Hillel Neuer

Hillel C. Neuer (born 1969/1970)[1] is a Canadian-born international lawyer,[2] writer, and the executive director of UN Watch, a human rights NGO and UN watchdog group based in Geneva, Switzerland.[3][4][5][6]

Hillel Neuer
Born
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Alma materConcordia University (BA)
McGill University (BCL LLB)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (LLM)
OccupationExecutive director of UN Watch

Neuer is the founding chairman of Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a coalition of 25 NGOs from around the world.[7] He has written on law, politics and international affairs for the International Herald Tribune, Juriste International, Commentary, The New Republic, Christian Science Monitor,[3] and the Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs.[8]

Neuer was selected as one of the "top 100 most influential Jewish people in the world" by Israeli newspaper Maariv,[9] and by the Algemeiner Journal in 2017. He is an outspoken defender of Israel[10][11] and critic of the UN's human rights councils' actions.[12][13]

Early life

Neuer is from Montreal, Canada.[14] He holds a BA in intellectual history and political science from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws from the McGill University Faculty of Law, which he graduated in 1997,[15] and a Master of Laws in comparative constitutional law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.[3]

Neuer worked at the pro-Israel think tank Canadian Institute for Jewish Research while he was an undergraduate at Concordia.[15] He practiced commercial and civil rights litigation at the international law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.[16] Neuer is a member of the New York bar and co-author of the Annotated Copyright Act of Canada and Directors and Officers - A Canadian Legal Manual.

Career

Neuer served as a law clerk to the Supreme Court of Israel and a Graduate Fellow at the Shalem Center think tank.[17]

Advocacy for Darfur victims at United Nations

Neuer advocated at the United Nations for human rights victims in Darfur.[18][19] Neuer chaired the NGO Activist Summit For Darfur in 2007.[14] He challenged Sudan in 2007 for its rejection of human rights experts in Darfur and demanded justice for child victims in Darfur in 2005. In August 2007, Neuer was the keynote speaker at the Save Darfur Canada rally in Montreal, along with Gen. Lewis MacKenzie, former commander of UN peacekeepers in the Balkans; Prof. Payam Akhavan, international law professor at McGill, and former senior advisor to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Simon Deng, a black Christian from the south of Sudan who was sold into slavery in the Muslim north; Miss World Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam; and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Infidel.

United Nations human rights testimony

Neuer has represented human rights victims in testimony before the UN Human Rights Council, a body which he highly criticized.[20] Neuer is noted for his "scathing commentary" on UNHCR's track record on human rights.[18][21][22] His outspoken advocacy for student Yevgeniya "Jenya" Taranenko preceded her release from a Russian prison. Neuer debated Zimbabwe's UN ambassador on CNN over the Mugabe regime's dismal human rights record. In 2007 he spoke out for the Arab, Kurdish, and Baháʼí victims of violations in Iran. In 2004 he spoke out on victims of torture and censorship in Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Neuer also spoke out for the Lebanese victims of Syrian political assassinations and against the rape and enslavement of women in Syria and Iraq; state-sanctioned limits on the movements, education and employment of women in Iran; and the repression of speech in Saudi Arabia.[23][24][25][21]

Neuer is known in particular for criticizing the attitude of the UNHCR towards Israel, in his view, the UNHCR seeks "to demonize Israeli democracy, to delegitimize the Jewish state, to scapegoat the Jewish people. They also seek something else: To distort and pervert the very language and idea of human rights."[18]

Erroneous arrest during 2007 U.S. visit

On November 1, 2007, Neuer presented a report on the United Nations and antisemitism at the invitation of Yale University.[26] The day after giving his presentation, Neuer visited a local restaurant in Needham, Massachusetts, where an employee called the police and falsely reported that Neuer was carrying a gun, leading the police to take him into custody.[27] On the next business day, the Norfolk County court fully cleared Neuer and ruled that the police had acted without probable cause.[27] Initial media reports of a "stand-off" were found to be false and police confirmed that Neuer himself had called 911 twice seeking to exit from the police action that he believed was in pursuit of criminals near the restaurant.[28] "Mr. Neuer was an innocent victim who went to a restaurant in Needham and was traumatized and almost killed," said Neuer's attorney David G. Eisenstadt.[29] On March 31, 2008, the Town of Needham, on behalf of the police, sent Mr. Neuer a full apology, saying he was "an innocent victim caught up in the events of that day."[30]

