Press Release:
Using UNICEF Funds, B’Tselem Recycles Distortions on Military Justice
In response to “Minors in Jeopardy,” a publication released today by B’Tselem, NGO Monitor issued the following statement:
B’Tselem’s report was funded by UNICEF, and is part of a broader political advocacy campaign to falsely accuse the IDF of violating the rights of Palestinian minors, with the goal of imposing sanctions against Israel. B’Tselem recycles allegations from NGOs such as Defense for Children International-Palestine that have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization, designated as such by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.
Other than an appendix of four anecdotal “testimonies,” B’Tselem does not contribute anything substantive that has not been previously published. NGO Monitor’s analyses of the previous reports used by B’Tselem shows that they are replete with numerous false and misleading claims about the IDF and Israeli Military Courts, and repeat allegations without verification or meaningful statistical analysis.
The timing of the report’s release coincides with B’Tselem’s and other NGOs’ celebration of Ahed Tamimi, reflecting how the NGOs exploit children’s rights to demonize Israel instead of protecting children.
For further details, see NGO Monitor reports:
- UNICEF and its NGO Working Group: Failing Children (January 2018)
- No Way to Represent a Child: Defense for Children International Palestine’s Distortions of the Israeli Justice System (October 2017)
- Initial Analysis of B’Tselem/HaMoked Report on Children’s Detention in Jerusalem (October 2017)
Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, former head of prosecution in Judea and Samaria, an expert on the military justice system, is available for interview.
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No Way to Represent a Child: Defense for Children International Palestine's Distortions of the Israeli Justice System
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UNICEF and its NGO Working Group: Failing Children
UNICEF spearheads a campaign to have Israel included on a UN blacklist of “grave” vio-lators of children’s rights. This political agenda is a primary facet of UNICEF’s activities relating to Israel, completely inconsistent with its mandate of “child protection” and from its guidelines for neutrality and impartiality.
Initial Analysis of B’Tselem/HaMoked Report on Children’s Detention in Jerusalem
B’Tselem and HaMoked published a joint report, “Unprotected: The Detention of Palestinian Teenagers in East Jerusalem.” NGO Monitor’s initial analysis reveals that these NGOs are participating in a well-funded international campaign against Israel surrounding the issue of children’s rights. The publication also suffers from fundamental methodological flaws, highlighting the appropriation of human rights for political objectives.
