The United States and German governments both denounced Amnesty International UK’s February 1 report accusing Israel of being an apartheid state, The Times of Israel reported.
The report, spanning well over 200 pages, alleges that Israel is oppressing the Palestinians through segregation, military rule, seizing Palestinian land, and barring movement from the Palestinian territories, among other acts as part of an effort to cement its Jewish majority. It also calls for the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides tweeted that Amnesty’s report is “absurd.” “That is not language that we have used and will not use,” he wrote.
Come on, this is absurd. That is not language that we have used and will not use. https://t.co/DUnplInqCH
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) February 1, 2022
Additionally, a group of House Democrats––including Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Brad Sherman (D-CA)––issued a joint statement condemning the report, noting that this was Amnesty’s 208th report on Israel, yet they have only written 40 reports about North Korea and 61 on Venezuela. “The ‘apartheid’ accusations against Israel misrepresent and diminish the actual tyranny, segregation and dehumanization perpetrated in apartheid South Africa,” they said. “South Africa’s institutionalized racial segregation of the past bears no equivalence to Israel’s vibrant democracy where all citizens, regardless of religion or race have rights and are represented at the highest levels of government, education, healthcare, business and the courts. In fact, Israel currently has perhaps the most diverse governing coalition in the word, made up of parties across the political spectrum, including the United Arab List. The government ministers include Jews and Muslims, religious and secular, Arabs, Ethiopians, and LGBTQ people. Israel is the only country is the Middle East where Jews and Arabs govern together.”
The group of House Democrats added that “Amnesty’s many baseless allegations are rooted in historic prejudices and false narratives. This report will only further fuel antisemitism and intolerance by those seeking to undermine the only Jewish nation in the world, and those working to undermine future prospects for peace between Palestinians and Israelis.”
We're grateful for the Democratic House members who issued this powerful statement rejecting Amnesty International's report that seeks to demonize and delegitimize Israel. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/x0rvzgN7NA
— Democratic Majority for Israel (@DemMaj4Israel) February 2, 2022
Representative Lee Zeldin (R-NY), who co-chairs the House Israel Caucus, similarly said in a statement, “Amnesty International is a so-called ‘human-rights organization’ that routinely hurls false accusations of oppression against Israel, ignores violent attacks on Israel from its hostile neighbors and fans the flames of anti-Semitism around the world. In this latest instance, Amnesty baselessly charges that Israel has denied ‘basic rights and freedoms’ against Palestinians. Israel is the only democracy in the region and has consistently suffered attacks on its right to exist since its founding in 1948. Amnesty’s sham report will only encourage more dangerous attacks on Israel and its citizens.”
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger said in a press conference, “We reject expressions like apartheid or a one-sided focusing of criticism on Israel. That is not helpful to solving the conflict in the Middle East.”
We applaud the strong stance of the German Foreign Ministry @GermanyDiplo: "We reject expressions like apartheid or a one-sided focusing of criticism on Israel".
ELNET calls on more European governments to similarly stand on the side of truth. https://t.co/dYVucuRHNh— ELNET (@elnetwork_eu) February 2, 2022
Jewish groups have also denounced the Amnesty report. “Quite an irony that #AmnestyInternational report seeking to defame & delegitimize #Israel was released—where?—in by the visiting Secretary-General,” American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris tweeted. The report was released in Jerusalem. “Only a liberal, democratic state would’ve allowed such a scurrilous screed to be issued on its own territory,” he added.
Quite an irony that #AmnestyInternational report seeking to defame & delegitimize #Israel was released—where?—in 🇮🇱 by the visiting Secretary-General.
Only a liberal, democratic state would’ve allowed such a scurrilous screed to be issued on its own territory.#IStandWithIsrael pic.twitter.com/hQuyHdPatv
— David Harris (@DavidHarrisNY) February 2, 2022
StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein similarly said in a statement, “With this report, Amnesty International has lowered its mask, no longer putting up any pretense of being unbiased. Rather, Amnesty has joined anti-Israel extremists in their campaign to eliminate Israel and violate the rights of Jewish people to self-determination in any part of their ancestral homeland. As Israel, led by a diverse governing coalition that includes an Arab Muslim party, invests billions in the security and prosperity of its Arab citizens, Amnesty has chosen to invest in promoting more misinformation, division, and hate.”
George Mason University Law Professor Eugene Kontorovich tweeted that the allegations that Israel is an apartheid stated are “just a slightly updated spin on ‘Zionism = Racism.’ In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly, pushed by the Soviet bloc, passed its infamous ‘Zionism = Racism’ resolution – a claim so discredited, even the UN ultimately retracted it. New name, same blood libel.”
"Israel = Apartheid" is just a slightly updated spin on"Zionism = Racism." In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly, pushed by the Soviet bloc, passed its infamous "Zionism = Racism" resolution – a claim so discredited, even the UN ultimately retracted it. New name, same blood libel.
— Eugene Kontorovich (@EVKontorovich) February 1, 2022
Amnesty International USA tweeted that Amnesty’s research on the Israeli government is “not, and never will be, a condemnation of Judaism or the Jewish people.” “Furthermore, we condemn anyone who would cynically cite our research as justification for committing antisemitic acts of hatred and violence,” they added. “Amnesty International condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms.”
Amnesty’s research, campaigns, advocacy, and statements pertaining to Israel are focused on the actions of the Israeli government – they are not, and never will be, a condemnation of Judaism or the Jewish people.
— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) February 2, 2022
Furthermore, we condemn anyone who would cynically cite our research as justification for committing antisemitic acts of hatred and violence. Amnesty International condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms.
— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) February 2, 2022