2009 Toronto Film Festival
Main article: 2009 Toronto International Film Festival § Controversy over Tel Aviv spotlight

In 2009 Hillel Neuer became involved in the controversy over Israel's marketing campaign at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Neuer spoke out against the involvement of activist Naomi Klein in protests.[31] Neuer wrote: "Supporters of liberal democratic values may have a hard time understanding why anti-globalization activist Naomi Klein has recruited Jane Fonda and other stars to boycott the Toronto International Film Festival for the crime of showing films from Tel Aviv."[32] Neuer's UN Watch published a report on its website entitled "Naomi Klein Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography".[33] National Post published a response from Judy Rebick. Rebick wrote: "Naomi Klein didn't start the protest, but she used her contacts and her celebrity to make it more effective. The focus is on her because she is today one of the most prominent Jewish intellectuals in the world, and she is starting to be vocal in her criticism of Israeli human rights violations. She is risking a lot to speak out so passionately on this subject."

Coverage and reception

Neuer has appeared before the UN Human Rights Council for a range of causes including the rape victims of Darfur, political prisoners in Cuba, and Middle East peace. He testified as an expert witness before hearings of the U.S. Congress on UN reform in 2007[34] and 2011,[35] and is regularly quoted by major media outlets including the New York Times,[24] Al Jazeera,[36] Die Welt,[37] Le Figaro,[38] Reuters,[39] Al Ahram[40] and Fox News.[41] Neuer has debated UN human rights issues on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, and some of his talks at the UN panel went viral.[42][43] While working at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Neuer was cited by the U.S. Federal Court for the high quality of his pro bono advocacy.

In a 2014 article in The Jerusalem Post, Yisrael Medad described Neuer as a man who "struggles valiantly and successfully to expose the truth about human rights as practiced in the United Nations and other so-called civil rights NGOs."[44] He is a regular on the speaking circuit.[45]

In 2016, the City of Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel adopted a resolution declaring "Hillel Neuer Day"[46][9] recognizing "one of the world’s foremost human rights advocates," and for his contributions to "promote peace, justice and human rights around the world."[47]

In 2017, the Algemeiner Journal selected him as one of "the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life".[48]

In June 2018, Neuer was the recipient of McGill University's highest honorary doctorate degree, Doctorate of Laws, for his work at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. He dedicated the award to dissidents and political prisoners, among them was Chinese activist Yang Jianli who praised Neuer as "one of the world’s most committed, energetic human rights leaders."[49][7]

