The Lawfare Project

The obsession with comparing Israel to N**i Germany says far more about the owner of the coffee shop than it does about Israel.

New Yorkers are paying attention to which businesses discriminate against Jews under the guise of political commentary.

Karim Khan spent years claiming to defend international justice while weaponizing international law against Israel.

Now, the former ICC Chief Prosecutor has been suspended over sexual abuse allegations and barred from practicing law in England and Wales.

The rule of law demands accountability for everyone, including those who claimed to stand above it.

Photo: UN International Criminal Tribunal

The Lawfare Project has referred Poetica Coffee to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, requesting an immediate investigation and enforcement action for discriminatory denial of a public accommodation, publication of a discriminatory notice, and unlawful refusal to sell.

New York law prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating on the basis of protected characteristics. We have urged the Commission to use the full reach of its authority and act in the public interest, because this is not a private grievance but a public injury.

Zohran Mamdani's decision to label AIPAC and their supporters as “monsters” is hateful and invokes one of the oldest antisemitic stereotypes: that Jews use money, influence, and hidden power to corrupt democracy and turn citizens against one another.

At a moment when antisemitic hate crimes and violence are at historic highs, Mamdani is sending a chilling message to Jewish New Yorkers, that participation in the democratic process can make them targets for demonization. Jews should not have to choose between civic engagement and being portrayed as enemies of the public.

When Mamdani casts Jewish political participation through the lens of sinister influence and corruption, he is doing more than criticizing an organization. He is reinforcing narratives that have fueled antisemitism for generations and helping create an environment that makes Jewish New Yorkers less safe.

New Yorkers deserve leaders who reject antisemitic tropes, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure that every citizen can participate in public life without being vilified for who they are.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and several congressional candidates aligned with him recently participated in a voter outreach effort with Bartley Blakeley, an influencer who has publicly refused to condemn Hamas, justified the October 7 massacre, and defended a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

Public officials have an obligation to reject those who excuse terrorism, not elevate them as partners in political advocacy. Legitimizing Hamas apologists undermines the moral clarity that leadership requires and the accountability the public deserves.

What else can we expect from a politician like Mamdani?

A New York City fundraiser is being held to raise money for three men connected to antisemitic criminal cases: two who have already been convicted and a third who is awaiting trial.

According to reports, the beneficiaries include individuals convicted for attacking Jewish victims and targeting Jewish institutions, as well as a defendant currently facing charges related to the vandalism of Jewish organizations. Yet instead of condemnation, dozens of activist groups are reportedly sponsoring an event on their behalf.

Imagine the public reaction if organizations openly fundraised for individuals convicted of targeting any other minority community.

Political activism does not excuse antisemitism. Criminal acts directed at Jews should be treated with the same seriousness and moral clarity afforded to every other form of hate.

The MOU delivers billions to the Iranian regime immediately.

An estimated $24–25 billion in frozen assets are being released. Oil and banking restrictions are being lifted. Billions more will flow to Tehran every month.

𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫?

Iran gets billions now. The world gets “promises” for later.

𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰:
•⁠ ⁠$24-25 billion in unfrozen assets.
•⁠ ⁠Oil export restrictions lifted.
•⁠ ⁠Banking waivers restored.
•⁠ ⁠Immediate sanctions relief.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰:
•⁠ ⁠Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 “𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝”:
•⁠ ⁠Negotiations to maybe down-blend its enriched uranium.
•⁠ ⁠Verification mechanisms still to be negotiated.
•⁠ ⁠Future discussions about Iran's nuclear program.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐔:
•⁠ ⁠An end to support for Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis.
•⁠ ⁠An end to ballistic missile development.
•⁠ ⁠An end to Iran's drone program.

This is a MoU that delivers concrete benefits to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism immediately, while failing to address the most dangerous elements of its behavior.

We have seen this movie before and we know how it ends.

Federal prosecutors have charged Reda Mazen Rosa Sabassi of San Diego with terrorism-related offenses, sanctions evasion, and wire fraud for allegedly using charitable fundraising campaigns to provide material support to Hamas.

“The defendant allegedly claimed to be raising money for charity but was actually funding the terrorist organization Hamas and also lining his own pockets,” said FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Donald Holstead.

Terrorist groups often depend on more than recruits and propaganda. They rely on individuals who can move money, exploit public trust, and disguise illicit activity as humanitarian work.

Cases like this are a reminder that combating terrorism is not only about stopping attacks. It is also about identifying and dismantling the networks that make those attacks possible.

Canadian authorities have uncovered a sophisticated gun-for-hire network that allegedly recruited and paid teenagers to carry out shootings targeting Jewish institutions in Toronto. Investigators have linked the network to shootings targeting synagogues, Jewish schools, and the U.S. Consulate. Recruits were allegedly hired through encrypted messaging platforms and instructed to record their attacks in exchange for payment.

Authorities have also reported alleged links between elements of the network and an operative connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The details point to a deliberate effort to target Jewish institutions and spread fear within the Jewish community. Governments should ensure that everyone involved in planning, financing, and carrying out such attacks is held accountable.