French-Funded NGOs: The Radicalization of Human Rights

Several French-funded NGOs involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict use the facade of human rights and international law to blur the lines between “peaceful” and “nonviolent” campaigns and violent “resistance” including attacks against civilians. By exploiting the language of human rights and by working together in a tight network, these groups are able to amplify their claims, garner undue exposure, and gain legitimacy for their radical ideologies.

Topics

• France
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
• Shawan Jabarin

The Center for Constitutional Rights’ Vilification of Social Justice

From April 29 – May 6, 2018, the Center for Constitutional Rights led a trip to Israel and the West Bank labeled as the “Justice Delegation.” This trip, made up of self-proclaimed social justice advocates, claimed to provide a “better understand[ing of] the human rights situation in Israel and Palestine.” In sharp contrast, participants met exclusively Palestinian and Israeli organizations that promote a one-sided Palestinian narrative of the conflict.

Topics

• BDS
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

HRW Doubles Down on BDS Campaign Targeting Israeli Banks

On May 28, 2018, Human Rights Watch issued yet another publication targeting Israeli banks. These materials are part of HRW’s continuing role in a broader BDS campaign to damage Israel’s economy through the financial sector.

Topics

• BDS
• HRW
• UN BDS Blacklist

NGO Statements to the UNHRC Following the Gaza “March of Return” Riots

On May 18, 2018, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held a “special session of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.” Many of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that participated in the session condemned Israel for allegedly committing “war crimes” and denied the legitimacy of Israel’s right to self-defense.

Topics

• 2009 Goldstone Report
• 2018 Gaza Border Violence
• Commission of Inquiry
• Gaza
• Hamas

• Human Shields
• Schabas-Davis Report
• UNHRC
• War crimes

Main Points in the UN High Commissioner’s Report on “BDS Blacklist”

In advance of the 37th Council session (February 26 - March 23, 2018), the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has released a report on the “BDS blacklist” of companies that do business with Israelis over the 1949 Armistice Line. The report, submitted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, provides important details on the flawed process and the difficulties inherent in creating a list of companies to be targeted by this form of BDS.

Topics

• BDS
• UN BDS Blacklist
• United Nations

Statement on UN Blacklist Delay

NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Al Haq, have been advocating for a discriminatory blacklist for many years to advance a BDS agenda. However, this does nothing to further human rights, and the UN should not devote further resources to this charade.

Topics

• BDS
• UN BDS Blacklist
• United Nations

European Parliament Event - Propaganda-Based Advocacy for Israel’s Isolation

The European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Palestine held a conference, “Fifty Years of Occupation and Counting: Is it time for a new EU Policy on the Middle East Peace Process?” The conference featured politicians, academics, and NGO officials advocating Israel’s isolation and calling on the European Union and other countries to increase international pressure and to impose sanctions on Israel. None of the speakers advocated for dialogue and/or negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.

Topics

• 1993 Oslo Accords
• Apartheid Rhetoric
• BDS
• Bibi Netanyahu
• UN Security Council
• UN Special Rapporteur

EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy: False Claims, Contradictions, and Reliance on Advocacy NGOs

On October 16, 2017, the Council of the European Union adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016. The report makes several misleading, inconsistent, and grossly inaccurate claims, as well as disregards a number of EU norms and official stances. The publication fails to provide references or any verifiable sources, violating basic rules of evidence. The degree to which these sections copy from and rely on problematic reports by advocacy NGOs highlights the broader issue of EU outsourcing of responsibility for analysis and policy-making without oversight.

Topics

• BDS
• Human Rights
• Human Rights NGOs
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
• UN Watch
• UNHRC

[Opinion] BDS Lawyer Michael Sfard’s Disreputable Allies

Professor Steinberg argues that if Michael Sfard is truly for fighting for human rights he would be more careful with whom he allies himself with.

Topics

• BDS
• Michael Sfard

European-Funded NGOs Promote "Right" to Be Paid for Terror

A number of European governments have joined the US and others in demanding that the Palestinian Authority (PA) end its policy of paying salaries to, and hence incentivizing, Palestinian prisoners convicted of terror crimes. Yet, in sharp contrast, a number of Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving European government funding under the banner of human rights assert that terrorists have a “right” to receive salaries and that suspending these payments is a violation of international law.

Topics

• Prisoners Salaries
• Shawan Jabarin