Release Date: 22 February 2009

NGO Monitor: Amnesty's Gaza Weapons Report Targets Israel's Means of
Self-Defense

(Jerusalem) - Jerusalem-based watchdog NGO Monitor today urged caution ahead
of Amnesty International's report on weaponry used during the Gaza conflict,
which is set to be released tomorrow (Monday). The report, which calls on
the US to suspend military aid to Israel, follows Amnesty's long standing
pattern of hostility towards Israel.

As in previous conflicts involving Israel, Amnesty made claims without
verification during the recent Gaza conflict. They condemned the 'killings
of ambulance workers in Gaza', only for the IDF to later report that many
were Hamas operatives. This latest report continues in a similar manner,
accusing Israel of 'illegal' use of white phosphorous and other weapons
before the IDF or any independent body has conducted an investigation.

During and in the immediate aftermath of the recent Gaza conflict, Amnesty
International headquarters issued over twenty statements, and its branches
around the world released tens more. The statements were primarily critical
of Israel and included calls for Israeli officials to be prosecuted for 'war
crimes' over Gaza, while largely absolving Hamas and its state backers Iran
and Syria, of responsibility. Amnesty's Donatella Rovera illogically argued
that Hamas' violations were so clear as to demand little attention. She
said, "The Israeli authorities deny everything, so one has to prove what
happened in a way that you don't need to do with the Palestinian rockets."

Amnesty's statements also made false accusations of Israel's 'illegal'
'collective punishment' and 'disproportionate response', which have been
refuted by legal
experts.

In advance of Amnesty's report, NGO Monitor's Executive Director Prof Gerald
Steinberg said, "This report is clearly part of a campaign to deprive Israel
of the means to defend itself. This is another example of Amnesty's double
standards and anti-Israel bias exploiting the language of international
law."

"Amnesty's reports on Israel are often based on inaccuracies, half-truths
and unverifiable allegations from so-called eye-witnesses, and reflect a
lack of serious credible research capabilities. In 2002, an Amnesty 'expert'
first confirmed the non-existent Jenin 'massacre', and in the 2006 conflict
with Hezbollah, many of Amnesty's claims were later shown to be
unsubstantiated. The factual errors are amplified by inaccurate statements
using the rhetoric of international law, using terms such as
'disproportionate' and 'war crimes', which they apply far more to Israel
than to groups such as Hamas. This ideologically biased pattern was repeated
in the recent Gaza conflict."

"Amnesty's moral bankruptcy is further reflected by the refusal to condemn
the aggression and blatant genocidal objectives as proclaimed by Hamas
leaders.

Journalists who quote from this report without independent verification of
the claims, and who omit mention of Amnesty's systematic ideological bias,
are contributing to these false claims."

-------- ENDS ------------

Editors Notes:
Please click here or the link below to view the 'NGO Front in the Gaza War'
section of the NGO Monitor website.
www.ngo-monitor.org/article/durban_conference_0
NGO Monitor was founded to promote transparency, critical analysis and
debate on the political role of human rights organizations. For more
information, see our website at
www.ngo-monitor.org
Other recent publications and reports by NGO Monitor include:-
The NGO Front in the Gaza War - Amnesty International - January 25, 2009
'Hijacked by Hatred': British NGOs Use Christmas for Anti-Israel Attacks -
December 23, 2008
NGOs and Durban Demonization at UN Review of Israel - December 3, 2008
NGO Monitor's Executive Director is, Prof. Gerald Steinberg.
Members of NGO Monitor's International Advisory Board include Elie Wiesel,
Prof Alan Dershowitz, Sir Martin Gilbert and R. James Woolsey
For further information, comment or interviews contact Dan Kosky
+972 (0) 546-305-504
NGO Monitor - 1, Ben Maimon Blvd. - Jerusalem 92262 - Israel - T:
+972-2-566-1020
F: +972-77-511-7030
E: dan.kosky@ngo-monitor.org