Campaigns of Demonization
As part of the “Durban Strategy” to isolate Israel, NGOs level accusations of systematic Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights. The NGO allegations are characterized by factual and legal distortions, in pursuit of an anti-human rights agenda.
[UPDATED] Following the pattern in previous conflicts, a number of NGOs immediately issued condemnations of Israel following the IDF response to increasing deadly rocket attacks from Gaza. Many of these statements reflect bias and double standards, and ignore or give little attention to Israeli human rights and casualties. NGOs exploit legal terminology, including terms such as "war crimes," "collective punishment," and "indiscriminate attacks." Some use the fighting in Gaza to repeat calls for boycotts and sanctions as part of the Durban strategy, and accuse Israel of perpetrating a "massacre."
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Through the use of holiday and religious symbols, NGOs such as War on Want, Amos Trust, and Pax Christi are manipulating Christmas to advance a political agenda, and in some cases, may be promoting antisemitic canards. NGOs also organized an event entitled, "Bethlehem Now: Nine Alternative Lessons and Carols for Palestine"; the tendentious lyrics and themes of the event led to strong condemnations from Christian and Jewish community leaders. War on Wants "Alternative Gift" of donations to the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Coalition supports the boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
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A Durban Review Conference preparatory meeting was held in Geneva on Oct. 6-17. NGO participation was divided, with some opposing a repetition of the antisemitism of the 2001 conference. Other NGOs pressed the anti-Israel and anti-Western agenda of the "Durban strategy." BADIL and MRAP condemned Israel. Unofficial meetings of NGO representatives about a potential NGO Forum included antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks against Jewish representatives.
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