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Human Rights Watch Crosses the Line with Latest Attack on Israel

(Washington Times) Clifford D. May - I find it particularly distressing to see self-proclaimed human rights activists demonizing the world's most frequently threatened Jewish community. Human Rights Watch has just published a report, "A Threshold Crossed," declaring that Israel is committing "crimes of apartheid," which it calls "crimes against humanity" which "should trigger action." Apartheid regimes are illegitimate. Illegitimate regimes should be abolished. HRW is therefore providing justification for those whose goal is the abolition of the world's only Jewish-majority state, the refuge for Jews persecuted in or expelled from Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere. The 20% of Israeli citizens who identify as Palestinians or Israeli Arabs vote, run for office, hold seats in the Israeli parliament, serve as judges including on Israel's Supreme Court, work as doctors in (not segregated) hospitals, attend (not segregated) universities, eat in (not segregated) restaurants, and relax on (not segregated) beaches. The same is true for Israeli Druze, Christians, Bedouins, Circassians, and other minorities about which HRW appears ignorant. To call that apartheid requires twisting the meaning of the word beyond recognition. In no other countries of the broader Middle East do ethnic and religious minorities enjoy similar rights and freedoms. This means HRW has chosen to apply a separate and unequal standard to Israel. That alone constitutes anti-Semitism. What's more, states throughout the broader Middle East proudly proclaim themselves Arab and/or Muslim. It is only Jewish identity and self-determination that HRW deems a "crime against humanity." It is HRW, not Israel, that has crossed a threshold. The writer is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
2021-05-06 00:00:00
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