Israel on Trial Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law

Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law confronts today’s most polarizing claims about Israel by applying the discipline of legal reasoning to modern political discourse. Written by United States District Judge Roy K. Altman, this timely and provocative book asks: What happens when we test the loudest accusations—colonialism, apartheid, genocide—against the standards of evidence we trust in a court of law?

Drawing from archaeology, international treaties, and historical records, Israel on Trial presents a methodical, evidence-based framework for understanding the Middle East conflict. The book challenges readers to think beyond slogans and soundbites by asking hard questions: Who controls the relevant evidence? What do independent third parties say? Which claims collapse under scrutiny—and why do they persist anyway?

Altman’s approach is rooted in five key principles: begin with physical evidence, seek independent verification, consider unguarded admissions, evaluate control of the evidence, and treat falsehoods as part of the factual record. These rules, honed in the courtroom, serve as a guide for anyone navigating the fog of public debate.

Israel on Trial is more than a defense of one nation’s legitimacy. It is a blueprint for how to think clearly, argue honestly, and decide wisely in an age of ideological distortion.