The right of individual self-defense in public international law

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The book delves into the contentious issue of individual self-defense in international law, tracing the evolution of legal debates surrounding this right. Through various case studies, including the Entebbe Incident (1976), the Nicaragua Case (1986), and the Israeli-Lebanese conflict (2006), the author highlights key incidents that have sparked scholarly discussion. The analysis draws on both academic discourse and the practices of states and international organizations, particularly the United Nations. Beginning with a historical overview, the author references the Caroline Case of 1837, which established the conditions for lawful self-defense. The book scrutinizes the legal nature of self-defense, focusing on the customary principles of necessity, proportionality, and immediacy. It emphasizes that an "armed attack" is essential for invoking self-defense, examining its characteristics and implications. The author also considers the applicability of self-defense against acts of international terrorism by non-state actors, highlighting the importance of addressing such threats. Several recent examples, including U.S. air strikes in Libya (1986), Baghdad (1993), and responses to the Al-Qaeda attacks in 2001, illustrate state practices. The book evaluates anticipatory and preventive self-defense, particularly in relation to Israel's 1981 strike on the Osiraq Nuclear Reactor, and discusses the contrasting "restrictive" and "tr