Dr Mike Evans

Upcoming Amnesty International report blasted for antisemitic bias

An Amnesty International UK report to be released tomorrow is under attack for its antisemitic labeling of Israel as committing “apartheid” against the Palestinian people and undermining the Jewish state.

The report, entitled “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity,” was introduced on Twitter with a brief summary of its content.

The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement critical of the report that said, “We have reviewed Amnesty International UK’s upcoming report on Israel and strongly condemn it as an effort to demonize Israel and undermine its legitimacy as a Jewish and democratic state. In an environment of rising anti-Jewish hate, this type of report is not only inaccurate but also irresponsible and likely will lead to intensified antisemitism around the world.”

The Jewish Leadership Council added, “The report is completely biased and applies standards to Israel that are not applied to any other country. The emotive term ‘apartheid’ against Israel is a preposterous slur. Israel is a vibrant democracy and a state for all its citizens, as exemplified by its diverse government and robust civil society.”

The American Jewish Committee also condemned the report, stating, “To equate the liberal democratic State of Israel with the system of apartheid in South Africa is nothing short of a canard, a libel.”

The biased report focuses on the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, which has been ruled as antisemitic by Israel and 35 US states. Several states have passed laws banning BDS practices against Israel.

The Amnesty International UK report attacks Israel using similar themes of “progressives” in US and European political movements that seek to undermine the Jewish state. However, as the recent Abraham Accords have shown, Israel continues to build its relationships with neighbors in the Middle East that show its diverse government and economy that seeks to improve the region for all peoples.