HRW, anti-Israel Campaigns, and White Phosphorous: Condemn First, Correct (Maybe) Later

On January 10, HRW launched a public relations campaign condemning Israel for allegedly using white phosphorus weapons unlawfully in the conflict with Hamas. HRWs large budget, and its media access via the "halo effect" results in the amplification of these reports in the press and through other NGOs, without independent investigation or verification. HRWs disproportionate focus on this issue diverts attention from Hamas systematic use of human shields, its indiscriminate rocket attacks, and Irans role in fomenting the conflict.

Topics

• Hamas
• Human Shields
• Marc Garlasco
• white phosphorus

Examining Human Rights Watch in 2008: Double Standards and Post-Colonial Ideology

Quantitative and Qualitative analysis of HRW in 2008 reflect the portrayal of Israel as the second worst abuser of human rights in the Middle East. HRW's use of international legal and human rights terminology singles out Israel for condemnation, while other serious human rights abusers receive little coverage. Evidence suggests that specific HRW personnel (Joe Stork, Sarah Leah Whitson and Marc Garlasco) are responsible for responsible for much of the bias, and when other individuals are centrally involved, the reports are less tendentious

Topics

• Demonization
• Disproportionate Focus
• Distortions of International Law
• Double Standards

• Gilad Shalit
• Human Rights
• Human Shields
• War crimes

The NGO front in the Gaza war: Human Rights Watch

In the first 16 days of fighting HRW released 11 statements on Gaza, primarily critical of Israel, including many using the rhetoric of international law for political objectives. Sarah Leah Whitson has carried HRWs campaign to the UN -- and similar to allegations made during the 2006 Lebanon war, HRWs claims about the IDFs use of white phosphorus lack credible evidence.

Topics

• 2009 Gaza War
• Disproportionate Focus
• Distortions of International Law
• IDF

• Lack of Evidence
• Sarah Leah Whitson
• War crimes
• white phosphorus

EU and NIF-funded NGOs Lead Condemnations in Gaza Conflict

[UPDATED] Following the pattern in previous conflicts, a number of NGOs immediately issued condemnations of Israel following the IDF response to increasing deadly rocket attacks from Gaza. Many of these statements reflect bias and double standards, and ignore or give little attention to Israeli human rights and casualties. NGOs exploit legal terminology, including terms such as "war crimes," "collective punishment," and "indiscriminate attacks." Some use the fighting in Gaza to repeat calls for boycotts and sanctions as part of the Durban strategy, and accuse Israel of perpetrating a "massacre."

Topics

• 2009 Gaza War
• Demonization
• Double Standards
• Moral equivalency

NGOs intensify biased campaigns and double standards on Gaza policy

Topics

• Demonization
• Hamas
• Terrorism

HRW's report on African migrants in Israel and Egypt

Topics

• Biases
• Demonization
• Double Standards
• Refugees

NGOs and Durban Demonization at UN Human Rights Review of Israel

As predicted by NGO Monitor, the majority of NGO submissions to the UN's UPR of Israel ignore human rights issues facing Israelis and areas where Israel is a leader in this field, while grossly distorting the humanitarian, human rights and international legal dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Nord-Sud XXI, Ittijah, Badil, and PGAAWC exploit human rights terminology and employ inflammatory rhetoric against Israel. Adalah, Amnesty, and others attribute "racist" motives to Israeli policies, instead of acknowledging that these are legitimate responses to Palestinian violence against Israeli civilians.

Topics

• Demonization
• Distortions of International Law
• Double Standards
• Durban
• Lack of Evidence

• Methodology
• UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
• United Nations
• War crimes

HRW representative laments UNHRC´s "disproportionate focus on Israel"

Topics

• Disproportionate Focus
• UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
• United Nations

HRW Hires Another pro-Palestinian Activist

The addition of Nadia Barhoum, a pro-Palestinian campus activist, to HRWs Middle East and North Africa Division, increases the political bias reflected in the activities and backgrounds of Sarah Leah Whitson, Joe Stork, and previous staff. This is inconsistent with HRWs claimed "even-handedness and accuracy." Barhoum was an active member in Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of California, Berkeley. SJP promotes the Durban agenda of demonization of Israel, divestment from Israel, and uses terms such as "apartheid" and "mass atrocities" in reference to Israel.

Topics

• Apartheid Rhetoric
• BDS
• Durban
• Joe Stork
• Lucy Mair

• Nadia Barhoum
• Right of Return
• Sarah Leah Whitson
• Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)

Durban Review PrepCom: Will NGOs Lead a Repeat of the 2001 Catastrophe?

A Durban Review Conference preparatory meeting was held in Geneva on Oct. 6-17. NGO participation was divided, with some opposing a repetition of the antisemitism of the 2001 conference. Other NGOs pressed the anti-Israel and anti-Western agenda of the "Durban strategy." BADIL and MRAP condemned Israel. Unofficial meetings of NGO representatives about a potential NGO Forum included antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks against Jewish representatives.

Topics

• 2009 Durban Review Conference
• Antisemitism
• Demonization
• Durban
• United Nations