NGO Monitor: HRW’s Gaza Campaign Advocacy not Accuracy
HRW’s Gaza Campaign: Advocacy not Accuracy, NGO Monitor, March 25, 2009
HRW’s record exhibits a strong anti-Israel bias. Its reporting in 2008 reflected the portrayal of Israel as the second worst abuser of human rights in the Middle East. Even before the renewal of the military conflict on December 27, 2008, HRW focused disproportionately on Gaza: 18 out of 27 HRW statements in 2008 dealing with Israel addressed Gaza, accusing Israel of “collective punishment,” “continued occupation,” and contributing to a “humanitarian crisis” – charges that are inconsistent with international law and lack supporting evidence…
The latest report on the use of white phosphorus continues HRW’s pattern, including: [c]omplete omission of the context of the broader conflict…[r]eliance on Palestinian eye witnesses whose credibility or links to Hamas cannot be verified…reli[ance] on Palestinian NGO Al Mezan…NGO Monitor’s Executive Director, Prof Gerald Steinberg commented on the release of the report, “This is yet another example of HRW’s disturbing disregard for the evidence. Such reports promote the Durban Strategy by removing the context of terrorism and self-defense, and contribute to a political war based on unsubstantiated allegations and using the language of human rights.”
