10 November '11
It is not a "tribunal." The "evidence" is going to be one-sided and the members of the "jury" are critics whose harsh views of Israel are well known. - Judge Richard Goldstone, "Israel and the Apartheid Slander," New York Times, October 31, 2011
On November 5-6, the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) held a session in Cape Town, South Africa. The session was convened, under the façade of a legal framework, ostensibly to consider if "Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people fits the international legal definitions of the crime of apartheid."
This PR stunt was a total failure; none of its stated objectives was achieved. The RToP failed to garner positive international media attention other than a single opinion piece placed in the Guardian (not known for favorable pieces on Israel) and coverage in Al-Jazeera. The tone of international coverage was set by Judge Richard Goldstone's scathing op-ed in the New York Times. In addition prominent scheduled witnesses, including South Africans Winnie Mandela and Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, withdrew from the Tribunal before it opened.
NGO Monitor worked closely with the South African Jewish community, including the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, South African Zionist Federation, and FairPlay South Africa, in advance of and during this event to expose the radical political agenda of the organizers and participants. Concrete results included the development of the www.russelltribunal.org website, used widely by analysts and critics, as well as Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and blogs. Additionally, Prof. Gerald Steinberg participated in an hour-long radio debate with RToP "witness" and former UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur John Dugard, forcing the latter to respond defensively.
The RToP's failure and lack of impact highlights the importance of widespread cooperation and a pro-active strategy based on detailed research and appropriate messaging in defeating the BDS and demonization campaigns.
NGO Monitor's analysis of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine demonstrates that:
The Tribunal heard from 24 "witnesses," all of whom have a consistent record of anti-Israel bias, including representatives from European government- and New Israel Fund (NIF)-funded NGOs: Michael Sfard, legal advisor for NIF- and EU-funded grantees such as Breaking the Silence; Shawan Jabarin, alleged senior PFLP activist and director of the European-funded Al Haq; Raji Sourani, director of the EU- and European government-funded PCHR; Ingrid Jadarat, of European-funded Badil; and Jeff Halper, head of the European-funded ICAHD. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a prominent supporter of the BDS movement with a history of antisemitic remarks, also appeared.
During the proceedings, these individuals demonized Israel and denied Jewish self-determination. For example, Jeff Halper, head of ICAHD, claimed that the Israeli government views the demolition of Bedouin homes "as a garbage removal cycle." Al-Haq claimed that Israeli measures have led to the "fragmentation of the Palestinian population into sub-groups," preventing the Palestinians from "participating in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territories] and impede their full development as a group."
Similarly, Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated: "We worship a God that is naturally biased in favor of the suffering, the underdog, those who are suffering underfoot ... In the Holy Land, the Palestinian people are the ones suffering."
The legal farce included "jurors" who had all previously declared Israel guilty of "apartheid," and on November 7 concluded that "Israel's rule over the Palestinian people, wherever they reside, collectively amounts to a single integrated regime of apartheid," and that "Apartheid and persecution are acts attributable to Israel and entail its international legal responsibility."
All legitimate Israeli security concerns were erased by the RToP. Israel was condemned for its blockade of Gaza, but the thousands of rockets fired from Gaza targeting Israeli civilians were not mentioned.
Click here to read the full report
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