The American Civil Liberties Union won an early victory today in its federal lawsuit arguing that a Kansas law requiring a public school educator to certify that she won’t boycott Israel violates her First Amendment rights.

The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday it had identified 206 companies so far doing business linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where it said violations against Palestinians are “pervasive and devastating”.

Three teenage Israeli fans of the popstar Lorde have filed a lawsuit claiming thousands of pounds in “emotional injury” damages against two New-Zealand-based activists for allegedly convincing her to cancel a performance in Tel Aviv. The case, filed by an Israeli legal rights group, appears to be the first use of a controversial law passed in 2011 that allows civil suits to be opened against those calling for a boycott against Israel.

A group of Israeli activists, among them former members of Knesset, legal experts, ex-ambassadors, artists and academics, sent a written petition to the Irish parliament, asking it to support the bill.

“Support for settlements has turned into a litmus test for support for Israel. Critics of the occupation are treated like traitors. Civil society organizations, human rights activists and even artists who warn that the country is headed down the wrong path are scorned,” writes Jeremy Ben-Ami.

“Everyone is aware of the humanitarian and economic disaster in the Gaza Strip. Everyone knows it’s man-made,” writes Mohammed Azaizeh.