Israel Matzav

NGO Monitor slams 'Human Rights Watch' for racism

"Clearly, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has morphed into a political advocacy organization characterized by double standards and bias - this is now widely understood," says Professor Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO Monitor. "But the recent racially-charged Huffington Post article, which exploited the American Civil Rights movement to incite racial hatred in the Middle East, crosses new red lines even for HRW and falls far outside any definition of 'legitimate criticism.' Action must be taken because this type of language contributes to animosity and hate."

Steinberg adds, "Our letter demonstrates that 'the inclusion of HRW in official United States government policymaking and consultation is entirely inconsistent with the moral principles of human rights.'"

The inflammatory op-ed, authored by HRW's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) division head Sarah Leah Whitson, falsely accused Israel of "racial discrimination." Whitson employed racial stereotyping in race baiting American Jews and Israelis. NGO Monitor noted that the words "segregate," "race/racist," "discrimination" and "equal/unequal" are repeated 23 times in this short piece, as Whitson sought to justify her support for discriminatory boycotts against Israel. (The BDS strategy was adopted in the antisemitic NGO Forum of the UN's 2001 Durban Conference, in which HRW also played a central role.)

Whitson's article also stated: "In a week when the U.S. paused to recall the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, President Peres might have considered King's message -- an end to segregation -- and why such a system of racial inequality remains in place in the Occupied Palestinian Territories..."

"This oped and other HRW statements recall efforts to pit Jews vs. African Americans, making a complete mockery of Dr. King's legacy," Steinberg notes. "Similarly, HRW's unjustifiable framing of the Arab-Israeli conflict as motivated by 'Israeli racism' is a total distortion of the national and religious dimensions, and erases central peace and security issues from the agenda."

Labels: Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth, NGO Monitor, racism, Sarah Leah Whitson

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:29 PM