Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s declaration that six Palestinian human rights and civil society groups are “terrorist” organizations aimed at the “destruction” of the country has unleashed fury. “It’s a storm that won’t die down,” Owen Alterman of the Israeli broadcaster i24 News said yesterday.
The 6 targeted organisations are:
- Addameer for Prisoner Support – Read their statement
- Al-Haq Organization – Read their statement
- Bisan Center for Research and Development
- Defense for Children International-Palestine – Read their statement
- The Union of Agricultural Work Committees
- The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committee
Israeli spokespeople claim that yes, all six of the named organizations are engaging in terrorist activities,
The Israeli government had tried to peddle this line to the members of the European Union, presenting what it said was evidence, but got no traction when the European states said that the “evidence” was unconvincing.
Human Rights Watch disagrees that the six rights groups are terrorists. The US peace group Code Pink agrees with HRW. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East make a more detailed case that the peace groups are not terrorists. In any event, Israel is shooting itself in the foot in PR terms by engaging in brutal actions against unarmed Palestinians.
Israel has been fighting doggedly to keep foreigners from using the word “apartheid” to describe their policies towards Palestinians. Problem for Israel is that the apartheid accusation has been revived following their overheated “terrorist” allegation.
Jewish Voice for Peace helpfully clarifies the issue for the US Secretary of State:
Israel is an authoritarian apartheid regime that systematically silences dissent in order to avoid exposure and accountability. Now that we’ve cleared that up, what are you going to do?
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are urging people to take action.
#StandWithThe6 has created a video to explain the issue.