References
  1. גרינשטיין, אריק (27 November 2013). "הקול השפוי באו"ם: ראיון עם עו"ד הלל נוייר". 27/11/201. Mida (website). Retrieved 18 February 2018. ("The sane voice at the UN: An interview with lawyer Hillel Neuer (In Hebrew)
  2. Francis Boyle (29 October 2013). The Tamil Genocide by Sri Lanka: The Global Failure to Protect Tamil Rights Under International Law. SCB Distributors. pp. 27–. ISBN 978-0-932863-87-4.
  3. "Hillel Neuer Executive Director, UN Watch". University of Winnipeg. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  4. Raphael Israeli (8 September 2017). Blood Libel and Its Derivatives: The Scourge of Anti-Semitism. Taylor & Francis. pp. 81–. ISBN 978-1-351-29718-9.
  5. Makdisi, K.; Prashad, V. (2016). Land of Blue Helmets: The United Nations and the Arab World. University of California Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-520-28693-1. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  6. Hussein D. Hassan (November 2010). Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities. DIANE Publishing. pp. 13–. ISBN 978-1-4379-3806-7.
  7. Chernick, Ilanit (May 9, 2018). "McGill to honor Hillel Neuer". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. Baker, Amb. Alan (June 27, 2012). "The Demonization of Israel at the United Nations in Europe". Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  9. "JUF News : Jewish Federation marks year of challenges and solutions at 116th Annual Meeting". JUF News. September 15, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  10. Keats-Jaskoll, Shoshanna (April 13, 2016). "A Zionist at the United Nations". The Jerusalem Post.
  11. "UN Session on Gaza: Dictatorships Try to Silence UN Watch". Israel National News. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  12. "Jewish eyes on the UN, says executive director of UN Watch". The Canadian Jewish News. January 10, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  13. "U.N. Clash: China, Cuba, Russia, Pakistan, Venezuela Try to Shut Down Hillel Neuer". MidEastTruth. March 13, 2016.
  14. Edwards, Steven (31 March 2007). "UN's 'noble Dream' A Nightmare". National Post. ProQuest 330512565.
  15. Arnold, Janice (4 June 2013). "Pro-Israel think tank CIJR marks 25th anniversary". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  16. "Paul, Weiss Achieves Another Victory for the California Public Utilities Commission in PG&E Bankruptcy Case". archive.li. 20 July 2004. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  17. "Why Israel's Jewish nationality bill is a big deal". Mondoweiss. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  18. Ronen, Moshe (16 April 2007). "UN rights agency can censor speech, but can't hide truth; International community urged to condemn deplorable, corrupt organization". Edmonton Journal. ProQuest 253403321.
  19. "Australian Taxpayers' Alliance: The Rise and Fall of Human Rights at the UN". Atlas Network. August 24, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  20. "Community - It's Israel-Bashing Season Again At The U.N." The Forward. December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  21. "'Rights' travesty; There wasn't much horn-blowing this month to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations' Human Rights Council". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 28 March 2016. ProQuest 1776260438.
  22. Frida Ghitis (5 July 2010). "The Human Rights Council is a tragic joke". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  23. Joseph, Yonette (May 7, 2016). "After Making Mugabe a 'Good-Will Ambassador,' W.H.O. Chief Is 'Rethinking' It". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  24. Wright, Tom (June 19, 2006). "Homepage - International Herald Tribune". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  25. Hoge, Warren (March 11, 2007). "Dismay Over New U.N. Human Rights Council". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  26. "The Yale Initiative for the Study of Anti-Semitism - Home Page". Yale.edu. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  27. Vennochi, Joan (November 8, 2007). "Too suspicious in suburbia". The Boston Globe.
  28. Heldt, Jennifer (2007-11-06). "I never threatened anyone". BostonHerald.com. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  29. "Judge dismisses charge against man caught during Needham frenzy". BostonHerald.com. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  30. Ryan, Steven (January 28, 2010). "Hillel Neuer receives apology letter". Needham Times. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  31. Canada (2009-09-02). "TIFF focus on Tel Aviv draws protests". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  32. "Hillel Neuer: The strange, enduring rage of Naomi Klein - Full Comment". Network.nationalpost.com. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  33. "Naomi Klein Exposed: The Unauthorized Biography". UN Watch. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  34. "U.S. Congress: U.N. Watch's Hillel Neuer Testifies for U.N. Reform". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
  35. "UN Watch's Hillel Neuer Testifies at U.S. Congress: "The State of Human Rights at the U.N."". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12.
  36. ""Anti-racism summit" row". Aljazeera.net. September 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  37. Welt, Die (October 3, 2015). "Vereinte Nationen: Gaddafi zieht in UN-Menschenrechtsrat ein". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  38. lefigaro.fr (May 20, 2008). "Conseil des droits de l'homme : la France en concurrence". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  39. Reuters Editorial (May 14, 2013). "Iran defends post as chair of U.N. disarmament conference". U.S. Retrieved January 7, 2018. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  40. "Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt | Newsreel". Weekly.ahram.org.eg. 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  41. Bruce, Tammy (December 28, 2017). "Rape, sex trafficking, spread of disease highlight horrors on UN's watch". Fox News. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  42. "The Top 10 Most Evil U.N. Actions of 2017". Scoop News. December 27, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  43. Heilman, Uriel (July 29, 2014). "4 videos on the Gaza war that have pro-Israel viewers cheering". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  44. Medad, Yisrael (6 March 2014). "Views which are not fit to print". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 1508635841.
  45. Simon, Nicole (30 March 2011). "AIPAC event brings U.N. Watch's Hillel Neuer to JCC". The American Israelite. ProQuest 1024997205.
  46. Chicago - Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2016-690
  47. "City of Chicago declares today "Hillel Neuer Day"". UN Watch. September 15, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  48. "The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2017". Algemeiner.com. 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  49. "Geneva Summit Recognized as McGill Awards Honorary Doctorate to Hillel Neuer". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. June 5, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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