Robert Bernstein's Speech at University of Nebraska
HRW founder Robert Bernstein on political campaigns against Israel, noting that HRWs "attacks on almost every issue [have] become more and more hostile."
HRW founder Robert Bernstein on political campaigns against Israel, noting that HRWs "attacks on almost every issue [have] become more and more hostile."
On July 13 and 14, 2010, Israel was reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee as part of its periodic review of country compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. To highlight the activity of NGOs in furthering the delegitimization of Israel within UN frameworks, in contrast to upholding the norms of universal human rights, NGO Monitor submitted its own report to the Committee.
NIF-funded groups and their publications were featured centrally in the Goldstone report. Many of these citations referred to speculative issues unrelated to the conflict in Gaza, seeking to brand Israeli democracy as repressive. BTselem, Adalah, ACRI, Gisha, PHR-I, and Yesh Din have continued supporting Goldstone and lobbying governments to legitimize the reports extreme biases and endorse its recommendations. Some NIF grantees campaign against the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish democratic state. Others are active in worldwide boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns targeting Israel.
Since the beginning of September, NGO Monitor has been investigating questions relating to responsibility for researching and drafting the Goldstone report. The Missions webpage does not provide any information on this issue, and repeated requests by NGO Monitor to both Goldstone and the Fact Finding Mission office were ignored. Staff members from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights who were involved in preparing the report have strong links to NGOs.