Marlene Mazel
Israeli Ministry of Justice lawyer, director of its Counter-Terrorism Litigation Division, named in leaked documents as a contact for the government's US FARA counsel
| Marlene Mazel
| |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Lawyer; director of the Counter-Terrorism Litigation Division, Israeli Ministry of Justice |
| Education | NYU School of Law |
Marlene Mazel is an Israeli government lawyer. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy describes her as an adjunct scholar "on leave from her position as director of the Counter-Terrorism Litigation Division in the Israeli Ministry of Justice", where "she directs the legal representation of Israel on litigation in foreign national courts".[1]
Leaked Israeli Ministry of Justice documents published by Distributed Denial of Secrets name her as a point of contact for the Israeli government's US law firm Arnold & Porter, including on whether the renewed Concert programme raised concerns under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The documents have not been independently verified.[2]
Career
The Washington Institute says Mazel is a graduate of NYU School of Law and was formerly an assistant corporation counsel in the General Litigation Department of New York City.[1] She was one of the authors of its August 2017 analysis "Lone Wolf: Passing Fad or Terror Threat of the Future?", with Boaz Ganor, Bruce Hoffman and Matthew Levitt.[1]
FARA advice
According to leaked Ministry of Justice documents published by Distributed Denial of Secrets:
- On 19 July 2021, during press coverage of the NSO Group spyware affair, John Bellinger of Arnold & Porter wrote to Mazel that "we cannot advise you on what to say to the US press without potentially having to register under FARA. Our activities on your behalf have been limited to litigation and other legal advice, which does not require registration."[3]
- On 1–3 December 2021 Mazel and a Foreign Ministry lawyer asked Arnold & Porter for an urgent review of a new government decision renewing the public-benefit company programme. They wrote that "insofar as funding may be relayed to organizations situated in the US, there is an interest in not running afoul of FARA legislation and regulations", and asked for comments "on the new contract between Israel and the PBC (named 'Concert')".[4]
- She was copied on a 31 December 2019 email from Jonathan Heuberger, Director for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, sending talking points for the Attorney General's meeting with a delegation of US state attorneys general that, he wrote, came "within the framework of the 'Concert' initiative" (translated from Hebrew).[5]
The Guardian reported on the Ministry of Justice files in August 2024.[6] See Arnold and Porter and Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Marlene Mazel washingtoninstitute.org, accessed 21 October 2026. Washington Institute-side.
- ↑ Distributed Denial of Secrets, Israel Ministry of Justice ddosecrets.org, 25 July 2024, accessed 21 October 2026. DDoSecrets lists the dataset in its "Cyberwar" category, warning of "an increased chance of malware, ulterior motives and altered or implanted data".
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Justice leak (Distributed Denial of Secrets), email from John Bellinger (Arnold & Porter) to the Ministry of Justice, 19 July 2021, Library of Leaks entity 9269338 Library of Leaks, accessed 21 October 2026. Leaked document; authenticity not independently verified.
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Justice leak (Distributed Denial of Secrets), email from Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs lawyers to Arnold & Porter, 1–3 December 2021 (English), Library of Leaks entity 10945460 Library of Leaks, accessed 21 October 2026. Leaked document; authenticity not independently verified.
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Justice leak (Distributed Denial of Secrets), Ministry of Strategic Affairs talking points for the Attorney General's meeting with US state attorneys general, 31 December 2019 (Hebrew), Library of Leaks entity 10742808 Library of Leaks, accessed 21 October 2026. Leaked document; authenticity not independently verified.
- ↑ Lee Fang and Jack Poulson, Israel feared legal trouble over US advocacy efforts, leaked files suggest The Guardian, 17 August 2024.