After Work Visa Cancelled, HRW Falsely Denies BDS and Demonization Promotion

The Israeli Ministry of Interior has revoked the work visa granted in April 2017 to Human Rights Watch (HRW) employee Omar Shakir, a long-time anti-Israel, pro-BDS activist. In its response, HRW (and its local lawyer, Michael Sfard) makes the false claim that “neither HRW – nor Shakir as its representative – advocate for boycott, divestment or sanctions against companies that operate in the settlements, Israel or Israelis (sic).”

Topics

• BDS
• Human Rights Watch
• Omar Shakir
• UN BDS Blacklist

Human Rights Watch on Violent Hamas Border Riot: Promoting Terrorist Propaganda at Expense of Human Rights

On April 3, 2018, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued an “analysis” of the March 30, 2018 events along the Israel-Gaza border. Like other HRW responses, this latest publication lacks credible methodology and manipulates the presentation of facts and law to advance a political narrative rather than engage in professional human rights research.

Topics

• 2018 Gaza Border Violence
• Commission of Inquiry
• Disproportionate Focus
• Gaza
• Hamas

• Human Rights
• Lawfare
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
• Right of Return
• War crimes

[Opinion] When Human Rights Organizations Indulge in Antisemitism

Professor Gerald Steinberg argues that more non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to adopt and abide by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism.

Topics

• Antisemitism

Singling Out Israel While Whitewashing Terrorism: Watchlist’s 2018 Policy Note

In March 2018, the NGO umbrella group known as Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict (Watchlist) published a Policy Note urging the UN Secretary General to add Israel, Myanmar, and others to a list of “grave violators” of children’s rights. Terror groups, including Hamas and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), are not mentioned in Watchlist’s publication.

Topics

• Children
• Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC)
• DCIP
• International NGOs
• NGO

• NGO Funding
• UNICEF
• United Nations
• Watchlist

World Health Organization and NGOs Misrepresent State of Gaza Health

On February 13, 2018, Human Rights Watch (HRW), along with Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I), issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s procedures for granting access for Gaza residents to Israel for medical treatment. The groups cite a December 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) document that claims that 54 Gazans died while awaiting approval to travel to seek medical attention in Israel or in the West Bank. The WHO paper does not provide a source for this figure.

Topics

• Gaza
• Hamas
• Palestinian Authority
• Palestinian Ministry of Health

• Terrorism
• United Nations
• World Health Organization

Factually Inaccurate and Legally Flawed: HRW’s 2017 Report

Human Rights Watch is a powerful NGO, with a massive budget, close links to Western governments, and significant influence in international institutions. Its publications reflect the absence of professional standards, research methodologies, and military and legal expertise, as well as a deep-seated ideological bias against Israel. HRW’s review of “Israel and Palestine: Events of 2017,” reflects these same methodological flaws, resulting in a highly skewed representation of Israeli domestic and international law.

Topics

• Fatah
• Glorification of terrorism
• Hamas
• Human Rights NGOs

• NGO Funding
• Palestinian Authority
• Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
• Terrorism

NGO Campaigns for Ahed Tamimi, and Against the Rights of Children

A number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been participating in a campaign celebrating and defending Tamimi. Despite the video evidence, they insist that Israel has no grounds for trying and imprisoning her. Although these NGOs claim to promote human rights and the rule of law generally, and protect the rights of children specifically, in Ahed Tamimi’s case they ignore the exploitation and recruitment of children as “soldiers” in a propaganda war against Israel.

Topics

• Ahed Tamimi

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

[Opinion] Human Rights Watch: Superficiality in the Service of Violence

Should a 16-year old minor, indicted for three counts of assault, slingshotting stones at law enforcement officers, and calling for the commission of terrorist attacks including suicide bombings, be released on bail?

Topics

• Ahed Tamimi
• Bill Van Esveld
• Gaby Lasky