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    The 'Losing Lawyer' In Israel Who Defends Palestinians Charged With Violence

    Lea Tsemel, 75, has lost case after case for decades and has received death threats as a Jew representing Arabs. Her notoriety in Israel has grown since last year's release of a documentary about her.
    by Daniel Estrin Jan 15, 2020 5 minutes
    Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel, 75, in her Jerusalem office. The documentary <em>Advocate</em>, about her work representing Palestinian suspects accused of attacks on Israelis, has sparked controversy in Israel.

    Her Israeli critics have called her a traitor and devil's advocate for representing Palestinians facing terrorism charges in Israeli courts. She calls herself a "losing lawyer," losing case after case, defending Palestinian suspects for nearly five decades.

    Now the fiery Lea Tsemel, 75, is the subject of an award-winning documentary — and a target in the latest battle between Israel's liberal filmmakers and right-wing activists led by the country's nationalist culture minister.

    "There are threats, death threats at me, my family, my grandchildren ... relating to the fact that I'm a Jew and I represent Arabs," Tsemel tells NPR from her east Jerusalem office, before rushing to the Supreme Court to defend Palestinian youths accused in the fatal stoning of an Israeli driver.

    Her notoriety in Israel has grown since the documentary, , was released last summer. Israeli right-wing activists cursed and

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