, 43ÌýJ. Palestine Stud.Ìý68 (2013).Ìý
Introduction to “Litigating Palestine: Can Courts Secure Palestinian Rights?”, 35ÌýHastings Int’l & Comp. L. Rev.Ìý91 (2012).Ìý
Freedom Thwarted: Israel’s Illegal Attack on the Gaza Flotilla, 4ÌýBerkeley J. Middle E. & Islamic L.Ìý79 (2011) (with Carey James, & Rose Mishaan).Ìý
Boycotting Israeli Apartheid: Practical and Ethical Questions, 10ÌýIllawarra UnityÌý23 (2010).ÌýÌý
Israel’s Invasion of Gaza in International Law, 38ÌýDenv. J. Intl’l L. & Pol’yÌý41 (2009) (with Timothy Crawley, Sara Elturk, Carey James, Rose Mishaan, Akila Radhakrishnan, & Anna Sanders).Ìý
Mobilizing Palestinians in Support of One State, 2ÌýContemp. Arab Aff.Ìý552 (2009).
Maximizing Rights: The One State Solution to the Palestinian–Israeli Conflict, 8ÌýGlobal Jurist FrontiersÌýArt. 1 (2008).Ìý
Facts, Rights, and Remedies: Implementing International Law in the Israel/Palestine Conflict, 28ÌýHastings Int’l & Comp. L. Rev.Ìý319 (2005).Ìý
Facing Tyranny with Justice: Alternatives to War in the Confrontation with Iraq, 7ÌýJ. Gender Race & Just.Ìý1 (2003).Ìý
Sanctions as Genocide, 11ÌýTransnat’l L. & Contemp. Probs.Ìý379 (Fall 2001).Ìý
Peace and the Political Imperative of Legal Reform in Palestine, 31ÌýCase W. Res. J. Int’l L.Ìý253 (1999).Ìý
Courting Justice? Legitimation in Lawyering Under Israeli Occupation, 20ÌýLaw & Soc. InquiryÌý349 (1995).Ìý
Land, Law, and Legitimacy in Israel and the Occupied Territories, 43ÌýAm. U. L. Rev.Ìý467 (1994).Ìý
Chapters In Books
Justice for All: Toward an Integrated Strategy for Liberation in Israel–PalestineÌýPalestine Yearbook of International LawÌý28 (Ardi Imseis ed., Brill 2014).Ìý
Maximizing Rights: The One-State Solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, inÌýInternational Law and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Rights-Based Approach to Middle East PeaceÌý29 (Susan Akram et al. eds., Routledge 2011).Ìý
The Gaza Occupation and Siege Are Illegal, inÌýMidnight on the Mavi Marmara: The Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and How It Changed the Course of the Israel/Palestine ConflictÌý102 (Moustafa Bayoumi ed., Haymarket Books 2010).
Gaza Strip, inÌý2 Governments of the World: A Global Guide to Citizens’ Rights and ResponsibilitiesÌý146 (C. Neal Tate ed., 2005).
Palestine, inÌý3 Governments of the World: A Global Guide to Citizens’ Rights and ResponsibilitiesÌý237 (C. Neal Tate ed., 2005).
West Bank, inÌý4 Governments of the World: A Global Guide to Citizens’ Rights and ResponsibilitiesÌý290 (C. Neal Tate ed., 2005).
Sanctions Against Iraq Are Genocide, inÌýDefining the Horrific: Readings on Genocide and Holocaust in the Twentieth CenturyÌý338 (William L. Hewitt ed., Prentice Hall 2003).
Peace and the Political Imperative of Legal Reform in Palestine, inÌýPalestine and International Law: Essays on Politics and EconomicsÌý214 (Sanford R. Silverburg ed., McFarland & Co. 2002).Ìý
Attorneys for the People, Attorneys for the Land: The Emergence of Cause Lawyering in the Israeli–Occupied Territories, inÌýCause Lawyering: Political Commitments and Professional ResponsibilitiesÌý453 (Austin Sarat & Stuart Scheingold eds., Oxford Univ. Press 1998).Ìý
Exile to Compatriot: Transformations in the Social Identity of Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank, inÌýCulture Power, Place: Explorations in Critical Anthropology 203 (Akhil Gupta & James Ferguson eds., Duke Univ. Press 1997).
