HRW Presses Goldstone Campaign, Ignores Exposés

April 13, 2010

HRW’s sixth report on the Gaza War, “Turning a Blind Eye” is another example of the obsessive focus on Israel, and presses HRW’s campaign on behalf of the Goldstone report. The publication is premised on speculation and charges that go beyond HRW’s research capacity. Despite his resignation, HRW repeats Marc Garlasco’s allegations as if they were credible and uncontested. The report also reflects the ideological bias of the MENA Division. HRW fellow Arezo Yazd contributed to “Turning a Blind Eye,” and refers to “[Israeli] state-sponsored terrorism” and “the Apartheid Wall.”  more »

March 2010 Digest (Vol. 8, No. 6-7)

April 08, 2010

Amnesty: Jihad in self-defense is not antithetical to human rights; Amnesty vs. Israel on water; NGOs and Goldstone; EU’s Ashton echoes NGO language; ICAHD’s BDS campaign; EU-funded NGOs at Russell Tribunal on Palestine; PCHR on Jerusalem synagogue “war crime”  more »

Our 5 newest items

Rights and Democracy (Canada)

Created by the Canadian Parliament in 1988, the Canadian government supplies 78% of Rights & Democracy’s budget. In 2009, R&D granted $10,000 each to Palestinian NGOs Al Haq and Al Mezan, “through discretionary funds which have had little to no board oversight.” These grants were “repudiated” at a January 7, 2010 board meeting. The controversy surrounding the grants led to the resignation of two board members, and some of the R&D staff demanding the resignation of the chair and other board members.  more »

Unanswered Questions on Garlasco and HRW’s Israel Campaigns

Marc Garlasco was “senior military analyst” at Human Rights Watch from 2003 until February or March 2010. Following the revelation of Garlasco’s obsessive collection of Nazi memorabilia, he was suspended. Garlasco’s claimed expertise was central to numerous HRW reports accusing Israel of “war crimes” and other violations. Garlasco’s technical and military claims are characterized by speculation, inconsistencies, and errors. This record underscores HRW’s bias and lack of credibility, and the need for an independent examination of each of the reports which relied on Garlasco.  more »