Letter to the Editor of The NY Times (Unpublished)
Re: “We Document Human Rights Violations. Israel Wants to Silence Us” (Shawan Jabarin, Sept. 23, 2022)
In his essay, the head of the Palestinian NGO Al Haq, denied allegations in the Israeli government’s designation of his and related organizations as terror fronts operated by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Jabarin’s version is based on a number of glaring omissions, such as the Israeli High Court’s decision to uphold travel restrictions, characterizing him “as the CEO of a human rights organization” by day and “an activist in a terror organization” by night. And he continues to appear at PFLP events, as documented on social media.
Also erased is the August 2019 PFLP attack in which 17 year-old Rina Shnerb was killed. Five of the accused perpetrators held positions in this NGO network, leading the Dutch government to cut-off funding.
Furthermore, Jabarin’s portrayal of Al Haq as a human rights organization is a facade. The record clearly demonstrates its leading role in the political war to delegitimize Israel, regardless of borders and policy.