Pursuing a Questionable Suppression Motion, inÌýEthical Problems Facing the Criminal Defense LawyerÌý63 (Rodney J. Uphoff ed., Amer. Bar Ass’n 1995).Ìý
Displacement and Social Identity: Palestinian Refugees in the West Bank, inÌýPopulation Displacement and Resettlement: Development and Conflict in the Middle EastÌý165 (Seteney Khalid Shami ed., Ctr. for Migration Stud. 1994).
Book Reviews
Book Review, 20ÌýShofarÌý130 (Summer 2002) (reviewingÌýGeoffrey R. Watson, The Oslo Accords: International Law and the Iraeli–Palestinian Peace Agreements (2000)).
Book Review, 99ÌýAm. AnthropologistÌý664 (1997) (reviewingÌýE. Valentine Daniel & John Chr. Knudsen Eds., Mistrusting Refugees (1995)).
Palestinian Sovereignty or Internationalization?, 12ÌýJ. Palestine Stud.Ìý71 (Summer 1983) (reviewingÌýHenry Cattan, Jerusalem (1981)).
Newspaper & Magazine Articles
How Can Targeted Killings Be Justified? Lawful Versus Wise Policy,ÌýN.Y. Times, Nov. 14, 2012.Ìý
Israel Stacks the Legal Deck,ÌýL.A. Times, Mar. 7, 2012.Ìý
Palestine’s State Status Enables Security,ÌýS.F. Chron., Dec. 3, 2012.Ìý
Israeli Intimidation Brings Shift in Gaza Report,ÌýS.F. Chron., Apr. 6, 2011.Ìý
A True One-State Solution,ÌýWash. Post, Sep. 3, 2010.
Gaza Occupation and Siege Are Illegal,ÌýS.F. Chron., June 4, 2010.Ìý
Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem Intolerant?,ÌýS.F. Chron., Sep. 5, 2010.Ìý
Palestinians Deserve to be Recognised,ÌýThe Australian, May 7, 2010.Ìý
A U.N. Report Finds War Crimes in the Fighting: Now Israel Must Be Held Accountable,ÌýL.A. Times, Sept. 18, 2009.
Changing the Rules of War,ÌýS.F. Chron., Apr. 1, 2009.Ìý
Has Israel’s Response Exceeded its Right to Defend Itself?,ÌýS.F. Chron, Jan. 5, 2009.Ìý
Hold Israel Accountable for Gaza,ÌýSeattle Times, Feb. 5, 2009.
Israel is Committing War Crimes,ÌýWall Street J., Jan. 10, 2009.Ìý
Israel on Trial,ÌýN.Y. Times, Apr. 4, 2009.
Obama Should Back Goldstone Report,ÌýS.F. Chron., Sep. 30, 2009.Ìý
Should Israel Deal with Hamas?,ÌýL.A. Times, Jan. 9, 2009 (with James Phillips).Ìý
The Gaza Docket Israel III,ÌýInt’l Herald Trib., Apr. 7, 2009, at 8.
What’s Israel Trying to Accomplish in Gaza?,ÌýL.A. Times, Jan. 8, 2009 (with James Phillips).Ìý
Will Hamas Emerge Stronger?,ÌýL.A. Times, Jan. 7, 2009 (with James Phillips).Ìý
A Two–State or One–State Solution?,ÌýL.A. Times, May 14, 2008 (with Judea Pearl).Ìý
Israel Starting from Scratch,ÌýL.A. Times, May 12, 2008 (with Judea Pearl).Ìý
Jimmy Carter, Hamas. Hamas, Jimmy Carter,ÌýL.A. Times, May 13, 2008 (with Judea Pearl).Ìý
Obama’s Missteps,ÌýS.F. Chron., June 17, 2008.ÌýÌý
Roots in the Holy Land,ÌýL.A. Times, May 16, 2008 (with Judea Pearl).Ìý
Should the U.S. Help Broker Peace?,ÌýL.A. Times, May 15, 2008 (with Judea Pearl).Ìý
The ‘National Suicide’ Incantation,ÌýL.A. Times, June 9, 2008.Ìý
The Fallacy of Islamic ‘National Suicide’,ÌýL.A. Times, June 9, 2008.Ìý
Where’s Healthy Debate on U.S. Policy Toward Israel?,ÌýHouston Chron., June 12, 2008.Ìý
A Double Standard on Academic Freedom in the Middle East,ÌýBalt. Sun, Sept. 17, 2007, at A13 (with Judea Pearl).
