Daniel Reisner
Encyclopedia
Colonel Adv. Daniel Reisner (born in Israel in ) is the former Head of the International Law Branch of the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) Legal Division, and a partner with Herzog, Fox & Neeman
.
Interdisciplinary Center, and at the School of Management, in Rishon LeZion.
In 2004, he retired from military service and became a Director in the Rothschild Foundation. In 2005 opened his own law firm, specializing in international law issues.
Reisner joined Herzog, Fox & Neeman
in 2008 as the firm's Public International Law and Homeland Security partner. He is a fellow in two of Israel's private research centers, teaches in several universities, and continues to advise senior members of the Israeli government on issues related to the Middle East peace process and security.
s in 2001, he said: "we are definitely in the area of armed conflict," and that under the laws of war, "you are allowed to target combatants." Prime Minister Barak secretly asked Reisner to assess whether targeted killings were legal. Reisner concluded it was legal, with six conditions: "that arrest is impossible; that targets are combatants; that senior cabinet members approve each attack; that civilian casualties are minimized; that operations are limited to areas not under Israeli control; and that targets are identified as a future threat." He also stressed that targeted killing cannot be meted out as punishment for past behavior.
Speaking on the issue of interrogations, he pointed out that the U.S. had once criticized Israel for rough interrogations of terrorists, but "it took the U.S. four airplanes [on 9/11] to change its view of the policy." "Our big brother went way beyond anything we ever did," he added.
In 2009, Reisner expressed the view that the IDF had never been as concerned with law as it was then, and that its lawyers are exceedingly cautious. He noted that between 1995 and 2004 the IDF went from not involving lawyers in operational matters to having them e deeply involved. “My feeling is that the army as a whole took unprecedented steps [in the Gaza operation] to adhere to the laws of war,” Reisner said.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) Legal Division, and a partner with Herzog, Fox & Neeman
Herzog, Fox & Neeman
Herzog, Fox & Ne'eman is the largest law firm in Israel. Its offices are in Tel Aviv. The firm was founded in 1972 by three prominent lawyers: the late Chaim Herzog, later to become the sixth President of the State of Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, and member of the Israeli...
.
IDF Military Advocate General's Corps
Reisner served as a legal adviser in the IDF Military Advocate General's Corps for 19 years, was Head of the International Law Department between 1995 and 2004. He was responsible for advising the IDF General Staff, the Ministry of Defense, and the Prime Minister's Office on international law issues including Israel's activities vis-à-vis the Palestinians and neighboring Arab States, international law, counter-terrorism operations, and the Middle East peace process. Between 1994 and 2000 he also served as a senior member of Israel's peace delegations with Jordan and the Palestinians, as a negotiator, legal adviser, and draftsman, advising Prime Ministers Rabin, Peres, Netanyahu, and Barak.Private career
From 1994–2000, he was a lecturer at the Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
Interdisciplinary Center, and at the School of Management, in Rishon LeZion.
In 2004, he retired from military service and became a Director in the Rothschild Foundation. In 2005 opened his own law firm, specializing in international law issues.
Reisner joined Herzog, Fox & Neeman
Herzog, Fox & Neeman
Herzog, Fox & Ne'eman is the largest law firm in Israel. Its offices are in Tel Aviv. The firm was founded in 1972 by three prominent lawyers: the late Chaim Herzog, later to become the sixth President of the State of Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, and member of the Israeli...
in 2008 as the firm's Public International Law and Homeland Security partner. He is a fellow in two of Israel's private research centers, teaches in several universities, and continues to advise senior members of the Israeli government on issues related to the Middle East peace process and security.
Views
Speaking of targeted killingTargeted killing
Targeted killing is the deliberate, specific targeting and killing, by a government or its agents, of a supposed terrorist or of a supposed "unlawful combatant" who is not in that government's custody...
s in 2001, he said: "we are definitely in the area of armed conflict," and that under the laws of war, "you are allowed to target combatants." Prime Minister Barak secretly asked Reisner to assess whether targeted killings were legal. Reisner concluded it was legal, with six conditions: "that arrest is impossible; that targets are combatants; that senior cabinet members approve each attack; that civilian casualties are minimized; that operations are limited to areas not under Israeli control; and that targets are identified as a future threat." He also stressed that targeted killing cannot be meted out as punishment for past behavior.
Speaking on the issue of interrogations, he pointed out that the U.S. had once criticized Israel for rough interrogations of terrorists, but "it took the U.S. four airplanes [on 9/11] to change its view of the policy." "Our big brother went way beyond anything we ever did," he added.
In 2009, Reisner expressed the view that the IDF had never been as concerned with law as it was then, and that its lawyers are exceedingly cautious. He noted that between 1995 and 2004 the IDF went from not involving lawyers in operational matters to having them e deeply involved. “My feeling is that the army as a whole took unprecedented steps [in the Gaza operation] to adhere to the laws of war,” Reisner said.