The Foreign Ministry has published a harsh response against Amnesty International in response to a report accusing Israel of apartheid against the Palestinians that the organization is expected to release Tuesday.
“In publishing this false report, Amnesty U.K. uses double standards and demonization in order to delegitimize Israel. These are the exact components from which modern antisemitism is made,” read the statement.
Amnesty International has rejected the claims of antisemitism and argued that they are an attempt to divert attention from the violation of Palestinians’ human rights.
The report examines Israel’s conduct toward the Palestinians. Sources that have seen it say the report accuses Israel of apartheid against Palestinians living in Israel, in the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip, and also against Palestinian refugees. Apartheid is defined as a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Court.
The organization’s researchers asked to meet Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in October in order to discuss the report’s findings, but their request for an audience was never granted. According to the organization, Israel has stopped responding to its requests for comment on its reports since 2012. A copy of the report was also delivered to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pre-publication.
Lapid called Amnesty “a radical organization echoing propaganda,” and said it “quotes lies spread by terrorist organizations.”
The Foreign Ministry’s statement emphasized...
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