In his entry for our blog Legal History Insights, Omer Aloni (Tel Aviv University) delves into the interplay between traditional and modern legal systems in Israel through his analysis titled "Present Absentee: The Sulha as a Mechanism of Legal Pluralism in Israeli Law.“ Aloni examines a landmark case from the 1950s where the traditional Sulha reconciliation process—a customary method of conflict resolution in Arab communities—played a crucial role in a Supreme Court decision. This case illustrates how Sulha was used to mediate a manslaughter conviction, leading to a more lenient sentence by emphasizing the restoration of peace between the families involved.

The position of Managing Director at the Institute rotates among the three Directors every three years. As of 2025, Stefan Vogenauer has assumed this role, succeeding Marietta Auer at the start of the year. The Managing Director oversees the Institute’s day-to-day operations, particularly its administrative functions. In his introductory message, Vogenauer extends his gratitude to Marietta Auer for her exemplary leadership and shares his plans to further advance the Institute’s mission through strategic initiatives and continued dedication to outstanding research.

In her PhD Project Manuela Camargo de Assis investigates the often-overlooked role of architects in shaping international law. Traditionally, legal scholarship has focused on written texts and metaphorical references to architecture, but Camargo de Assis argues that architecture’s physical and visual dimensions can directly influence legal norms, authority, and power. Her work centers on a series of 20th- and 21st-century case studies of buildings designed to house international organizations. Drawing on legal history, architecture, and visual studies, this research highlights the interplay between the discursive and material facets of international law.