A Question of Justice,ÌýS.F. Chron., Jan. 4, 2007.ÌýÌý
For Palestinians, Memory Matters,ÌýS.F. Chron., May 13, 2007.ÌýÌý
From Personal Experience,ÌýHouston Chron., Jan. 31, 2007 (reprinted as Pro–Israeli Lobby Is Silencing Dissent,ÌýSacramento Bee, Feb. 25, 2007, at E1).Ìý
Solution on Which All Agree Impossible to Achieve,ÌýS.F. Chron., June 2, 2007.ÌýÌý
Truth at Last, While Breaking a U.S. Taboo of Criticizing Israel,ÌýPhila. Inquirer, Jan. 2, 2007.
What Justifies Boycott of a State?,ÌýS.F. Chron., Aug. 15, 2007.ÌýÌý
Aid to Israel is Out of Hand,ÌýTopeka Capital–Journal, Jan. 7, 2006.
Did Israel Really Need to Savage the Beauty of Beirut?,ÌýUSA Today, Aug. 2, 2006.Ìý
Israel Will Harvest a Future of Violence and Conflict with Lebanon,ÌýS.F. Chron., July 20, 2006.ÌýÌý
They Chose a Government That Will Stand Up For Their Rights,ÌýDallas Morning News, Feb. 3, 2006.
Unilateral Action by Israel Spawns Violence in Gaza,ÌýBalt. Sun, Aug. 17, 2006, at A15.
What Did Bush Signal?,ÌýS.F. Chron., May 29, 2006.ÌýÌý
Bigotry Hurts in the War on Terror,ÌýS.D. Union Trib., July 22, 2005.
In the Wake of Gaza Disengagement: Enforce Ban on Settlements,ÌýS.F. Chron., Aug. 26, 2005.Ìý
New Page in Israeli–Palestinian Relations: Whither the Road Map?,ÌýS.F. Chron., Dec. 8, 2005.Ìý
Prosecuting Other People’s Terrorists,ÌýS.D. Union Trib., Dec. 12, 2005, at B7.
Should Israel Give Up Its Nukes?,ÌýL.A. Times, Dec. 9, 2005.Ìý
A Lifetime Of Challenge Stirred Determination,ÌýSacramento Bee, Nov. 14, 2004, at E6.
Advance U.S. — Not Israel’s — Interests,ÌýSeattle Post–Intelligencer, Dec. 8, 2004, at B7.Ìý
In Arafat’s Aftermath: Peace Remains Elusive Amid Political Turmoil,ÌýS.F. Chron., Nov. 12, 2004.Ìý
Judgment on the Wall: Ruling Gives Hopes Discouraged,ÌýS.F. Chron., July 14, 2004.Ìý
Look for a Future Palestine in the Past: Two Generations Later, Palestinians Have Hope for Their Land,ÌýS.F. Chron., Dec. 19, 2004.ÌýÌý
Right of Return: Two–State Solution Again Sells Palestinians Short,ÌýL.A. Times, Jan. 25, 2004, at M3.
But Don’t Bet On It Establishing Democracy,ÌýHouston Chron., Mar. 3, 2003, at 27A.Ìý
Impending War on Iraq: American Jihad,ÌýS.F. Chron., Feb. 13, 2003.Ìý
Rite of Return to a Palestinian Home,ÌýS.F. Chron., May 18, 2003.Ìý
Who Caused the Palestinian Diaspora?,ÌýSacramento Bee, Nov. 30, 2003.
Sanctions Against Iraq are Genocide,ÌýSeattle Post–Intelligencer, May 3, 2002, at B7.
Views on the Middle East: Settlements Stand in the Way of Mideast Peace,ÌýS.F. Chron., Apr. 26, 2002.Ìý
Dissertations & Theses
Practicing Law Under Occupation: Palestinian Lawyers of the West Bank (1987) (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ) (on file with Tozzer Library, Harvard ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ).
Education
-
Harvard ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ
Ph.D., Anthropology and Middle East Studies 1987 -
Georgetown ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ
M.A., History -
¾«¶«Ó°Òµ of California at Berkeley
B.A., Anthropology
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