May 3rd, 2009 by NGO Monitor Staff | Category: Human Rights Watch, US

In its recent letter to Secretary Clinton, HRW has continued its lobbying efforts to drive a wedge between the US and Israel, urging Clinton to condemn the supposed “unlawful collective punishment” of the Palestinians. HRW continues to misrepresent the definition of “collective punishment” to support its political agenda.

Israel/US: Clinton Should Press to End Gaza Blockade, April 30, 2009

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton should speak out forcefully against Israel’s blockade of Gaza as unlawful collective punishment against the civilian population, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Clinton today. As the major political, military, and financial backer of Israel, the United States should press its ally to abide by international law… The letter criticized last week’s congressional testimony by Clinton, saying that she had seriously understated the extent and impact of the border closure…In its letter to Clinton, Human Rights Watch recognized Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups, but said that Israel could not purposefully harm civilians as a way to pressure Hamas. “Lawful means of self-defense against indiscriminate rocket attacks do not include the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza,” Whitson said…”Washington should disassociate itself from unlawful Israeli policies that directly harm civilians,” Whitson said. “Failure to do so suggests US support for a policy that violates international law.”