Students from seven universities and colleges participated in Israel’s 11th National International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Competition. Now that the intense preparation, hot debates, the tress and the fun of it are over, we went back to meet some of the participants – Adi, Shaked and Ziv who study at the Interdisciplinary Center in Hertzliya (IDC). We talked about their dreams and hobbies, and about the place and the challenges of the law in the modern conflicts.

Adi Ganani: “I am academically adventurous and I like to try things to figure out what I want.”
Photo: Alyona Synenko/ICRC

Adi 25, Studies law and psychology

Describe yourself
I like animals, theater and spending time with my family. I volunteer at the Israeli Bar Association, where we give free legal advice to people who can’t afford it.

Why are you interested in IHL?
Studying law and psychology helps me understand people and their motives. How we make decisions. I believe we have a choice more often than we think. What I like about IHL is how pragmatic it is. My initial thought was that IHL refers to the law as it should be, and does not provide solutions to the reality itself; but, in fact, it does not shy away from the fact that armies fight, it just makes them responsible for what they do. It was a very interesting experience during the IHL competition, finding yourself on the “bad side” having to defend someone accused of war crimes. Even if you don’t agree with what they did, you have to find a way to be true to yourself and your client.

What is your dream job?
I am academically adventurous and I like to try things to figure out what I want. I studied in an acting school, before I took up law and psychology. Those may seem like completely different domains, but they are not. As an actor you also have to analyze your character: what is their relationship with their mother, why do they do what they do. You are as good, as much as you understand about people. The IHL competition opened a whole new world to me. It made me think that maybe this is something I would like to do.

 

Shaked Zeierman: “I want to travel and see humanity at its best and its worst.”
Photo by: Alyona Synenko/ICRC

Shaked, 25 Studies law and diplomatic relations

Describe yourself
I am a nerd. I like video games. The ones, where you have to use tactics, develop a strategy and make decisions. We play against each other in teams. I write articles and short stories. And I watched Star Wars a countless number of times.

Why are you interested in IHL?
As fast as modern conflicts change and with all the atrocities happening in the world, I think it is important to have basic principles to go back to. Even if the world peace seems like too big and remote of an idea, at least we know that there are red lines not to cross. I believe that as the world becomes more and more connected; we need common principles more than ever.

What is your dream job?
I’d like to improve the condition of women in the world. I want to travel and see humanity at its best and its worst.

 

Ziv Idan: “I believe IHL is important for the future of our country.”
Photo by Alyona Synenko/ICRC

Ziv, 25 Studies law and diplomatic relations

Describe yourself
I like hiking and travelling. I surf and try to catch as many sunsets as I can. Then I spend time with friends in bars in Tel Aviv. My family lived in different countries and it makes it easier for me to adapt and relate to people.

Why are you interested in IHL?
Law is present in everything we do. I believe IHL is important for the future of our country. We can’t ignore it. I think it makes a lot of sense. At the same time, technology develops too fast and the law does not manage to catch up with the realities of modern conflicts.

What is your dream job?
I want to do many things. Most of all, I would like to contribute to a better future of this country. I hope it keeps developing and that a solution that works for everybody is found to our present situation.

Photo: Alyona Synenko